Covid-19 Pandemic and Performance of Economic Sectors in Vietnam

Purpose of the paper: This study aims to consider the Covid impact on stock – price volatility of different industry groups in Vietnam by using the M-GARCH model

Covid-19 Pandemic and Performance of Economic Sectors in Vietnam

Purpose of the paper: This study aims to consider the Covid impact on stock – price volatility of different industry groups in Vietnam by using the M-GARCH model

Comparing smell identification ability among different motor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease using the Vietnamese Smell Identification Test and the Brief Smell Identification Test

IntroductionOlfactory dysfunction is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). The association between smell identification ability and motor subtypes of PD is not uniform in previous studies. This study aimed to compare the odor identification ability among different motor subtypes of PD in Vietnamese participants.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with PD according to the International Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society 2015 Diagnostic Criteria and had normal cognitive function were recruited. Participants were divided into akinetic-rigid (AR), tremor-dominant (TD), and mixed (MX) motor subgroups using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) score. Olfactory identification ability was evaluated using the Vietnamese Smell Identification Test (VSIT) and the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Age, age at PD onset, disease duration, smell identification ability, and cognitive function were compared among the three PD motor subtypes.ResultsThe AR subgroup was the most common motor subtype (n = 164, 75.2 %), followed by TD (n = 39, 17.9 %), and MX (n = 15, 6.9 %) subtypes. Age, age at PD onset, sex, disease duration, and MMSE score were not significantly different between the three motor subgroups (all p > 0.05). The median (IQR) VSIT scores of AR, TD, and MX subgroups were 5.00 [4.00;7.00], 5.00 [3.50;7.00], and 5.00 [3.00;6.00], respectively. The median (IQR) BSIT scores of AR, TD, and MX subgroups were 6.00 [4.00;7.00], 5.00 [4.00;7.00], and 5.00 [4.50;7.00], respectively. The VSIT and the BSIT scores were not significantly different among the three motor subtypes (all p > 0.05).ConclusionSmell identification ability assessed in both the VSIT and BSIT did not differ across the three motor subtypes of PD

Diagnostic value of vietnamese smell identification test in Parkinson's disease

IntroductionThe Vietnamese Smell Identification Test (VSIT) has been validated in determining olfactory dysfunction in the Vietnamese population; however, its value in diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been established.MethodsThis case-control study was conducted at University Medical Center HCMC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The study sample included non-demented PD patients and healthy controls (HC) who were gender- and age-matched. All participants were evaluated for odor identification ability using the VSIT and the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT).ResultsA total of 218 HCs and 218 PD patients participated in the study. The median VSIT and BSIT scores were significantly different between PD and HC groups (VSIT, 5 (3) vs. 9 (2), P < 0.0001; BSIT, 6 (3) vs 8 (2), P < 0.0001). Using the cut-off of <8 for correct answers out of 12 odorants, the VSIT had higher sensitivity (84.4%) and specificity (86.2%) than those of the BSIT (sensitivity of 81.7% and specificity of 69.3%) for the diagnosis of PD. The area under the curve (AUC) value was greater for the VSIT than for the BSIT (0.909 vs 0.818). The smell identification scores were not significantly correlated with disease duration, disease severity, or LEDD (all p > 0.05).ConclusionThe VSIT can be a valuable ancillary tool for supporting the diagnosis of PD in Vietnam. Olfactory dysfunction in PD was unrelated to the disease duration and severity. The VSIT can be applied to improve the accuracy of clinical PD diagnosis

Effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy offers a promising approach to addressing this challenge by providing a convenient single-tablet solution that enhances the effectiveness of blood pressure control. In our systematic review, we assess the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in managing blood pressure.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across four primary electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), and Google Scholar, as of 8 February 2022. Additionally, we performed a manual search to find relevant articles. The quality of the selected articles was evaluated using the Study Quality Assessment Tools (SQAT) checklist from the National Institute of Health and the ROB2 tool from Cochrane.Results: Our systematic review included 17 eligible articles. The findings show that the use of perindopril/amlodipine FDC significantly lowers blood pressure and enhances the quality of blood pressure control. Compared to the comparison group, the perindopril/amlodipine combination tablet resulted in a higher rate of blood pressure response and normalization. Importantly, perindopril/amlodipine FDC contributes to improved patient adherence with minimal side effects. However, studies conducted to date have not provided assessments of the cost-effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC.Conclusion: In summary, our analysis confirms the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in lowering blood pressure, with combination therapy outperforming monotherapy and placebo. Although mild adverse reactions were observed in a small subset of participants, cost-effectiveness assessments for this treatment remain lacking in the literature

Early Pandemic Influenza (2009 H1N1) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A Clinical Virological and Epidemiological Analysis

Rogier van Doorn and colleagues analyze the initial outbreak, attempts at containment, and establishment of community transmission of pandemic H1N1 influenza in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Factors affecting calcining temperatures of BZT–BCT ceramics

Piezoelectric ceramic 0.48Ba[Zr0.2Ti0.8]O3 – 0.52[Ba0.7Ca0.3]TiO3 (BZT–BCT) with nanostructure was manufactured with traditional ceramic technology. The nanostructure and the sintering aid reduce the calcining temperature from 1250 to 1170 °C and the sintering temperature from 1450 to 1350 °C. The piezoelectric properties of BZT–BCT at the optimal calcining and sintering temperature are discussed in detail

ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA NHIỆT ĐỘ THIÊU KẾT ĐẾN MỘT SỐ TÍNH CHẤT VẬT LÝ CỦA HỆ GỐM (K0,5Na0,5)NbO3

This paper reports the synthesis of K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) ceramics by using an improved conventional method. The influence of sintering temperatures of the fabricated ceramics on the piezoelectric and dielectric properties was studied. It was found that density increases greatly within a narrow temperature range, and reaches the highest value of 4.2 g/cm3 at 1090 °C, corresponding to a dense microstructure with the tetragonal grain shape. However, when sintering temperature slightly exceeds the optimal one, the density tends to decrease, accompanied by the appearance of abnormal grain growth, which is considered to be due to the intensified volatilization of alkali metal oxides. At a sintering temperature of 1090 °C, the highest values of electromechanical coupling factor (kp) and the piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of the ceramics being 0.22 and 61 pC/N, respectively, may be related to homogenous grains size of orthorhombic phase.Hệ gốm K0,5Na0,5NbO3 (KNN) được chế tạo thành công bằng phương pháp phản ứng pha rắn. Ảnh hưởng của nhiệt độ thiêu kết đến tính chất điện môi và áp điện của hệ gốm KNN đã được nghiên cứu. Kết quả thực nghiệm cho thấy mật độ gốm biến thiên khi tăng nhiệt độ thiêu kết và đạt giá trị cao nhất là 4,2 g/cm3 khi thiêu kết tại 1090 °C, tương ứng với sự hình thành các hạt gốm có dạng tứ giác phân bố khá đồng đều. Tại nhiệt độ thiêu kết 1090 °C, gốm có hệ số liên kết điện cơ theo phương bán kính (kp) và hệ số áp điện (d33) đạt giá trị cao nhất, lần lượt là 0,22 và 61 pC/N, ứng với kích thước các hạt gốm khá đồng đều

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light by cobalt ferrite nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots

A simple approach was developed to synthesize cobalt ferrite nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots (CF/GQDs). The material was prepared from a homogeneous mixture of iron nitrate, cobalt nitrate, and starch at 140, 180 and 200 °C in a 24 h thermal hydrolysis process. The obtained materials were characterised by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, vibrating-sample magnetometry, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. Cobalt ferrite crystals of around 8–10 nm and graphene quantum dots formed directly at 200 °C. Stacking GQDs sheets onto the CF nanoparticles resulted in CF/GQDs nanoparticles. The nanocomposite exhibits satisfactory fluorescent and superparamagnetic properties, which are vital for catalytic applications. The CF/GQDs catalyse significantly the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The catalyst can be recycled with an external magnetic field and displays suitable stability. Also, it was reused in three successive experiments with a loss of efficiency of about 5%. The CF/GQDs are considered as an efficient photocatalyst for MB degradation and other dyes