Spontaneous thrombosis of a large unruptured intracranial aneurysm causing ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the parent artery: A case report and literature review.

Spontaneous thrombosis of an unruptured large or giant saccular intracranial aneurysm is a well-known phenomenon and can cause ischemic stroke (IS), which is a rare event. The possible pathogenic mechanisms of IS include distal embolic occlusion secondary to migration of the intra-aneurysmal thrombus, occlusion of the parent artery lumen caused by the retrograde extension of the aneurysmal thrombosis, external compression of the parent artery due to the increased aneurysmal mass effect. Among these, IS due to simultaneous thromboses of the aneurysm and its parent artery is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Herein, we present a case of a 18-year-old woman who suffered an acute IS, attribute to spontaneous complete thrombosis of an unruptured large saccular aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery with occlusion of the parent artery, and we review the literature simultaneously.

Enhanced removal of pesticide micropollutant and bacteria using solar light-assisted Ag-doped TiO2: prospects for environmental and health impacts.

Pesticide micropollutants like 4-chlorophenol (4CP) and E. coli bacteria represent a substantial hazard, impacting both the environment and human health. This study delves into the effectiveness of Ag-doped TiO2 (Ag@TiO2) in removing both 4CP and E. coli. Ag@TiO2 has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in removing 4CP under both solar and visible light conditions, earning degradation efficiencies of 91.3% and 72.8%, respectively. Additionally, it demonstrates outstanding photodegradation efficiency for 4CP (98.8%) at an initial concentration of 1 mg L-1. Moreover, Ag@TiO2 exhibited substantially higher removal performance for 4CP (81.6%) compared to TiO2 (27.6%) in wastewater. Analysis of the radicals present during the photodegradation process revealed that ·O2- primarily drives the decomposition of 4CP, with h+ and ·OH also playing significant roles in the oxidation reactions of the pollutant. Interestingly, even under dark conditions, Ag@TiO2 exhibited the capability to eliminate approximately 20% of E. coli, a percentage that increased to over 96% under solar light. In addition, the prospects for environmental and health impacts of utilizing Ag@TiO2 for pesticide micropollutant removal and bacteria were discussed.

Insight into heavy metal chemical fractions in ash collected from municipal and industrial waste incinerators in northern Vietnam.

This investigation involved the collection of fly ash and bottom ash specimens from seven waste incinerators situated in the northern provinces of Vietnam, aimed at assessing the composition and distribution patterns of five chemical fractions of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, As, Cd Cu, and Zn) present in incinerator waste ash. The outcomes reveal that fly ash exhibited a relatively elevated concentration of industrial waste metals (25-66%) such as As, Cd, and Pb primarily in exchangeable (F1) and carbonate fractions (F2), which are mobile forms susceptible to environmental dissolution and consequential bioaccumulation posing health risks to humans. The predominant states of the metals Cr, Cu, and Zn were identified as residual, Fe-Mn oxide, and carbonate, respectively, with their relative proportions showing minimal variation. Conversely, heavy metals were predominantly present in residual residue and Fe-Mn bound form (F3) in bottom ash derived from both residential and commercial waste incineration operations. The non-carcinogenic hazard indices (HI) associated with the examined metals, ranked for both adults and children, were as follows: Pb > Cr > As > Cd > Cu > Zn. Notably, the HI values for Pb, Cr, and As exceeded the permissible threshold (HI > 1) for children. However, the risk of As, Cd, and Pb-related cancer via exposure pathways remained within acceptable limits for both age groups. Conversely, the probability of carcinogenic effects attributable to Cr surpassed the permissible threshold (>10-4), indicating significant health concerns associated with heavy metals in waste incinerators for humans, particularly children.

Suicide and mortality following self-harm in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities in Victoria, Australia: insights from a data linkage study.

Background: While cultural backgrounds are well-documented to be relevant to intentional self-harm, little is known about how cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds affect mortality outcomes following self-harm. Aim: This study aimed to compare the risk of all-cause mortality and suicide after intentional hospital admissions for self-harm among people from CALD (vs. non-CALD) backgrounds. Method: Linked hospital and mortality data in Victoria, Australia, was used to assess suicide and all-cause death after hospital admissions for self-harm among patients aged 15+ years. All-cause death was identified by following up on 42,122 self-harm patients (hospitalized between 01 July 2007 and 30 June 2019) until death or 15 February 2021. Suicide death was evaluated in 16,928 self-harm inpatients (01 January 2013 and 31 December 2017) until death or 28 March 2018. Cox regression models were fitted to compare mortality outcomes in self-harm patients from CALD vs. non-CALD backgrounds. Outcomes: During the follow-up periods, 3,716 of 42,122 (8.8%) participants died by any cause (by 15 February 2021), and 304 of 16,928 (1.8%) people died by suicide (by 28 March 2018). Compared to the non-CALD group, CALD intentional self-harm inpatients had a 20% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.7-0.9) and a 30% lower risk of suicide (HR: 0.7, 95% CI: 049-0.97). Specifically, being from North Africa/Middle East and Asian backgrounds lowered the all-cause mortality risk; however, the suicide risk in Asians was as high as in non-CALD people. Conclusion: Overall, people from CALD backgrounds exhibited lower risks of all-cause mortality and suicide following hospital admission for self-harm compared to the non-CALD group. However, when comparing risks based on regions of birth, significant variations were observed. These findings underscore the importance of implementing culturally tailored background-specific suicide preventive actions. The study focussed on outcomes following hospital admission for self-harm and did not capture outcomes for cases of self-harm that did not result in hospital admission. This limits generalisability, as some CALD people might avoid accessing healthcare after self-harm due to cultural factors. Future research that not limited to hospital data is suggested to build on the results.

Revealing the high efficiency of fluorescence quenching of rhodamine B by triangular silver nanodisks due to the inner filter effect mechanism.

Performing effective fluorescence quenching based on a metal nanomaterial is essential to construct fluorescence sensors. Silver nanomaterials are well known as an excellent candidate for an absorber in fluorescence sensing systems. Herein, we investigated the fluorescence quenching of rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of triangular silver nanodisks in which perfect overlap between the absorption of the absorber and the fluorescence of the fluorophore was observed. The fluorescence quenching mechanism of RhB was investigated under various excitation wavelengths, together with measurement of the fluorescence lifetime. The quenching efficiency of RhB was proportional to the wavelength excitation. Remarkably, the highest efficiency of fluorescence quenching of RhB was achieved (∼60%). The quenching mechanism was investigated and revealed to be mostly due to the inner filter effect (IFE) mechanism, without the contribution of energy transfer. This result shows a completely different story from most previous studies based on silver nanoparticles, where energy transfer was reported to play a significant role.

Anxiety symptoms and coping strategies among high school students in Vietnam after COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-method evaluation.

Introduction: The objective of the current study was to examine the rate of high school students at risk of anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, as well as the coping strategies utilized within this demographic. Methods: An evaluation was conducted through the utilization of mixed methods, consisting of a combination of a cross-sectional study and in-depth interviews. In this study, a sample of 3,910 students from 13 high schools in Hanoi, Vietnam were selected for participation. The measurement of symptoms of anxiety disorder was conducted through the application of the seven-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. To comprehend the underlying causes of anxiety and the various coping mechanisms employed, in-depth interviews were conducted. Results: The findings indicate a prevalence rate of anxiety disorder symptoms among students at 40.6% The prevalence rates of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety symptoms were found to be 23.9%, 10.9%, and 5.8%, respectively. In-depth interviews uncovered multiple sources of anxiety experienced by high school students, namely their academic performance, social interactions, prejudicial attitudes from their social circle, and familial expectations. Numerous coping strategies were then documented. Discussion: The current investigation ascertained that there exists a moderate level of anxiety amongst high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, this study configured potential indicators to identify vulnerable individuals and further suggests the development of targeted interventions.

Polyphenol Contents, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Antibacterial Activity of Methanol Extract and Fractions of Sonneratia Caseolaris Fruits from Ben Tre Province in Vietnam.

Plants contain a large number of phytochemical components, many of which are known as bioactive compounds and responsible for the expression of various pharmacological activities. The extract of Sonneratia caseolaris fruit collected in Vietnam was investigated for its total phenolic and total flavonoid contents using methanol solvent and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits (hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous). GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the bioactive chemical constituents occurring in the active extract. Further, the antibacterial activity was tested in vitro on bacterial isolates, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, using the disc diffusion method on tryptic soya agar (TSA) medium. The methanol extract showed high total flavonoid (82.3 ± 0.41 mg QE/g extract) and phenolic (41.0 ± 0.34 mg GAE/g extract) content. GC-MS of the methanol extract and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits detected 20 compounds, principally fatty alcohols, fatty acids, phenols, lipids, terpenes derivatives, and carboxylic acids derivatives. A 50 mg/ml concentration of methanol extract had the strongest antibacterial activity on E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Furthermore, ethyl acetate, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions inhibited S. aureus and B. subtilis the most. The results of the present study suggested that the fruits of S. caseolaris are rich sources of phenolic compounds that can contribute to safe and cost-effective treatments.

Analysis of polarization features of human breast cancer tissue by Mueller matrix visualization.

Significance: Breast cancer ranks second in the world in terms of the number of women diagnosed. Effective methods for its early-stage detection are critical for facilitating timely intervention and lowering the mortality rate. Aim: Polarimetry provides much useful information on the structural properties of breast cancer tissue samples and is a valuable diagnostic tool. The present study classifies human breast tissue samples as healthy or cancerous utilizing a surface-illuminated backscatter polarization imaging technique. Approach: The viability of the proposed approach is demonstrated using 95 breast tissue samples, including 35 healthy samples, 20 benign cancer samples, 20 grade-2 malignant samples, and 20 grade-3 malignant samples. Results: The observation results reveal that element m23 in the Mueller matrix of the healthy samples has a deeper color and greater intensity than that in the breast cancer samples. Conversely, element m32 shows a lighter color and reduced intensity. Finally, element m44 has a darker color in the healthy samples than in the cancer samples. The analysis of variance test results and frequency distribution histograms confirm that elements m23, m32, and m44 provide an effective means of detecting and classifying human breast tissue samples. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that surface-illuminated backscatter polarization imaging has significant potential as an assistive tool for breast cancer diagnosis and classification.

Polarimetric imaging combining optical parameters for classification of mice non-melanoma skin cancer tissue using machine learning.

Polarimetric imaging systems combining machine learning is emerging as a promising tool for the support of diagnosis and intervention decision-making processes in cancer detection/staging. A present study proposes a novel method based on Mueller matrix imaging combining optical parameters and machine learning models for classifying the progression of skin cancer based on the identification of three different types of mice skin tissues: healthy, papilloma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Three different machine learning algorithms (K-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Tree, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)) are used to construct a classification model using a dataset consisting of Mueller matrix images and optical properties extracted from the tissue samples. The experimental results show that the SVM model is robust to discriminate among three classes in the training stage and achieves an accuracy of 94 % on the testing dataset. Overall, it is provided that polarimetric imaging systems and machine learning algorithms can dynamically combine for the reliable diagnosis of skin cancer.

Microplastic accumulation in bivalves collected from different coastal areas of Vietnam and an assessment of potential risks.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging problem in many areas around the world and in coastal areas of Vietnam, requiring more studies dedicated to the accumulation of this pollutant in the food chain as well as its potential risk to human health. This study investigated MP levels in tissues of five common bivalve species collected from aquaculture areas along the coast of Vietnam. MPs were found in all bivalve samples, with average values of 10.84 ± 2.61 items/individual or 2.40 ± 1.34 items/g wet weight. Impacts of feeding habits of bivalves showed influences on MP abundance in the samples. Fibers were the dominant shape of MPs recorded, most of which accumulated in the gills and digestive glands of all bivalve samples, with the majority falling within the size range of 300-2000 µm. MPs found in all studied species had relatively similar chemical compositions, mainly composed of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). In this study, a diverse diet consisting of different bivalve species and detailed data on the consumption rate of these species were used to assess the human health risk of MPs dedicated to the coastal communities of Vietnam. The results suggested a significant part of MP uptake by human could be via bivalve consumption, in which removing viscera and proper depuration should be applied prior to eating, thereby reducing the risk.

Longitudinal Outcomes of Resilience, Quality of Life, and Community Integration in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Two-Group Matched Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence of nonpharmacological intervention for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is lacking. AIMS: To examine whether an 8-week nurse-led cognitive-behavioral based group intervention would enhance resilient coping and life quality among community-based patients with TRD. METHOD: The participants were randomly sampled from a cohort of TRD recruited from two general teaching hospitals. The two groups were assessed with multiple outcome measures at baseline (T0); 8-week post-baseline (T1); and at 3, 6, and 9 months after T1 (T2-4). Psychoeducation was nested in the cognitive behavioral group intervention to facilitate discussion. RESULTS: Of the 23 participants (mean age 56 years, 69.6% female) in the experimental group, higher resilient coping and lower mental distress levels at T1 as well as later improved quality of life and community integration at T2-4 were observed compared to the controls across COVID-19 (T3). Overall, the scores of resilience and community integration were higher throughout the four follow-up points of observations for the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that an 8-week nurse-led cognitive-behavioral based group intervention may enhance the TRD patients' resilient coping and mental distress levels while providing the potentials for community reintegration after mental health psychoeducation engagement. It is imperative for the nurses caring for patients with TRD to extend from clinical-based intervention to community-based self-care approach, with the importance of short-term stress management and healthy lifestyle development highlighted during the community reintegration trajectory.

Multimodal analysis of methylomics and fragmentomics in plasma cell-free DNA for multi-cancer early detection and localization.

Despite their promise, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based assays for multi-cancer early detection face challenges in test performance, due mostly to the limited abundance of ctDNA and its inherent variability. To address these challenges, published assays to date demanded a very high-depth sequencing, resulting in an elevated price of test. Herein, we developed a multimodal assay called SPOT-MAS (screening for the presence of tumor by methylation and size) to simultaneously profile methylomics, fragmentomics, copy number, and end motifs in a single workflow using targeted and shallow genome-wide sequencing (~0.55×) of cell-free DNA. We applied SPOT-MAS to 738 non-metastatic patients with breast, colorectal, gastric, lung, and liver cancer, and 1550 healthy controls. We then employed machine learning to extract multiple cancer and tissue-specific signatures for detecting and locating cancer. SPOT-MAS successfully detected the five cancer types with a sensitivity of 72.4% at 97.0% specificity. The sensitivities for detecting early-stage cancers were 73.9% and 62.3% for stages I and II, respectively, increasing to 88.3% for non-metastatic stage IIIA. For tumor-of-origin, our assay achieved an accuracy of 0.7. Our study demonstrates comparable performance to other ctDNA-based assays while requiring significantly lower sequencing depth, making it economically feasible for population-wide screening.

Population adjusted-indirect comparisons in health technology assessment: A methodological systematic review.

In health technology assessment (HTA), population-adjusted indirect comparisons (PAICs) are increasingly considered to adjust for the difference in the target population between studies. We aim to assess the conduct and reporting of PAICs in recent HTA practice, by performing, a methodological systematic review of studies implementing PAICs from PubMed, EMBASE Classic, Embase/Ovid Medline All, and Cochrane databases from January 1, 2010 to Feb 13, 2023. Four independent researchers screened the titles, abstracts, and full-texts of the identified records, then extracted data on methodological and reporting characteristics of 106 eligible articles. Most PAIC analyses (96.9%, n = 157) were conducted by (or received funding from) pharmaceutical companies. Prior to adjustment, 44.5% of analyses (n = 72) (partially) aligned the eligibility criteria of different studies to enhance the similarity of their target populations. In 37.0% of analyses (n = 60), the clinical and methodological heterogeneity across studies were extensively assessed. In 9.3% of analyses (n = 15), the quality (or bias) of individual studies was evaluated. Among 18 analyses using methods that required an outcome model specification, results of the model fitting procedure were adequately reported in three analyses (16.7%). These findings suggest that the conduct and reporting of PAICs are remarkably heterogeneous and suboptimal in current practice. More recommendations and guidelines on PAICs are thus warranted to enhance the quality of these analyses in the future.

Repeat self-harm and mental health service use after self-harm in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities: Insights from a data linkage study in Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (vs non-Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) and in-hospital death due to self-harm, repeat self-harm and mental health service use after self-harm. METHOD: A retrospective study of 42,127 self-harm hospital inpatients aged 15+ years in Victoria, Australia, from July 2008 to June 2019. Linked hospital and mental health service data were used to assess in-hospital death, repeat self-harm and mental health service use in the 12 months following index self-harm hospital admission. Logistic regression and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used to estimate associations between cultural background and outcomes. RESULTS: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people accounted for 13.3% of self-harm hospital inpatients. In-hospital death (0.8% of all patients) was negatively associated with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background. Within 12 months, 12.9% of patients had self-harm readmission and 20.1% presented to emergency department with self-harm. Logistic regression components of zero-inflated negative binomial regression models showed no differences in the odds of (hospital-treated) self-harm reoccurrence between Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and non- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse self-harm inpatients. However, count components of models show that among those with repeat self-harm, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people (e.g. born in Southern and Central Asia) made fewer additional hospital revisits than non-Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people. Clinical mental health service contacts following self-harm were made in 63.6% of patients, with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people (Asian backgrounds 43.7%) less likely to make contact than the non-Culturally and Linguistically Diverse group (65.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and non-Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people did not differ in the likelihood of hospital-treated repeat self-harm, but among those with self-harm repetition Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people had fewer recurrences than non-Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people and utilised mental health services less following self-harm admissions.

Enhanced Raman scattering based on a ZnO/Ag nanostructured substrate: an in-depth study of the SERS mechanism.

Combining semiconductor and noble metal nanostructures into a hybrid system has shown many complementary advantages in the optical properties, making them more attractive in practical applications. Herein, we prepared a semiconductor/noble metal hybrid system composed of Ag nanoparticles decorated on ZnO nanoplates acting as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for probing methyl red. The tuning of the optical characteristics of the hybrid system was demonstrated through the changes in the absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectra. The formation of the local electromagnetic field at the heterostructure interface plays a pivotal role in its SERS activity. Thanks to density functional theory calculations, methyl red's vibrational modes and symmetry properties were assigned to be consistent with the contribution of the neutral trans conformer and protonated state. Then, using Herzberg-Teller-surface selection rules, these assignments strongly support the realization that the SERS mechanism based on the ZnO/Ag substrate has a significant electromagnetic contribution versus the Ag substrate in which charge transfer plays a pivotal role. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation that has clarified the mechanism and advantage of semiconductor/metal (ZnO/Ag nanostructures) even over noble metals (Ag nanoparticles) in SERS applications. Moreover, the SERS behavior based on the ZnO/Ag substrate was also examined and the results indicated high sensitivity and good repeatability.

Synthesis of solar-driven Cu-doped graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst for enhanced removal of caffeine in wastewater.

Caffeine (CaF), a widely consumed compound, has been associated with various harmful effects on human health, including metabolic, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive disorders. Moreover, it poses a signifincant threat to organisms and aquatic ecosystems, leading to water pollution concerns. Therefore, the removal of CaF from wastewater is crucial for mitigating water pollution and minimizing its detrimental impacts on both humans and the environment. In this study, a solar-driven Cu-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Cu/CN) photocatalyst was synthesized and evaluated for its effectiveness in oxidizing CaF in wastewater. The Cu/CN photocatalyst, with a low band gap energy of 2.58eV, exhibited superior performance in degrading CaF compared to pure graphitic carbon nitride (CN). Under solar light irradiation, CuCN achieved a remarkable CaF degradation efficiency of 98.7% CaF, surpassing CN's efficiency of 74.5% by 24.2%. The synthesized Cu/CN photocatalyst demonstrated excellent removal capability, achieving a removal rate of over 88% for CaF in wastewater. Moreover, the reusability test showed that Cu/CN could be successfully reused up to five cycles maintaining a high removal efficiency of 74% for CaF in the fifth cycle. Additionally, the study elucidated the oxidation mechanism of CaF using solar-driven Cu/CN photocatalyst and highlighted the environmental implications of the process.

Synthesis of cuprous oxide/silver (Cu2O/Ag) hybrid as surface-enhanced Raman scattering probe for trace determination of methyl orange.

Recently, there have been publications on preparing hybrid materials between noble metal and semiconductor for applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates to detect some toxic organic dyes. However, the use of cuprous oxide/silver (Cu2O/Ag) to measure the trace amounts of methyl orange (MO) has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, the trace level of MO in water solvent was determined using a SERS substrate based on Cu2O microcubes combined with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Herein, a series of Cu2O/Agx (x= 1-5) hybrids with various Ag amounts was synthesized via a solvothermal method followed by a reduction process, and their SERS performance was studied in detail. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy results confirmed that 10 nm Ag NPs were well dispersed on 200-500 nm Cu2O microcubes to form Cu2O/Ag heterojunctions. Using the as-prepared Cu2O and Cu2O/Agx as MO probe, the Cu2O/Ag5 nanocomposite showed the highest SERS activity of all samples with the limit of detection as low to 1 nM and the enhancement factor as high as 4 × 108. The logarithm of the SERS peak intensity at 1389 cm-1 increased linearly with the logarithm of the concentration of MO in the range from 1 nM to 0.1 mM.

Graphitic carbon nitride metal-free photocatalyst for the simultaneous removal of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants in wastewater.

The presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water has emerged as a significant public health concern due to their potential adverse impacts, including the development of antibiotic resistance. Consequently, advanced oxidation processes based on photocatalysis have garnered considerable attention for treating pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater. In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN), a metal-free photocatalyst, was synthesized by the polymerization of melamine and assessed as a potential candidate for the photodegradation of acetaminophen (AP) and carbamazepine (CZ) in wastewater. Under alkaline conditions, g-CN demonstrated high removal efficiencies of 98.6% and 89.5% for AP and CZ, respectively. The relationships between degradation efficiency and catalyst dosage, initial pharmaceutical concentration, and photodegradation kinetics were investigated. Increasing the catalyst dose facilitated the removal of antibiotic contaminants, with an optimum catalyst dose of 0.1 g, achieving a photodegradation efficiency of 90.2% and 82.7% for AP and CZ, respectively. The synthesized photocatalyst removed over 98% of AP (1 mg/L) within 120 min, with a rate constant of 0.0321 min-1, 2.14 times faster than that of CZ. Quenching experiments revealed that g-CN was active under solar light and generated highly reactive oxidants such as hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (•O2-). The reuse test confirmed the good stability of g-CN for treating pharmaceuticals during three repeated cycles. Finally, the photodegradation mechanism and environmental impacts were discussed. This study presents a promising approach for treating and mitigating pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater.

Information Needs of Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Treatment in Vietnam and Related Determinants.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer who are not well informed often experience dissatisfaction with care, difficulty coping with their disease, and feelings of helplessness. PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the information needs of women with breast cancer undergoing treatment in Vietnam and the determinants of these needs. METHODS: One hundred thirty women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer in the National Cancer Hospital in Vietnam enrolled as volunteers in this cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. Self-perceived information needs, body functions, and disease symptoms were surveyed using the Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire and the 23-item Breast Cancer Module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire, which consists of two (functional and symptom) subscales. Descriptive statistical analyses included t test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The results revealed participants had high information needs and a negative future perspective. The highest information needs related to potential for recurrence, interpretation of blood test results, treatment side effects, and diet. Future perspective, income level, and educational level were identified as determinants of information needs, explaining 28.2% of the variance in the need for breast cancer information. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study was the first to use a validated questionnaire to assess information needs in women with breast cancer in Vietnam. Healthcare professionals may refer to the findings of this study when designing and delivering health education programs designed to meet the self-perceived information needs of women with breast cancer in Vietnam.

Integrated pest management of Hypsipyla robusta shoot-tip borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Chukrasia tabularis (Sapindales: Meliaceae).

Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss produces a valuable timber but plantations are susceptible to attack by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipyla robusta Moore. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is desirable to limit the extent of damage. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the deployment of IPM measures in plantations in Vietnam. Data on tree damage and the biology of H. robusta were gathered in 4 provinces over one year and used to build an investigation schedule. Two preliminary IPM trials were then established in which Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium anisopliae were applied to the foliage when the damage incidence (P%) was in the range 5-10%; and insecticides (Carbaryl, Carbosulfan) were applied when the P% exceeded 10%. In addition, larvae and pupae were removed manually over time. In the first trial, the combination of manual and biological control methods reduced the damage index (DI) of trees from 4 tolerant families by 82% compared to the untreated control plots. In the second trial using standard planting stock, application of insecticides was required to reduce the DI by 83%. Six extended IPM trials were undertaken using the same IPM protocols and these reduced the DI to the same extent as in the preliminary trials. Over an 18-month period, the deployment of IPM increased height growth by 19-22% and diameter growth by 38-41% compared to the controls. These findings highlight the value of planting improved seed and the benefit of adopting an IPM approach to manage the shoot-tip borer.