Clinical and virological features of acute HBV-related hepatitis in southern Vietnam

Background: Despite the availability of effective vaccines, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still frequent worldwide, and accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. However, data of acute HBeAg negative hepatitis still remain limited. Aims and Methods: To understand clinical pictures of acute HBV hepatitis and its natural evolution, a prospective study was conducted in adult patients. Results: Ninety patients were enrolled between March 2004 and April 2005 at Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh city. The prevalence of HBeAg negative was 53%. No significant difference was found in clinical characteristics and laboratory findings between HBeAg positive and negative patients. HBV-DNA was detected in 75% and 88% HBe negative and positive patients, respectively, where the frequency of ALT below 400 U/L was significantly higher in HBeAg negative cases (p = 0.01). Six month follow-up was available in 47 patients. HBsAg positivity was found in 16% of HBeAg negative subjects but only in 4.5% of HBeAg positive cases. Thirty two patients had neither HBsAg nor anti-HBs. Conclusions: The clinical and laboratory feature and the ou

NĂNG SUẤT SƠ CẤP Ở ĐẦM THỊ NẠI, TỈNH BÌNH ĐỊNH

Experiments of photosynthesis assessment of phytoplankton and seaweed had been carried out in Thi Nai lagoon in rainy season (October, 2013) and dry season (May, 2014). The results showed that primary productivity of phytoplankton was 8 - 149 mgC/m3/day, and that productivity of seaweed Gracilaria verrucosa was 0.139 - 0.197 mg C/g seaweed/day. During photosynthesis process of phytoplankton, an amount of 1.42 - 1.6 tons mineral nitrogen/day and 0.14 - 0.17 tons phosphate/day was consumed in the whole lagoon. The photosynthesis process of seaweed also consumed an amount of 0.74 - 0.83 tons/day of inorganic nitrogen (including nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium), and 0.041 - 0.045 tons/day of phosphate in the whole lagoon.Các thí nghiệm đánh giá khả năng quang hợp của thực vật nổi và rong biển đã được thực hiện tại đầm Thị Nại (Bình Định) vào mùa mưa (tháng 10/2013) và mùa khô (tháng 5/2014). Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy năng suất sơ cấp của thực vật nổi và rong câu chỉ vàng Gracilaria verrucosa nằm trong khoảng 8 - 149 mgC/m3/ngày và khoảng 0,135 - 0,197 mgC/g rong/ngày. Trong quá trình quang hợp, thực vật nổi làm tiêu hao khoảng 1,42 - 1,6 tấn khoáng nitơ/ngày và 0,14 - 0,17 tấn phôtphat/ngày. Tương tự, quần xã rong trong đầm cũng làm tiêu hao khoảng 0,74 - 0,83 tấn/ngày các dinh dưỡng nitơ vô cơ và 0,041 - 0,045 tấn phôtphat/ngày trên toàn đầm Thị Nại

Assessment of Pollution Load into Thi Nai Lagoon, Viet Nam and Prediction to 2025

Abstract: Based on the statistical data of social-economic state and development planning to 2025 of Binh Dinh province, the pollution load from development activities has been calculated by using the environmental rapid assessment method. The results showed that development activities in Binh Dinh province create about 30.7, thousand tons of COD;17.1 thousand tons of BOD; 9.1 thousand tons of Nitrogen; 6.5 thousand tons of Phosphorous and 379 thousand tons of TSS from living activities, aquaculture, industry, farming and land leaching. Until 2025, this amount will be increased 1.4 -2.6 times. The main pollution sources are from living activities including residents and tourists and livestock farming. Therefore, treatment of waste from these sources is very necessary to minimize the waste amount discharged into the Thi Nai Lagoon

The Endo-α(1,4) Specific Fucoidanase Fhf2 From Formosa haliotis Releases Highly Sulfated Fucoidan Oligosaccharides

Fucoidanases are endo-fucoidanases (also known as endo-fucanases) that catalyze hydrolysis of α-glycosidic linkages in fucoidans, a family of sulfated fucose-rich polysaccharides primarily found in the cell walls of brown seaweeds. Fucoidanases are promising tools for producing bioactive fucoidan oligosaccharides for a range of biomedical applications. High sulfation degree has been linked to high bioactivity of fucoidans. In this study, a novel fucoidanase, Fhf2, was identified in the genome of the aerobic, Gram-negative marine bacterium Formosa haliotis. Fhf2 was found to share sequence similarity to known endo-α(1,4)-fucoidanases (EC 3.2.1.212) from glycoside hydrolase family 107. A C-terminal deletion mutant Fhf2∆484, devoid of 484 amino acids at the C-terminus, with a molecular weight of approximately 46 kDa, was constructed and found to be more stable than the full-length Fhf2 protein. Fhf2∆484 showed endo-fucoidanase activity on fucoidans from different seaweed species including Fucus evanescens, Fucus vesiculosus, Sargassum mcclurei, and Sargassum polycystum. The highest activity was observed on fucoidan from F. evanescens. The Fhf2∆484 enzyme was active at 20–45°C and at pH 6–9 and had optimal activity at 37°C and pH 8. Additionally, Fhf2∆484 was found to be calcium-dependent. NMR analysis showed that Fhf2∆484 catalyzed hydrolysis of α(1,4) linkages between L-fucosyl moieties sulfated on C2 (similar to Fhf1 from Formosa haliotis), but Fhf2∆484 in addition released oligosaccharides containing a substantial amount of 2,4-disulfated fucose residues. The data thus suggest that the Fhf2∆484 enzyme could be a valuable candidate for producing highly sulfated oligosaccharides applicable for fucoidan bioactivity investigations

Depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Northern Vietnam

IntroductionThe outbreak of coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) had significant effects on the mental well-being in general, particularly for healthcare professionals. This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and identified the associated risk factors amongst healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in a tertiary hospital located in Vietnam.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary-level hospital, where the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) web-based questionnaire was employed. We analyzed the determinant factors by employing multivariate logistic models.ResultsThe prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were 19.2%, 24.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. Factors such as engaging in shift work during the pandemic, taking care of patients with COVID-19, and staff’s health status were associated with mental health issues among health professionals. In addition, having alternate rest periods was likely to reduce the risk of stress.ConclusionThe prevalence of mental health problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively high. Having resting periods could potentially mitigate the development of stress among health professionals. Our findings could be taken into account for improving mental health of the health professional population

An overview of lymphatic vessels and their emerging role in cardiovascular disease

Over the past decade, molecular details of lymphatic vessels (lymphatics) have been rapidly acquired due to the identification of lymphatic endothelial-specific markers. Separate from the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system is also an elaborate network of vessels that are important in normal physiology. Lymphatic vessels have the unique task to regulate fluid homeostasis, assist in immune surveillance, and transport dietary lipids. However, dysfunctional lymphatic vessels can cause pathology, while normal lymphatics can exacerbate pathology. This review summarizes the development and growth of lymphatic vessels in addition to highlighting their critical roles in physiology and pathology. Also, we discuss recent work that suggests a connection between lymphatic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease

Spatiotemporal evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants during large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam, 2021

We analyzed 1,303 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from Vietnam, and found the Alpha and Delta variants were responsible for a large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021. The Delta variant was confined to the AY.57 lineage and caused >1.7 million infections and >32,000 deaths. Viral transmission was strongly affected by nonpharmaceutical interventions

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe

Business Potential of Arctic Berry Wax for Cosmetics in the UK : Wax Project

The Bachelor’s thesis examines strengths and weaknesses of Arctic berry wax and analyzes the natural cosmetics industry for the multi-disciplinary Wax Project with the participation of many Nordic universities. The project researches the environmentally sustainable methods to extract Nordic wild berry wax from industrial side streams and waste. Based on researching the methods, the applications of the wax in different fields are also studied with the goal of creating a new high-quality and valuable Arctic berry wax-based product. The project consists of different work packages and identifying its business opportunities is a section of the whole project and thereby, the project can raise its funding and collaborate with business partners. The research aims to explore the business potential of Arctic berry wax for cosmetics in the United Kingdom. Based on the analysis of the ingredient and natural cosmetics market, the frameworks of SWOT and Value Proposition will be drawn so that readers will have an extensive insight into exceptional properties of the wax. Moreover, these frameworks are beneficial for natural cosmetics companies which plan to access the British market. With the help of a variety of analysis models concerning marketing research, the values of berry wax and the business markets of natural cosmetics industry are clarified. In addition to theoretical background, to obtain a practical view towards the subject, a qualitative interview with an experienced expert in this field is conducted. On the basis of the wax and market research, it is claimed that the UK is an exceedingly potential market for natural cosmetics, including wild berry-based products. The market promisingly offers a range of business opportunities for the supplementary ingredient with the continuous growth of value sales and customer shift towards natural cosmetics. Along with it, due to the aggressive market, cosmetics companies will face a few challenges. However, as Arctic berries possess unique characteristics, natural cosmetics businesses can create competitive advantages to stand out amongst other competitors. The research can be used as a reference for Wax project’s partners and further studies regarding business strategies and marketing plan