The genetic landscape of chromosomal aberrations in 3776 Vietnamese fetuses with clinical anomalies during pregnancy.

Background: Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) is a powerful tool to discover structural genomic variation, but limitations associated with its retrospective study design and inadequate diversity of participants can be impractical for clinical application. Aim: This study aims to use CNV-seq to assess chromosomal aberrations in pregnant Vietnamese women. Materials & methods: A large-scale study was conducted on 3776 pregnant Vietnamese women with abnormal ultrasound findings. Results: Chromosomal aberrations were found in 448 (11.86%) women. Of these, 274 (7.26%) had chromosomal aneuploidies and 174 (4.61%) carried pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs. Correlations were established between chromosomal aberrations and various phenotypic markers. Conclusion: This comprehensive clinical study illuminates the pivotal role of CNV-seq in prenatal diagnosis for pregnancies featuring fetal ultrasound anomalies.

[Box: see text].

Chemical constituents from the heterotrophic marine microalgae Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145 and their antimicrobial activities.

One new indol, N-methoxymethyltryptophol (1), one new phenolic, (2 R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate (2) and fifteen known compounds (3-17) were isolated from the methanol extract of the fermentation of marine microalgae Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis, HR-ESI-MS, quantum chemical calculation methods and by comparing their NMR data with those reported in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against microorganisms. Compounds 2, 3 and 11 significantly exhibited antimicrobial activities on all tested Gram-(+), Gram-(-) bacteria and the yeast C. albicans with MIC values ranging from 32 to 256 µg/mL.

Isolation of Fucoxanthin from Sargassum oligocystum Montagne, 1845 Seaweed in Vietnam and Its Neuroprotective Activity.

Fucoxanthin extracted and purified from Vietnamese Sargassum oligocystum Montagne, 1845 exhibits various biological activities. In this study, the ability of fucoxanthin to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the antioxidant activities, and the expression of antioxidant enzymes were investigated. Fucoxanthin isolated from Vietnamese S. oligocystum showed no cytotoxic effects; moreover, it exhibited AChE inhibitory activity (with an IC50 value of 130.12 ± 6.65 µg mL-1) and antioxidant activity (with an IC50 value of 3.42 ± 0.15 mg mL-1). At concentrations of 50 and 100 µg mL-1, fucoxanthin provided protection against amyloid ß-protein fragment 25-35-induced neurotoxicity in a C6 neuronal cell line, and the survival of C6 cells was higher than 81.01% and 80.98%, respectively, compared to the control group (59%). Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activity and quantitative PCR analysis suggested that the neuroprotective effect of fucoxanthin resulted from regulation of the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPx) and ER pathways (caspase-3 and Bax), as well as the promotion of expression of genes involved in PI3K/Akt signaling (GSK-3ß), autophagy (p62 and ATG5), and the biosynthesis of ACh (VAChT and ChAT). Therefore, fucoxanthin extracted from the seaweed S. oligocystum in Vietnam is a potential feedstock source for the production of health foods that exert neuroprotective effects.

Clinical validation of a ctDNA-Based Assay for Multi-Cancer Detection: An Interim Report from a Vietnamese Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study of 2795 Participants.

The SPOT-MAS assay "Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by Methylation And Size" detects the five most common cancers in Vietnam by evaluating circulating tumor DNA in the blood. Here, we validated its performance in a prospective multi-center clinical trial, K-DETEK. Our analysis of 2795 participants from 14 sites across Vietnam demonstrates its ability to detect cancers in asymptomatic individuals with a positive predictive value of 60%, with 83.3% accuracy in detecting tumor location. We present a case report to support further using SPOT-MAS as a complementary method to achieve early cancer detection and provide the opportunity for early treatment.

Characterization and Optimization of Culture Conditions for Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145 Isolated from Sand Cay (Son Ca) Island, Vietnam, and Antioxidative and Neuroprotective Activities of Its Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Mixture.

Aurantiochytrium is a heterotrophic marine microalga that has potential industrial applications. The main objectives of this study were to isolate an Aurantiochytrium strain from Sand Cay (Son Ca) Island, Vietnam, optimize its culture conditions, determine its nutritional composition, extract polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the free (FFA) and the alkyl ester (FAAE) forms, and evaluate the antioxidation and neuroprotection properties of the PUFAs. Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145 can be grown stably under laboratory conditions. Its culture conditions were optimized for a dry cell weight (DCW) of 31.18 g/L, with total lipids comprising 25.29%, proteins 7.93%, carbohydrates 15.21%, and carotenoid at 143.67 µg/L of DCW. The FAAEs and FFAs extracted from Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145 were rich in omega 3-6-9 fatty acids (40.73% and 44.00% of total fatty acids, respectively). No acute or subchronic oral toxicity was determined in mice fed with the PUFAs in FFA or FAAE forms at different doses over 90 days. Furthermore, the PUFAs in the FFA or FAAE forms and their main constituents of EPA, DHA, and ALA showed antioxidant and AChE inhibitory properties and neuroprotective activities against damage caused by H2O2- and amyloid-ß protein fragment 25-35 (Aß25-35)-induced C6 cells. These data suggest that PUFAs extracted from Aurantiochytrium sp. SC145 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

A model of persistent post SARS-CoV-2 induced lung disease for target identification and testing of therapeutic strategies

COVID-19 survivors develop post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), but the mechanistic basis of PASC-associated lung abnormalities suffers from a lack of longitudinal samples. Mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 MA10 produces an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mice similar to humans. To investigate PASC pathogenesis, studies of MA10-infected mice were extended from acute disease through clinical recovery. At 15-120 days post-virus clearance, histologic evaluation identified subpleural lesions containing collagen, proliferative fibroblasts, and chronic inflammation with tertiary lymphoid structures. Longitudinal spatial transcriptional profiling identified global reparative and fibrotic pathways dysregulated in diseased regions, similar to human COVID-19. Populations of alveolar intermediate cells, coupled with focal upregulation of pro-fibrotic markers, were identified in persistently diseased regions. Early intervention with antiviral EIDD-2801 reduced chronic disease, and early anti-fibrotic agent (nintedanib) intervention modified early disease severity. This murine model provides opportunities to identify pathways associated with persistent SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary disease and test countermeasures to ameliorate PASC.

Genome analysis of the heterotrophic microalga Thraustochytrium sp. TN22 to identify genes involved in exopolysaccharide and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways.

In this study, the genome of Thraustochytrium sp. TN22, a heterotrophic marine microalga, was sequenced, assembled and annotated using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000, PacBio RS II and MinION platform to identify genes and EPS and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways. The genome of Thraustochytrium sp. TN22 consists of 38,842,079 bp with a G + C content of 66.52% and reached 90.7% gene completeness. In total, 15,208 genes were annotated, among which 14,236 genes were identified using the NCBI-nr, KEGG, GO, COG and InterProScan databases. Pathway analysis showed that EPS biosynthesis in Thraustochytrium sp. TN22 follows an ABC-dependent pathway. The carotenoids of Thraustochytrium TN22 are predicted to be synthesized via the mevalonate pathway, and the conversion of ß-carotene to xanthophyll proceeds through ß-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin intermediates. Our results will be useful for improving high-value coproducts for industrial application of thraustochytrids.

Genetic landscape of recessive diseases in the Vietnamese population from large-scale clinical exome sequencing.

Accurate profiling of population-specific recessive diseases is essential for the design of cost-effective carrier screening programs. However, minority populations and ethnic groups, including Vietnamese, are still underrepresented in existing genetic studies. Here, we reported the first comprehensive study of recessive diseases in the Vietnamese population. Clinical exome sequencing data of 4503 disease-associated genes obtained from a cohort of 985 Vietnamese individuals was analyzed to identify pathogenic variants, associated diseases and their carrier frequencies in the population. A total of 118 recessive diseases associated with 164 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified, among which 28 diseases had carrier frequencies of at least 1% (1 in 100 individuals). Three diseases were prevalent in the Vietnamese population with carrier frequencies of 2-12 times higher than in the world populations, including beta-thalassemia (1 in 23), citrin deficiency (1 in 31), and phenylketonuria (1 in 40). Seven novel pathogenic and two likely pathogenic variants associated with nine recessive diseases were discovered. The comprehensive profile of recessive diseases identified in this study enables the design of cost-effective carrier screening programs specific to the Vietnamese population.

Pathogenic Variant Profile of Hereditary Cancer Syndromes in a Vietnamese Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) are responsible for 5-10% of cancer cases. Genetic testing to identify pathogenic variants associated with cancer predisposition has not been routinely available in Vietnam. Consequently, the prevalence and genetic landscape of HCS remain unknown. METHODS: 1165 Vietnamese individuals enrolled in genetic testing at our laboratory in 2020. We performed analysis of germline mutations in 17 high- and moderate- penetrance genes associated with HCS by next generation sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 41 pathogenic variants in 11 genes were detected in 3.2% individuals. The carrier frequency was 4.2% in people with family or personal history of cancer and 2.6% in those without history. The percentage of mutation carriers for hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes was 1.3% and for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome was 1.6%. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were the most prevalent with the positive rate of 1.3% in the general cohort and 5.1% in breast or ovarian cancer patients. Most of BRCA1 mutations located at the BRCA C-terminus domains and the top recurrent mutation was NM_007294.3:c.5251C>T (p.Arg1751Ter). One novel variant NM_000038.6(APC):c.6665C>A (p.Pro2222His) was found in a breast cancer patient with a strong family history of cancer. A case study of hereditary cancer syndrome was illustrated to highlight the importance of genetic testing. CONCLUSION: This is the first largest analysis of carrier frequency and mutation spectrum of HCS in Vietnam. The findings demonstrate the clinical significance of multigene panel testing to identify carriers and their at-risk relatives for better cancer surveillance and management strategies.

Biocharacteristics and draft genome sequence of Halomonas hydrothermalis C22, a pyruvate-producing halophilic bacterium isolated from a commercial Spirulina culture in Vietnam.

Halophilic bacteria are receiving increasing attention for industrial chemical production processes due to their unique properties. Herein, an alkaliphilic and halophilic bacterium was isolated from a commercial Spirulina culture at Nghe An province in Vietnam and found to secrete pyruvate. Pyruvate is widely used as a starting material in the industrial biosynthesis of pharmaceuticals, and is employed for production of crop protection agents, polymers, cosmetics, and food additives. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence homology with Halomonas hydrothermalis strain DSM 15,725 (99.2%) predicted that the strain belongs to the Halomonas genus, thus we named this strain as H. hydrothermalis strain C22. We investigated the biocharacteristics and capacity of strain C22 and determined the draft genome sequence comprising 3,934,166 bp with a G + C content of 60.2% encoding 3,668 proteins, 58 tRNAs, 9 rRNAs, and 1 tmRNA. Maximal pyruvate secretion reached 51.1 g/l after 84 h of cultivation. The results will facilitate future studies on the genetic and metabolic diversity of halophilic bacteria and expand our understanding of important bioprocesses in this microorganism.

Expression and relevance of serum IgE,IgE receptors and autoantibodies in patients with chronic urticaria / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To detect serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), soluble version of the IgE-binding alpha-chain of Fcepsilon-RI (sFcεRIα), immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-IgE, IgG anti-FcεRI in patients with chronic urticaria(CU), and to evaluate their relevanceMethods:Forty-three newly diagnosed patient with CU were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients with dermatitis or eczema and 51 healthy subjects were selected as the disease control (DC) and normal control (NC) group, respectively.Serum IgE was detected by immunoturbidimetry; serum anti-IgE, anti-FcεR Ⅰ and sFcεR Ⅰ α were determined byenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Statistical analysis was carried out by non-parametric test for comparisons of the above variables between groups, and by Spearman correlation analysis for assessment of relationships between the variables as well as between the variables and disease severity, and by receiver operating characteristic curve to analyze the diagnostic value of the variables.Results:Serum IgE, anti-IgE and anti-FcεRI in CU were significantly higher than that of NC.Their medians are 65.70 IU/ml vs 17.10 IU/ml,χ 2=28.541, P=0.001;0.61 vs 0.39,χ 2=27.408, P=0.001;0.64 vs 0.51, χ 2=29.102, P<0.001.Serumanti-FcεRI in CU was significantly lower than that in NC(0.64 vs 0.83,χ 2=25.869, P=0.007).The medians of serum sFcεRIα in CU, DC and NC groups were 5.74,5.38,4.50 ng/ml, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant,χ 2=3.463, P=0.177.There was a positive correlation between IgE and sFcεR Ⅰ α, anti-IgE and anti-FcεRI( r=0.455, P<0.001; r=0.611, P<0.001).No significant correlation was showed between the four variables and the course of disease or the severity of symptoms, P>0.05. The diagnostic performances of IgE, anti-FcεRI for CU were similar (AUC=0.72),which were better than that of sFcεRIα (AUC=0.61).The highest diagnostic efficacy (AUC=0.83) can be achieved by four joint tests.Anti-FcεRI is of value in differential diagnosis of CU and DC, AUC=0.7, P=0.002. Conclusion:The levels of serum IgE, anti-IgE, anti-FcεRI were significantly increased in CU patients, and these mast cell activation-related molecules have the potential to be diagnostic markers for CU.

An indirect ELISA method for quantitative detection of anti-IgE autoantibodies / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective The accurate measurement of anti-IgE levels in patients' serum helps for make diagnosis of chronic urticaria (CU). An indirect ELISA method for quantitative detection of IgG anti-IgE, were established. Methods The serum samples and the clinical data of 75 first-diagnosed CU patients and 120 healthy controls were collected at Shanghai General Hospital during the year of 2018. In the indirect ELISA system to measure the IgG (anti-human IgE), the antigen, Human IgE Myeloma, was coated on the plate;Omalizumab (a humanized anti-human IgE antibody) was the standard, and horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-human IgG was the tracer. The optimum concentrations of serum and HRP-labeled anti-human IgG were determined by chessboard titration, and method evaluation was conducted. The comparison of serum anti-IgE levels in CU patients and healthy people were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to establish the diagnostic performance of serum anti-IgE for CU. Results The coating concentration of IgEwas 5.0 × 10-4 mg/ml; serum dilution was 1:300; enzyme-labeled antibody dilution was 1:100000. Standard curve was in good linearity with R2=0.996. The intra-and inter-assay coefficient of variation were 3.9％-7.5％ and 6.0％-8.2％, and the recovery rate of low and high concentration samples were 95.9％ and 108.4％, respectively. When hemoglobin≤1.3 g/L, triglyceride≤4.6 mmol/L, bilirubin≤171μmol/L, no interference were observed. The limit of blank, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation were 5.8 × 10-4, 1.8 × 10-3, and 2.0 × 10-3 mg/ml. The linearity range was from 2.0 × 10-3 to 354.4 mg/ml. No Hook effect was found until anti-IgE reached 354.4 mg/ml. The anti-IgE remained stable after serum storage at 4℃overnight or treated with 6 repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The anti-IgE levels in CU patients [19.0(1.9, 58.6)mg/ml] were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [0.7(0.002, 11.1)mg/ml] with P<0.001. When cut-off value was set as 15.3 mg/ml, in this method, the positive rate of CU patients (54.7％) was significantly higher than these of healthy controls (18.3％) (P<0.001, AUC=0.736). Conclusions The indirect ELISA method for serum anti-IgE measurement was successfully established. Anti-IgE autoantibodies in serum would be used in the diagnosis of CU.

An indirect ELISA method for quantitative detection of anti-IgE autoantibodies / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective@#The accurate measurement of anti-IgE levels in patients′ serum helps for make diagnosis of chronic urticaria (CU). An indirect ELISA method for quantitative detection of IgG anti-IgE, were established.@*Methods@#The serum samples and the clinical data of 75 first-diagnosed CU patients and 120 healthy controls were collected at Shanghai General Hospital during the year of 2018. In the indirect ELISA system to measure the IgG (anti-human IgE), the antigen, Human IgE Myeloma, was coated on the plate; Omalizumab (a humanized anti-human IgE antibody) was the standard, and horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-human IgG was the tracer. The optimum concentrations of serum and HRP-labeled anti-human IgG were determined by chessboard titration, and method evaluation was conducted. The comparison of serum anti-IgE levels in CU patients and healthy people were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to establish the diagnostic performance of serum anti-IgE for CU.@*Results@#The coating concentration of IgE was 5.0×10-4 mg/ml; serum dilution was 1∶300; enzyme-labeled antibody dilution was 1∶100 000. Standard curve was in good linearity with R2=0.996. The intra-and inter-assay coefficient of variation were 3.9%-7.5% and 6.0%-8.2%, and the recovery rate of low and high concentration samples were 95.9% and 108.4%, respectively. When hemoglobin≤1.3 g/L, triglyceride≤4.6 mmol/L, bilirubin≤171 μmol/L, no interference were observed. The limit of blank, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation were 5.8×10-4, 1.8×10-3, and 2.0×10-3 mg/ml. The linearity range was from 2.0×10-3 to 354.4 mg/ml. No Hook effect was found until anti-IgE reached 354.4 mg/ml. The anti-IgE remained stable after serum storage at 4 ℃ overnight or treated with 6 repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The anti-IgE levels in CU patients [19.0(1.9, 58.6)mg/ml] were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [0.7(0.002, 11.1)mg/ml] with P<0.001. When cut-off value was set as 15.3 mg/ml, in this method, the positive rate of CU patients (54.7%) was significantly higher than these of healthy controls (18.3%) (P<0.001, AUC=0.736).@*Conclusions@#The indirect ELISA method for serum anti-IgE measurement was successfully established. Anti-IgE autoantibodies in serum would be used in the diagnosis of CU.

Combination of mRNA of Repair-related Genes in Rat Skeletal Muscles for Wound Age Estimation / 法医学杂志

Objective To investigate the estimation of early and mid-term wound age by a combination of four mRNAs, the DNA polymerase delta-interacting protein 3 （POLDIP3） mRNA, regulator of chromosome condensation 1 like （RCC1L） mRNA, proline-rich 5 （PRR5） mRNA, and ribonucleic acid export 1 （RAE1） mRNA in rats skeletal muscles. Methods The model of rat skeletal muscle contusion was established, and then contusion area muscle tissue was extracted 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48 h after injury. Histomorphological changes during the repair process after rat skeletal muscle contusion were observed. The relative expressions of Poldip3, Rcc1l, Prr5 and Rae1 mRNAs were detected by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR）. Different stages of wound age were classified by using the expression patterns of four genes at various time points after injury. The accuracy of the results was verified by Fisher discriminant analysis. Results Histomorphological results showed that the repair process after skeletal muscle contusion occurred with the prolonging of time. Through combination of the expression trends of the four kinds of mRNAs, the 48 h after injury could be divided into three periods, 4-12 h, 16-28 h and 32-48 h. The Fisher discrimination method showed that the classification accuracy rates of the three periods were 83.3%, 75.0% and 73.3%, respectively. Conclusion The classification discrimination based on the relative expression of every gene has a higher accuracy, and the accuracy of wound age estimation with combination of mRNA relative expressions is higher than that with a single indicator. By combining with Fisher discrimination method, this method can be used for early and mid-term wound age estimation.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system caused by myxopapillary ependymoma of conus medullaris and cauda equine: a case report and literature review / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSCNS) is a rare disorder caused by hemosiderin deposits in the subpial layers of the brain and spinal cord due to prolonged or recurrent low-grade bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Central nervous system tumor could be one of the sources of bleeding. Some problems exist at present regarding the diagnosis and treatment of SSCNS in China. On account of fewer cases, the insufficient awareness of the condition, and the lack of long-term follow-up data, enough attention has not been paid to etiological diagnosis. The speculative high rate of missed diagnoses of SSCNS indicates a great disparity in the treatment from the world's advanced level. Related data of clinical and basic research need to accumulate as soon as possible to promote the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The progressive neurological deficits are involved in the typical clinical manifestations of SSCNS with a triad of bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, cerebellar ataxia and signs of corticospinal tract dysfunction. Nevertheless, there are few patients with the triad signs at the same time, which lead to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Detection of this disease was commonly post-mortem until the advent of MRI with signal and location characteristics, which made diagnosis easier. Siderosis appears as a hypointense rim covering the surface of the cerebellum, the brain stem, the spinal cord, similar to a black pencil line, thin on SE-T2-weighted images, thick and conspicuous on GE-T2-weighted images or on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). The only effective way of treating the disorder is to identify the source of bleeding and remove it. MR examination is useful for seeking a source of bleeding too. Therefore, once superficial siderosis is considered, lesions of the central nervous system must be searched using MRI of the brain and spine. We report here a 37-year-old male diagnosed of SSCNS with the classical clinical symptoms of cerebellar ataxia, sensorineural hearing loss and myelopathy. T2-weighed MRI showed characteristic marginal hypo-intensity around the central nervous system. Etiological explorations revealed a large conus medullaris / cauda equina ependymoma filling the lumbosacral spinal canal, a myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) confirmed by surgical resection and histopathological examination. The related literature was reviewed to ascertain the mechanism of SSCNS secondary to MPE, and to discuss the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of SSCNS. This paper aims to improve the awareness of SSCNS and diagnostic level, and to lay stress on the etiological explorations that is beneficial to the development of exact treatment plan.

Different fermentation strategies by Schizochytrium mangrovei strain pq6 to produce feedstock for exploitation of squalene and omega-3 fatty acids.

Schizochytrium mangrovei strain PQ6 was investigated for coproduction of docosahexaenoic acid (C22: 6ω-3, DHA) and squalene using a 30-L bioreactor with a working volume of 15 L under various batch and fed-batch fermentation process regimes. The fed-batch process was a more efficient cultivation strategy for achieving higher biomass production rich in DHA and squalene. The final biomass, total lipid, unsaponifiable lipid content, and DHA productivity were 105.25 g · L-1 , 43.40% of dry cell weight, 8.58% total lipid, and 61.66 mg · g-1  · L-1 , respectively, after a 96 h fed-batch fermentation. The squalene content was highest at 48 h after feeding glucose (98.07 mg · g-1 of lipid). Differences in lipid accumulation during fermentation were correlated with changes in ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy and Nile Red staining of cells. The results may be of relevance to industrial-scale coproduction of DHA and squalene in heterotrophic marine microalgae such as Schizochytrium.

Lay provider HIV testing: A promising strategy to reach the undiagnosed key populations in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, reaching the remaining one-third of undiagnosed people living with HIV and facilitating their antiretroviral therapy (ART) enrollment requires breakthrough approaches. We piloted lay provider HIV testing as an innovative approach to reach at-risk populations that never or infrequently HIV test at facility-based services. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey and analysis of routine program data in two urban provinces (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and two rural mountainous provinces (Nghe An and Dien Bien) from October 2015 through September 2017. Acceptability of lay provider testing was defined as the proportion of first-time HIV testers utilizing the service, and effectiveness was measured by HIV positivity and ART initiation rates. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine lay provider testing preference and factors associated with that preference. RESULTS: Among 1,230 individuals recruited for face-to-face interviews, 74% belonged to key populations: people who inject drugs accounted for 31.4%; men who have sex with men, 60.4%; and female sex workers, 8.2%. Most clients (67%) reported being first-time HIV testers, and the majority (85.8%) preferred lay provider testing to facility-based testing. Multivariate analysis found that clients in urban areas (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.90) and those who had a university or higher education (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.05-3.20) were more likely to prefer lay provider testing. Lay provider testing yielded a higher HIV positivity rate (4.1%), particularly among first-time testers (6.8%), compared to facility-based testing (nationally estimated at 1.6% in 2016) and had a high ART initiation rate (91%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that lay provider HIV testing is an effective approach to reach previously unreached at-risk populations, and, therefore, a critical addition to accelerating Vietnam's attainment of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 goals.

Preparation and Evaluation of Cream Mask from Vietnamese Seaweeds.

Seaweed is rich source of natural bioactive compounds that could be exploited as functional ingredient for cosmetic applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical compositions and bioactivities of 10 seaweeds collected from coastal waters of Vietnam. The present study also prepared and evaluated cream mask from mixture of seaweeds extracted with water. The results showed that Caulerpa lentillifera, Sargassum crassifolium, Ulva reticulata, and Kappaphycus alvarezii are potential rich sources of protein, polysaccharide, carotenoids, and vitamins with high antibacterial, cell proliferation, moisture retention, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Physicochemical analysis of cream mask from a mixture of these seaweed extracts indicated that it is yellowish brown in color with a specific odor of seaweed, stable, and homogeneous for up to 12 months of storage, with a pH of 6.1, and high spread and adhesive abilities. No total aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and heavy metals were detected in the seaweed mask cream. The seaweed cream mask was safe and caused no irritation to normal human skin, and it satisfied provisions of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT dated January 25, 2011 of the Vietnam Ministry of Health, providing cosmetic management for the cosmetic products with anti-aging and moisturizing effects.

Protective effects of DL­3­n­butylphthalide in the lipopolysaccharide­induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

DL­3­n­butylphthalide (NBP) is extracted from rapeseed and exhibits multiple neuroprotective effects, exerted by inhibiting the inflammatory process, including reducing oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function and reducing neuronal apoptosis. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of NBP in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)­induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). The behavior of mice was assessed using the rotarod test and open­field test, the amount of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra pars compacta was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of phosphorylated c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK), mitogen­activated protein kinase 14 (p38) and extracellular signal­regulated kinase 1 were determined by western blotting. It was demonstrated that the LPS­induced behavioral deficits were significantly improved. LPS­induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration was relieved following treatment with NBP, as determined from tyrosine hydroxylase­positive cells. Phosphorylation of JNK and p38 was significantly inhibited following treatment with NBP. Therefore in the present study, a role for NBP has been established in the treatment of a PD murine model, laying the experimental basis for the treatment of PD with this agent.

Squalene promotes cholesterol homeostasis in macrophage and hepatocyte cells via activation of liver X receptor (LXR) α and ß.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of squalene on liver X receptors (LXRs) that regulate target genes associated with reverse cholesterol transport and thus control whole-body cholesterol homeostasis. RESULTS: To examine the effect of squalene on liver X receptors (LXRs) that regulate target genes associated with reverse cholesterol transport and thus control whole-body cholesterol homeostasis. Squalene significantly stimulated the transactivation of liver X receptor modulator LXRα and LXRß. The mRNA expression of LXRs and their target genes, including ABCA1, ABCG1 and ApoE, was significantly induced in macrophages stimulated with squalene, resulting in removal of cholesterol from the cells. Notably, squalene did not induce higher hepatic triacylglycerol levels nor did it alter expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and FAS in hepatocyte cells, primarily because of its upregulation of Insig-2a, which delays nuclear translocation of SREBP-1c, a key hepatic lipogenic transcription factor. CONCLUSION: Squalene has hypocholesterolemic effect through the activation of LXRα and ß without inducing hepatic lipogenesis.