Artefactual Suboptimal Fixation Effect to Nuclear Staining on Erythrocytes of Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål 1775)

This research presents the unusual staining characteristic of the teleosts red blood cells–the common bluestripe snapper Lutjanus kasmira, caught at Toc Tan (Allison) Reef, Truong Sa Archipelago, Vietnam, due to side effects of the delayed staining procedure. In addition to the quantitative data measured, the results of microscopic image research showed that, on slides performed with the delayed Romanovsky staining procedure using Giemsa dye, the cell "nucleus" was not dye-stained as seen in the erythrocytes of much other fish. The AFM and SEM images of blood slides show that the structure of the nuclear zone and the nuclear membrane was destroyed. Although methanol is used as one of the common fixatives in biology, the delayed staining still causes artifactual side effects, disrupts the structure of the red blood cell nucleus and can cause confusion when studying cytogenetics

NHÂN GIỐNG LAN GIẢ HẠC (Dendrobium anosmum) ĐỘT BIẾN BẰNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP NUÔI CẤY IN VITRO

Currently, mutant orchids are very interested in orchid lovers who want to collect, but the price of mutant orchids is costly leading to many orchid lovers are unable to own it. This study aims to create mutant orchid plantlets with high quantity and low cost via in vitro propagation method. From the self-pollinated six months old seedpods, we have successfully propagated the orchid mutant seedlings. The results showed that the suitable medium for mutant orchid seed germination and creating protocorm was the basic MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BA with a rate of up to 93%. The medium for shoot formation and shoot development from protocorm was the best on MS medium added with 1.0 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L IBA with a rate of 88%. The rooting induction was 99.06% and the root length reached 5.34 cm with an average of 8.53 roots/shoot when shoots cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA. The survival rate of in vitro Dendrobium anosmum mutant seedlings after 60 days in the nursery stage was 84.9% on coir and rice husks substrates (1:1).Hiện nay, hoa lan đột biến đang trở thành tâm điểm được nhiều người quan tâm sưu tầm, nhưng do giá thành cây giống quá cao nên rất ít người có thể sở hữu. Để tạo ra giống với số lượng lớn, rẻ thì việc nhân giống in vitro những giống lan này là cần thiết. Vì vậy, từ vật liệu khởi đầu là quả lan sáu tháng tuổi tự thụ phấn từ cây mẹ đột biến, chúng tôi đã xây dựng thành công quy trình nhân giống lan Giả hạc đột biến bằng phương pháp nuôi cấy in vitro. Kết quả cho thấy môi trường thích hợp cho hạt lan đột biến nảy mầm tạo protocorm là môi trường MS cơ bản, bổ sung 0,5 mg/L N6-benzyladenine (BA) với tỷ lệ 93%. Môi trường thích hợp để protocorm tạo chồi là MS cơ bản, bổ sung 1,0 mg/L BA và 0,5 mg/L indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) với tỷ lệ tạo chồi 88%, chiều cao và số lá trên chồi trung bình 1,42 cm và 2,4 lá. Môi trường tối ưu để chồi tạo cây hoàn chỉnh là môi trường MS cơ bản, bổ sung 1,0 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) với tỷ lệ 99,06% chồi ra rễ; chiều dài rễ đạt 5,34 cm với trung bình 8,53 rễ/chồi. Tỷ lệ sống của cây con in vitro đột biến sau 60 ngày ra vườn ươm là 84,9% trên giá thể xơ dừa và trấu hun (1:1)

Is genital tract infection related to tubal diseases in infertile Vietnamese women?

Introduction: The goal of this study was to identify the profile of genital tract infections and their relationship with clinical and demographic parameters as well as tubal diseases among infertile women in Vietnam. Methodology: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, we enrolled 597 women undergoing infertility treatment at the Center for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Hue University Hospital, Vietnam. All of the study participants were interviewed and examined by a gynecologist. Consecutive tests were then conducted including direct microscopy examination (wet mount and Gram stain), vaginal culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for chlamydia diagnosis from a cervical canal swab, and a blood test for syphilis detection. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) was carried out to examine the uterine cavity and Fallopian tubes. Results: A gynecologic infection was diagnosed in 43.4% (259/597) of the infertile women. Bacterial vaginosis was the most common condition at 19.6% of the cases. Candida spp., Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis infections accounted for 17.4%, 3.7%, and 0.3%, respectively. Normal HSG results accounted for 87.4% of the women while 5.5% had 2-sided tubal occlusions, 5.4% had 1-sided tubal occlusions, 1.0% had 1-sided hydrosalpinx, and 0.7% had 2-sided hydrosalpinx. There was no significant association between tubal diseases and current infections; however, aerobic vaginitis increased the risk of tubal diseases by 2.4 times. Conclusions: A marked proportion of infertile Vietnamese women have genital tract infections that can significantly influence their reproductive function and performance. These infections should be routinely screened and treated properly to prevent their consequences, such as infertility, which is especially important in developing countries.Peer reviewe

In Vitro Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Infected Eczema at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermatology

BACKGROUND: Infected eczema is one of the most common complications of eczema. The progression and treatment of infected eczema have become more complex and difficulty due to the antibiotic resistance of bacteria and the abuse of antibiotics in treatment. AIM: Our research was conducted with the aim of investigating the severity of in vitro antibiotic resistance in patients with bacterially infected eczema at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermatology. METHODS: We studied 40 cases of patients, suffering from atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, vesicular palmoplantar eczema, with positive results of infected eczema. RESULTS: S. aureus accounted for 82.5%, followed by S. epidermidis (15%), P. aeruginosa (12.5%), S. pyogenes (5%) accounted for a small percentage. E. coli (2.5%) and M. morganii (2.5%) accounted for the lowest percentage. Both MSSA and MRSA were completely resistant to penicillin. MRSA is completely resistant to penicillin, erythromycin, and cefuroxime, highly resistant to clindamycin (82.35%). Our research showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not resistant to a variety of antibiotics. It was completely resistant to tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (100%). Most bacteria are highly sensitive to linezolid, vancomycin as other studies in the world shown. There are also rifampicins, pristinamycin. Hence, it`s prioritised to be used for only patients with eczema infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria. CONCLUSION: Penicillin is not recommended for the treatment for infected eczema. Linezolid, vancomycin has a high sensitivity to bacteria including multidrug-resistant bacteria like MRSA

Characterization of Oseltamivir-Resistant 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza A Viruses

Influenza viruses resistant to antiviral drugs emerge frequently. Not surprisingly, the widespread treatment in many countries of patients infected with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses with the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir has led to the emergence of pandemic strains resistant to these drugs. Sporadic cases of pandemic influenza have been associated with mutant viruses possessing a histidine-to-tyrosine substitution at position 274 (H274Y) in the NA, a mutation known to be responsible for oseltamivir resistance. Here, we characterized in vitro and in vivo properties of two pairs of oseltaimivir-sensitive and -resistant (possessing the NA H274Y substitution) 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses isolated in different parts of the world. An in vitro NA inhibition assay confirmed that the NA H274Y substitution confers oseltamivir resistance to 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses. In mouse lungs, we found no significant difference in replication between oseltamivir-sensitive and -resistant viruses. In the lungs of mice treated with oseltamivir or even zanamivir, 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses with the NA H274Y substitution replicated efficiently. Pathological analysis revealed that the pathogenicities of the oseltamivir-resistant viruses were comparable to those of their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts in ferrets. Further, the oseltamivir-resistant viruses transmitted between ferrets as efficiently as their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts. Collectively, these data indicate that oseltamivir-resistant 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses with the NA H274Y substitution were comparable to their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts in their pathogenicity and transmissibility in animal models. Our findings highlight the possibility that NA H274Y-possessing oseltamivir-resistant 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses could supersede oseltamivir-sensitive viruses, as occurred with seasonal H1N1 viruses

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Tuberculosis Infection among Hospital Workers in Hanoi, Viet Nam

BACKGROUND: Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) to health care workers (HCWs) is a global issue. Although effective infection control measures are expected to reduce nosocomial TB, HCWs' infection has not been assessed enough in TB high burden countries. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of TB infection and its risk factors among HCWs in Hanoi, Viet Nam. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 300 HCWs including all staff members in a municipal TB referral hospital received an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube(TM), followed by one- and two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) and a questionnaire-based interview. Agreement between the tests was evaluated by kappa statistics. Risk factors for TB infection were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Among the participants aged from 20 to 58 years (median = 40), prevalence of TB infection estimated by IGRA, one- and two-step TST was 47.3%, 61.1% and 66.3% respectively. Although the levels of overall agreement between IGRA and TST were moderate, the degree of agreement was low in the group with BCG history (kappa = 0.29). Working in TB hospital was associated with twofold increase in odds of TB infection estimated by IGRA. Increased age, low educational level and the high body mass index also demonstrated high odds ratios of IGRA positivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Prevalence of TB infection estimated by either IGRA or TST is high among HCWs in the hospital environment for TB care in Viet Nam and an infection control program should be reinforced. In communities with heterogeneous history of BCG vaccination, IGRA seems to estimate TB infection more accurately than any other criteria using TST

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

Search for CP violation in D+→ϕπ+ and D+s→K0Sπ+ decays

A search for CP violation in D + → ϕπ + decays is performed using data collected in 2011 by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1 at a centre of mass energy of 7 TeV. The CP -violating asymmetry is measured to be (−0.04 ± 0.14 ± 0.14)% for candidates with K − K + mass within 20 MeV/c 2 of the ϕ meson mass. A search for a CP -violating asymmetry that varies across the ϕ mass region of the D + → K − K + π + Dalitz plot is also performed, and no evidence for CP violation is found. In addition, the CP asymmetry in the D+s→K0Sπ+ decay is measured to be (0.61 ± 0.83 ± 0.14)%

Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Deficits in Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-β Gene Knockout Mice

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen. Extensive in vivo studies of PDGF and its receptor (PDGFR) genes have reported that PDGF plays an important role in embryogenesis and development of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, PDGF and the β subunit of the PDGF receptor (PDGFR-β) have been reported to be associated with schizophrenia and autism. However, no study has reported on the effects of PDGF deletion on mice behavior. Here we generated novel mutant mice (PDGFR-β KO) in which PDGFR-β was conditionally deleted in CNS neurons using the Cre/loxP system. Mice without the Cre transgene but with floxed PDGFR-β were used as controls. Both groups of mice reached adulthood without any apparent anatomical defects. These mice were further examined by conducting several behavioral tests for spatial memory, social interaction, conditioning, prepulse inhibition, and forced swimming. The test results indicated that the PDGFR-β KO mice show deficits in all of these areas. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical study of the PDGFR-β KO mice brain indicated that the number of parvalbumin (calcium-binding protein)-positive (i.e., putatively γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic) neurons was low in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex. Neurophysiological studies indicated that sensory-evoked gamma oscillation was low in the PDGFR-β KO mice, consistent with the observed reduction in the number of parvalbumin-positive neurons. These results suggest that PDGFR-β plays an important role in cognitive and socioemotional functions, and that deficits in this receptor may partly underlie the cognitive and socioemotional deficits observed in schizophrenic and autistic patients

Observation of associated near-side and away-side long-range correlations in √sNN=5.02 TeV proton-lead collisions with the ATLAS detector

Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and pseudorapidity (Δη) are measured in √sNN=5.02  TeV p+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1  μb-1 of data as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and the transverse energy (ΣETPb) summed over 3.1<η<4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2<|Δη|<5) “near-side” (Δϕ∼0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing ΣETPb. A long-range “away-side” (Δϕ∼π) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small ΣETPb, is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Δη and Δϕ) and ΣETPb dependence. The resultant Δϕ correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos⁡2Δϕ modulation for all ΣETPb ranges and particle pT