Several prognosis factors of severe pertussis in children treated at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital (2019-2020)

A prospective, descriptive study was conducted on 382 pediatric patients diagnosed with pertussis at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital over a two-year period, from January 1st, 2019, to December 31st, 2020. Of all patients participating in this study, children with severe conditions accounted for 30.1% (115/382). Several factors were found to be associated with the risk of this condition with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), including a decrease in the duration of the onset phase by 5 days [OR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.002-2.34], fever [2.49, 1.18-5.24], cyanosis [9.59, 2.9-31.7], pneumonia [14.45, 6.06-34.5], pulmonary hypertension [4.15, 1.02-16.83], an increase of 10 g/l in white blood cell (WBC) count in the full blood count (FBC) test [1.39, 1.05-1.84], a 5-cycle reduction in Cycle threshold (Ct) value in the pertussis real-time PCR test [1.36, 1.01-1.84], and superinfection [3.94, 1.84-8.48 times]. A WBC count in FBC of ≥30 g/l could be used as a prognostic factor for the risk of severe illness condition (sensitivity 46.1%, specificity 90.6%), the requirement for mechanical ventilation (sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 88.5%), and mortality (sensitivity 100%, specificity 91%)

The Combined Use of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Fructooligosaccharide Improves Growth Performance, Immune Response, and Resistance of Whiteleg Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Against Vibrio parahaemolyticus

In this study, we evaluated the effect of probiotic bacteria Pediococcus pentosaceus supplemented at different inclusion levels in a control diet [basal diet containing 0.5% fructooligosaccharide (FOS)] on the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, immune response, and the disease resistance of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A control diet with 0.5% FOS but without P. pentosaceus supplementation (Control) was prepared. In addition, three other test diets were also formulated: control diet supplemented with P. pentosaceus at (i) 1 x 10(6) cfu g(-1) diet (P1), (ii) 1 x 10(7) cfu g(-1) diet (P2), or (iii) 1 x 10(8) cfu g(-1) diet (P3). After a 60-day feeding trial, the experimental shrimps were challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. The results showed that dietary supplementation of P. pentosaceus significantly improved the growth performance and immune responses of L. vannamei juveniles. The juveniles that were fed with a P2 or P3 diet recorded the maximum increase in the final body weight, final length, weight gain, and survival rate. The total hemocyte counts, phenoloxidase, and lysozyme activity of shrimp fed with either of these two diets were significantly enhanced. The results also showed that juveniles fed with a P2 or P3 diet exhibited significantly lower mortality when challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. Overall results suggested that a combination of P. pentosaceus at the inclusion level of 1 x 10(7) cfu g(-1) diet (P2) and 0.5% FOS could be considered as a potential synbiotic formulation for improving the growth, health, and robustness of L. vannamei

Calculation of Temperature-Dependent Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Metal Crystals Based on Anharmonic Correlated Debye Model

This study aims to calculate the anharmonic thermal expansion (TE) coefficient of metal crystals in the temperature dependence. The calculation model is derived from the anharmonic correlated Debye (ACD) model that is developed using the many-body perturbation approach and correlated Debye model based on the anharmonic effective potential. This potential has taken into account the influence on the absorbing and backscattering atoms of all their nearest neighbors in the crystal lattice. The numerical results for the crystalline zinc (Zn) and crystalline copper (Cu) are in agreement with those obtained by the other theoretical model and experiments at several temperatures. The analytical results show that the ACD model is useful and efficient in analyzing the TE of coefficient of metal crystals

Synthesis of cuprous oxide nanocubes combined with chitosan nanoparticles and its application to p-nitrophenol degradation

For the first time, cuprous oxide nanocubes (Cu2O NCBs) were successfully combined with chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) to generate Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material with highly optical property and photocatalytic activity using a simple and eco-friendly synthetic approach at room temperature for 30 min. The synthesized Cu2O NCBs NPs/CS NPs were determined characterizations by Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X – ray Diffraction (XRD),  Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results show that the Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites have an average particle size of ~3-5 nm; in which, Cu2O has the form of nanocubes (Cu2O NCBs) with size ~3-4 nm and chitosan nanoparticles with spherical shape (CS NPs) with size ~4-5 nm. In addition, the percent (%) composition of elements present in Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material have been obtained respective: Cu (23.99%), O (38.18%), and C (33.61%). Moreover, Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material was also investigated for photocatalytic activity applied in p-nitrophenol degradation. The obtained results showed that the catalytic capability of Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs for p-nitrophenol reduction reached the highest efficiency >55% in the treatment time of 25 min, and this efficiency was higher than that result of using ZnO@chitosan nanoparticles (ZnO@CS NPs) catalyst under the same conditions for comparison

The Commitment with FDI Firms of Accountants in Noi Bai Industrial Park - Creative Application in Economics Sociological Knowledge

This study was conducted to identify, evaluate and measure the attributes of accountants’ commitment with FDI firms in Noi Bai industrial park, Hanoi based on the organizational commitment theory of Meyer & Allen (1991) and Creative application in economics sociological knowledge.  Beside, we based on literature review and the results of some interviews, 150 questionnaires were sent directly to accountants in FDI firms in Noi Bai industrial park and were collected in 1 month. However, only 110 questionnaires were satisfactory and included in the analysis. The results of descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha analysis and Independent T-test have identified and measured 12 attributes of accountants’ commitment which effect on accountants in the FDI firms in Noi Bai industrial park. Based on the findings, some recommendations are given to improve the accountants’ commitment. Keywords: commitment, accountants, FDI firms, Noi Bai industrial park JED codes: M41, M40, O15 DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-22-15 Publication date: November 30th 201

Novel exopolysaccharide produced from fermented bamboo shoot-isolated Lactobacillus fermentum

This study aimed at providing a route towards the production of a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) from fermented bamboo shoot-isolated Lactobacillus fermentum. A lactic acid bacteria strain, with high EPS production ability, was isolated from fermented bamboo shoots. This strain, R-49757, was identified in the BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Belgium by the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase gene sequencing method, and it was named Lb. fermentum MC3. The molecular mass of the EPS measured via gel permeation chromatography was found to be 9.85 × 104 Da. Moreover, the monosaccharide composition in the EPS was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Consequently, the EPS was discovered to be a heteropolysaccharide with the appearance of two main sugars—D-glucose and D-mannose—in the backbone. The results of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analyses prove the repeating unit of this polysaccharide to be [→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-β-D-Manp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→]n, which appears to be a new EPS. The obtained results open up an avenue for the production of novel EPSs for biomedical applications

Dry Eyes Status on Des Scale and Related Factors in Outpatients at Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology

BACKGROUND: Dry eye (DE) can effect on quality of life by pain, inability to perform certain activities that require prolonged attention (driving, reading,…) and productivity at work and finally effect to Q0L associated with DE. OSDI is scale questionnaire is created team to measure the quality of life related to ocular surface disease. AIM: To describe the dry eye disease according to OSDI scale and related factors of this disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on outpatients (≥ 16-year-old) who were examined and diagnosed with dry eyes at Vietnam National Institute Of Ophthalmology from April to July 2018. Data was collected using the OSDI questionnaire. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 44.6 years; 80.9% of patients were female; 39.9% were identified having mild dry eye. The related factors have been identified that associated with severe dry eye, including age OR = 1.03 (95%CI: 1.01-1.05, p = 0.005), binocular good vision OR = 0.11 (95%CI: 0.05-0.23; p < 0.0001), medical history OR = 17.09 (95%CI: 2.24-130.25; p < 0.0001), chronic conjunctivitis OR = 0.36 (95%CI: 0.14-0.91; p = 0.027), refractive errors OR = 0.14 (95%CI: 0.04-0.48; p < 0.0001), Sjogren's syndrome OR = 31.13 (95%CI: 7.08-136.76; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Several related factors have been identified associated with severe dry eye, including: age, binocular good vision, medical history, chronic conjunctivitis, refractive errors, Sjogren's syndrome

Foodborne zoonotic trematode infections in Yen Bai, Vietnam : a situational analysis on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and risk behaviors

Publisher Copyright: © Copyright by Pacini Editore Srl, Pisa, Italy.Introduction. Foodborne Zoonotic Trematode Infections (FZTi) are neglected tropical diseases of public health concern in Vietnam. The transmission of FZTi is linked to human behavior patterns. The aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding FZTi among local people. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed method, which included a baseline survey and in-depth interviews. 375 participants were interviewed face-to-face in the survey, and 27 participants had the in-depth interviews. Results. The results showed that 36.3% passed the knowledge assessment, 86.7% passed the attitude assessment, and 24% passed the practical assessment. There were differences in average knowledge scores among gender (men higher than women, p = 0.006), ethnicities (Kinh higher than Dao and Tay, p < 0.001), and educational level (higher education, higher knowledge score, p < 0.001). There were differences in the frequency of eating raw fish between men and women (men higher than women, p < 0.001), and in the average practice score between men and women (women higher than men, p = 0.028). Eating raw fish and/or undercooked fish, raw vegetables, and drinking untreated water from Thac Ba lake in Yen Bai province were identified as FZTi risk behaviors. The occurrence of these risky habits can be explained by the lack of knowledge on FZTi, poor economic conditions and typical social features of local people. Conclusion. The current knowledge of local people in regard to safe eating practices is poor. They keep performing unsafe practices, which lead to infection with FZTi; therefore, an integrated control of FZTi is essential.Peer reviewe

Decoding the capability of Lactobacillus plantarum W1 isolated from soybean whey in producing an exopolysaccharide

This study aims at producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) from a lactic acid bacterial strain. The soybean whey-isolated Lactobacillus plantarum W1 (EPS-W1), which belongs to genus Lactobacillus, is identified using the phenylalanyl-tRNA sequencing method. Of all the examined strains, R-49778 (as numbered by BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Belgium) showed the highest capability of producing exopoly-saccharides. Structural characterization revealed a novel exopolysaccharide consisting of repeating units of -> 6)-D-Glcp-(1 ->; -> 3)-D-Manp-(1 ->; -> 3)-6-Glcp-(1 -> and a branch of -> 6)-D-Manp-(1 ->; -> 2)-D-Glcp-(1 ->. This discovery opens up avenues for the production of EPS for food industries, functional foods, and biomedical applications

Selective breeding of saline-tolerant striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) for sustainable catfish farming in climate vulnerable Mekong Delta, Vietnam

peer reviewedStriped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), a freshwater species cultured mainly in the Mekong Delta region in Southern Vietnam, is facing a significant challenge due to salinity intrusion as a result of climatic changes. Given these evolving environmental conditions, selecting new strains with a higher salinity tolerance could make production of striped catfish economically feasible in brackish environments. In this study, we carried out a selection program aimed at developing a striped catfish strain able to survive and grow fast in a saline environment. To implement the selection program, we first collected males and females from different provinces in the Mekong delta. We next performed a factorial cross of these breeders to produce half- and full-sib families. When fish reached fry stage (47 dph), we put them in a saline environment (10 ppt) and subsequently kept 50 % of the fastest-growing fish after 143 days post hatching (dph). We repeated this mass selection procedure after 237 dph and 340 dph. We maintained in parallel a randomly selected group in saline conditions and a group of fish reared in freshwater to serve as controls. After crossing the selected individuals, we performed several tests on the next generation of fish to evaluate the effectiveness of selection after one generation in saline conditions. Average direct responses to selection were 18.0 % for growth and 11.4 % for survival rate after one generation of selection. We estimated a moderate realized heritability (0.29) for body weight. The genetic gains obtained in our study for body weight and survival rate after one generation of selection under saline conditions suggest that selection can be effective to improve ability of striped catfish to cope with saline stress. We conclude that our selection program has succeeded in developing a productive strain of striped catfish with better tolerance to salinity. © 2022 The Author