The Influence Of Host Genetics And Different <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Strains On Macrophage Functions And Clinical Outcome Of Tuberculosis Disease

Only 5-10 % of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infected individuals develop active pulmonary TB (PTB), and around Mtb isolates are associated with Mtb lineages and distinct host immune responses. I developed assays using ligand coated beads and Mtb reporter strain to measure the macrophage antimicrobial activities. Our assays were able to detect the variation in macrophage activities among different individuals. I investigated the macrophage antimicrobial functions and its association with different TB phenotypes. I measured the macrophage activities in 43 latent TB (LTB) and active TB (ATB) cases combining 54 PTB and 60 TBM patients. Our results showed that macrophages treated with ligands displayed higher antimicrobial activities in LTB than ATB, but no difference between PTB and TBM. Whereas, in Mtb-infected macrophages from both LTB and ATB, proteolysis was reduced due to the modulation of Mtb and there was no difference in their ability to control Mtb. Our data also indicated that the antimicrobial activities of macrophages were ligand-specific or pathway-dependent. The influence of host genetics on TB susceptibility was examined by the association of variants on phagocytic genes using a case-control study with 450 TBM, 450 PTB and 450 controls. Heterozygotes of Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with increased TB susceptibility, abnormal chest X-ray, infection by Beijing strains and also with impaired macrophage phagocytosis of ligand coated beads. The virulence of Mtb strains was examined by observing cell lysis of macrophages infected with 159 Mtb strains. Virulence phenotype was grouped as low, moderate and high. High virulence was associated with Beijing lineage, reduced TNF-α and IL-6 and increased IL-1β concentration. Overall, this thesis provides new insights into the influence of host and bacterial factors on TB susceptibility. It also provides a foundation for further studies on factors influencing TB susceptibility

Examining Vietnam's Success in Controlling COVID-19 Pandemic in Terms of People's Behavior

To deal with an unprecedented pandemic known as COVID-19, every country has developed its own policies to prevent the expansion of Coronavirus. The purpose of this study is to investigate Vietnam’s success in controlling the spread of COVID-19 epidemic from the perspective of people’s behavior. This study applied the Health Belief Model developed by Don Nutbeam and Elizabeth (2004). An online survey engine (docs.google.com/forms) and an offline survey were employed to collect data from citizens in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Haiphong and other cities. The statistical analysis used 423 questionnaires from 450 respondents, mainly aged 18 to 35. The results demonstrated that people's awareness of COVID-19 as well as their behaviors have contributed significantly to the successful efforts to prevent and control the disease in Vietnam. Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, controlling Covid-19, people’s behavior, behavior, Vietnam DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-6-07 Publication date:March 31st 202

Customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in Vietnamese mobile telecommunication industry

This study was aimed at investigating three factors (service quality, brand image and price perception) and assessed the degree of the impact of each factor on customer satisfaction, especially the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in Vietnamese mobile telecom sector where there have been the existence of the fierce competition, mature market and internationally integrated economy, ultimately struggling for market share and survival. The results indicated that each factor (service quality, brand image, price perception) has a positive impact on customer satisfaction at the different level as well as a significantly positive relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in mobile telecommunication industry in Vietnam. The results of this study are consistent with the findings and evidence in the extant literature. The study provides the important feedback from customers to mobile telecom suppliers. Research findings are expected to be marketing insights for Vietnamese mobile telecom managers so that they can develop the sound marketing strategies in today’s competitive and costly market

The pedagogical training management of gifted high school teachers in the region of Red River Delta based on a competency approach

Pedagogical training for teachers is always an important issue of every education system. Teachers impart knowledge, give academic advice to students, and assist students in applying knowledge to develop society. This study investigated the gifted high school teacher pedagogical training management in the region of the Red River Delta according to the competency approach. Based on the available data, the research indicated three main things: (i) Professional pedagogical competence of gifted high school teachers; (ii) Pedagogical training activities for gifted high school teachers; (iii) Management of pedagogical training activities for gifted high school teachers. This study conducted a survey of 547 departmental and school managers in gifted high school teachers in nine provinces in Red River Delta, including Hanoi, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, and Vinh Phuc. These findings are only preliminary research, and they will be an important basis for proposing management solutions to improve the effectiveness of pedagogical training activities for gifted high school teachers

Are Costs of Robot-Assisted Surgery Warranted for Gynecological Procedures?

The exponential use of robotic surgery is not the result of evidence-based benefits but mainly driven by the manufacturers, patients and enthusiastic surgeons. The present review of the literature shows that robot-assisted surgery is consistently more expensive than video-laparoscopy and in many cases open surgery. The average additional variable cost for gynecological procedures was about 1600 USD, rising to more than 3000 USD when the amortized cost of the robot itself was included. Generally most robotic and laparoscopic procedures have less short-term morbidity, blood loss, intensive care unit, and hospital stay than open surgery. Up to now no major consistent differences have been found between robot-assisted and classic video-assisted procedures for these factors. No comparative data are available on long-term morbidity and oncologic outcome after open, robotic, and laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. It seems that currently only for very complex surgical procedures, such as cardiac surgery, the costs of robotics can be competitive to open surgical procedures. In order to stay viable, robotic programs will need to pay for themselves on a per case basis and the costs of robotic surgery will have to be reduced

Discorvery of Entomopathogenic fungi Cordyceps takaomontana at Langbian Mountain, Lam Dong, Vietnam

The stromata of Cordyceps takaomontana Y. Kobayashi (1941) were found on the Langbian Mountain, Da Lat, Vietnam at the height of 1.650 meter above sea level, on the larva of Lepidoptera. Stromata were lemon-yellow, clavate to enlongated clavate, arising from a white pseudosclerotium. The fertile head was on the top part of stromata, darker colored in comparison to the stipe. Perithecium was narrowly ovoid, superficial and forming dark yellow punctate on the surface of stromata. Ascus was cylindrical with semi-spherical cap. Ascospores were cylindrical, truncated and separately after discharge from the ascus. Pure culture was isolated on Potato Glucose Agar (PGA) medium: white colony in young and yellow in old. The isolated mycelium was not homogenous in thickness and in growth rate at the peripheral area. Conidiophores were phialide, tapering to both apexes. Conidia had elliptical shape and formed into chains after maturation. DNA was isolated, then purified from pure mycelium and used to amplifying the nrLSU (nuclear ribosomal large subunit) and rpb1 (RNA polymerase II largest subunit) genes. The amplified products were used for sequencing, proof-reading by some professional softwares before combining with other nrLSU and rpb1 sequences. Then this database was used to search for the suitable evolution model as well as to construct the phylogenetic trees. The results of phylogenetic analysis completely supported the morphological classification: DL0038A and DL0038B were Cordyceps takaomontana Y. Kobayashi (1941)