Predictive value of platelet-to-lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in HCC treated with sorafenib and radioembolization.

Background & Aims: Herein we used data derived from the SORAMIC trial to explore the predictive value of systemic inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR] and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib monotherapy or the combination of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)/sorafenib. Methods: Patients randomized to sorafenib monotherapy or SIRT/sorafenib within the per-protocol population of the SORAMIC trial were evaluated in this exploratory post hoc analysis. The median baseline values of NLR and PLR were used as cut-off values to describe subgroups. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to evaluate median survival in the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in each subgroup. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was applied to eliminate the effect of confounding factors. Results: A total of 275 patients with a median overall survival of 12.4 months were included in this analysis. The median NLR value of the cohort was 2.77 and the median PLR was 26.5. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in patients with low NLR (p = 0.72) and PLR (p = 0.35) values. In patients with high NLR values, there was no statistically significant difference in median overall survival between SIRT/sorafenib and sorafenib cohorts (12.1 vs. 9.2 months, p = 0.21). In patients with high PLR values, overall survival in the SIRT/sorafenib arm was significantly longer than in the sorafenib arm (15.9 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.029). This significant difference was preserved in the multivariable analysis (SIRT/sorafenib arm: hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.96, p = 0.03) incorporating age, Child-Pugh grade, and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Conclusions: PLR is a potential predictive factor of benefit from additional SIRT in patients with HCC receiving sorafenib therapy. The potential predictive value of PLR should be further evaluated in future trials. Impact and implications: Systemic therapies are the mainstay of treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at advanced stages. However, not all patients respond well to these treatments. In our analysis, using blood test parameters showing systemic inflammation status, we were able to identify patients who would benefit more from combined treatment with a locoregional treatment of radioembolization (or selective internal radiation therapy).

Imaging-Derived Biomarkers Integrated with Clinical and Laboratory Values Predict Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) derived imaging biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) and develop a predictive nomogram model. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 178 patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC who underwent liver transplantation between 2007 and 2021 at the two academic liver centers. We evaluated dedicated imaging features from baseline multiphase contrast-enhanced CT supplemented by several clinical findings and laboratory parameters. Time-to-recurrence was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariable Cox proportional hazard regression and multivariable Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were used to assess independent prognostic factors for recurrence. A nomogram model was then built based on the independent factors selected through LASSO regression, to predict the probabilities of HCC recurrence at one, three, and five years. Results: The rate of HCC recurrence after LT was 17.4% (31 of 178). The LASSO analysis revealed six independent predictors associated with an elevated risk of tumor recurrence. These predictors included the presence of peritumoral enhancement, the presence of over three tumor lesions, the largest tumor diameter greater than 3 cm, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels exceeding 400 ng/mL, and the presence of a tumor capsule. Conversely, a history of bridging therapies was found to be correlated with a reduced risk of HCC recurrence. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves showed patients with irregular margin, satellite nodules, or small lesions displayed shorter time-to-recurrence. Our nomogram demonstrated good performance, yielding a C-index of 0.835 and AUC values of 0.86, 0.88, and 0.85 for the predictions of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year TTR, respectively. Conclusion: Imaging parameters derived from baseline contrast-enhanced CT showing malignant behavior and aggressive growth patterns, along with serum AFP and history of bridging therapies, show potential as biomarkers for predicting HCC recurrence after transplantation.

Prognostic value of baseline MRI features in patients treated with thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate prognostic value of baseline MRI features for time-to-recurrence (TTR) and local recurrence in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: Baseline and follow-up images of 88 patients treated with thermal ablation followed by adjuvant sorafenib or matching placebo due to HCC within the phase II prospective randomized trial (SORAMIC) were included. Baseline MRI images were evaluated in terms of atypical enhancement (lack of wash-in or wash-out), lesion diameter, tumor capsule, peritumoral enhancement on arterial phase, intratumoral fat, irregular margin, satellite lesions, and peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase. Prognostic value of these features for TTR and local recurrence were assessed with univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Recurrence at any location was diagnosed during follow-up in 30 patients, and the median TTR was 16.4 (95% CI, 15 - NA) months. The presence of more than one lesion (p = 0.028) and peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase images (p = 0.012) at baseline were significantly associated with shorter TTR in univariable analysis. AFP > 15 mg/dL (p = 0.084), and history of cirrhosis (p = 0.099) were marginally non-significant. Peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase images was the only significant risk factor for recurrence in multivariable analysis (p = 0.003). Local recurrence (adjacent to thermal scar) was diagnosed in eleven (8.3%) out of 132 lesions that underwent thermal ablation. The only significant risk factor for local recurrence was a lesion diameter larger than 3 cm (22.2% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase can serve as imaging biomarker to identify increased recurrence risk in patients undergoing thermal ablation for early-stage HCC.

Outcome of Children with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate outcome after pediatric transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with respect to survival MATERIAL AND METHODS: After searching for studies on TIPS in children in Ovid, Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane published between 2000 and 2022, individual patient data were retrieved from five retrospective cohorts. Overall survival (OS) and transplant-free survival (TFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test and compared to the indication (ascites vs. variceal bleeding) as well as to the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic vs. hepatic vs. post-hepatic). Additionally, TIPS patency was analyzed. RESULTS: n = 135 pediatric patients were included in the final analysis. Indication for pediatric TIPS creation was heterogeneous among the included studies. TIPS patency decreased from 6 to 24 months, subsequent pediatric liver transplantation was performed in 22/135 (16.3%) of cases. The presence of ascites was related with poorer TFS (HR 2.3, p = 0.023), while variceal bleeding was not associated with impaired survival. Analysis of the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic) failed to prove significantly reduced OS for post-hepatic obstruction (HR 3.2, p = 0.092) and TFS (HR 1.3, p = 0.057). There was no difference in OS and TFS according to age at time of TIPS placement. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ascites associates with impaired survival after TIPS in children, with no differences in survival according to the age of the child. Interventional shunt procedures can be considered feasible for all ages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2a.

A compact metasurface-based circularly polarized antenna with high gain and high front-to-back ratio for RFID readers.

Developing a compact circularly polarized (CP) antenna with good radiation characteristics for handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) readers is a very challenging task. Many compact CP antennas have been reported in the open literature, but most suffer from critical drawbacks of low gain and/or high back radiation. This paper presents a metasurface (MS) based CP antenna with compact size, high gain, and high front-to-back ratio characteristics. The compact size of the proposed design is achieved by using a 2 × 2 unit-cell MS, while the CP realization is accomplished through a coupling between the MS and a Y-shaped patch as a primary CP source. The final antenna has compact overall dimensions of 0.45λ × 0.45λ × 0.02λ, where λ is the guided wavelength at the center frequency. The operating bandwidth is about 2.0% (2.43-2.48 GHz) and the broadside gain is about 6.3 dBi. Besides, the front-to-back ratio (FBR) defined by the difference gain levels between the forward and backward directions is about 18 dB. Compared with the related compact CP antennas in the literature, the proposed design has the advantages of high gain and high FBR, making it suitable for compact RFID readers.

Determinants of health-related quality of life among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Hanoi, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which impacts patients' lives. Many studies in high-income countries have focused on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, evidence of awareness of SLE and HRQoL in low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of HRQoL of SLE patients in Vietnam, a lower-middle income country. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology in 2019. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. It consisted of Short Form-36 to assess HRQoL which comprised physical and mental component summaries, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Mental Adjustment to SLE. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the determinants of HRQoL. RESULTS: One hundred thirty four patients with SLE participated in this study. The majority of the patients were women (n = 126, 94.0%). The mean age of all participants was 37.9 years old (standard deviation [SD] 12.5). Of 134 participants, 104 (77.6%) were married. Older patients were more likely to have a lower score of mental component summary (B=-0.45, 95% CI -0.73, -0.17). Patients with more children were more likely to have a lower score of physical component summary (B=-5.14, 95% CI -9.27, -1.00). Patients who felt more helplessness or hopelessness were more likely to have lower scores of physical and mental component summaries (B=-1.85, 95% CI -2.80, -0.90; B=-1.69, 95% CI -2.57, -0.81). Also, patients who felt more anxious were more likely to have a lower score of mental component summary (B=-1.04, 95% CI -1.77, -0.32). Patients who were more satisfied with their lives were more likely to have higher scores of physical and mental component summaries (B = 1.07, 95% CI 0.50, 1.64; B = 1.08, 95% CI 0.55, 1.61). CONCLUSION: Factors associated with lower HRQoL in Vietnam were feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, and burdens of parenting roles. However, social support can contribute to a higher HRQoL, such as information support, self-support groups, and daycare services provided at the community level.

Nature-Inspired Chemistry of Complex Alkaloids: Combining Targeted Molecular Networking Approach and Semisynthetic Strategy to Access Rare Communesins in a Marine-Derived Penicillium expansum.

Communesins are rare alkaloids isolated from fungi of the genus Penicillium. In this work, the extract of a marine-derived Penicillium expansum strain was studied using targeted molecular networking approach allowing to detect 65 communesins including 55 new ones. A fragmentation pattern for dimethylvinyl communesins was established and a script was implemented allowing to predict the structure and map all communesins in a global molecular network. A semisynthetic strategy was carried out to obtain some minor congeners from the two isolated communesins A and B. Nine communesins were then synthetised: two of them were already described as produced by the studied strain; four are new natural products which occurrence in the extracts was confirmed; three are new semi-synthetic analogues never described so far. These communesins were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on two human cancer cell lines KB and MCF-7 leading to a preliminary study of their structure-activity relationships.

Anti-arthritic activity and phytochemical composition of "Cao Khai" (Aqueous extracts of Coptosapelta flavescens Korth.).

For a long time, ethnic minorities in Ninh Thuan province have combined "Day Khai" (Coptosapelta flavescens Korth) with many other medicinal herbs, creating an esoteric remedy called "Cao Khai"-an aqueous extract from Day Khai. This study tested an aqueous extract from "Day Khai" for total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in an in vivo mice model. The aqueous extracts of raw materials C. flavescens collected in different regions were found to have phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in vitro according to DPPH, ABTS, RP, TAC, and FRAP methods. This study evaluated the effect of C. flavescens on arthritis of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced-mice by observing changes in the degree of edema in the leg joints blood index and histology. The findings indicated that the "Cao Khai" had anti-inflammatory benefits and lowered the inflammatory symptoms in mice equivalent to Mobic medications (p < 0.05) while also limiting cartilage tissue damage after 14 days of usage. As a result, it is clear that "Cao Khai" can be considered a medicinal herb with tremendous potential for usage as an addition to illness therapy that should be protected and cultivated.

Diagnosis and Risk Factors for Delirium in Elderly Patients in the Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Unit of the National Geriatric Hospital Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

PURPOSE: To diagnose delirium and identify risk factors for its development in elderly patients in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care units (ICU) at the National Geriatric Hospital (Vietnam). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with a convenience sample of non-surgical patients admitted to ED and ICU at Hanoi National Geriatric Hospital in Vietnam. In total, 163 patients met the selection criteria and were included in the study. Screening involved using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). The diagnosis was established according to the DSM-5 and ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: Delirium was found in a total of 106 (63.1%) patients. The factors significantly affecting its development were vision impairment (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5 to 7.4, P=0.003), hearing impairment (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.77 to 7.36, P=0.0001), acute or chronic kidney failure (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 2.05 to 6.39, P<0.001), respiratory disorders (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.2, P=0.004), and malnutrition (OR, 9.17; 95% CI, 3.43-24.5, P=0.0001). The list also include the fall risk factors (OR, 12.2; 95% CI, 4.1-36.3, P=0.0001), frailty (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 3.4-20.6, P=0.0001), activities of daily living (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 3.4-20.6, P=0.0001), hyponatremia (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.75, P=0.001), hypernatremia (OR, 13.1; 95% CI, 1.67 to 2.5, P=0.001), and treatment interventions. In addition, delirium was linked to the duration of ICU admission (OR, 6.53; 95% CI, 4.5-25.5, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The CAM/CAM-ICU diagnostic algorithm makes it possible to diagnose delirium successfully. The present study confirmed the role of several premorbid and triggering factors in the occurrence of delirium in elderly patients in ED and ICU. There is a need for further research into risk factors for delirium in elderly patients.

Depression among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Evidence from the Northeast region of Vietnam.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Herein, we aim to examine the prevalence of depression in type 2 diabetic patients at a provincial general hospital located in the Northeast region of Vietnam and to explore its relationship with some sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical history characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre cross-sectional descriptive study. The patients of both sexes who were at the age of 18 years or above, were treated at our institution and were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, previously or during the study period. A total of 220 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Depression prevalence was 32.27% according to ICD-10. The severity of depression was categorized as mild in 77.46% patients, moderate in 19.72% patients and severe in 2.82% patients. The odds of depression was 0.18 (95%CI 0.05-0.69, p = 0.012) less for those known as the upper social class compared with those in lower social class. Those who were not on insulin treatment had significantly higher odds of depression than those on treatment with insulin (OR 2.06, 95%CI: 1.01-4.21). Individuals on treatment without oral diabetes drugs had higher odd of depression compared to those being treated with oral diabetes drugs (OR 2.77, 95%CI: 1.14-6.73). Also, hypertension was an increasing contributor to the depression prevalence (OR 2.32, 95%CI: 1.10-4.90). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of depression among type 2 diabetic patients was documented. Only significant factors for depression were lower social class, co-morbid hypertension and none of the insulin treatment or oral diabetes drugs.

Interlaboratory study of a supercritical fluid chromatography method for the determination of pharmaceutical impurities: Evaluation of multi-systems reproducibility.

Modern supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is now a well-established technique, especially in the field of pharmaceutical analysis. We recently demonstrated the transferability and the reproducibility of a SFC-UV method for pharmaceutical impurities by means of an inter-laboratory study. However, as this study involved only one brand of SFC instrumentation (Waters®), the present study extends the purpose to multi-instrumentation evaluation. Specifically, three instrument types, namely Agilent®, Shimadzu®, and Waters®, were included through 21 laboratories (n = 7 for each instrument). First, method transfer was performed to assess the separation quality and to set up the specific instrument parameters of Agilent® and Shimadzu® instruments. Second, the inter-laboratory study was performed following a protocol defined by the sending lab. Analytical results were examined regarding consistencies within- and between-laboratories criteria. Afterwards, the method reproducibility was estimated taking into account variances in replicates, between-days and between-laboratories. Reproducibility variance was larger than that observed during the first study involving only one single type of instrumentation. Indeed, we clearly observed an 'instrument type' effect. Moreover, the reproducibility variance was larger when considering all instruments than each type separately which can be attributed to the variability induced by the instrument configuration. Nevertheless, repeatability and reproducibility variances were found to be similar than those described for LC methods; i.e. reproducibility as %RSD was around 15 %. These results highlighted the robustness and the power of modern analytical SFC technologies to deliver accurate results for pharmaceutical quality control analysis.

A rapid and sensitive method for characterization and quantification of polyglycerol esters by supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (SFC-HRMS).

Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (PGEs), a very complex mixture of various isomers, are widely used as green surfactants in different industrial fields such as in cosmetic, pharmaceutic and food industries. However, no study related to the purification and the absolute quantification of these compounds has been described yet. In this study, we developed a rapid and efficient method for characterization and quantification of PGEs using Supercritical Fluid CO2 coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (SFC-HRMS). The SFC conditions were first considered including the stationary phase, the nature of mobile phase, the column temperature, the back-pressure regulator. The MS parameters (drying-gas temperature, capillary voltage, nozzle voltage, fragmentor voltage) were then investigated to get the best sensitivity for the PGE analysis. The MS/MS-based structural characterization of targeted PGE, triglycerol mono-oleate (PG3+1C18:1), was established and is helpful to study complex mixtures of PGEs with numerous isobaric PGEs. PG3+1C18:1 was then purified at lab scale and used as standard for quantification. This enabled to develop a rapid quantification method for PG3+1C18:1 within 12 min with good linearity (R2 = 0.9997) as well as sensitivity (picogram level). The validated method was then successfully applied to quantify PG3+1C18:1 in commercial products in order to evaluate their composition.

Topical Antiseptic Formulations for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are usually acute conditions of inflammatory microbial occupation of the skin layers and underlying soft tissues. SSTIs are one of the most frequent types of infection, typically requiring medical intervention and contribute to morbidity and mortality in both primary care and hospitalised patients. Due to the dramatic rise of antibiotic resistance, antiseptic agents can be potential alternatives for the prevention and treatment of SSTIs. Notably, they are commonly recommended in many global practical guidelines for use in per- and post- operative procedures. A range of antiseptics, including chlorhexidine, triclosan, alcohol, and povidone-iodine, are used and are mainly formulated as traditional, simple dosage forms such as solutions and semi-solids. However, in recent years, there have been studies reporting the potential for nanotechnology in the delivery of antiseptics. In this review, we have collated the scientific literature that focuses on topical antiseptic formulations for prevention and treatment of SSTIs, and have divided findings into traditional and advanced formulations. We conclude that although nanotechnological formulations have demonstrated potential advantages for delivering drugs; nevertheless, there is still scope for traditional formulations and further development of optimised topical formulations to address the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Blood Pressure Control and Associations with Social Support among Hypertensive Outpatients in a Developing Country.

Relationships between social support characteristics with blood pressure control and recommended behaviors in Vietnamese hypertensive patients have not been investigated. This study is aimed at examining the role of social support characteristics in hypertension control and behaviors. Patients with hypertension (n = 220) in Hanoi, Vietnam, were recruited into a cross-sectional study. Both functional and structural characteristics of social support and network were examined. Results showed that increasing total network size was related to 52% higher odds of uncontrolled hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.22 - 1.89). Higher network sizes on the provision of information support related to advice, emotional support related to decisions, and practical support related to sickness were associated with lower odds of uncontrolled hypertension. Every additional 1% of the percentage of network members having hypertension decreased 2% the odds of uncontrolled hypertension (adjusted OR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.96 - 1.00). A 1% additional network members who were living in the same household was associated with a decrease of 0.08 point of behavioral adherence score (coef. = -0.08; 95%CI = -0.12 - 0.03). Meanwhile, a 1% increase of network members who were friends on the provision of practical support related to sickness and jobs was related to an increase of 0.10 point and 0.19 point of behavioral adherence score (coef. = 0.10; 95%CI = 0.04 - 0.17 and coef. = 0.19; 95%CI = 0.06 - 0.32, respectively). The current study suggested that further interventions to improve hypertension management should address the potential effects of social network characteristics.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel benzo[a]pyridazino[3,4-c]phenazine derivatives.

A convenient microwave-assisted one-pot four-component synthetic approach was developed en route to novel functionalized benzo[a]pyridazino[3,4-c]phenazine derivatives starting from 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, aromatic aldehydes, methyl hydrazine and o-phenylenediamine. Nine new derivatives were successfully synthesized and subsequently evaluated in terms of their biological profiles. The results revealed good cytotoxic activities of compounds 6a, 6h against KB, HepG2, Lu1 and MCF7 human cancer cell lines. Besides that, compound 6d exhibited promising antimicrobial activities toward Staphylococcuc aureus and Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains with IC50 < 6 µM.

Factors Associated with Glycaemic Control among Diabetic Patients Managed at an Urban Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) epidemic is rising in Vietnam. Identifying associated factors with glycaemic control in patients with T2DM is vital to improve treatment outcomes. This study is aimed at examining the uncontrolled glycaemic level of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) at an urban hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, and determining associated factors. An observational longitudinal cohort survey was performed among T2DM patients. Glycaemic control was evaluated by using the HbA1c level ≥ 6.5% or fasting blood glucose level ≥ 7.5 g/mmol. Information about sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics was collected. Multivariate mixed-effects logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors with control glycaemic level conditions. Among 189 T2DM patients, 70.4% had an uncontrolled glycaemic level. A higher number of comorbidities were associated with a lower likelihood of having uncontrolled glycaemic levels (OR = 0.71, p < 0.001, 95%CI = 0.52 - 0.98). Meanwhile, a higher body mass index (OR = 1.15, p < 0.05, 95%CI = 1.02 - 1.29), higher initial HbA1C (OR = 3.75, p < 0.01, 95%CI = 2.59 - 5.44), and higher initial fasting blood glucose levels (OR = 1.57, p < 0.01, 95%CI = 1.29 - 1.90) were positively associated with a higher risk of uncontrolled glycaemic levels. This study reveals that poor glycaemic control was common among T2DM patients in the urban hospital in Vietnam. Findings underlined the need for appropriate management strategies to control glycaemic levels and weight in this population.

Synthesis of novel potent cytotoxicy podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone compounds via microwave-assited multicomponent domino reactions.

A series of novel podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone compounds 5a-p were synthesized in good yields using microwave-assisted four-component reactions of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, aromatic benzaldehydes, tetronic acid and ammonium acetate. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized by spectral data and evaluated for their cytotoxicity activities against KB, HepG2, Lu1, MCF7, and non-cancerous Hek-293 cell lines. Among 16 new compounds screened, compounds 5a, 5d, 5h, and 5k displayed high potent inhibitory activities with IC50 < 40 nM against HepG2 and SK-Lu-1 cell lines, and showed lower toxicity for non-cancerous Hek-293 cell line, demonstrating the potential importance of these compounds in the development of potential anticancer agents.

Comparison of internal energy distributions generated by supercritical fluid chromatography versus liquid chromatography hyphenated with electrospray high resolution mass spectrometry.

The internal energy distributions of thermometer ions dissolved in supercritical and liquid solvents and produced in the gas phase by electrospray (ESI) were measured and compared by the survival yield method. The influence of different chromatographic conditions such as the nature of solvents, the composition of the mobile phase, the pressure of the back pressure regulator was studied for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) whereas the influence of the composition and of the flow rate of the mobile phase was investigated for liquid chromatography (LC). The MS instrumental parameters were studied in parallel for SFC and LC showing that the drying gas temperature and the fragmentor voltage affected the internal energy distribution, whereas the capillary voltage did not modify the internal energy distribution. A comparison of the internal energy distributions generated by SFC and LC was carried out leading to conclude that SFC led to higher internal energy, i.e. more in-source fragment ions, than LC.

Characterizing Patients with Uncontrolled Blood Pressure at an Urban Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Great efforts to advance the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension for controlling hypertension have been made; however, the rates of uncontrolled blood pressure are still high. This study explored the rate of uncontrolled hypertension in patients with hypertension managed in an urban hospital of Vietnam and identified associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was performed from August to October 2019 among hypertensive patients at an urban hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. Blood pressure was evaluated at the time of medical examination. Demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics were also collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to uncontrolled hypertension. Among 220 patients, the rate of uncontrolled hypertension was 40.5%. Females had a lower likelihood of having uncontrolled hypertension compared to males (adjusted OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.11-0.98). Higher duration of diseases (adjusted OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01-1.14) and higher body mass index (adjusted OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.05-1.45) were positively associated with uncontrolled hypertension. Patients who carried supplies needed for self-care, cut down on stress, exercised regularly, and stopped/cut down on smoking were also less likely to develop uncontrolled hypertension. This study reveals that uncontrolled hypertension was common among hypertensive patients in Vietnam. Improving self-care capacity and encouraging healthy behaviors are critically important to control blood pressure, particularly among patients who were males and had high disease duration and body mass index.

Cerebral venous thrombosis: report of 2 cases of hemorrhagic venous infarction.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), a rare but potentially severe cerebrovascular disease, is defined as the thrombosis of a cortical or deep cerebral vein, or a cerebral venous sinus. This article reports 2 cases of CVT. In the first case, the patient is a 40-year-old woman with a history of 2 miscarriages, using oral contraception and presenting intense headache, cervical irradiation, and drowsiness. The second case reports a 43-year-old woman with a history of Crohn disease and daily use of oral contraception, presenting headache, neck pain, and hypersensitivity to noise and light. Noncontrast CT, CT venography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR venography (MRV), first-line noninvasive diagnostic modalities in clinical practice, led us to the diagnosis of CVT: hypoplastic lateral sinus CVT in the first case and deep cerebral vein CVT complicated by hemorrhagic infarction in the second case. The early diagnosis of CVT is extremely important, but often a challenge due to highly variable clinical presentation and radiographic findings. MRI and the MRV play a crucial role in case of anatomical variant and in better assessing the extension of thrombus, as well as parenchyma involvement and complications.