Genetic landscape of autism spectrum disorder in Vietnamese children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder with an unclear aetiology and an estimated global prevalence of 1%. However, studies of ASD in the Vietnamese population are limited. Here, we first conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) of 100 children with ASD and their unaffected parents. Our stringent analysis pipeline was able to detect 18 unique variants (8 de novo and 10 ×-linked, all validated), including 12 newly discovered variants. Interestingly, a notable number of X-linked variants were detected (56%), and all of them were found in affected males but not in affected females. We uncovered 17 genes from our ASD cohort in which CHD8, DYRK1A, GRIN2B, SCN2A, OFD1 and MDB5 have been previously identified as ASD risk genes, suggesting the universal aetiology of ASD for these genes. In addition, we identified six genes that have not been previously reported in any autism database: CHM, ENPP1, IGF1, LAS1L, SYP and TBX22. Gene ontology and phenotype-genotype analysis suggested that variants in IGF1, SYP and LAS1L could plausibly confer risk for ASD. Taken together, this study adds to the genetic heterogeneity of ASD and is the first report elucidating the genetic landscape of ASD in Vietnamese children

A Multidomain Intervention Program for Older People with Dementia: A Pilot Study

Background: Multidomain interventions have been shown to be effective in improving cognition, quality of life, reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms and delaying progression of functional impairment or disability in dementia patients. To investigate the multidomain intervention in other populations and diverse cultural and geographical settings, this pilot study will assess the feasibility of a multidomain intervention for older people with dementia in nursing homes in Vietnam. Methods: Participants will be randomized into two equal groups, to receive either a multidomain intervention (intervention group) or regular health advice (control group). The intervention will include physical, cognitive, and social interventions as well as management of metabolic and vascular risk factors. We will hypothesize that the multidomain intervention will be feasible in Vietnam, and participants who receive the intervention will show improvement in quality of life, behaviors, functional ability, cognitive function, sleep, and in reduction of falls, use of healthcare services, and death rate compared to those in the control group during the 6 months intervention period and after the 6 months extended follow-up. Discussion: This is the first study to evaluate the feasibility of a multidomain intervention program for older people with dementia in nursing homes in Vietnam. The results from the trial will inform clinicians and the public of the possibility of comprehensive treatment beyond simply drug treatments for dementia. This paves the way for further studies to evaluate the long-term effects of multidomain interventions in dementia patients. Furthermore, the research results will provide information on the effectiveness of multidomain interventions which will inform policy development on dementia. Trial Registration: The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04948450 on 02/07/2021

Cost effectiveness and sustainability of sanitation options: A case study of South Can Tho - Technical Report

The Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), from the University of Technology Sydney, in collaboration with Can Tho University (CTU) and Can Tho Water Supply and Sewerage Company (WSSC) completed a 2-year collaborative research project assessing the wastewater infrastructure options for Can Tho City. The comparison of alternatives was made on the basis of cost-effectiveness and on the relative sustainability of the options, as determined through a participatory stakeholder sustainability assessment process with several government agencies in Can Tho

The effect of government support on Bureaucracy, COVID-19 resilience and export intensity: Evidence from North Africa.

The literature on the imperativeness of government support for firm survival since the onset of COVID-19 is vast, but scholars have scarcely considered the impact of such assistance on managers' time, nor the extent to which support measures induce resilience and export activity. Accordingly, this study assesses the impact of government support on (1) bureaucracy and (2) resilience using data from 535 Moroccan SMEs. It further evaluates the influence of resilience on direct versus indirect exports, and espouses the institutional voids, resource-based and strategy-creation view to explain the associations through a contingency lens. The results demonstrate that (1) government support increases bureaucracy which, (2) surprisingly triggers and enhances resilience. Furthermore, (3) resilience has a positive impact on direct exports but (4) adversely affects indirect exports. Theoretically, the findings acquiesce extant calls for measurement specificity in export performance. Practically, stakeholders' attention is drawn to the value of managers' time well spent

Indicators for assessing the quality of refractive error care

Significance: Quality refractive error care is essential for reducing vision impairment. Quality indicators and standardized approaches for assessing the quality of refractive error care need to be established. Purpose: This study aimed to develop a set of indicators for assessing the quality of refractive error care and test their applicability in a real-world setting using unannounced standardized patients (USPs). Methods: Patient outcomes and three quality of refractive error care (Q.REC) indicators (1, optimally prescribed spectacles; 2, adequately prescribed spectacles; 3, vector dioptric distance) were developed using existing literature, refraction training standards, and consulting educators. Twenty-one USPs with various refractive errors were trained to visit optical stores across Vietnam to have a refraction, observe techniques, and order spectacles. Spectacles were assessed against each Q.REC indicator and tested for associations with vision and comfort. Results: Overall, 44.1% (184/417) of spectacles provided good vision and comfort. Of the spectacles that met Q.REC indicators 1 and 2, 62.5 and 54.9%, respectively, provided both good vision and comfort. Optimally prescribed spectacles (indicator 1) were significantly more likely to provide good vision and comfort independently compared with spectacles that did not meet any indicator (good vision: 94.6 vs. 85.0%, P =.01; comfortable: 66.1 vs. 36.3%, P <.01). Adequately prescribed spectacles (indicator 2) were more likely to provide good comfort compared with spectacles not meeting any indicator (57.7 vs. 36.3%, P <.01); however, vision outcomes were not significantly different (85.9 vs. 85.0%, P =.90). Good vision was associated with a lower mean vector dioptric distance (P <.01) but not with comfort (P =.52). Conclusions: The optimally prescribed spectacles indicator is a promising approach for assessing the quality of refractive error care without additional assessments of vision and comfort. Using USPs is a practical approach and could be used as a standardized method for evaluating the quality of refractive error care

Access route selection for percutaneous coronary intervention among Vietnamese patients: Implications for in-hospital costs and outcomes

Background:Little is known about rates of access site (transradial (TRI) or transfemoral (TFI)) preference for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and in-hospital costs of patients undergoing these procedures in lower-and middle-countries. Here, we report on access site use, in-hospital costs and outcomes of patients undergoing PCI in Vietnam.Methods:Information from 868 patients were included in the cohort of 1022 patients recruited into the first PCI registry in Vietnam. The total hospital costs and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing TRI and TFI were compared. Hospital costs were obtained from the hospital admission system, and major adverse cardiac events, major bleeding events and length of stay were identified through review of medical records.Findings:TRI was the dominant access site for interventionists (694/868 patients). The TFI group reported more lesions of the left main artery, more previous coronary artery bypass grafts and previous PCI in comparison with the TRI group (all p Interpretations:Among patients undergoing PCI, TRI was associated with lower costs and favourable clinical outcomes relative to TFI

Electrochemical sensor based on epoxy-functionalized BEA nanozeolite and graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode for bisphenol E determination

An epoxy-functionalized beta type nanozeolite (BEA)/graphene oxide nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/BEA/APTMS/GA/GO/NF) has been created for the differential pulse voltammetric determination of bisphenol E (BPE). The modified electrode presented an enhanced current response in comparison with bare GCE. A linear dependence of anodic peak current (Ip) and scan rate (ν) was observed, which showed that the electrochemical process was adsorption-controlled. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed and optimized for the sensitive determination of BPE. Under the optimized conditions, the anodic peak current was linearly proportional to BPE concentration in the range between 0.07 and 4.81 µM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.995 and limit of detection 0.056 μM (S/N = 3). The electrode showed good repeatability and storage stability, and a low response to interfering compounds. Comparison was made to the determination of bisphenol A. To confirm the electrode analytical performance, recovery tests were performed, and deviations lower than 10% were found. The BEA zeolite-GO nanocomposite proved to be a promising sensing platform for bisphenol determination. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]