Association between Hypertension and Stroke Recurrence as Modified by Pro-oxidant-Antioxidant Balance: A Multi-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and oxidative stress are involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of stroke. We aimed to investigate the modification impact of the pro-oxidant-anti-oxidant balance (PAB) on the association between hypertension and stroke recurrence (SR). METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted from December 2019 to December 2020 in 951 stroke patients in six hospitals across Vietnam. Hypertension was defined using antihypertensive medication or systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. PAB was estimated using weighting methods based on smoking, drinking, and overweight/obesity with pro-oxidant capacity, diet quality, fruit intake, vegetable intake, and physical activity with antioxidant capacity. The higher PAB scores indicated a beneficial balance shifting toward antioxidant dominance. SR was diagnosed by neurologists. Moreover, sociodemographic and health conditions were included as covariates. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations and interactions. RESULTS: The hypertension and SR proportions were 72.8% and 17.5%, respectively. hypertension was associated with an increased SR likelihood (odds ratio (OR) = 1.93; p = 0.004), whereas a higher PAB score was associated with a lowered SR likelihood (OR = 0.87; p = 0.003). Moreover, hypertension interacting with every one-point increment of PAB was associated with a lowered SR likelihood (OR = 0.83; p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: The harmful impact of hypertension on SR could be alleviated by PAB. The interplay of health behaviors should be highlighted in the intervention strategies for stroke prevention.

Negative Impact of Comorbidity on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Stroke as Modified by Good Diet Quality.

Background: Comorbidity, along with aging, affects stroke-induced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We examined the potential role of diet quality in modifying the association between comorbidity and HRQoL in patients with stroke. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 951 patients with stroke from December 2019 to December 2020 across Vietnam. Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) items and classified into two groups (none vs. one or more). Diet quality was evaluated using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q) questionnaire, and HRQoL was measured using the RAND-36, with a higher score indicating better diet quality or HRQoL, respectively. Besides, socio-demographics, health-related behaviors (e.g., physical activity, smoking, and drinking), disability (using WHODAS 2.0), and health literacy were also assessed. Linear regression analysis was utilized to explore the associations and interactions. Results: The proportion of patients with stroke aged ≥65 years and having comorbidity were 53.7 and 49.9%, respectively. The HRQoL scores were 44.4 ± 17.4. The diet quality was associated with higher HRQoL score (regression coefficient, B, 0.14; (95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 0.04, 0.23; p = 0.004), whereas comorbidity was associated with lower HRQoL score (B, -7.36; 95% CI, -9.50, -5.23; p < 0.001). In interaction analysis, compared to patients without comorbidity and having the lowest DASH-Q score, those with comorbidity and higher DASH-Q score had a higher HRQoL score (B, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.39; p = 0.021). Conclusion: The findings showed that good diet quality could modify the adverse impact of comorbidity on HRQoL in patients with stroke. Diet quality should be considered as a strategic intervention to improve the HRQoL of patients with stroke, especially those with comorbidity, and to promote healthier aging.

Physical Activity and Diet Quality Modify the Association between Comorbidity and Disability among Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Comorbidity is common and causes poor stroke outcomes. We aimed to examine the modifying impacts of physical activity (PA) and diet quality on the association between comorbidity and disability in stroke patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 951 stable stroke patients in Vietnam from December 2019 to December 2020. The survey questionnaires were administered to assess patients' characteristics, clinical parameters (e.g., Charlson Comorbidity Index items), health-related behaviors (e.g., PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire- short version), health literacy, diet quality (using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q) questionnaire), and disability (using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II)). Linear regression models were used to analyze the associations and interactions. RESULTS: The proportion of comorbidity was 49.9% (475/951). The scores of DASH-Q and WHODAS II were 29.2 ± 11.8, 32.3 ± 13.5, respectively. Patients with comorbidity had a higher score of disability (regression coefficient, B, 8.24; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 6.66, 9.83; p < 0.001) as compared with those without comorbidity. Patients with comorbidity and higher tertiles of PA (B, -4.65 to -5.48; p < 0.05), and a higher DASH-Q score (B, -0.32; p < 0.001) had a lower disability score, as compared with those without comorbidity and the lowest tertile of PA, and the lowest score of DASH-Q, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity and diet quality significantly modified the negative impact of comorbidity on disability in stroke patients. Strategic approaches are required to promote physical activity and healthy diet which further improve stroke rehabilitation outcomes.

Factors Associated with Depression among the Elderly Living in Urban Vietnam.

The proportion of elderly people in big cities of developing countries, including Vietnam, is rapidly increasing during the age of rampant urbanization. This is being followed by a sustained rise of illnesses, especially mental health issues. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between depression and the factors associated with depression among the elderly. In a cross-sectional study, 299 elderly living in Hanoi, Vietnam, were approached for data collection. Self-reported depression among the elderly was 66.9% (32.8% mild, 30.4% moderate, and 3.7% severe cases). In multivariate analysis, there were significant associations between age, number of physical activities, number of medicine intake, and 3 domains of quality of life (physical health, psychological health, and environmental health) and depression. Age and the number of medicine intake are positively correlated with depression, accounting for 57.94% and 58.93%, respectively. On the contrary, the number of physical activities and the 3 domains of quality life mentioned above are negatively correlated with depression. In the urban setting of a developing country like Vietnam, the elderly have experienced common depression. Recognizing depression among the elderly-which is individual and social-helps us design public health programs. Screening for early depression, joining social programming, and participating in physical activities may improve the mental life of the elderly.

Analysis of the complete genome sequence of two Korean sacbrood viruses in the Honey bee, Apis mellifera.

The complete genomic RNAs of two Korean sacbrood virus (SBV) strains, which infect the honey bee, Apis mellifera, were sequenced. The two sequences (AmSBV-Kor19, AmSBV-Kor21) were distinguished by the presence or absence of a PstI restriction site. These strains comprised of 8784 bp and 8835 bp; contained a single large ORF (179-8707 and 179-8758) encoding 2843 and 2860 amino acids, respectively. Deduced amino acid sequences comparison with some insect viruses showed that regions of helicase, protease and RdRp domains; structural genes were located at the 5' end and non-structural genes at the 3' end. Multiple sequence alignment showed that AmSBV-Kor19 was missing a section between nucleotides 2311 and 2361 (present in SBV-UK and CSBV) but was similar to that of the Korean SBV strain that infects A. cerana (AcSBV-Kor). The differences in the AmSBV-Kor19 strain may be the result of the virus adapting to a different host.