Isolation and characterization of five novel mini-M conotoxins from the venom of mollusk-hunter snail Conus bandanus

Objective: To determine the new M-superfamily conotoxins from molluscivorous snail Conus bandanus in Vietnam. Methods: Conus bandanus venom was fractionated and purified on HPLC system with an analytical reversed-phase C18 column in order to screen small conotoxins. The primary structure of peptide was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced dissociation and confirmed by Edman's degradation method. Results: Five new conotoxins were biochemically characterized from the crude venom of the mollusk-hunting cone snail Conus bandanus, which were collected at Ke Ga reef of the Nha Trang Bay (Vietnam). Each conotoxin had 15 or 16 amino acid residues and shared the same characteristic cysteine framework V as-CC-C-C-CC-. They were termed as Bn3b, Bn3c, Bn3d, Bn3e and Bn3f following the conotoxins nomenclature. Conclusions: The conotoxins Bn3b, Bn3e, and Bn3f are categorized in the mini-M conotoxins of the M1 branch, while conotoxins Bn3c and Bn3d are categorized in the mini-M conotoxins of the M2 branch. The homological analysis reveals that these conotoxins could serve as promising probe compounds for voltage-gated sodium channels.

Writing on One’s Own Demise: Suicide Notes in the Age of the Internet.

One to two people out of six who attempt suicide will leave a note behind. In comparison to notes written on paper, internet suicide notes may differ in a variety of characteristics, as they illustrate different degrees of real-time experiences. Given continuous internet traffic, awareness, likelihood of rapid detection and discovery by potential readers is more likely online. Therefore, internet traffic may change the communication dynamic of suicidal wish and intent. The question posed then is: are internet suicide note writers a different population of suicidal individuals compared to those who leave behind paper suicide notes? While some strides on suicide prevention on the internet are emerging, we propose that four areas of exploration on cybersuicide could benefit from the development of safeguards and intervention: exploration of suicide sites; Facebook traffic on suicide; Suicide blogs and bloggers, and personal communication via email and social media. While many unanswered questions remain regarding the feasibility of a unified approach, in the long run the development of intervention strategies should become a priority in research. Such strategies would include the development of extended online professional networks. While these networks would create a major privacy challenge for the online community, they may also become a model for addressing healthcare issues online. In order to accomplish such an online community, allocation of significant resources, the development of specialized technology and the worldwide cooperation of mental health professionals would be necessary.

Respiratory virus laboratory pandemic planning and surveillance in central Viet Nam, 2008–2010

Introduction: Laboratory capacity is needed in central Viet Nam to provide early warning to public health authorities of respiratory outbreaks of importance to human health, for example the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures established as part of a capacity-building process were used to conduct prospective respiratory surveillance in a region where few previous studies have been undertaken. Methods: Between October 2008 and September 2010, nose and throat swabs from adults and children (approximately 20 per week) presenting with an acute respiratory illness to the Ninh Hoa General Hospital were collected. Same-day PCR testing and result reporting for 13 respiratory viruses were carried out by locally trained scientists. Results: Of 2144 surveillance samples tested, 1235 (57.6%) were positive for at least one virus. The most common were influenza A strains (17.9%), with pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and seasonal H3N2 strain accounting for 52% and 43% of these, respectively. Other virus detections included: rhinovirus (12.4%), enterovirus (8.9%), influenza B (8.3%), adenovirus (5.3%), parainfluenza (4.7%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (3.9%), human coronavirus (3.0%) and human metapneumovirus (0.3%). The detection rate was greatest in the 0–5 year age group. Viral co-infections were identified in 148 (6.9%) cases. Discussion: The outbreak in 2009 of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic strain provided a practical test of the laboratory’s pandemic plan. This study shows that the availability of appropriate equipment and molecular-based testing can contribute to important individual and public health outcomes in geographical locations susceptible to emerging infections.

Trichoderma asperellum Chi42 Genes Encode Chitinase

Four Trichoderma strains (CH2, SH16, PQ34, and TN42) were isolated from soil samples collected from Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces in Vietnam. The strains exhibited high chitinolytic secretion. Strain PQ34 formed the largest zone of chitinase-mediated clearance (> 4 cm in diameter) in agar containing 1% (w/v) colloidal chitin. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of these strains indicated that they were Trichoderma asperellum. The molecular weights of the chitinases were approximately 42 kDa. Chitinase genes (chi42) of T. asperellum strains TN42, CH2, SH16, and PQ34 were 98~99% homologous to the ech42 gene of T. harzianum CB-Pin-01 (accession No. DQ166036). The deduced amino acid sequences of both T. asperellum strains SH16 and TN42 shared 100% similarity.

Nutritional status, body composition in school children aged 11-14 years old as assessed by body mass index, percentage body fat, and the relationship between the two indicators

Background: Previously, most studies evaluating nutritional status in Vietnam are based on the weight, height indexes or body mass index (BMI). Recently, Ha Huy Tue and his colleagues conducted a study to evaluate body composition in adults in both rural and urban\r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate nutritional status and body composition and analyze the roleof BMI and percentage body fat (% BF) in determining the status of overweight and obesity\r\n', u'Subjects and method: A cross \u2013sectional study was carried out in 2.671 pupils (male/female: 50.6%/49.4%) aged 11-14 years old of 6 secondary schools in Hanam province Binh Luc district. BMI and %BF are the two indicators used for analyzing. \r\n', u'Results: The prevalence of subjects with BMI\ufffd?5th percentile was less than 1% for both males and females. Mean %BF ranged from 17.4-18.3% and from 13.9-20.2% for males and females, respectively. One unit of BMI corresponds to a large range of %BF. %BF has a goof sensitivity to detect high body fat in males; %BF can be a indicator to identify early overweight and obesity in pupils.\r\n', u'Conclusion: Proportion of overweight and obesity in 11-14 year-old schoolchildren of Binh Luc district, Ha Nam province is low. Therefore, obesity is not significant issue for the public health in the local. % BF can be used for the prevention of overweight, obesity in the community, especially the schoolchildren.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'