Characterization of Vibrio cholerae O139 of an Aquatic Isolate in Northern Vietnam

During the cholera survey in Namdinh province (northern Vietnam) in July, 2010, one strain of Vibrio cholerae O139 was isolated from 7 environmental water samples positive for ctxA, toxR, VCO139 genes and named as V. cholerae O139, ND1 strain. This strain was lysogenic harbouring a genome similar to the filamentous phage fs1. The replicative form DNA of this phage (named as ND1-fs1, 6856 bp) was sequenced and compared with the other filamentous phages. The filamentous phage ND1-fs1 integrates into the region between ctxB and rtxA genes. The genetic organization of the CTXϕ of V. cholerae O139, strain ND1 was determined and the schematic representation of the genetic organization was shown together with the ND1-fs1 prophage

Data from a pre-publication independent replication initiative examining ten moral judgement effects

We present the data from a crowdsourced project seeking to replicate findings in independent laboratories before (rather than after) they are published. In this Pre-Publication Independent Replication (PPIR) initiative, 25 research groups attempted to replicate 10 moral judgment effects from a single laboratory's research pipeline of unpublished findings. The 10 effects were investigated using online/lab surveys containing psychological manipulations (vignettes) followed by questionnaires. Results revealed a mix of reliable, unreliable, and culturally moderated findings. Unlike any previous replication project, this dataset includes the data from not only the replications but also from the original studies, creating a unique corpus that researchers can use to better understand reproducibility and irreproducibility in science

The pipeline project: Pre-publication independent replications of a single laboratory's research pipeline

This crowdsourced project introduces a collaborative approach to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, in which findings are replicated in qualified independent laboratories before (rather than after) they are published. Our goal is to establish a non-adversarial replication process with highly informative final results. To illustrate the Pre-Publication Independent Replication (PPIR) approach, 25 research groups conducted replications of all ten moral judgment effects which the last author and his collaborators had “in the pipeline” as of August 2014. Six findings replicated according to all replication criteria, one finding replicated but with a significantly smaller effect size than the original, one finding replicated consistently in the original culture but not outside of it, and two findings failed to find support. In total, 40% of the original findings failed at least one major replication criterion. Potential ways to implement and incentivize pre-publication independent replication on a large scale are discussed

Associations of Underlying Health Conditions With Anxiety and Depression Among Outpatients: Modification Effects of Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms, Health-Related and Preventive Behaviors

Objectives: We explored the association of underlying health conditions (UHC) with depression and anxiety, and examined the modification effects of suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), health-related behaviors (HB), and preventive behaviors (PB).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 8,291 outpatients aged 18–85 years, in 18 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from 14th February to May 31, 2020. We collected the data regarding participant's characteristics, UHC, HB, PB, depression, and anxiety.Results: People with UHC had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.11; p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 2.86; p < 0.001) than those without UHC. The odds of depression and anxiety were significantly higher for those with UHC and S-COVID-19-S (p < 0.001); and were significantly lower for those had UHC and interacted with “unchanged/more” physical activity (p < 0.001), or “unchanged/more” drinking (p < 0.001 for only anxiety), or “unchanged/healthier” eating (p < 0.001), and high PB score (p < 0.001), as compared to those without UHC and without S-COVID-19-S, “never/stopped/less” physical activity, drinking, “less healthy” eating, and low PB score, respectively.Conclusion: S-COVID-19-S worsen psychological health in patients with UHC. Physical activity, drinking, healthier eating, and high PB score were protective factors

Data from a pre-publication independent replication initiative examining ten moral judgement effects

We present the data from a crowdsourced project seeking to replicate findings in independent laboratories before (rather than after) they are published. In this Pre-Publication Independent Replication (PPIR) initiative, 25 research groups attempted to replicate 10 moral judgment effects from a single laboratory's research pipeline of unpublished findings. The 10 effects were investigated using online/lab surveys containing psychological manipulations (vignettes) followed by questionnaires. Results revealed a mix of reliable, unreliable, and culturally moderated findings. Unlike any previous replication project, this dataset includes the data from not only the replications but also from the original studies, creating a unique corpus that researchers can use to better understand reproducibility and irreproducibility in science.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The pipeline project: Pre-publication independent replications of a single laboratory's research pipeline

© 2015 The Authors This crowdsourced project introduces a collaborative approach to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, in which findings are replicated in qualified independent laboratories before (rather than after) they are published. Our goal is to establish a non-adversarial replication process with highly informative final results. To illustrate the Pre-Publication Independent Replication (PPIR) approach, 25 research groups conducted replications of all ten moral judgment effects which the last author and his collaborators had âin the pipelineâ as of August 2014. Six findings replicated according to all replication criteria, one finding replicated but with a significantly smaller effect size than the original, one finding replicated consistently in the original culture but not outside of it, and two findings failed to find support. In total, 40% of the original findings failed at least one major replication criterion. Potential ways to implement and incentivize pre-publication independent replication on a large scale are discussed.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

ỨC CHẾ SỰ TĂNG SINH VÀ TĂNG KIỂU HÌNH APOPTOSIS Ở TẾ BÀO UNG THƯ GAN VÀ UNG THƯ VÚ BẰNG DỊCH CHIẾT METHANOL TỪ LÁ CÂY ĐÌA ĐỤM (Heliciopsis lobata (Merr.) Sleum)

Heliciopsis lobata is effective in the treatment of diseases and is used in the traditional medicine of ethnic minorities. In this study, the methanol extract of the leaves of Heliciopsis lobata is used to assess its ability to inhibit cell growth of breast and liver cancer cells by using the MTT assay, cell morphology, and apoptotic morphology by DAPI staining. The results show that this extract inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines with IC50 values ​​of 0.084 mg/mL and 0.812 mg/mL, respectively. The extract induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells more strongly than in MCF7 cells; and therefore, it is potential to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells.Cây Đìa đụm (Heliciopsis lobata (Merr.) Sleum) có nhiều tác dụng trong điều trị bệnh và được sử dụng rộng rãi trong các bài thuốc y học cổ truyền của người dân tộc thiểu số. Trong nghiên cứu này, dịch chiết methanol từ lá của cây Đìa đụm được sử dụng để đánh giá khả năng ức chế các tế bào ung thư vú và ung thư gan bằng phương pháp sàng lọc MTT, phân tích hình thái tế bào và hình thái kiểu nhân apoptosis bằng thuốc nhuộm nhân tế bào DAPI. Kết quả cho thấy dịch chiết methanol của lá cây Đìa đụm đã ức chế sự tăng sinh tế bào ung thư gan dòng HepG2 và ung vú dòng MCF7 với giá trị IC50 tương ứng là 0,084 mg/mL và 0,812 mg/mL. Dịch chiết này cảm ứng quá trình apoptosis đối với dòng tế bào HepG2 mạnh hơn so với dòng tế bào MCF7, và như vậy có tiềm năng chống lại sự tăng sinh của các tế bào ung thư gan

Monitoring chronic disease at home using connected devices

International audienc

Study on biocharacteristics of Symbiodinium sp. isolated from soft coral in coastal water of Quang Nam, south central Vietnam

Phototrophic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium (= zooxanthellae) are well known as symbionts of corals. They play an important role in maintaining the healthy as well as establishment of new reefs. In addition, products such as toxins or pigments from these symbiotic microalgae are potentially important for applications in the biomedical sciences, especially in new drug development. In this study, we isolated successfully a symbiotic microalga from soft coral Sinularia sp. which was collected in Cu Lao Cham coastal waters of Quang Nam province. Based on morphological characteristics and 18S rRNA gene sequences, isolated SHM8 strain was identified as Symbiodinium goreaui. This symbiont was cultured in different media such as ASP-A8, F2, ES, IMK, K, and L1. L1 culture medium supplemented with taurine concentration of 4.88 mM led to the cell density of SHM8 strain increased in 50% compared to control on day 2 in cultivation; amino acid mixture enhanced cell density by 31.7% on day 5 in cultivation. Supplementation of carbon source (bicarbonate salt of 16.8 g/L) and nitrogen source (nitrate salt of 0.055 g/L) enhanced the cell density by 40% and 27%, respectively on day 6 in culture. Obtained results in this study proved that this microalga can live independently without host. Successful isolation and cultivation of Symbiodinium microalga are one of the necessary conditions for promising researches on the natural bioactive substances from this microalgal biomass in the future in Vietnam.   Citation: Dang Diem Hong, Pham Van Nhat, Hoang Thi Huong Quynh, Luu Thi Tam, Ngo Thi Hoai Thu, Nguyen Cam Ha, Hoang Thi Lan Anh, Nguyen Hoai Nam, Nguyen Thi Minh Hang, Chau Van Minh, 2017. Study on biocharacteristics of Symbiodinium sp. isolated from soft coral in coastal water of Quang Nam, south central Vietnam. Tap chi Sinh hoc, 39(3): 367-375. DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v39n3.10112. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received 19 June 2017, accepted 20 August 201