THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BASELINE CD4 T CELLS’ LEVEL AND RECOVERY RATE AFTER INITIATION OF ART IN HIV/AIDS INFECTED AT HOSPITAL FOR TROPICAL DISEASES, VIETNAM

Objective: HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a public health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the correlation of recovery responses and baseline CD4 T cells’ level in HIV/AIDS adult patients after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Vietnam. Methods: The study was a clinic-based longitudinal study done at an outpatient clinic, Tropical Diseases Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 10/2018 to 8/2019. Results: Ninety-three patients were provided informed consent to participate in this study. Overall, the mean of CD4 T cell counts was 161.7 cells/μl. In AIDS patients groups, at the baseline mean of T CD4 cell was 65 cells/μl and in the non-AIDS group was 315 cells/μl. The slope of the plotted overall CD4 cell counts increased significantly in both two groups and the steepest increases in the first 3 months. After 6 months, patients who were AIDS stages were had a higher viral load in plasma than others, with p<0.005. The changes in CD4 T cell counts were significantly associated with age and occupational status. Conclusion: The present study found that immunological responses of patients with first-line ART were not related to baseline CD4 T cells’ level. However, low baseline CD4 counts were associated with poor virologic suppression

The percentage of hepatitis B virus infection and related factors in Tra Vinh province, Vietnam

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection continues to be a public health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the percentage of hepatitis B virus infection and related factors among adult population in Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam 2022. Methods: The study applied the cross-sectional descriptive design with the combination of structured interview and serological blood tests, from September 1, 2021, to June 1, 2022. Results: There were 1,289 respondents in the study. Overall, the percentage of sample positive reaction with HBsAg were 7.68% (99 peoples). Most of the people did not likely have relatives with a family history of hepatitis B virus infection, the proportion of people who had household family members who had hepatitis B, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cirrhosis was 1.24%, 0.93%, and 2.48% respectively. People who did not preventive vaccination for hepatitis B virus had higher rates of HBsAg (+) than people get preventive vaccination, with p=0.005. However, in other medical practice, the rate of HBsAg was non-significance, such as blood transfusion, surgery, dental treatment, injecting medications, and injected skin boils. The percentage of hepatitis B virus infection in the study was not significantly associated with hepatitis B prevention practices in daily life, including acupuncture, sharing shavers, sharing toothbrushes, sharing nail tools, and spraying tattoo. Conclusions: The percentage of hepatitis B virus infection in Tra Vinh province was 7.68%. There was a statistically significant relationship between the incidence of hepatitis B with preventive vaccination for the hepatitis B virus

THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF PROMOTING THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS AT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HO CHI MINH CITY

The purpose of the study was to have a comprehensive understanding of the existing conditions assured to give physical education (PE) programs to students at Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM). Through document synthesis, interviews, and statistical processing, the article gained a general evaluation of the current PE conditions according to the following aspects: facilities, administration, and curriculums. In terms of facilities, the total space for sports activities at VNUHCM is measured at 25,454m2, besides, the ratio of sports field area per student is 0.44m2/student. This indicates that VNUHCM’s students do not have enough space for their sports practice as standard. In terms of faculty, teachers at VNUHCM Sports Center are comprised 67.6% male, 88.2% at the age of thirty to fifty, and 100% holding postgraduate qualifications. In addition, 79.4% of the staff at the VNUHCM Sports Center graduated with PE specialized degrees, and 64.7% of them have less than five years of seniority. However, 68.8% of those who are currently delivering PE courses at this Center are visiting teachers. The statistic number reveals that the ratio of students per teacher at VNUHCM is 814.75 students/teacher, which reveals that the number of PE lecturers has not met the standard, and they have been in charge of a large teaching volume. In terms of curriculums, PE programs are conducted with 06 credits in total (90 periods), divided into 02 modules with 3 credits per each (45 periods). Students are allowed to choose their favorite PE content among 10 sports courses including football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, martial arts, aerobics, swimming, and chess. The results indicate that VNUHCM’s students actively participate in sports training and competitions to advance their physical fitness.  Article visualizations

Spatiotemporal evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants during large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam, 2021

We analyzed 1,303 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from Vietnam, and found the Alpha and Delta variants were responsible for a large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021. The Delta variant was confined to the AY.57 lineage and caused >1.7 million infections and >32,000 deaths. Viral transmission was strongly affected by nonpharmaceutical interventions

Development of antioxidative red dragon fruit bar by using response surface methodology for formulation optimization

Optimization of ingredient levels in red dragon fruit bar was conducted using response surface methodology (RSM). The central composite design (CCD) was used to establish the formula based on two independent variables, including levels of passion fruit and pectin. Total titratable acidity (TTA), ascorbic acid (AA), betacyanin (BA), total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity), color (L*-, a*-, and b*- values), and sensory evaluation (overall likeness score) were monitored. It was found that second-order regression models fitted for all responses where the optimum levels of passion fruit and pectin for mixed red dragon-passion fruit bar with desirable characteristics were 29.63% and 1.35%, respectively, based on desirable characteristics. The corresponding optimum values of TTA, AA, BA, TPC, FC, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were 2.30%, 0.0189%, 49.34 mg/100 g, 0.33 mg GAE/g, 75.29 mg QE/g, 11.46%, respectively. L*-, a*-, and b*- values were 13.10, 21.39, and 13.83, respectively. An overall likeness score of the fruit bar with high acceptability was 7.67. The experimental values were highly fitted with the predicted values

Autophagy Inhibitor Chloroquine Downmodulates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Damage in Bile-Duct-Ligated Mice

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation via the autophagy pathway is a critical factor in liver fibrogenesis. This study tests the hypothesis that chloroquine (CQ) treatment can prevent autophagy and HSC activation in vitro and in vivo in bile-duct-ligated (BDL) mice. Sham-operated and BDL mice were treated with either PBS or CQ in two 60 mg/kg doses the day (D) before and after surgery. On day 2 (2D), HSCs were isolated, and their biological activities were evaluated by measuring intracellular lipid content, α-sma/collagen, and expression of autophagy lc3, sqstm1/p62 markers. The treatment efficacy on liver function was evaluated with serum albumin, transaminases (AST/ALT), and hepatic histology. Primary HSCs were treated in vitro for 24 h with CQ at 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 30, and 50 µM. Autophagy and HSC activation were assessed after 2D of treatment. CQ treatment improved serum AST/ALT, albumin, and bile duct proliferation in 2D BDL mice. This is associated with a suppression of HSC activation, shown by higher HSC lipid content and collagen I staining, along with the blockage of HSC autophagy indicated by an increase in p62 level and reduction in lc3 staining. CQ 5 µM inhibited autophagy in primary HSCs in vitro by increasing p62 and lc3 accumulation, thereby suppressing their in vitro activation. The autophagy inhibitor CQ reduced HSC activation in vitro and in vivo. CQ improved liver function and reduced liver injury in BDL mice

An observational study of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infections among vaccinated healthcare workers in Vietnam

Background Data on breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infections in vaccinated individuals are limited. Methods We studied breakthrough infections among Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinated healthcare workers in an infectious diseases hospital in Vietnam. We collected demographic and clinical data alongside serial PCR testing, measurement of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and viral whole-genome sequencing. Findings Between 11th–25th June 2021 (7-8 weeks after the second dose), 69 staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 62 participated in the study. Most were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and all recovered. Twenty-two complete-genome sequences were obtained; all were Delta variant and were phylogenetically distinct from contemporary viruses obtained from the community or from hospital patients admitted prior to the outbreak. Viral loads inferred from Ct values were 251 times higher than in cases infected with the original strain in March/April 2020. Median time from diagnosis to negative PCR was 21 days (range 8–33). Neutralizing antibodies (expressed as percentage of inhibition) measured after the second vaccine dose, or at diagnosis, were lower in cases than in uninfected, fully vaccinated controls (median (IQR): 69.4 (50.7-89.1) vs. 91.3 (79.6-94.9), p=0.005 and 59.4 (32.5-73.1) vs. 91.1 (77.3-94.2), p=0.043). There was no correlation between vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody levels and peak viral loads or the development of symptoms. Interpretation Breakthrough Delta variant infections following Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination may cause asymptomatic or mild disease, but are associated with high viral loads, prolonged PCR positivity and low levels of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. Epidemiological and sequence data suggested ongoing transmission had occurred between fully vaccinated individuals