New Halogenated Flavonoids from Adenosma bracteosum and Vitex negundo and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibition.

Adenosma bracteosum and Vitex negundo are natural sources of methoxylated flavonoids. Little is known about the α-glucosidase inhibition of multi-methoxylated flavonoid derivatives. Eighteen natural flavonoids were isolated from A. bracteosum and V. negundo. Seven halogenated derivatives were synthesized. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive NMR analysis and high-resolution mass spectroscopy as well as comparisons in literature. All compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibition. Most compounds showed good activity with IC50 values ranging from 16.7 to 421.8 µM. 6,8-Dibromocatechin was the most active compound with an IC50 value of 16.7 µM. A molecular docking study was conducted, indicating that those compounds are potent α-glucosidase inhibitors.

The Application of Sample Pooling for Mass Screening of SARS-CoV-2 in an Outbreak of COVID-19 in Vietnam.

We sampled nasal-pharyngeal throat swabs from 96,123 asymptomatic individuals at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and generated 22,290 pools at collection, each containing samples from two to seven individuals. We detected SARS-CoV-2 in 24 pools, and confirmed the infection in 32 individuals after resampling and testing of 104 samples from positive pools. We completed the testing within 14 days. We would have required 64 days to complete the screening for the same number of individuals if we had based our testing strategy on individual testing. There was no difference in cycle threshold (Ct) values of pooled and individual samples. Thus, compared with individual sample testing, our approach did not compromise PCR sensitivity, but saved 77% of the resources. The present strategy might be applicable in settings, where there are shortages of reagents and the disease prevalence is low, but the demand for testing is high.

A novel sample pooling strategy and its application for mass screening of SARS-CoV-2 in an outbreak of COVID-19 in Vietnam

We present a sample pooling approach and the results of its application for mass screening of SARS-CoV-2 in >96,000 asymptomatic individuals. Our approach did not compromise the sensitivity of PCR, while increasing the throughput and reducing 77% of the costs. 22/32 asymptomatic cases would have been missed without mass screening.

Building HIV healthcare worker capacity through telehealth in Vietnam.

Development of a robust technical assistance system is an essential component of a sustainable HIV response. Vietnam's National HIV Program is transitioning from a largely donor-funded programme to one primarily supported by domestic resources. Telehealth interventions are increasingly being used for training, mentoring and expert consultation in high-resource settings and hold significant potential for use as a tool to build HIV health worker capacity in low and middle-income countries. We designed, implemented and scaled up a novel HIV telehealth programme for Vietnam, with the goal of building a sustainable training model to support the country's HIV workforce needs. Over a 4-year period, HIV telehealth programmes were initiated in 17 public institutions with participation of nearly 700 clinical sites across 62 of the 63 provinces in the country. The telehealth programme was used to deliver certificate training courses, provide clinical mentoring and case-based learning, support programme implementation, provide coaching in quality improvement and disseminate new guidelines and policies. Programme evaluation demonstrated improved health worker self-reported competence in HIV care and treatment and high satisfaction among the programme participants. Lessons learnt from Vietnam's experience with telehealth can inform country programmes looking to develop a sustainable approach to HIV technical assistance and health worker capacity building.

Grafting of Poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) onto Halloysite Nanotubes via Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

A synthetic strategy for the functionalization of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMA) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SIATRP). The covalent immobilization of PPEGMA was confirmed by FT-IR analysis. The preparation of the nanohybrids was further evidenced by the XPS and EDX studies. The morphologies of functionalized HNTs were investigated by FE-SEM analysis. TGA results suggested that the nanohybrids can be used in high temperature applications. Thus, this newly developed surface functionalization protocol offers the tailoring of the HNTs surface with wide functionalities and is potentially useful to the biomedical applications.

Glutathione Capped CdSe Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Characterization, Morphology, and Application as a Sensor for Toxic Metal Ions.

Glutathione (GSH) functionalized CdSe quantum dots (QDs) (GSH-f-CdSe QDs) were prepared via a simple one-pot strategy at low temperature. The as-synthesized CdSe QDs were characterized by FT-IR and XPS analyses. The morphology, physical structure and size distribution of GSH-f-CdSe QDs were investigated by TEM, XRD and DLS analyses, respectively. The GSH-f-CdSe QDs exhibited excellent stability of optical properties as investigated by UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The high affinity of GSH towards heavy metal ions made the GSH-f-CdSe QDs quite susceptible to Pb2+ ion which poses serious threat to the health and environment. The PL intensity of GSH-f-CdSe QDs was observed to be apparently quenched in the presence of Pb2+ ions in aqueous solution rendering their potentialities as a sensor for detection of toxic heavy metal ions.

Sociodemographic conditions, knowledge of dental diseases, dental care, and dietary habits.

OBJECTIVES: This study's aim was to present data on the sociodemographic conditions, knowledge of dental diseases, dental care, and dietary habits among children aged 3, 5, 10, and 15 years in Da Nang, Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological questionnaire study was conducted in a population of 840 children randomly selected by their year and month of birth (January to July), including 210 individuals in each age group. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by the parents of 3- and 5-year-olds, and a modified questionnaire was given to 10- and 15-year-olds to complete by themselves. RESULTS: Mass media constituted the main source of oral healthcare information. Parents assisted with tooth brushing in 86 percent of 3-year-olds and 71 percent of 5-year-olds. Fluoride toothpaste was used by 44-78 percent of children, with no clear age-related trend. Within the past year, 60 percent of 3- and 5-year-olds, 20 percent of 10-year-olds, and 49 percent of 15-year-olds reported they had not visited a dental professional. Sweets were consumed between principal meals by 70-80 percent of children. Milk with sugar was regularly consumed by 71 percent of 3-year-olds and 91 percent of 5-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: Children showed frequent sugar consumption and insufficient frequency of brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Food-based dietary guidelines should play a significant role in nutrition and oral health. It is especially important that oral health prevention programs reach preschool children before they establish unhealthy dietary habits. Parental education about oral health and access to oral healthcare services are also needed to improve children's oral health.

To investigate the changes of the basic elements of the blood arterial gases (ABG) on the elderly with acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia

After 2 years studying on 100 patients with acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia from 2002 to 2004, the authors found out there were changes of the blood arterial gases (BAG) values compared with the normal values, as follows: there was a decrease of pH, PaO2, BEecf, PaCO2 decreased at the first phase and increased at next ones; there was increase of AaDO2; slight changes of HCO3. The changes of BAG correlated to levels of acute respiratory failure. The changes returned to normal values among the patients respond to the therapy, and worsen in patients who not responding and going to die.