ABSTRACT
In thin-layer chromatography coupled with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TLC-SERS), the coffee ring effect (CRE) describes the formation of a ring-shape spot (blank in the middle and darker on the edge) caused by the aggregation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), alone (single CRE) or with the analytes (double CRE). In this work, the SCRE and DCRE were investigated in two anti-diabetic drugs, hydrophobic glibenclamide (GLB) and more hydrophilic metformin (MET). The SCRE occurred in GLB analysis, as opposed to the DCRE that occurred in MET. It was proven that for optimization of the TLC-SERS analytical procedure, it is necessary to distinguish the CRE patterns of analytes. Additionally, MET and GLB were analyzed with the developed TLC-SERS method and confirmed by another validated method using high-performance liquid chromatography. Four herbal products collected on the market were found to be adulterated with GLB or/and MET; among those, one product was adulterated with both MET and GLB, and two products were adulterated with GLB at a higher concentration than the usual GLB prescription dose. The TLC-SERS method provided a useful tool for the simultaneous detection of adulterated anti-diabetic herbal products, and the comparison of the SCRE and DCRE provided more evidence to predict CRE patterns in TLC-SERS.
Subject(s)
Metal Nanoparticles , Metformin , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods , Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods , Silver/chemistry , GlyburideABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of self-reported non-communicable diseases among ethnic minority populations in Vietnam and related factors. A total of 5033 individuals aged 15 years and older who belonged to ethnic minority populations from 12 provinces in Vietnam completed a household survey. The overall prevalence of self-reported non-communicable diseases was 12.4% (95% CI: 11.5%-13.4%). Cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent, followed by diabetes. Ethnicity was shown to have an independently significant correlation to having any non-communicable diseases. Older people, near-poor and non-poor people had significantly higher odds of having non-communicable diseases as compared to younger and poor people.
ABSTRACT
Stigma and discrimination experienced by nurses infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV) potentially undermine their positions. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with nurses' attitudes towards accepting co-workers with HIV, HBV, or HCV. The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. Four hundred Vietnamese nurses participated in this study using stratified random sampling at two public hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to obtain data. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression was performed to analyze data. Nine percent of nurses had experienced a needle-stick or sharps injury (NSI) from a patient infected with HIV, and 15.8% of respondents reported having a previous NSI from a patient infected with HBV or HCV. Some nurses reported that they could not accept contact between patients and nurses infected with HIV (25.2%) and HBV or HCV (12.7%). Older age and a belief that colleagues should disclose their infection status were associated with positive attitudes towards HIV-, HBV-, or HCV-positive colleagues. Fear of transmission was associated with negative attitudes towards HIV-positive co-workers. Infected employees disclosure of their status may help their colleagues to be more accepting by providing appropriate workplace adjustments for infected employees. HIV is generally a more stigmatized infection, and therefore attitudes towards HIV-positive co-workers might be affected by fear of transmission. Providing education to recognize infectious risk may be effective in improving nurses' attitudes in Vietnam, as elsewhere.
