Updated upper limit of normal for serum alanine aminotransferase value in Vietnamese population

Background: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a marker of hepatic damage and its range can be affected by viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. We aimed to study the factors associated with higher ALT level and update the upper limit of normal (ULN) in the Vietnamese population.Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 8383 adults, aged 18 years and older who visited the Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City for a health check-up. Following the exclusion criteria, 6677 subjects were included in the analysis.Results: Age ≤40 years, male gender, body mass index >23 kg/m2, diastolic blood pressure >85 mm Hg, cholesterol >5.2 mmol/L, triglyceride >1.7 mmol/L, positivity, anti-hepatitis C virus positivity and fatty liver (p40 U/L). Without considering age and gender, healthy group is defined after exclusion of participants with one of the mentioned contributing factors. The median ALT level in the healthy group was 18 in men and 13 in women. The ULN at the 95th percentile of the healthy group was 40 U/L in men and 28 U/L in women.Conclusion: The ULN for ALT in healthy women was lower than in healthy men. Updated ULN for ALT level can promote the identification of unhealthy subjects. More studies that involve ethnicity and lifestyle factors are needed to confirm the new ULN in the Vietnamese population

Frequent inappropriate use of unweighted summary statistics in systematic reviews of pathogen genotypes or genogroups.

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to systematically assess and report the methodological quality used in epidemiological systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analysis (MA) of pathogen genotypes/genogroups. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Nine electronic databases and manual search of reference lists were used to identify relevant studies. The method types were divided into three groups: 1) with weighted pooling analysis (which we call MA), (2) unweighted analysis of the study-level measures (which we call summary statistics), and (3) without any data pooling (which we call SR only). Characteristics were evaluated using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), and Risk Of Bias In Systematic reviews (ROBIS) tools. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with CRD42017078146. RESULTS: Among 36 included articles, 5 (14%) studies conducted SR only, 16 (44%) performed MA, and 15 (42%) used summary statistics. The univariable and multivariable linear regression of AMSTAR and PRISMA scores showed that MA had higher quality compared with those with summary statistics. The SR only and summary statistics groups had approximately equal scores among three scales of AMSTAR, PRISMA, and ROBIS. The methodological quality of epidemiological studies has improved from 1999 to 2017. CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent use of unweighted summary statistics, MA remains the most suitable method for reaching rational conclusions in epidemiological studies of pathogen genotypes/genogroups

Creating programmable logic control program for a storing station

The automation is an industrial field in which the manufacturing process is implemented under controlling and following up by computer-aided application. The computer system demands a program to instruct the manufacturing system where programmable logic control (PLC) is a popular application in this industrial automation. Controlling an automatic system becomes simple with PLC because it instructs the system through a program written by standardized languages such as Ladder Diagram, Func-tion Block Diagram, Sequential Function Charts, Instruction List, and Structured Text. Out of all language supporting PLC, Ladder Diagram is used much because it is easy to write sequences for automation. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is the programming for storing station controlled by PLC with Ladder diagram. Since disadvantages of laboratory’s situation in pandemic, the model of storing station is built by SOLID-WORKS software to explain the construction of the station as well as necessary automatic equipment for controlling the process of storage. The PLC program is written by TIA portal with CPU S7-1500 to load to PLCSIM simulator which is used to check the operation of the PLC diagram. The result of thesis is that the PLC program of stor-ing station was finished and checked by PLCSIM simulator. However, the assessment of PLC program in a storing station is the further research in a laboratory to adjust the technical parameters and construction of station conforming actual manufacturing environment

Cell-free DNA as a potential biomarker in stroke: a comprehensive review of observational studies

Stroke is an abrupt loss of brain function, which is caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain. Several blood biomarkers have been evaluated for the assessment of stroke severity and outcome. However, their roles remain limited in clinical practice. Circulating cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has emerged as a potential biomarker of stroke, as reported from several animal and human studies. In this study, we aim to review the prognostic values of cell-free DNA in stroke from all relevant cohort studies. The PubMed database was searched using keywords, "cell-free DNA" and "stroke" for relevant articles. Twelve studies (n = 946 patients) are included in the final analysis. While the prognostic values of cell-free DNA in predicting functional outcomes and hospital mortality after different types of stroke were highlighted in many studies, the inconsistency in methods hinders comparability between studies. Overall, the knowledge about the potential prognostic ability of cell-free DNA in stroke remains limited and conflicting. More robust studies with consistent methods are needed

The Determinants of the Usage of Accounting Information Systems toward Operational Efficiency in Industrial Revolution 4.0: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors affecting the application of accounting information systems (AIS) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. Drawing upon the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) theoretical framework, Diffusion of Innovations theory (DOI), and Resource-based theory (RBV), we proposed a research model to investigate the antecedents and influence of AIS usage in Vietnamese SMEs. This study used an online survey of individuals who work in Vietnamese SMEs for data collection. The result was assembled by applying the PLS-SEM model to test the proposed hypotheses based on 132 valid responses. First, the factors that have a significant impact on AIS usage are as follows: relative advantage; owner/manager commitment; and impact of COVID-19. Second, the research results also confirm that there is a positive relationship between AIS usage and AIS effectiveness; AIS performance has a positive impact on business performance. Research implications are to help business owners and leaders decide whether to use AIS to strengthen the company’s position and reduce the burden on departments, particularly the accounting department

Knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease among the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease (CD) among Lat in American migrants in Japan and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational activity (EA) in increasing knowledge of CD. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study employing a preknowledge and postknowledge test and focus group discussion, conducted from March 2018 to June 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two participants were included, all born in Bolivia and residents in four Japanese cities. Fifty-nine of them participated in the EA. INTERVENTIONS: The EA comprised showing three videos about CD and a group discussion covering different dimensions of CD and was evaluated with questionnaires to analyse the knowledge of the participants before and after. RESULTS: Seventy-two participants were enrolled, predominantly from highly endemic CD areas of Bolivia. Though most participants were familiar with vector-borne transmission, epidemiology and symptomatology of CD, the baseline knowledge of CD was low. Less than 10% of them had been tested prior for CD. The dominant factors associated with better knowledge were living in Japan for more than 10 years (OR=8.42, 95% CI 1.56 to 48.62) and previously testing for CD(OR=11.32; 95% CI 1.52 to 105.9). The EA significantly improved the CD knowledge of the participants (p value <0.0001; 95% CI 2.32 to 3.84). The participants associated the term \u27Chagas\u27 mostly with fear and concern. The level of stigmatisation was low, in contrast to the results of other studies. The barriers encountered in care-seeking behaviour were language, the migration process and difficulties to access the healthcare system. CONCLUSION: EA with an integrative approach is useful to increase the knowledge of CD within the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan. The activity brings the possibility to explore not only the level of knowledge but also to reveal experiences and to understand the needs of the people at risk. Considering them as actors towards healthcare solutions could lead to better outcomes for the success of future policies and interventions aimed to decrease the global burden

Frequent inappropriate use of unweighted summary statistics in systematic reviews of pathogen genotypes or genogroups

Objectives: Our study aimed to systematically assess and report the methodological quality used in epidemiological systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analysis (MA) of pathogen genotypes/genogroups.Study design and setting: Nine electronic databases and manual search of reference lists were used to identify relevant studies. The method types were divided into three groups: 1) with weighted pooling analysis (which we call MA), (2) unweighted analysis of the study-level measures (which we call summary statistics), and (3) without any data pooling (which we call SR only). Characteristics were evaluated using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), and Risk Of Bias In Systematic reviews (ROBIS) tools. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with CRD42017078146.Results: Among 36 included articles, 5 (14%) studies conducted SR only, 16 (44%) performed MA, and 15 (42%) used summary statistics. The univariable and multivariable linear regression of AMSTAR and PRISMA scores showed that MA had higher quality compared with those with summary statistics. The SR only and summary statistics groups had approximately equal scores among three scales of AMSTAR, PRISMA, and ROBIS. The methodological quality of epidemiological studies has improved from 1999 to 2017.Conclusion: Despite the frequent use of unweighted summary statistics, MA remains the most suitable method for reaching rational conclusions in epidemiological studies of pathogen genotypes/genogroups