A "What Matters Most" approach to investigating intersectional stigma toward HIV and cancer in Hanoi, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Vietnam is experiencing a growing burden of cancer, including among people living with HIV. Stigma acts as a sociocultural barrier to the prevention and treatment of both conditions. This study investigates how cultural notions of "respected personhood" (or "what matters most") influence manifestations of HIV-related stigma and cancer stigma in Hanoi, Vietnam. METHODS: Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with people living with HIV in Hanoi, Vietnam. Transcripts were thematically coded via a directed content analysis using the What Matters Most conceptual framework. Coding was done individually and discussed in pairs, and any discrepancies were reconciled in full-team meetings. RESULTS: Analyses elucidated that having chu tín-a value reflecting social involvement, conscientiousness, and trustworthiness-and being successful (eg, in career, academics, or one's personal life) are characteristics of respected people in this local cultural context. Living with HIV and having cancer were seen as stigmatized and interfering with these values and capabilities. Intersectional stigma toward having both conditions was seen to interplay with these values in some ways that had distinctions compared with stigma toward either condition alone. Participants also articulated how cultural values like chu tín are broadly protective against stigmatization and how getting treatment and maintaining employment can help individuals resist stigmatization's most acute impacts. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-related and cancer stigma each interfere with important cultural values and capabilities in Vietnam. Understanding these cultural manifestations of these stigmas separately and intersectionally can allow for greater ability to measure and respond to these stigmas through culturally tailored intervention.

Novel FeII and CoII Complexes of Natural Product Tryptanthrin: Synthesis and Binding with G-Quadruplex DNA.

Tryptanthrin is one of the most important members of indoloquinoline alkaloids. We obtained this alkaloid from Isatis. Two novel FeII and CoII complexes of tryptanthrin were first synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses show that these complexes display distorted four-coordinated tetrahedron geometry via two heterocyclic nitrogen and oxygen atoms from tryptanthrin ligand. Binding with G-quadruplex DNA properties revealed that both complexes were found to exhibit significant interaction with G-quadruplex DNA. This study may potentially serve as the basis of future rational design of metal-based drugs from natural products that target the G-quadruplex DNA.

[The effect of gallic acid extracted from leaves of Phyllanthus emblica on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7404 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of gallic acid extracted from Leaves of Phyllanthus emblica on the apoptosis of BEL-7404 cells. METHODS: MTT assay was applied to detect the influence on prolifetation in vitro. Inverted microscope was utilized to observe the morphological changes after BEL-7404 cells were treated with gallic acid. Annexin V/PI double label method was used to detect earlier period apoptosis cells and Tunel was applied to calculate the apoptosis rates. RESULTS: Gallic acid could restrain the BEL-7404 cells proliferation at diffierent levels in a time and concentration dependent manner. The typical morphological changes of apoptosis were observed after BEL-7404 cells were treated with gallic acid. Annexin V/PI double label method and Tunel method showed that the viable apoptotic cell and apoptosis rates added as action time prolonged. CONCLUSION: Gallic acid can restrain the BEL-7404 cells proliferation and induce apoptosis, and its effect on apoptosis is time dependent.