Prevalence and genotype distribution of JC polyomavirus in urine from patients with hematological malignancies in Vietnam.

JC virus (JCV) causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunocompromised patients. The prevalence and genotype patterns of JCV vary between different geographical regions. This study was done to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of JCV in patients with hematological malignancies in Vietnam. A total of 48 urine samples were collected from patients with hematological malignancies. DNA was extracted and detection of JCV was by nested-polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis was obtained and a phylogenetic tree was constructed for genotyping of JCV. Twenty-seven (56.25%) urine samples tested positive for JCV. JCV genotype 7 was only observed in this study. Subtype analysis showed that JCV subtype 7A was the most commonly prevalent, followed by 7B1 and 7C1. Other subtypes were not detected in this population. There were no significant differences associated with age, gender, and biochemical parameters between patients with JCV and without JCV excretion in urine. The present study showed a high prevalence of JCV in the urine of patients with hematologic malignancies. The most common genotype found in this population was JCV subtype 7A.

Kinetic Stabilization of the Sol-Gel State in Perovskites Enables Facile Processing of High-Efficiency Solar Cells.

Perovskite solar cells increasingly feature mixed-halide mixed-cation compounds (FA1- x - y MAx Csy PbI3- z Brz ) as photovoltaic absorbers, as they enable easier processing and improved stability. Here, the underlying reasons for ease of processing are revealed. It is found that halide and cation engineering leads to a systematic widening of the anti-solvent processing window for the fabrication of high-quality films and efficient solar cells. This window widens from seconds, in the case of single cation/halide systems (e.g., MAPbI3 , FAPbI3 , and FAPbBr3 ), to several minutes for mixed systems. In situ X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the processing window is closely related to the crystallization of the disordered sol-gel and to the number of crystalline byproducts; the processing window therefore depends directly on the precise cation/halide composition. Moreover, anti-solvent dripping is shown to promote the desired perovskite phase with careful formulation. The processing window of perovskite solar cells, as defined by the latest time the anti-solvent drip yields efficient solar cells, broadened with the increasing complexity of cation/halide content. This behavior is ascribed to kinetic stabilization of sol-gel state through cation/halide engineering. This provides guidelines for designing new formulations, aimed at formation of the perovskite phase, ultimately resulting in high-efficiency perovskite solar cells produced with ease and with high reproducibility.

Safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in copperhead snakebite patients.

Introduction: Current management guidelines for pit viper envenomations recommend against the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain control due to concern for platelet dysfunction and resulting coagulopathy. However, prior research suggests that copperhead snakes generally do not cause coagulopathy and they are responsible for most of the venomous snakebites in the USA. Thus, we compared the occurrences of clinically apparent bleeding and most abnormal laboratory values of coagulation between copperhead envenomation patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who presented to our adult and pediatrics emergency department with copperhead snakebites. We recorded patient demographics, snake type, any NSAIDs given, any opioid analgesics given, any documented bleeding, and most abnormal laboratory values of coagulation. Results: There was no significant difference in most abnormal PTT, fibrinogen, platelet count, and serum creatinine values between copperhead snakebite patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not. Mean INR was lower (p = .011) and hematocrit was higher (p = .018) for NSAID-treated patients than for patients treated without NSAIDs. Three patients demonstrated clinically apparent bleeding; two had epistaxis reported at an outside hospital but received NSAIDs without further bleeding at our hospital. The third had 3 + blood on a urinalysis that was attributed to a urinary tract infection and also received NSAIDs without any other bleeding. Conclusions: There were no bleeding outcomes attributable to NSAID usage among copperhead snakebite patients. The use of NSAIDs in managing pain and inflammation in identified copperhead snakebite patients appears safe.

Nutritional Supplement "Bao Khi Khang" as an Adjuvant Therapy in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

To investigate the effectiveness of nutritional supplement Bao Khi Khang as an adjuvant therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to conventional therapy alone. This was a prospective, randomized, open-label controlled trial in 60 patients presenting with acute exacerbation of COPD. Patients were randomized into two groups, the control and the experimental groups. The control group was treated with the standard therapeutic protocol (Antimicrobial+Corticosteroids+Bronchodilator+Mucolytic drugs). The experimental group was treated with Bao Khi Khang tablets combined with the standard therapeutic protocol. The treatment outcomes, including clinical and paraclinical parameters of exacerbation of COPD, were compared between the experimental group and the control group at day 15 and 30. This study was conducted according to protocol: 01.2014-HTNCKH. The results showed a significant reduction of major COPD exacerbation symptoms in experimental group. The favorable progresses in mMRC scale and COPD Assessment Test score before and after treatment, between experimental group and control group, were statistically different. Symptom control such as cough, copious sputum secretion, and bacterial infection was 90% effective (very good 50.0%, good 40.0%) in experimental group compared to 50% (very good 20%, good 30.0%) in control group. No adverse side effects were observed in experimental group. Bao Khi Khang nutritional supplement could be an effective and safe adjuvant therapy in acute exacerbations of COPD. Further interventional studies are required to confirm these findings.

Complete Genome Sequences of the Endophytic Streptomyces sp. Strains LUP30 and LUP47B, Isolated from Lucerne Plants.

The complete genome sequences of two endophytic Streptomyces sp. strains, LUP30 and LUP47B, were analyzed. These strains were isolated from surface-sterilized roots of lucerne plants from South Australia and were found to promote the growth of the rhizobial partner in vitro and significantly increased nodulation and nitrogen fixation in lucerne plants.

In silico studies for the interaction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) with different saponins from Vietnamese ginseng (Panax vietnamesis).

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine that plays an important role in inflammatory process and tumor development. Recent studies demonstrate that triterpene saponins from Vietnamese ginseng are efficient inhibitors of TNF-α. But the interactions between TNF-α and the saponins are still unclear. In this study, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of TNF-α with three different triterpene saponins (majonoside R2, vina-ginsenoside R1 and vina-ginsenoside R2) were performed to evaluate their binding ability. Our results showed that the triterpene saponins have a good binding affinity with protein TNF-α. The saponins were docked to the pore at the top of the "bell" or "cone" shaped TNF-α trimer and the complexes were structurally stable during 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation. The predicted binding sites would help to subsequently investigate the inhibitory mechanism of triterpene saponins.

Fertility and family planning in Vietnam: evidence from the 1994 Inter-censal Demographic Survey.

Results from the 1994 Vietnam Inter-censal Demographic Survey reveal substantial change over recent years in reproductive behavior and attitudes. Fertility has continued to decline to a level not far above a total fertility rate of three children per woman. Compared with the late 1980s, contraceptive knowledge has broadened and contraceptive prevalence has increased, reaching a level of 65 percent of currently married women of reproductive age. The dominance of the IUD among modern methods has been reduced somewhat. Stated family-size preferences have shifted noticeably downward. Recently married women indicate that they want only 2.3 children, on average, suggesting that fertility will continue to fall in coming years. These findings suggest that Vietnam is in the midst of a transition that will lead to low levels of fertility in the near future.

[Occupational eczema with photosensitivity caused by contact with Bryozoa]. / Eczéma professionnel avec photosensibilité par contact de bryozoaires.

Contact eczema to Bryozoa is a very invalidating fishermen's disease. Described in the North Sea ("Dogger Bank itch") and in the eastern Channel, it begins with the hands which have touched Bryozoa, these being microscopic "moss-like animals", unrelated to algae, which form coralliform, encrusting and filamentous colonies attached to the sea-floor. Sensitization results from handling nets (drag-nets and trammels) or, less frequently, fish trays. Bryozoa responsible for the disease are Alcyonidum hirsutum and, mostly, Alcyonidum gelatinosum. The case of occupational eczema presented here discloses two hitherto unrecognized allergens: another Bryozoa species, Electra pilosa, which proliferates in the early summer and forms encrusting colonies on various supports, and a sea-weed, Sargassum muticum, which up to now had not been held responsible for skin lesions. The summer outbreaks, from May to September, and the fact that the face and upper chest are involved are classically ascribed to the natural cycle of Bryozoa (colonies multiply in the warm season and regress in the winter) and to contact with uncovered parts of the body. The results of our photobiological exploration suggest that the distribution of the eczema might well be due to an additional photoallergic reaction.