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On 11th March 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). To date, there are rapidly spreading new "variants of concern" of SARS-CoV-2, the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), the South African (B.1.351) or Brasilian (P.1) variant. All of them contain multiple mutations in the ACE2 receptor recognition site of the spike protein, compared to the original Wuhan sequence, which is of great concern, because of their potential for immune escape. Here we report on the efficacy of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) to block protein-protein interaction of spike S1 to the human ACE2 cell surface receptor. This could be shown for the original spike D614, but also for its mutant forms (D614G, N501Y, and mix of K417N, E484K, N501Y) in human HEK293-hACE2 kidney and A549-hACE2-TMPRSS2 lung cells. High molecular weight compounds in the water-based extract account for this effect. Infection of the lung cells using SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus particles was efficiently prevented by the extract and so was virus-triggered pro-inflammatory interleukin 6 secretion. Modern herbal monographs consider the usage of this medicinal plant as safe. Thus, the in vitro results reported here should encourage further research on the clinical relevance and applicability of the extract as prevention strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Significance statementSARS-CoV-2 is steadily mutating during continuous transmission among humans. This might eventually lead the virus into evading existing therapeutic and prophylactic approaches aimed at the viral spike. We found effective inhibition of protein-protein interaction between the human virus cell entry receptor ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike, including five relevant mutations, by water-based common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) extracts. This was shown in vitro using human kidney (HEK293) and lung (A549) cells, overexpressing the ACE2 and ACE2/TMPRSS2 protein, respectively. Infection of the lung cells using SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentivirus was efficiently prevented by the extract. The results deserve more in-depth analysis of dandelions effectiveness in SARS-CoV-2 prevention and now require confirmatory clinical evidence.
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The present study investigated the internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and item response characteristics of a newly developed Vietnamese version of the Kessler 6 (K6) scale among hospital nurses in Hanoi, Vietnam. The K6 was translated into the Vietnamese language following a standard procedure. A survey was conducted of nurses in a large general hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, using a questionnaire including the Vietnamese K6, other scales (DASS21, health-related QOL, self-rated health, and psychosocial work environment), and questions about demographic variables. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) was calculated. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Eleven hypotheses were tested (as Pearson's correlations with the K6) to assess the scale's construct validity. Item response theory (IRT) analysis was conducted to identify the item response characteristics. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.864. The explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated a one-factor structure. Most hypotheses tested for construct validity were supported. IRT analysis indicated that response categories were located in order according to severity. K6 provided reliable information regarding higher levels of psychological distress. The findings suggest that the Vietnamese version of the K6 is a reliable and valid instrument to measure psychological distress among hospital nurses in Vietnam.
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Hospitals , Nurses , Self Report , Surveys and Questionnaires , Translating , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychometrics , VietnamABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE Currently discussing the clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis commonly used drugs astragalus main active ingredient astragalosideⅣ(ASTⅣ)in vitro after transforming growth factor-β1 induced lung adenocarcinoma A549 epithelial cells after epithelial cell interstitial Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition(EMT). METHODS The effect of astragalosideIV on the proliferation of A549 cells was detected by MTT assay for the first time.No significant effect of astragaloside on the prolifera-tion of A549 cells was found in the range of 1.25-20 μmol/L. A549 cells in vitro were divided into 5 groups: normal group, control group, low, medium and high experimental groups, which were treated for 72 hours,and the morphological changes of cells in each group were observed by light microscope. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting were performed. Detection of gene and protein expression levels. RESULTS The results of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the quantitative analysis of high-dose astragalosideⅣin the experimental group was lower than that of the control group in the α-SMA analysis,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The dose of AstragalosideⅣ in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group in the E-Cad analysis,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Western Blot results showed that the expression of α-SMA antibody in the high-dose and low-dose experimental group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The high-dose experimental group had a significantly higher expression of E-Cad antibody than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION This study uses A549 epithelial cells as a model, A549 cells were modeled and confirmed that Astragaloside can effectively inhibit TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and provide a new basis for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Objective To characterize viral co-infections among representative hospitalized measles cases during the 2014 Hanoi outbreak. Methods Throat swabs were collected from 54 pediatric patients with confirmed measles, and molecular diagnostics performed for 10 additional viral respiratory pathogens (Influenza A/H1N1pdm09; A/H3N2 and influenza B; Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3; Respiratory Synctial Virus, RSV; human Metapneumovirus, hMPV; Adenovirus and Picornavirus). Results Twenty-one cases (38.9%) showed evidence of infection with other respiratory viruses: 15 samples contained measles plus one additional virus, and 6 samples contained measles plus 2 additional viruses. Adenovirus was detected as a predominant cause of co-infections (13 cases; 24.1%), followed by RSV (6 cases; 11.1%), A/H1N1pdm09 (3 cases; 5.6%), PIV3 (3 cases; 3.7%), Rhinovirus (3 cases; 3.7%) and hMPV (1 case; 1.96%). Conclusions Viral co-infections identified from pediatric measles cases may have contributed to increased disease severity and high rate of fatal outcomes. Optimal treatment of measles cases may require control of multiple viral respiratory pathogens.
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OBJECTIVE@#To characterize viral co-infections among representative hospitalized measles cases during the 2014 Hanoi outbreak.@*METHODS@#Throat swabs were collected from 54 pediatric patients with confirmed measles, and molecular diagnostics performed for 10 additional viral respiratory pathogens (Influenza A/H1N1pdm09; A/H3N2 and influenza B; Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3; Respiratory Synctial Virus, RSV; human Metapneumovirus, hMPV; Adenovirus and Picornavirus).@*RESULTS@#Twenty-one cases (38.9%) showed evidence of infection with other respiratory viruses: 15 samples contained measles plus one additional virus, and 6 samples contained measles plus 2 additional viruses. Adenovirus was detected as a predominant cause of co-infections (13 cases; 24.1%), followed by RSV (6 cases; 11.1%), A/H1N1pdm09 (3 cases; 5.6%), PIV3 (3 cases; 3.7%), Rhinovirus (3 cases; 3.7%) and hMPV (1 case; 1.96%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Viral co-infections identified from pediatric measles cases may have contributed to increased disease severity and high rate of fatal outcomes. Optimal treatment of measles cases may require control of multiple viral respiratory pathogens.
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Background: Auricular pressure method is a non-medication method which has been applied for a long time. This method significantly improved the clinical symptoms in premenopausal women. Objectives: to evaluate the effects of auricular pressure method on some hemological and endocrinal indices of the patients with pre-menopausal syndrome. Subjects and methods: 30 patients with menopausal syndrome aged 40- 55 were treated by applying continuously auricular method on Shen men, endocrine, sympathetic nerve points for 30 days. An open-clinical trial was conducted with a comparison of the results before and after treatment. Results: After 30 days of treatment there were no change in hemological indices while serum Estradiol concentration increased to 199,33 \xb1 299,83pnol/l and FSH decreased to 16,33 \xb1 108,70 UL/I compared with those before treatment.The increased levels of estrogen explained partly the improvement of clinical symptoms after treatment. Number of erythrocyte, leukocyte, platelet, haemoglobin, hematocrit did not change. Conclusions: Auricular pressure method produced an influence on the levels of serum Estradiol and FSH. However, it caused no effects on hemological indices in the patients with menopausal syndrome. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
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PremenopauseABSTRACT
Background: Idiopathic or Immune Thrombocytopenic Pupura (ITP) is a common disease in Vietnamese children. This is a hemostatic disorder disease diagnosed by clinical symptoms combining with tests of platelet quantity in peripheral blood and other tests. Objectives: to study epidemiology, clinical, para-clinical characteristics and their relations in ITP disease. Subjects and methods: This was a prospective and retrospective study. The study included 579 pediatric patients from 3 months to 16 ages who were diagnosed and treated ITP disease in National Pediatric Hospital from 1/1/2003 to 12/31/2004. Results: Data were analyzed, including 191 infants from >3-<12 months (33.0%), 293 children from 1 - 10 ages (50.6%), 95 children >10-<16 ages (16.4%). The male/female ratio was highest in infants and decreased with age (P < 0.001). The disease occurred more in September, October and November with advantage factor being acute respiratory infection before 2 to 3 weeks. Subcutaneous hemorrhage ratio was highest with 557 cases (96.2%), intracranial hemorrhage happened in 7 cases (1.7%). There were differences among age groups about hemorrhage situation. Anemia level did not corresponding with the decrease of the platelet count. Conclusion: Characteristics of ITP depend on the number of platelet and age. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
