A new record of congrid eel, Bathycongrus bleekeri (Congridae) from Vietnam

Three specimens of Bathycongrus bleekeri were collected during the survey in 2015 and 2017. The newly recorded species is described herein, a small, moderately elongate species of Bathycongrus with head and body compressed; vertical fins without black mark; tail slender, attenuated, but not filiform; trunk length 1.2 times greater than head length; teeth small, conical, in about three-four rows on jaws, in a small triangular patch on vomer; 28–29 preanal vertebrae, total of 111–113 vertebrae; 26–28 preanal lateral-line pores. Additional data on the morphology and distribution of the species increases the total number of known species in the family Congridae in Vietnamese waters to twelve

INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE: THE CASE OF BUU DIEN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Objective: In Vietnam, antibiotic resistance has been gained the attention of medical professionals in antibiotic use management. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections at Buu Dien General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in the period of 01-12/2017. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on the retrospective data of all antibiograms of bacteria isolated from hospital-acquired infections at Buu Dien General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in the period of 01-12/2017 to investigate the antibiotic resistance. Characteristics of antibiotic resistance were described by frequency and percentage of types of bacteria isolated and antibiotics being resistant. Results: A total of 179 isolates were collected during the period 01-12/2017, of which E. coli was the most commonly isolated pathogen (41.3%). The highest prevalent infections were in the skin and mucosa; respiratory tract; and urinary tract (34.6%; 32.4%; and 27.9%). The antibiotic susceptibility testing used 21 types of antibiotics. Among them, S. aureus was 82% resistant to clindamycin and 75% resistant to cefuroxime; the Proteus resistance percentages to amoxicillin/clavulanic, second-generation cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin varied from 50 to 93%; Pseudomonas was 92% resistant to fosfomycin and 62% resistant to ceftazidime; A. baumannii was resistant to most classes of agents used (50-75%). Both E. coli and Klebsiella were highly resistant to gentamicin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporin’s. Polymyxin B-resistant Proteus cultures were detected at 67%. Conclusion: The study described the antibiotic resistance situation of hospital-acquired bacteria at the Buu Dien General Hospital from 01-12/2017. This information will aid physicians to select proper antibiotics for their patients in the next period

The Efficiency and the Performance of the Logistics Global Supply Chain Activities to Vietnam Exportation: an Empirical Case Study

Purpose: This research paper aims to determine the factors affecting the efficiency and logistics performance index (LPI) of Vietnam's exports to foreign partners during 2018-2022 are due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Theoretical Framework: Based on the primary factors affecting the efficiency and performance of global supply chain activities in logistics for Vietnam's exports, including practical impact and logistics results of enterprises in Vietnam. Based on the primary factors affecting the efficiency and performance of global supply chain activities in logistics for Vietnam's exports, including (1). Customs efficiency (speed, simplicity and predictability of customs clearance procedures) (2). Quality of infrastructure related to trade and transport, including Roads, railways, ports, airports, warehouses and information technology ...(3). The level of ease when arranging to transport import and export goods with competitive prices (costs such as warehousing fees, port fees, tolls ... ) (4). Capacity and quality of logistics service providers ... (5). Ability to track and trace shipments. (6). Timeliness of the shipment to the destination within the specified time limit. The practical impact and logistics results of enterprises in Vietnam.   Method: The panel approach allows the authors to explore the heterogeneity in data across countries. Fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) models were used to estimate the model. Then, the Hausman test is carried out to decide which model is appropriate. The data were collected from 240 observations from Vietnam and 80 major export partner countries of Vietnam.   Findings: The research results show that the cost, time and capacity of providing logistics services have the most significant impact on Vietnam's exports.   Practical & social implications: Overall, to increase the efficiency and logistics efficiency of enterprises. The Vietnamese Government needs to cooperate and propose ideas to partner countries to improve logistics activities for exports from Vietnam. Logistics is beginning to play an increasingly important role in the competitiveness of economies.   Originality values: This study also confirms the sustainability of the extended gravity model using OLS and RE methods by substituting different variables for the country's logistics efficiency and solving the endogenous problem in the model while applying the regression method to industrial variables. We find that an 1% improvement in Vietnam's logistics would increase Vietnam's exports by 1.443%, and an 1% improvement in a partner country’s performance would help promote Vietnam's exports to this country by 0.546%

CÁ MÚ GIỐNG VÀ BẢO VỆ BÃI GIỐNG Ở ĐẦM THỊ NẠI, VỊNH QUY NHƠN VÀ ĐẦM CÙ MÔNG

The wild grouper fingerling have provided the important seed source for the development of commercial fish farming. Among the wild grouper fingerling collected in the Thi Nai lagoon, Quy Nhon bay (Binh Dinh) and Cu Mong lagoon (Phu Yen), 7 species of grouper have been identified as Banded grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus), Yellow grouper (E. awoara), Longtooth grouper (E. bruneus), Malabar grouper (E. malabaricus), Sixbar grouper (E. sexfasciatus), Orange-spotted grouper (E. coioides) and grouper (Epinephelus sp.); in which three species of Longtooth grouper, Malabar grouper and Orange-spotted grouper were endangered in Red List Categories Criteria of IUCN as VU and NT. The Malabar grouper seed makes up a high proportion of over 30%. The total length of the juveniles is different between species, ranging from an average of 25.0 mm to 116.82 mm; Orange-spotted grouper is 112.48 mm in total length; four grouper species Banded grouper, Yellow grouper, Longtooth grouper and Malabar grouper are longer than 30 mm in total length with 31.96, 32.23, 33.78 and 33.86 mm respectively. The Sixbar grouper and grouper (Epinephelus sp.) are smaller than 30 mm. The catching of grouper fingerling is distributed in wide area, along the bank, mangroves in the lagoon, along the western shore of the Quy Nhon bay, from Ghenh Rang to the southern part of the coast and along the Cu Mong lagoon (from south to southwest). The production of grouper seed fluctuates irregularly, 3 - 4 million seeds per year for highest yields, alternating with very low yields. The protection of nursing grounds is necessary with the solution of selective catching and limiting artisanal fishing.Cá mú giống khai thác tự nhiên đã cung cấp nguồn giống quan trọng cho việc phát triển nuôi cá thương phẩm. Nguồn cá mú giống khai thác tự nhiên ở vùng đầm Thị Nại, vịnh Quy Nhơn (Bình Định) và đầm Cù Mông (Phú Yên) đã xác định được 7 loài là cá mú chấm vạch (Epinephelus amblycephalus), cá song gio (E. awoara), cá song nâu (E. bruneus), cá mú điểm gai (E. malabaricus), cá mú sau sọc (E. sexfasciatus), cá mú mè (E. coioides) và cá song (Epinephelus sp); trong đó có ba loài là cá song nâu (E. bruneus), cá mú điểm gai (E. malabaricus) và cá mú mè (E. coioides) là những loài được IUCN xếp ở mức nguy cấp bậc VU và NT. Con giống cá mú điểm gai chiếm tỉ lệ khá cao trên 30%. Chiều dài toàn thân trung bình cá giống của các loài khác nhau, từ 25,0 - 116,82 mm; cá mú mè  có chiều dài toàn thân lớn nhất đếm 112,48 mm, ba loài cá mú chấm vạch, cá song gio và cá mú điểm gai có chiều dài lớn hơn 30 mm tưong ứng là 31,96; 32,23; 33,78 và 33,86 mm. Hai loài còn lại là cá mú sáu sọc và cá song đều có kích thước nhỏ hơn 30 mm. Vùng khai thác cá mú giống khá rộng; dọc theo các cồn, dãi cây ngập mặn trong đầm Thị Nại, ven bờ phía bắc lên phía tây của vịnh Quy Nhơn; nơi tập trung khai thác ở ven gần bờ phía tây vịnh, từ Ghềnh Ráng kéo dài vào đến khu vực phía nam và vùng dọc bờ của đầm Cù Mông (từ phía nam đến tây nam). Sản lượng khai thác các mú giống biến động khá thất thường, năm có sản lượng cao lên đến 3 - 4 triệu con/năm, xen kẽ có năm sản lượng rất thấp. Việc bảo vệ bãi giống là cần thiết với các giải pháp khai thác có chọn lọc và hạn chế khai thác tận thu

A novel IGHMBP2 variant and clinical diversity in Vietnamese SMARD1 and CMT2S patients

BackgroundPathogenic variants in the IGHMBP2 gene are associated with two distinct autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorders: spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1; OMIM #604320) and Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2S (CMT2S; OMIM #616155). SMARD1 is a severe and fatal condition characterized by infantile-onset respiratory distress, diaphragmatic palsy, and distal muscular weakness, while CMT2S follows a milder clinical course, with slowly progressive distal muscle weakness and sensory loss, without manifestations of respiratory disorder.MethodsWhole-exome sequencing of the IGHMBP2 gene was performed for eight Vietnamese patients with IGHMBP2-related neuromuscular disorders including five patients with SMARD1 and the others with CMT2S.ResultsWe identified one novel IGHMBP2 variant c.1574T > C (p.Leu525Pro) in a SMARD1 patient. Besides that, two patients shared the same pathogenic variants (c.1235 + 3A > G/c.1334A > C) but presented completely different clinical courses: one with SMARD1 who deceased at 8 months of age, the other with CMT2S was alive at 3 years old without any respiratory distress.ConclusionThis study is the first to report IGHMBP-2-related neuromuscular disorders in Vietnam. A novel IGHMBP2 variant c.1574T > C (p.Leu525Pro) expressing SMARD1 phenotype was detected. The presence of three patients with the same genotype but distinct clinical outcomes suggested the interaction of variants and other factors including relating modified genes in the mechanism of various phenotypes

Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility Assay (MODS) for Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children

MODS is a novel liquid culture based technique that has been shown to be effective and rapid for early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated the MODS assay for diagnosis of TB in children in Viet Nam. 217 consecutive samples including sputum (n = 132), gastric fluid (n = 50), CSF (n = 32) and pleural fluid (n = 3) collected from 96 children with suspected TB, were tested by smear, MODS and MGIT. When test results were aggregated by patient, the sensitivity and specificity of smear, MGIT and MODS against “clinical diagnosis” (confirmed and probable groups) as the gold standard were 28.2% and 100%, 42.3% and 100%, 39.7% and 94.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of MGIT and MODS was not significantly different in this analysis (P = 0.5), but MGIT was more sensitive than MODS when analysed on the sample level using a marginal model (P = 0.03). The median time to detection of MODS and MGIT were 8 days and 13 days, respectively, and the time to detection was significantly shorter for MODS in samples where both tests were positive (P<0.001). An analysis of time-dependent sensitivity showed that the detection rates were significantly higher for MODS than for MGIT by day 7 or day 14 (P<0.001 and P = 0.04), respectively. MODS is a rapid and sensitive alternative method for the isolation of M.tuberculosis from children