Process Optimization by a Response Surface Methodology for Adsorption of Congo Red Dye onto Exfoliated Graphite-Decorated MnFe₂O₄ Nanocomposite: The Pivotal Role of Surface Chemistry

Natural graphite, a locally available, eco-friendly, and low-cost carbonaceous source, can be easily transformed into exfoliated graphite (EG) with many surface functional groups via a chemical oxidation route. Combination between EG and magnetic MnFe2O4 is a promising strategy to create a hybrid kind of nanocomposite (EG@MnFe2O4) for the efficient adsorptive removal of Congo red (CR) dye from water. Here, we reported the facile synthesis and characterization of chemical bonds of EG@MnFe2O4 using several techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, the quantity method by Boehm titration was employed to identify the content of functional groups: Carboxylic acid (0.044 mmol/g), phenol (0.032 mmol/g), lactone (0.020 mmol/g), and total base (0.0156 mmol/g) on the surface of EG@MnFe2O4. Through the response surface methodology-optimized models, we found a clear difference in the adsorption capacity between EG-decorated MnFe2O4 (62.0 mg/g) and MnFe2O4 without EG decoration (11.1 mg/g). This result was also interpreted via a proposed mechanism to elucidate the contribution of surface functional groups of EG@MnFe2O4 to adsorption efficiency towards CR dye

Medication Adherence in Vietnamese Patients with Cardiovascular and Endocrine–Metabolic Diseases

(1) Background: COVID-19 has significantly affected the quality of life and the medication adherence of patients with chronic diseases. Attitudes towards the disease and preventive measures are the things that need to be considered for patient adherence to medication during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the rate and compare the medication adherence and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medication adherence in Vietnamese patients with cardiovascular and endocrine–metabolic diseases. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients having chronic diseases such as cardiovascular or/and endocrine–metabolic diseases in some southern provinces in Vietnam. In each group of patients, medication adherence was measured and assessed with the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS), adjusted and validated in Vietnam. In addition, the study also investigated attitudes and practices to prevent COVID-19. (3) Results: Out of 1444 patients in our study, the level of adherence was recorded in 867 cases, accounting for 61.1%. The group of patients with only cardiovascular disease and patients with only endocrine–metabolic disease had relatively similar compliance rates of 62 and 61.1%, respectively. The leading cause of non-adherence to treatment in all three groups of patients in the study, as assessed by the GMAS, was non-adherence due to financial constraints. Our study showed that 71.6% of patients felt anxious when going to the hospital for a medical examination. However, only 53.7% identified the COVID-19 pandemic as obstructing treatment follow-up visits. The research results showed that the COVID-19 epidemic influences the patient’s psychology with regard to re-examination and treatment adherence, with p coefficients of 0.003 and <0.001, respectively. (4) Conclusion: Medication adherence rates in two disease groups are close, and financial constraint is the fundamental reason for medication non-adherence. Regulatory agencies must take care of people’s welfare to improve adherence in the epidemic context

Investigation of acute, sub-chronic toxicity, effects of mangiferin and mangiferin solid dispersion (HPTR) on Triton WR1339-induced hyperlipidemia on Swiss albino mice

Mangiferin is a xanthonoid found in Mango leaves in abundance with many effects as a hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent, plant metabolite, and so on. However, nowadays, mango leaves are merely a waste product in Vietnam. To take advantage of this valuable medicinal resource, extraction conditions of mangiferin using classical and ultrasound methods were researched, and mangiferin was purified from Cat Chu mango leaves (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) collected in Dong Thap. Ultrasound-assisted extraction method was conducted with the following conditions and mangiferin was extracted at a percentage of 6.728% with a purity of 91.11%. Purified mangiferin was evaluated using molecular absorption spectroscopy UV-Vis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA: TGA/DSC), and dissolution measurement method. To optimize the solubility and permeability of mangiferin, the solid dispersion system (HPTR) was made by the combination of HPMC 6M:mangiferin at the ratio of 1:5. To investigate the acute, sub-chronic toxicity and hypolipidemia effect of HPTR as compared to purified mangiferin, we followed guidelines for preclinical and clinical trials of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicines by the Vietnam Ministry of Health and OECD, and used tyloxapol (Triton WR1339, 400 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce hyperlipidemia. Our results indicated that purified mangiferin and HPTR extract showed no acute toxicity and sub-chronic toxicity and has potential as an antihyperlipidemic agent. The HPTR brought about a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c when compared to mangiferin, however there was no significance between them

Medication Adherence of Vietnamese Outpatients with Chronic Diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to determine the medication adherence of outpatients with chronic diseases and the association between both patient attitudes and preventive practices regarding COVID-19 and their medication adherence. We performed a cross-sectional study in Vietnam. Medication adherence was determined using the translated and validated Vietnamese version of the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS). Patient attitudes and preventive practices regarding COVID-19 were measured using the 5K message of the Vietnam Ministry of Health (facemasks, disinfection, distance, no gatherings, health declarations). The associations between patient characteristics and medication adherence were determined by multivariable regression. The study included 1852 outpatients, and 57.6% of the patients adhered to their medications. Patients who recognized the pandemic’s obstruction of medical follow-ups (OR = 1.771; 95%CI = 1.461–2.147; p < 0.001), who applied ≥2 preventive methods (OR = 1.422; 95%CI = 1.173–1.725; p = 0.001), who were employed (OR = 1.677; 95%CI = 1.251–2.248; p = 0.001), who were living in urban areas (OR = 1.336; 95%CI = 1.090–1.637; p = 0.005,) who possessed higher education levels (OR = 1.313; 95%CI = 1.059–1.629; p = 0.013), or who had ≤2 comorbidities (OR = 1.293; 95%CI = 1.044–1.600; p = 0.019) were more likely to adhere to their medications. The adherence percentage for outpatients with chronic diseases was quite low during the pandemic. Patients who did not recognize the COVID-19 pandemic’s obstruction of medical follow-ups or who had poor preventive practices were less likely to adhere to medications. Healthcare providers should pay more attention to these groups to achieve desired treatment outcomes