Phenotypic Screening of Drought-Tolerant Lines for Brown Planthopper, Blast and Phytic Acid Content Assay of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Advanced drought tolerant lines were analysed for blast disease, brown planthopper (BPH), and phytic acid content. Thirsty lines of BC2F4 derived from OMCS2000/ IR75499-73-1 were used to screen for BPH and blast resistance. Three good resistant lines were screened against blast (45, 54, and 310) under greenhouse condition. As eight lines were identified to be resistant to BPH. The results further reveal that BC2F4-45 was the best line resistant to both BPH and blast disease. These lines will be useful in reducing grain phytic acid and improving the nutritional value of rice grain. Based on an assay for high phosphate germination stage of rice, the lowest content was found in the I5 variety (line 45). Hence, this line provides the urgent objective for breeders in cultivars of these crops to genetically enhance a healthy and functional diet. These characters will then need to be incorporated into high yield under drought stress with others such as disease and insect resistance

The Vietnamese Version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire:Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation

OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) into Vietnamese. METHODS: We followed the guideline by Beaton et al. (2000 & 2007). Stage I: two translators (informed and uninformed) translated the questionnaires. Stage II: the translations were synthesized. Stage III: back translation was performed by two translators fluent in both Vietnamese and English but naïve to the outcome measurement. Stage IV: seven experts reached consensus on the pre-final Vietnamese version (BIPQ-V and BMQ-V). Stage V: field test of the questionnaires on 16 twelve-year-old students and 31 Vietnamese patients. In addition, we determined the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaires in 34 Vietnamese patients with acute coronary syndrome. RESULTS: All experts agreed that there was semantic, idiomatic, experiential, and conceptual equivalence between the original and pre-final Vietnamese versions of the BIPQ and BMQ. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the internal consistency were acceptable for the BMQ-V Specific-Necessity (0.64), BMQ-V Specific-Concerns (0.62), and BMQ-V General-Harm (0.60), with the exception of BMQ-V General-Overuse (0.27). Intra-class correlation coefficients of the test-retest reliability was acceptable for the subscales of BMQ-V (range: 0.77-0.86), and BIPQ-V items (range: 0.62-0.85) with the exception of BIPQ-V 1 (0.44, 95% CI -014-0.72) and BIPQ-V 4 (0.57, 95% CI 0.22-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The Vietnamese version of BIPQ and BMQ are reliable tools to assess illness perceptions and beliefs about medicines of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Psychometric properties of these questionnaires should be tested in different patient populations

One-pot preparation of alumina-modified polysulfone-graphene oxide nanocomposite membrane for separation of emulsion-oil from wastewater

In recent years, polysulfone-based nanocomposite membranes have been widely used for contaminated water treatment because they comprise properties such as high thermal stability and chemical resistance. In this study, a polysulfone (PSf) nanocomposite membrane was fabricated using the wet-phase inversion method with the fusion of graphene oxide (GO) and alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles. We also showed that GO-Al2O3 nanoparticles were synthesised successfully by using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The nanocomposite membranes were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle. The loading of GO and Al2O3 was investigated to improve the hydrophilic and oil rejection of the matrix membrane. It was shown that by using 1.5 wt.% GO-Al2O3 loaded in polysulfone, ~74% volume of oil was separated from the oil/water emulsion at 0.87 bar and 30 min. This figure was higher than that of the process using the unmodified membrane (PSf/GO) at the same conditions, in which only ~60% volume of oil was separated. The pH, oil/water emulsion concentration, separation time, and irreversible fouling coefficient (FRw) were also investigated. The obtained results suggested that the GO-Al2O3 nanoparticles loaded in the polysulfone membrane might have potential use in oily wastewater treatment applications

Long-term outcomes of primary cardiac malignant tumors: Difference between African American and Caucasian population

BACKGROUND: The survival outcome for primary cardiac malignant tumors (PMCTs) based on race has yet to be fully elucidated in previously published literature. This study aimed to address the general long-term outcome and survival rate differences in PMCTs among African Americans and Caucasian populations. METHODS: The 18 cancer registries database from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program from 1975 to 2016 were utilized. Ninety-four African American (AA) and 647 Caucasian (CAU) patients from the SEER registry were available for survival analysis. The log-rank test was used to compare the difference in mortality between two populations and presented by the Kaplan-Meier curves. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine the independent predictors of all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The overall 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year survival rates were 74%, 44.3%, and 16.6%, respectively, with a median survival of 10 months. There was no significant difference in survival rate between the two races (p-value = 0.55). The 1-year survival rate improved significantly during the study timeline in the AA population (13.3% during 1975-1998, 40.9% during 1999-2004, 50% during 2005-2010, and 59.7% during 2011-2016, p-value = 0.0064). Age of diagnosis, type of tumor, disease stage, and chemotherapy administration are the main factors that predict survival outcomes of PMCT patients. Interactive nomogram was developed based on significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: PMCTs have remained one of the most lethal diseases with poor survival outcome. Survival rate improved during the timeline in AA patients, but in general, racial differences in survival outcome were not observed

Pharmacist-Led Intervention to Enhance Medication Adherence in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Vietnam:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patient adherence to cardioprotective medications improves outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but few adherence-enhancing interventions have been tested in low-income and middle-income countries. Objectives: We aimed to assess whether a pharmacist-led intervention enhances medication adherence in patients with ACS and reduces mortality and hospital readmission. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam. Patients with ACS were recruited, randomized to the intervention or usual care prior to discharge, and followed 3 months after discharge. Intervention patients received educational and behavioral interventions by a pharmacist. Primary outcome was the proportion of adherent patients 1 month after discharge. Adherence was a combined measure of self-reported adherence (the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and obtaining repeat prescriptions on time. Secondary outcomes were (1) the proportion of patients adherent to medication; (2) rates of mortality and hospital readmission; and (3) change in quality of life from baseline assessed with the European Quality of Life Questionnaire - 5 Dimensions - 3 Levels at 3 months after discharge. Logistic regression was used to analyze data. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02787941). Results: Overall, 166 patients (87 control, 79 intervention) were included (mean age 61.2 years, 73% male). In the analysis excluding patients from the intervention group who did not receive the intervention and excluding all patients who withdrew, were lost to follow-up, died or were readmitted to hospital, a greater proportion of patients were adherent in the intervention compared with the control at 1 month (90.0% vs. 76.5%; adjusted OR = 2.77; 95% CI, 1.01-7.62) and at 3 months after discharge (90.2% vs. 77.0%; adjusted OR = 3.68; 95% CI, 1.14-11.88). There was no significant difference in median change of EQ-5D-3L index values between intervention and control [0.000 (0.000; 0.275) vs. 0.234 (0.000; 0.379); p = 0.081]. Rates of mortality, readmission, or both were 0.8, 10.3, or 11.1%, respectively; with no significant differences between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions increased patient adherence to medication regimens by over 13% in the first 3 months after ACS hospital discharge, but not quality of life, mortality and readmission. These results are promising but should be tested in other settings prior to broader dissemination

Enhancing prescribing of guideline recommended medications for ischaemic heart diseases:a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions targeted at healthcare professionals

Objectives lschaemic heart diseases (IHDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide. Although prescribing according to guidelines improves health outcomes, it remains suboptimal. We determined whether interventions targeted at healthcare professionals are effective to enhance prescribing and health outcomes in patients with IHDs. Methods We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2017. We included original studies of interventions targeted at healthcare professionals to entrance prescribing guideline-recommended medications for IHDs. We only included randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Main outcomes were the proportion of eligible patients receiving guideline-recommended medications, the proportion of patients achieving target blood pressure and target low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)/cholesterol level and mortality rate. Meta-analyses were performed using the inverse-variance method and the random effects model. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Results We included 13 studies, 4 RCTs (1869 patients) and 9 cluster RCTs (15224 patients). 11 out of 13 studies were performed in North America and Europe. Interventions were of organisational or professional nature. The interventions significantly enhanced prescribing of statinsdipid-lowering agents (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.42, P=0.004), hut not other medications (aspirin/antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers and the composite of medications). There was no significant association between the interventions and improved health outcomes (target LDL-C and mortality) except for target blood pressure (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.93; P=0.008). The evidence was of moderate or high quality for all outcomes. Conclusions Organisational and professional interventions improved prescribing of statins/lipid-lowering agents and target blood pressure in patients with IHDs but there was little evidence of change in other outcomes

Assessment of Osteoporosis in Injured Older Women Admitted to a Safety-Net Level One Trauma Center: A Unique Opportunity to Fulfill an Unmet Need

Background. Older trauma patients often undergo computed tomography (CT) as part of the initial work-up. CT imaging can also be used opportunistically to measure bone density and assess osteoporosis. Methods. In this retrospective cohort study, osteoporosis was ascertained from admission CT scans in women aged ≥65 admitted to the ICU for traumatic injury during a 3-year period at a single, safety-net, level 1 trauma center. Osteoporosis was defined by established CT-based criteria of average L1 vertebral body Hounsfield units <110. Evidence of diagnosis and/or treatment of osteoporosis was the primary outcome. Results. The study cohort consisted of 215 women over a 3-year study period, of which 101 (47%) had evidence of osteoporosis by CT scan criteria. There were no differences in injury severity score, hospital length of stay, cost, or discharge disposition between groups with and without evidence of osteoporosis. Only 55 (59%) of the 94 patients with osteoporosis who survived to discharge had a documented osteoporosis diagnosis and/or corresponding evaluation/treatment plan. Conclusion. Nearly half of older women admitted with traumatic injuries had underlying osteoporosis, but 41% had neither clinical recognition of this finding nor a treatment plan for osteoporosis. Admission for traumatic injury is an opportunity to assess osteoporosis, initiate appropriate intervention, and coordinate follow-up care. Trauma and acute care teams should consider assessment of osteoporosis in women who undergo CT imaging and provide a bridge to outpatient services

Evaluation of Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel Assay for Detection of Multiple Diarrheal Pathogens in Fecal Samples in Vietnam.

Diarrheal disease is a complex syndrome that remains a leading cause of global childhood morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of enteric pathogens in a timely and precise manner is important for making treatment decisions and informing public health policy, but accurate diagnosis is a major challenge in industrializing countries. Multiplex molecular diagnostic techniques may represent a significant improvement over classical approaches. We evaluated the Luminex xTAG gastrointestinal pathogen panel (GPP) assay for the detection of common enteric bacterial and viral pathogens in Vietnam. Microbiological culture and real-time PCR were used as gold standards. The tests were performed on 479 stool samples collected from people admitted to the hospital for diarrheal disease throughout Vietnam. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the xTAG GPP for the seven principal diarrheal etiologies. The sensitivity and specificity for the xTAG GPP were >88% for Shigellaspp.,Campylobacterspp., rotavirus, norovirus genotype 1/2 (GI/GII), and adenovirus compared to those of microbiological culture and/or real-time PCR. However, the specificity was low (∼60%) for Salmonella species. Additionally, a number of important pathogens that are not identified in routine hospital procedures in this setting, such as Cryptosporidiumspp. and Clostridium difficile, were detected with the GPP. The use of the Luminex xTAG GPP for the detection of enteric pathogens in settings, like Vietnam, would dramatically improve the diagnostic accuracy and capacity of hospital laboratories, allowing for timely and appropriate therapy decisions and a wider understanding of the epidemiology of pathogens associated with severe diarrheal disease in low-resource settings