Genome sequences of a novel Vietnamese bat bunyavirus

To document the viral zoonotic risks in Vietnam, fecal samples were systematically collected from a number of mammals in southern Vietnam and subjected to agnostic deep sequencing. We describe here novel Vietnamese bunyavirus sequences detected in bat feces. The complete L and S segments from 14 viruses were determined

Complete genome characterization of two wild-type measles viruses from Vietnamese infants during the 2014 outbreak

A large measles virus outbreak occurred across Vietnam in 2014. We identified and obtained complete measles virus genomes in stool samples collected from two diarrheal pediatric patients in Dong Thap Province. These are the first complete genome sequences of circulating measles viruses in Vietnam during the 2014 measles outbreak

Effects of Mucoadhesive Polymers on Released Particles and Drug Release in Solid Lipid Particle-Based Buccal Tablets

Background: Mucoadhesive polymers play a critical role in controlled release tablets for buccal drug delivery.Objective: This research aimed to investigate the characterization and mechanisms of solid lipid particle-based tablets with differentmucoadhesive polymers for buccal delivery.Methods: Prednisolone (PSL)-loaded solid lipid particles (SLPs) were conventionally prepared by ultrasonication. The freeze-dryingmethod was used to convert the SLP suspension into a solid dosage form for buccal delivery by using mucoadhesive polymers.Results:All formulations showed over 80% drug release after 6 h, which followed immediate and sustained release patterns depending onthe SLP type. However, the different polymers in the formulations resulted in different mucoadhesion times and drug release and drugpermeability profiles. HPMC 4000 showed higher drug permeation (3327 &mu;g vs. 2589 &mu;g after 6 h) but a shorter mucoadhesion time thanCarbopol (197 min vs. 361 min). In addition, surface morphology, swelling and erosion, particle size and zeta potential were also noted forthe different mechanisms for buccal tablet design with different controlled release profiles.Conclusion:The results of this work indicate a good strategy for the selection of mucoadhesive polymers for SLP-based tablets inimproving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.</jats:sec

Data Compensation with Gaussian Processes Regression: Application in Smart Building's Sensor Network

Data play an essential role in the optimal control of smart buildings' operation, especially in building energy-management for the target of nearly zero buildings. The building monitoring system is in charge of collecting and managing building data. However, device imperfections and failures of the monitoring system are likely to produce low-quality data, such as data loss and inconsistent data, which then seriously affect the control quality of the buildings. This paper proposes a new approach based on Gaussian process regression for data-quality monitoring and sensor network data compensation in smart buildings. The proposed method is proven to effectively detect and compensate for low-quality data thanks to the application of data analysis to the energy management monitoring system of a building model in Viet Nam. The research results provide a good opportunity to improve the efficiency of building energy-management systems and support the development of low-cost smart buildings

Epidemiology and Virology of Acute Respiratory Infections During the First Year of Life A Birth Cohort Study in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Understanding viral etiology and age-specific incidence of acute respiratory infections in infants can help identify risk groups and inform vaccine delivery, but community-based data is lacking from tropical settings. METHODS: One thousand four hundred and seventy-eight infants in urban Ho Chi Minh City and 981 infants in a semi-rural district in southern Vietnam were enrolled at birth and followed to 1 year of age. Acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes were identified through clinic-based illness surveillance, hospital admissions and self-reports. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from infants with respiratory symptoms and tested for 14 respiratory pathogens using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Estimated incidence of ARI was 542 and 2691 per 1000 infant-years, and hospitalization rates for ARI were 81 and 138 per 1000 infant-years, in urban and semi-rural cohorts, respectively, from clinic- and hospital-based surveillance. However self-reported ARI episodes were just 1.5-fold higher in the semi-rural versus urban cohort, indicating that part of the urban-rural difference was explained by under-ascertainment in the urban cohort. Incidence was higher in infants ≥6 months of age than <6 months, but this was pathogen-specific. One or more viruses were detected in 53% (urban) and 64% (semi-rural) of samples from outpatients with ARI and in 78% and 66% of samples from hospitalized ARI patients, respectively. The most frequently detected viruses were rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus A and bocavirus. ARI-associated hospitalizations were associated with longer stays and more frequent ICU admission than other infections. CONCLUSIONS: ARI is a significant cause of morbidity in Vietnamese infants and influenza virus A is an under-appreciated cause of vaccine-preventable disease and hospitalizations in this tropical setting. Public health strategies to reduce infant ARI incidence and hospitalization rates are needed

Diagnostic I-131 scintigraphy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer:no additional value of higher scan dose

Objective: After initial treatment with total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation, most follow-up protocols for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma contain cyclic diagnostic I-131 imaging and serum thyroglobulin measurements. The applied diagnostic I-131 doses vary between 37 and 370 MBq. The aim of this study was to determine the yield of a diagnostic scan with 370 MBq I-131 in patients with a negative diagnostic scan with 74 MBq I-131. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 158 patients who received a high-dose diagnostic scan with 370 MBq I-131 because of a negative low-dose diagnostic scan with 74 MBq I-131. Special attention was paid to the patients with positive high-dose diagnostic scanning and undetectable serum thyroglobulin levels after thyroid hormone withdrawal. Results: In 127 (80%) of patients the 370 MBq I-131 scan was negative, just like the preceding low-dose scan. In 31 (20%) of patients abnormal uptake was present on the 370 MBq diagnostic scan. In 19 of these 31 patients serum thyroglobulin was undetectable. In 15/19 the high-dose diagnostic scan proved either false positive or demonstrated clinically irrelevant minor ablation rests. In only four patients (2.5%) did the high-dose diagnostic scans reveal possibly relevant uptake caused by residual differentiated thyroid cancer. Conclusion: In 98% of patients a 370 MBq dose of I-131 for diagnostic WBS had no additional value. The combination of a low-dose diagnostic I-131 scan using only 74 MBq combined with a serum Tg level measurement proved sufficient for correct clinical decision making regarding whether the patient requires additional I-131 therapy