Effects of plant essential oils and their constituents on Helicobacter pylori : A Review

Essential oils (EOs) obtained from different medicinal and aromatic plant families by steam distillation have been used in the pharmaceutical, food, and fragrance industries. The plant EOs and their broad diversity of chemical components have attracted researchers worldwide due to their human health benefits and antibacterial properties, especially their treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Since H. pylori has been known to be responsible for various gastric and duodenal diseases such as atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, several combination antibiotic therapies have been increasingly used to enhance the eradication rate of the bacterial infection. However, in the last decades, the efficacy of the therapies has decreased significantly due to widespread emergence of multidrug resistant strains of H. pylori. In addition, side-effects from commonly used antibiotics and recurrence of the bacterial infection have drawn public health concern globally.Therefore, this review focuses on in vitro effects of plant EOs and their bioactive constituents on the growth, cell morphology and integrity, biofilm formation, motility, adhesion, and urease activity of H. pylori. Their inhibitory effects on expression of genes necessary for growth and virulence factor productions of the bacterial pathogen are also discussed. Further in vivo and clinical evaluations are required so that plant EOs and their bioactive constituents can be possibly applicable in pharmacy or as adjuvants to the current therapies of H. pylori infection

First molecular report of Feline panleukopenia virus infection in diarrheic cats at Can Tho City, Vietnam

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) belongs to the family Parvoviridae and causes an acute viral infection in cats worldwide. Information on the circulation of FPV among cats is currently limited in Vietnam. Herein, the full–length VP2 gene and molecular characteristics of FPV isolated in diarrhea cats in Can Tho City were first exhibited. Phylogenetic analysis based on seven obtained nucleotide sequences revealed that the isolated sequences were clustered into a narrow group with FPV sequences in the neighboring countries such as China, Thailand, and Japan, and distantly grouped with the vaccine strains. Regarding nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis, the nucleotide and amino acid homology of 99.98–100% and 99.99–100% among obtained sequences, and showed high homology with reference sequences, accounting for 97.38–98.51% and 98.96–99.27%, respectively. Besides, the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were a homology of 98.51% and 99.26% with two vaccine strains in GenBank. Regarding amino acid translation, seven obtained sequences were closely related to FPV strains, meanwhile, they were different from CPV–2 strains in GenBank at amino acid substitutions of K80, K93 and V103. Overall, this is the first detection of FPV in diarrhea cats and illustrated the molecular characteristics of FPV in the cat population in Can Tho City of Vietnam

Genetic characterization of canine distemper virus from infected dogs in Can Tho City, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The study aimed to evaluate the endemicity and determine the genetic characteristics of canine distemper virus (CDV) in Can Tho City. A study was carried out on 1,120 dogs raised in Can Tho City, and there were 150 dogs showed clinical signs of canine distemper. The result showed 68/150 (45.33%) dogs were positive for CDV, which was determined based on the test kit of Rapid Test Immumo provided by Asan company (Korea). Dogs under 6 months-age had the highest infection rate (68.00%), significantly higher than other age groups (P<0.05). Male dogs (50%) were more affected than females (41.86%). Exotic dogs showed a higher CDV infection rate compared to domestic dogs, with statistical significance (P<0.05). All dogs displayed clinical signs such as anorectic, moodiness, fever, sneezing, and eye conjunctivitis. Vaccinated dogs had a lower infection rate (6.25%) compared to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated dogs (80% and 69.57% respectively). The study on genetic characteristics of 7 representative Distemper virus strains isolated from the infected dogs was conducted via sequencing the H gene. Genetic analysis of seven representative CDV strains revealed a high similarity (99.82-99.96%) among isolated strains, indicating a common origin and frequent circulation in the study area. Nucleotide similarity with strains in the GenBank ranged from 93.26% to 99.56%, and with vaccine strains from 96.72% to 97.08%. The isolated CDV strains belonged to the Asia 1 lineage, commonly found in Vietnam and other Asian countries

Vocational Orientation and the Need for Establishing Career Counselling Office in Vietnamese Schools

School psychology is a field that has been receiving a lot of attention recently in Vietnam as it prepares to restructure the general education curriculum. In particular, vocational orientation and career counseling are most concerned due to the emergence of new subjects in the educational curriculum - Experimental and Vocational Orientation Activities. The objective of this study is to investigate the current situation of vocational orientation problems and the need for career counseling of Vietnamese high school students to provide evidence to develop the school counseling activities and the School Psychology in Vietnam. This is a quantitative study used a questionnaire to examine the current situation of vocational orientation problems and the need for career counseling of 1200 high school students in Vietnam to illustrate the importance of vocational orientation work. The results showed that Vietnamese high school students faced many vocational orientation problems and wanted support from school counselors. But the reality did not meet the needs of students: Vietnamese schools lacked a team of school counselors both in quality and quantity, also lack of school counseling offices in almost high schools. This result is expected to contribute to the development of the School Psychology in Vietnam, but firstly, to promote the establishment of counseling office at least one office per school

Adaptation options for agricultural cultivation systems in the South Central Coast under the context of climate change: Assessment Report.

This report highlights the results of consultation meetings and field visits organized by the Department of Crop Production and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security in Southeast Asia in association with the three offices of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the South Central Coast provinces of Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, and Khanh Hoa, in combination with consultation with the provinces in the conference: “Summing up crops production in the Winter-Spring season in 2018-2019, implementing the Summer-Autumn season, Main rice season in 2019 for the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands” held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province on 12 April 2019. The meetings underlined the progress made by the provinces on climate change adaptation and mitigation, options for risk reductions in agricultural production, and conversion of crop structure as results of implementing the guidelines of the provinces and the Sector, especially, solutions for reservation and efficient and economic use of water under the context of climate change. This assessment report also reviews some issues related to the agricultural transformation of the region in adapting to risks caused by climate change. They are based on comparative advantages in terms of geographical location and market of key agricultural products. This report also points out shortcomings in using land and unreasonable points in managing and using important natural resources, especially water, and provides recommendations for the agricultural transformation and inter-regional connection with the Central Highlands and the Southeast. The team also introduces climate-related risks maps and adaptation plans (CS MAP) which is applied in the five provinces in the Mekong Delta Region, and hopes this solution’s expansion shall be supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provinces

Development of a nutritional model to define the energy and protein requirements of cobia, Rachycentron canadum

This study assessed the protein and energy requirements of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) using a bio-energetic factorial approach. Using a series of inter-related studies, several parameters were defined to enable the construction of a bio-energetic factorial model for this species. The studies included two controlled laboratory experiments and also extensive field-data collection from commercial and research farms in Vietnam. The devised model includes parameters for both maintenance and protein demands; the effect of fish live-weight on maintenance protein (LW0.697), lipid (LW0.972), and energy demands (LW0.815); the efficiencies of protein, lipid and energy utilisation at various protein, lipid and energy intake levels; and the variability in whole body composition with varying live-weight. The protein utilisation efficiencies (0.456&middot;[protein intake]&minus;0.445), lipid utilisation efficiencies (1.292&middot;[lipid intake]&minus;1.120) and energy utilisation efficiencies (0.651&middot;[energy intake]&minus;48.41) were similar to other carnivorous fish species. However, the maintenance requirements for both energy (74.3kJ/kgBW0.8/d&minus;at 28&deg;C) and protein (0.99g/kgBW0.7/d at 27.9&deg;C) were about double to other species. Using this modelling approach it was possible to iteratively derive optimal dietary protein and energy specifications for this species

Factors Affecting Successful Quality Assurance Implementation in Vietnamese Higher Education: A Qualitative Study

Quality assurance and accreditation was officially introduced into the higher education system in Vietnam over ten years ago. It is evident that quality assurance has resulted in positive impacts on university management, teaching, learning and research activities. This paper aims to explore factors that aid the successful implementation of higher education quality assurance and accreditation in Vietnam. Through semi-structured interviews with 32 participants, this study identified a number of factors that contributed to quality assurance processes, including awareness of the importance of quality assurance, better institutional manager leadership, support of university lecturers, staff, and students, and the vital responsibility of internal quality assurance staff. These confirm that internal stakeholders play an important role in undertaking quality assurance programmes and activities

Synthesis of antiulcer drug esomeprazole.

Esomeprazole (Nexium®), the (S)-isomer of Omeprazole, is the first proton-pump inhibitor developed as a single isomer for the treatment of acid-related diseases. It is used for the treatment of peptic ulcers, gastroesophagal reflux disease, and erosive esophagitis. Herein, we report our synthetic study of esomeprazole sodium salt from the starting    2-mercapto-5-methoxybenzimidazole and 2-(chloromethyl)-4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine hydrochloride reagents. The Esomeprazole sodium salt was obtained from enantioselectivesulfoxidation reaction in moderate yield with high enantioselectivity

An evaluation of economic viability of small scale slaughterhouses in Vietnam: Implication for pig value chain development

Slaughterhouse plays important role in pig value chain in Vietnam, not only for the functions it plays and economic added value it generates, but also for product quality relates to food safety standards that is much affected under slaughtering activity. The study is aimed to get a better understanding of structure, conduct, performance and economic viability of small scale slaughter houses in the pig value chain, and draw key implications for pig value chain development in Vietnam. Nghe An and Hung Yen are selected as study site. Data is collected from 51 small scale slaughterhouses in 18 communes. Descriptive and comparative statistics are employed with t-test for mean comparison. Results show that slaughterhouse plays multiple functions in the pig value chain, generate permanent jobs for at least 2 family labors, and provides an income of about 18 USD/working day for family labor, contributing about threefourths of total family income. Slaughtering activity generates an added value of 165 USD/one ton of live pig, accounting from 24%-44% total value added in the pig value chain. Upstream and downstream linkages of slaughterhouses in the chain are quite loose with no formal contract. The majority of small scale slaughterhouses do not meet the standards for pig slaughterhouse as required by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The setting up as well as slaughtering practices are perceived to contribute to exposure of meat to contamination that could lead to higher incidence of salmonella in pork, a common cause of foodborne illness for consumers. Rising concerns of consumers about food safety as well as increasing level of economic integration of Vietnam are factors potentially having great impacts on economic viability of small scale slaughterhouse in Vietnam. Several recommendations for upgrading slaughterhouse are proposed accordingly