TECHNICAL NOTE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF PARTRIDGE COLOURED HUNGARIAN CHICKEN IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM

The paper aims to provide a brief agricultural profile of Tra Vinh province, informative adaptation results of Partridge coloured Hungarian chicken (PH) in Mekong Delta and describe the procedure to introduce PH into Tra Vinh province. During the introducing process, flexibility, consideration of the local condition (temperature, humidity, daily sunlight…), and availability of local resources such as bamboo blind, rice husk is essential for introducing a new chicken breed into Mekong Delta. For this, practical examples are given in the study. Regarding adaptation results, relatively high survival rate (89.6%) of PH was recorded at the end of 8th week. Although the recorded data of PH in Tra Vinh is limited, their performance is expected to be equally good or even better in comparison with that obtained in the sub-tropical climatic zone (North Vietnam). Further studies of PH adaptability in Mekong Delta for sustainable, traditional production and crossing purposes, as well as the involvement of chicken caravans to free range farming are recommended

Time-resolved dissolution elucidates the mechanism of zeolite MFI crystallization

Zeolite crystal growth mechanisms are not fully elucidated owing to their complexity wherein the formation of a particular zeolite can occur by more than one crystallization pathway. Here, we have conducted time-resolved dissolution experiments of MFI-type zeolite crystals in ammonium fluoride medium where detailed structural analysis allowed us to extrapolate and elucidate the possible mechanism of nucleation and crystal growth. A combination of electron and scanning probe microscopy shows that dissolution initiates preferentially at lattice defects and progressively removes defect zones to reveal a mosaic structure of crystalline domains within each zeolite crystal. This mosaic architecture evolves during the growth process, reflecting the changing conditions of zeolite formation that can be retroactively assessed during zeolite crystal dissolution. Moreover, a more general implication of this study is the establishment that dissolution can be used successfully as an ex situ technique to uncover details about crystal growth features inaccessible by other methods

Hexa Histidine–Tagged Recombinant Human Cytoglobin Deactivates Hepatic Stellate Cells and Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Anti-fibrotic therapy remains an unmet medical need in human chronic liver disease. We report the anti-fibrotic properties of cytoglobin (CYGB), a respiratory protein expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main cell type involved in liver fibrosis. APPROACH & RESULTS: Cygb-deficient mice which had bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver cholestasis or choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet-induced steatohepatitis significantly exacerbated liver damage, fibrosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. All these manifestations were attenuated in Cygb-overexpressing mice. We produced 6His-tagged recombinant human CYGB (His-CYGB), traced its bio-distribution and assessed its function in HSCs or in mice with advanced liver cirrhosis using thioacetamide (TAA) or 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC). In cultured HSCs, extracellular His-CYGB was endocytosed and accumulated in endosomes via clathrin-mediated pathway. His-CYGB significantly impeded ROS formation spontaneously or in the presence of ROS inducers in HSCs, thus leading to the attenuation of collagen type I alpha 1 production and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. Replacement the iron centre of the heme group with cobalt nullified the effect of His-CYGB. In addition, His-CYGB induced interferon-β secretion by HSCs which partly contributed to its anti-fibrotic function. Momelotinib incompletely reversed the effect of His-CYGB. Intravenously injected His-CYGB markedly suppressed liver inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative cell damage in TAA- or DDC-administered mice without adverse effects. RNA-seq analysis revealed the downregulation of inflammation and fibrosis-related genes and the upregulation of antioxidant genes in both cell culture and liver tissues. The injected His-CYGB predominantly localised to HSCs but not to macrophages, suggesting specific targeting effects. His-CYGB exhibited no toxicity in humanised liver chimeric PXB mice. CONCLUSIONS: His-CYGB could have anti-fibrotic clinical applications for human chronic liver diseases

Mapping for engagement: setting up a community based participatory research project to reach underserved communities at risk for Hepatitis C in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Background: Approximately 1. 07 million people in Vietnam are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). To address this epidemic, the South East Asian Research Collaborative in Hepatitis (SEARCH) launched a 600-patient cohort study and two clinical trials, both investigating shortened treatment strategies for chronic HCV infection with direct-acting antiviral drugs. We conducted ethnographic research with a subset of trial participants and found that the majority were aware of HCV infection and its implications and were motivated to seek treatment. However, people who inject drugs (PWID), and other groups at risk for HCV were under-represented, although injecting drug use is associated with high rates of HCV. Material and Methods: We designed a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to engage in dialogues surrounding HCV and other community-prioritized health issues with underserved groups at risk for HCV in Ho Chi Minh City. The project consists of three phases: situation analysis, CBPR implementation, and dissemination. In this paper, we describe the results of the first phase (i.e., the situation analysis) in which we conducted desk research and organized stakeholder mapping meetings with representatives from local non-government and community-based organizations where we used participatory research methods to identify and analyze key stakeholders working with underserved populations. Results: Twenty six institutions or groups working with the key underserved populations were identified. Insights about the challenges and dynamics of underserved communities were also gathered. Two working groups made up of representatives from the NGO and CBO level were formed. Discussion: Using the information provided by local key stakeholders to shape the project has helped us to build solid relationships, give the groups a sense of ownership from the early stages, and made the project more context specific. These steps are not only important preliminary steps for participatory studies but also for other research that takes place within the communities

Regional Differences in the Prevalence of Major Opportunistic Infections among Antiretroviral-Naive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients in Japan, Northern Thailand, Northern Vietnam, and the Philippines

To identify regional differences in the distribution of opportunistic infections (OIs) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Asia, the medical records of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive patients who attended the following tertiary hospitals from 2003 to 2011 were reviewed: Nagoya Medical Center (NMC, Nagoya, Japan), Lampang Hospital (LPH, Lampang, northern Thailand), Bach Mai Hospital (BMH, Hanoi, northern Vietnam), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH, Manila, Philippines). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between country of origin and risk of major OIs. In total, 1,505 patients were included: NMC, N = 365; LPH, N = 442; BMH, N = 384; and PGH, N = 314. The median age was 32 years, and 73.3% of all patients were male. The median CD4 count was 200 cells/μL. Most patients at NMC and PGH were men who have sex with men. Injection drug users were most common at BMH (35.7%). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) was most common at PGH (N = 75) but was rare at NMC (N = 4). Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prevalence was highest at NMC (N = 74) and lowest at BMH (N = 13). Multivariable logistic regression showed increased odds of TB at PGH (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 42.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.6?122.1), BMH (aOR = 12.6, CI = 3.9?40.3), and LPH (aOR = 6.6, CI = 2.1?21.1) but decreased odds of PCP at BMH (aOR = 0.1, CI = 0.04?0.2) and LPH (aOR = 0.2, CI = 0.1?0.4) compared with those at NMC. The cryptococcosis risk was increased at LPH (aOR = 6.2, CI = 0.9?41.0) compared with that at NMC. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis prevalences were similar in all countries. OI prevalence remained high among ART-naive patients in our cohort. The risks of TB, PCP, and cryptococcosis, but not CMV retinitis, differed between countries. Improved early HIV detection is warranted

HIV-Associated TB in An Giang Province, Vietnam, 2001–2004: Epidemiology and TB Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND: Mortality is high in HIV-infected TB patients, but few studies from Southeast Asia have documented the benefits of interventions, such as co-trimoxazole (CTX), in reducing mortality during TB treatment. To help guide policy in Vietnam, we studied the epidemiology of HIV-associated TB in one province and examined factors associated with outcomes, including the impact of CTX use. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We retrospectively abstracted data for all HIV-infected persons diagnosed with TB from 2001-2004 in An Giang, a province in southern Vietnam in which TB patients receive HIV counseling and testing. We used standard WHO definitions to classify TB treatment outcomes. We conducted multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for the composite outcome of death, default, or treatment failure during TB treatment. From 2001-2004, 637 HIV-infected TB patients were diagnosed in An Giang. Of these, 501 (79%) were male, 321 (50%) were aged 25-34 years, and the most common self-reported HIV risk factor was sex with a commercial sex worker in 221 (35%). TB was classified as smear-positive in 531 (83%). During TB treatment, 167 (26%) patients died, 9 (1%) defaulted, and 6 (1%) failed treatment. Of 454 patients who took CTX, 116 (26%) had an unsuccessful outcome compared with 33 (70%) of 47 patients who did not take CTX (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.5). Adjusting for male sex, rural residence, TB smear status and disease location, and the occurrence of adverse events during TB treatment in multivariate analysis, the benefit of CTX persisted (adjusted odds ratio for unsuccessful outcome 0.1; CI, 0.1-0.3). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In An Giang, Vietnam, HIV-associated TB was associated with poor TB treatment outcomes. Outcomes were significantly better in those taking CTX. This finding suggests that Vietnam should consider applying WHO recommendations to prescribe CTX to all HIV-infected TB patients

Antibiotic use and prescription and its effects on Enterobacteriaceae in the gut in children with mild respiratory infections in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A prospective observational outpatient study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment guidelines do not recommend antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections (ARI), except for streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis and pneumonia. However, antibiotics are prescribed frequently for children with ARI, often in absence of evidence for bacterial infection. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for mild ARI in paediatric outpatients in relation to available guidelines and detected pathogens, 2) to assess antibiotic use on presentation using questionnaires and detection in urine 3) to assess the carriage rates and proportions of resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae before, during and after consultation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled in Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and diagnoses, prescribed therapy and outcome were recorded on first visit and on follow-up after 7 days. Respiratory bacterial and viral pathogens were detected using molecular assays. Antibiotic use before presentation was assessed using questionnaires and urine HPLC. The impact of antibiotic usage on intestinal Enterobacteriaceae was assessed with semi-quantitative culture on agar with and without antibiotics on presentation and after 7 and 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 563 patients were enrolled between February 2009 and February 2010. Antibiotics were prescribed for all except 2 of 563 patients. The majority were 2nd and 3rd generation oral cephalosporins and amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid. Respiratory viruses were detected in respiratory specimens of 72.5% of patients. Antibiotic use was considered inappropriate in 90.1% and 67.5%, based on guidelines and detected pathogens, respectively. On presentation parents reported antibiotic use for 22% of patients, 41% of parents did not know and 37% denied antibiotic use. Among these three groups, six commonly used antibiotics were detected with HPLC in patients' urine in 49%, 40% and 14%, respectively. Temporary selection of 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae during antibiotic use was observed, with co-selection of resistance to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. CONCLUSIONS: We report overuse and overprescription of antibiotics for uncomplicated ARI with selection of resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae, posing a risk for community transmission and persistence in a setting of a highly granular healthcare system and unrestricted access to antibiotics through private pharmacies. REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number registry under number ISRCTN32862422: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN32862422

Early Pandemic Influenza (2009 H1N1) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A Clinical Virological and Epidemiological Analysis

Rogier van Doorn and colleagues analyze the initial outbreak, attempts at containment, and establishment of community transmission of pandemic H1N1 influenza in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam