Therapeutic efficacy of pyronaridine-artesunate (Pyramax) in treating Plasmodium vivax malaria in the central highlands of Vietnam.

The emergence and spread of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax have necessitated the assessment of alternative blood schizonticidal drugs. In Vietnam, chloroquine-resistant P. vivax malaria has been reported. In an open-label, single-arm trial, the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of pyronaridine-artesunate (Pyramax, PA) was evaluated in Dak Nong province, Vietnam. A 3-day course of PA was administered to adults and children (≥20 kg) infected with P. vivax. Patients also received primaquine (0.25 mg/kg daily for 14 days). PA was well tolerated with transient asymptomatic increases in liver transaminases. The per-protocol proportion of patients with day 42 PCR-unadjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response was 96.0% (95% CI, 84.9%-99.0%, n = 48/50). The median parasite clearance time was 12 h (range, 12-36 h), with a median fever clearance time of 24 h (range, 12-60 h). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as potential genetic markers of reduced drug susceptibility were analyzed in three putative drug resistance markers, Pvcrt-o, Pvmdr1, and PvK12. Insertion at position K10 of the Pvcrt-o gene was found in 74.6% (44/59) of isolates. Pvmdr1 SNPs at Y976F and F1076L were present in 61% (36/59) and 78% (46/59), respectively. Amplification of Pvmdr1 gene (two copies) was found in 5.1% (3/59) of parasite samples. Only 5.1% (3/59) of isolates had mutation 552I of the PvK12 gene. Overall, PA rapidly cleared P. vivax blood asexual stages and was highly efficacious in treating vivax malaria, with no evidence of artemisinin resistance found. PA provides an alternative to chloroquine treatment for vivax malaria in Vietnam. CLINICAL TRIALS: This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12618001429246.

The pathways to reproductive health education for women with physical disabilities in vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To examines the access to reproductive health information by women with physical disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. METHODS: An ethnography was used in this research. Data collection was conducted by using observations, photovoice, and in-depth interview with 30 participants, which including 20 women with physical disabilities, 5 healthcare providers, and 5 key informants. RESULTS: Research findings revealed that women with physical disabilities had variable reproductive health knowledge with some women being more informed than others. They obtained reproductive health knowledge via four pathways: family, school, community, and self-learning via peers and the Internet. They learned different types of information from these sources, but their reproductive health resources remained limited, leading to very little reproductive health knowledge for women. CONCLUSION: Most women in this research are not educated by family members about reproductive health issues due to the Vietnamese cultural and social norms about sexual and reproductive health and ideas about disability. Some women have the opportunity to complete grade 9 and higher education levels, hence they are able to access authorized information via biology classes and other sexual and reproductive health training courses. Some recommendations are given including [1] Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education should be taught in schools; [2] The Ministry of Education and Training works with NGOs to provide more authoritative sexual and reproductive health documents or workplace training for all people with disabilities; [3] Social policy makers in Vietnam should review their policies regarding improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.

Cost analysis of establishing and operating the first human milk bank at Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children in Vietnam: an activity-based costing ingredients study.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is the biological norm for feeding infants and young children. When mothers' breastmilk is unavailable, donor human milk (DHM) from a human milk bank (HMB) becomes the next option for small vulnerable newborns. A comprehensive cost analysis is essential for understanding the investments needed to establish, operate, and scale up HMBs. This study aims to estimate and analyze such costs at the first facility established in Vietnam. METHODS: An activity-based costing ingredients (ABC-I) approach was employed, with the cost perspective from service provision agencies (specifically, the project conducted at Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children and Development Partners). Estimated financial costs, based on actual expenditures, were measured in 2023 local currency and then converted to 2023 US dollars (USD). We examined three scenarios: 1) direct start-up costs + indirect start-up costs + implementation costs, 2) direct start-up costs + implementation costs, and 3) capital costs + implementation costs over the 6.5 years of operation. RESULTS: The total start-up cost was USD 616,263, with total expenditure on direct activities at USD 228,131 and indirect activities at USD 388,132. Investment in equipment accounted for the largest proportion (USD 84,213). The monthly costs of Da Nang HMB were USD 25,217, 14,565, and 9,326, corresponding to scenarios 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Over HMB's 6.5 years of operation, on average, the unit costs were USD 166, USD 96, and USD 62 for DHM received and USD 201, USD 116, and USD 74 for pasteurized DHM meeting specified criteria in the corresponding scenarios. Unit costs were highest in the initial six months, decreased, and reached their lowest levels after a year. Then, the unit costs experienced an increase in late 2020 and early 2021. CONCLUSION: Although the unit cost of DHM in Da Nang HMB is comparable to that in certain neighboring countries, intentional measures to reduce disposal rates, improve HMB efficiency, motivate more community-based donors, and establish an HMB service network should be implemented to lower costs.

Assessment of the level and risk of radioactive hazards in coastal sediments in northern Vietnam.

Radioactivity in coastal sediments in northern Vietnam was examined using data from five sediment cores to assess radioactivity concentrations and radiation risk indices. Radiation risk indices included radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (ADR), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the activity utilization index (AUI), the external hazard index (Hex), the representative level gamma index (Iγr), and the annual gonadal effective dose rate (AGDE). The radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, 238U, and 137Cs were 567, 56.1, 35.1, 37.9, and 1.18 Bq/kg, respectively. The average concentrations of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U were above the global average at five sites, except for 137Cs, which was low. The Raeq, Hex, and AUI indices were below the recommended values, while the AEDE, ADR, AGDE, and Iγr indices were above the recommended values. Moreover, 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U had significant impacts on the radiation hazard indices Raeq, ADR, AEDE, Iγr, AUI, Hex, and AGDE. There are three coastal sediment groups on the northern coast of Vietnam: Group 1 has a higher radioactivity and radiation risk index than Group 2 but a lower value than Group 3. Group 3 had the highest radioactivity and radiation risk index. The values of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U and the ADR, AUI, Iγr, and AGDE indices in the sediment threaten the living environment.

Association between SARC-F scores and risk of adverse outcomes in older patients with cardiovascular disease: a prospective study at a tertiary hospital in the south of Vietnam.

Introduction: Older patients typically face elevated mortality rates and greater medical resource utilization during hospitalizations compared to their younger counterparts. Sarcopenia, serving as a prognostic indicator, is related to disability, diminished quality of life, and increased mortality. The SARC-F questionnaire, known for its cost-effectiveness, offers a valuable means of assessing sarcopenia. This study aims to explore the association between SARC-F scores and risk of adverse outcomes in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease at a Ho Chi Minh City hospital. Method: Participants aged 60 and above, admitted to the Department of Cardiology - Interventional and Cardiovascular Emergency of Thong Nhat Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City from November 2021 to June 2022, were recruited for the prospective, single-center study. The prognostic outcomes included all-cause death and the initial occurrence of emergency re-hospitalization within 6 months' post-discharge. The Kaplan-Meier analysis compared the overall survival rates between different SARC-F score groups. Results: The study enrolled 285 patients with a median age of 74 (67, 81). During a 6-month follow-up period, there were 14 cases of mortality. A SARC-F score of 4 or higher was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, with HR of 2.02 (95% CI: 1.39-2.92, p < 0.001), and higher incidence of re-hospitalization events with RR of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.06 to 2.59, p = 0.026). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a notably higher mortality rate in the patients with high SARC-F scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In elderly patients with cardiovascular disease, the SARC-F questionnaire could serve as a simple and cost-effective method for detecting mortality and the risk of re-hospitalization.

Knowledge of Medical Education on Maternal and Child Primary-Care Among Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: To assess the pre-training knowledge of Commune Health Stations (CHSs) physicians in Vietnam on pregnancy and child care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and a pre-training questionnaire was administered with physicians working at CHSs in three mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam. Calculated mean knowledge score and estimated adjusted odds ratios (AOR) to compare the relative odds of occurrence of the outcome "answering more than half of questions correct," given exposure to the physicians' characteristics. Results: A total of 302 CHS physicians participated. The mean number of correct answers across all participants was 5.4 out of 11. Female physicians are 2.20 (95% CI: 1.35-3.59, p = 0.002) times more likely to answer correctly than their male counterparts. Physicians aged 35 years or more were significantly less likely to answer correctly (AOR 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.81, p = 0.014). Conclusion: The study found that participating physicians possessed relatively low knowledge of pregnancy and child care. The study also found significant disparities in this knowledge according to the physicians' characteristics. Thus, it is recommended the requirement for continuing targeted medical education to improve doctors' proficiency in these areas.

The cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of people and lives, and vaccination was the safest and most effective strategy to prevent and mitigate the burden of this disease. The implementation of COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam in 2021 was unprecedentedly challenging in scale and complexity, yet economic evidence on the cost of delivery vaccines thought the program was lacking. METHODS: This retrospective costing study utilized a bottom-up, ingredient-based approach to estimate the cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam in 2021, from a payer perspective. The study included 38 study sites across all administrative and implementation level, including three geographic areas and two delivery strategies, in two provinces, Hanoi and Dak Lak. The study findings were complemented with qualitative interviews with health staff and stakeholders. RESULTS: The economic cost to deliver one COVID-19 vaccine dose was $1.73, mostly comprised of opportunity costs ($1.14 per dose) which were driven by labor costs ($1.12 per dose). The delivery cost in urban areas was the highest ($2.02), followed by peri-urban areas ($1.45) and remote areas ($1.37). Delivery costs were higher at temporary sites ($1.78) when compared to facility-based delivery ($1.63). Comparing low-volume and high-volume periods showed that the delivery cost decreased significantly as volume increased, from $5.24 per dose to $1.65 per dose. CONCLUSIONS: The study estimates the cost of delivering COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam in 2021. Enabling factors and challenges during the implementation of the program were explored. Study limitations may lead to underestimation of results and reduce generalizability.

Google trends as an early indicator of African swine fever outbreaks in Southeast Asia.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a reportable disease of swine that causes far-reaching losses to affected countries and regions. Early detection is critically important to contain and mitigate the impact of ASF outbreaks, for which timely available data is essential. This research examines the potential use of Google Trends data as an early indicator of ASF outbreaks in Southeast Asia, focusing on the three largest swine producing countries, namely, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand. Cross-correlation and Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence indicators were used to evaluate the association between Google search trends and the number of ASF outbreaks reported. Our analysis indicate strong and moderate correlations between Google search trends and number of ASF outbreaks reported in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively. In contrast, Thailand, the country of this group in which outbreaks were reported last, exhibits the weakest correlation (KL = 2.64), highlighting variations in public awareness and disease dynamics. These findings suggest that Google search trends are valuable for early detection of ASF. As the disease becomes endemic, integrating trends with other epidemiological data may support the design and implementation of surveillance strategies for transboundary animal diseases in Southeast Asia.

Therapists' perspective on acceptance of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation in a middle-income country: a study from Vietnam.

Robot-assisted physical rehabilitation offers promising benefits for patients, yet its adoption among therapists remains a complex challenge. This study investigates the acceptance of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation technology among therapists in Vietnam, a middle-income country with a growing demand for rehabilitation services. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM2) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), an online survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore therapists' attitudes and intentions towards using this technology. The results show that Vietnamese therapists recognised its potential benefits and expressed a willingness to use it. Although having similar acceptance patterns compared to developed regions, they demonstrated significantly higher levels of agreement across acceptance constructs. This may be attributed to factors such as the novelty effect, cultural perceptions of robots, and the high workload of therapists in Vietnam. Gender and location were found to influence two acceptance constructs-subjective norms and image, respectively-highlighting the need for tailored strategies in technology implementation. The study underscores the importance of considering socio-cultural factors in the adoption of technology and provides insights for enhancing the acceptance and effectiveness of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation in Vietnam. This contributes to the global understanding of therapist acceptance of technology in this field.

While robot-assisted physical rehabilitation offers promising benefits, there is limited understanding of therapist acceptance on a global scale, highlighting the need for more research in this area.This study in a middle-income country, Vietnam, reveals a generally positive view among therapists, but specific issues such as the novelty effect, cultural perceptions of robots, and high therapist workload impact acceptance levels, indicating the need for tailored strategies.Strategies for implementing robot-assisted physical rehabilitation should include addressing training needs, providing technological support, and considering sociocultural factors to enhance acceptance and effectiveness.

Conquering hypertension in Vietnam: 12- month follow up results from a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Approximately 20% of adults in Vietnam have hypertension, and management of this chronic condition remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in reducing blood pressure (BP) in adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: This cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in sixteen communities (8 intervention and 8 comparison) in a rural setting in Vietnam (2017-2022). Consenting adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with uncontrolled hypertension were enrolled. Sixteen communities were equally randomised to an intervention or comparison group stratified by district. Consenting adults were assigned to study groups by community. The comparison arm received training sessions about hypertension prevention and management for health workers, and patient education materials. The intervention arm received training sessions about hypertension prevention and management for health workers, and patient education materials and three enhancement components including a storytelling intervention, home BP self-monitoring, and expanded community health worker services. The primary outcome was the difference in changes in patient's levels of systolic BP between the study groups over a 12-month follow-up period. Patients and outcome assessors were masked. Findings: A total of 671 patients (340: intervention, 331: comparison) were enrolled in the trial. The mean age was 66 years and 45% were men. At the 12-month follow-up, the mean systolic BP declined by 18.4 mmHg in the intervention group and 3.7 mmHg in the comparison group (differential decline of 14.7 mmHg [95% CI: 11.8-17.6]). The intervention group also achieved better BP control and medication adherence than the comparison group. There were no serious adverse events related to study participation. Interpretation: The results of this trial demonstrate that a multicomponent intervention can effectively reduce elevated BP in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension in Vietnam. Trial registration: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03590691. Funding: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Empowering Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam: A Hybrid Online-Offline Intervention to Combat Stigma.

Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) encounter numerous challenges, such as stigma and gender disparities, that hinder their access to care, especially in patriarchal societies like Vietnam. We developed a hybrid intervention with online and offline (in-person) components to empower WLHA in Vietnam. The intervention was pilot tested with 91 WLHA in Hanoi. During baseline and 4-month, study investigators delivered two in-person sessions, one Zoom session, and 15 weeks of Zalo (social media platform) discussions to enhance positive coping strategies, treatment utilization and adherence, and engagement of support from family and peers. The participants continued their Zalo discussions from 4-month to 6-month without investigators' involvement. Intervention outcomes, including active coping and perceived barriers to care, were evaluated at baseline, 4-, and 6-month surveys. Mixed-effects regression models showed that the participants' active coping significantly increased from baseline (50.5 ± 9.4) to 4-month (53.8 ± 6.2; p = 0.0001), although there was a slight decrease at 6-month (52.8 ± 7.2), the change from 4-month to 6-month was not significantly significant (p = 0.3256). There was a significant reduction in participants' perceived barriers to care, from 19.8 ± 5.2 at baseline to 17.4 ± 5.2 at 4-month (p < 0.0001), which remained stable at 17.8 ± 4.3 at 6-month (p < 0.0001 compared to baseline). This intervention presents a promising model to empower WLHA in Vietnam and potentially in similar global contexts. Future interventions could benefit from leveraging natural peer leaders and adopting a more person-centered approach to meet WLHA's varying needs.

Assessing carbon tax using a CGE model with firm heterogeneity: An application to Vietnam.

Vietnam's government is considering introducing a carbon market as part of its decarbonization strategy. The carbon tax is an option for the government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. We evaluate the potential macroeconomic and climate impacts of carbon tax policy in Vietnam using a unique data set and simulation analysis with a multi-sector dynamic computable general equilibrium model. The model allows for firm heterogeneity: domestic firms and foreign-invested enterprises. The results show that with plausible tax rates, emissions can be reduced to levels 1.3-2.8 percent below the target value of emissions in 2030. The cost is a loss in GDP by 1.2-2.7 percent in 2030. The results also show that foreign-invested enterprises tend to increase emissions in the medium run even with a carbon tax while a carbon tax is more effective when applied to domestic firms. In addition, a substantial reduction in emissions from the energy sector and improvement in energy efficiency are keys to success in carbon abatement.

Financial incentives for sanitation take-up: A randomized control trial in rural Vietnam.

This study assesses the impact of financial incentives on hygienic latrine ownership by poor/near-poor households in Vietnam. Rural communes were randomly assigned to a control group and three treatment arm groups: (T1) a rebate for households that installed a hygienic latrine; (T2) a financial reward for commune governments if the proportion of hygienic latrines in their commune increased by 30 percentage points; (T3) both a household rebate and a commune reward. We find a strong and positive effect from the household rebate (treatment arms 1 and 3) but an insignificant effect from the commune reward (treatment arm 2) on household ownership of a septic tank latrine. Our analysis provides suggestive evidence that microcredit is a channel through which a rebate encourages the installation of septic tank latrines. We also find that treatment arm 3 increases people's knowledge regarding sanitation and the availability of water and soap for handwashing within households.

Inequalities in large-scale breastfeeding programmes in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Vietnam.

Inequalities in breastfeeding programmes and practices have slowed global progress in providing the life-saving protection of breastfeeding for millions of infants despite well-known life-long impacts. As breastfeeding interventions are scaled up, inequalities in coverage and breastfeeding practices should be tracked, particularly in disadvantaged groups, who are likely to suffer the most serious health and developmental impacts of poor childhood nutrition. The literature provides evidence of inequalities in breastfeeding practices, but research is limited on socioeconomic disparities in the coverage of breastfeeding interventions. This paper (1) compares inequalities in breastfeeding practices in intervention and nonintervention areas and (2) documents inequalities in programme coverage by type of intervention. We disaggregated endline evaluation surveys in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Vietnam, where rigorous evaluations had documented significant overall improvements, and analysed whether inequalities in breastfeeding practices and programme coverage differed by treatment areas. We used Erreygers index to quantify inequalities and found that breastfeeding practices were largely pro-poor; intervention coverage was not consistently pro-poor. While counselling coverage often favoured women from the poorest quintile, public education/media coverage consistently favoured better-off women. Inequalities favoured more educated mothers in the coverage of combined interventions. None of the programmes had explicit equality objectives. The results indicate the need for introducing specific actions to reduce inequalities in breastfeeding policies and programmes. This is a priority unfinished agenda for nutrition programming.

Human fascioliasis emergence in southern Asia: Complete nuclear rDNA spacer and mtDNA gene sequences prove Indian patient infection related to fluke hybridization in northeastern India and Bangladesh.

Fascioliasis is a snail-borne zoonotic disease with impact on the development of human subjects and communities. It is caused by two liver-infecting fasciolid trematode species, the globally-distributed Fasciola hepatica and the Africa/Asia-restricted but more pathogenic, larger F. gigantica. Fasciola gigantica is the cause of endemicity in livestock throughout the warm lowlands from Pakistan to southeastern Asia since old times. Human fascioliasis is emerging in this region at present, with an increase of patient reports. Complete sequences of rDNA ITS-1 and ITS-2 spacers and mtDNA nad1 and cox1 genes were obtained from fasciolid eggs found in the endoscopic bile aspirate from a patient of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. Egg measurements, pronounced ITS heterozygosity, and pure F. gigantica mtDNA haplotypes demonstrate an infection by a recent F. gigantica-like hybrid. Sequence identities and similarities with the same DNA markers found in livestock from Bangladesh prove the human-infecting fasciolid to present identical ITSs and nad1 haplotypes and only one silent transversion in cox1 when compared to a widely-spread combined haplotype in animals. In northeastern India and Bangladesh, human fascioliasis emergence appears linked to increasing livestock prevalences due to: ruminant importation from other countries because of the increasing demand of rapidly growing human populations; numerous livestock movements, including transborder corridors, due to the uncontrolled small-scale household farming practices; and man-made introduction of F. hepatica with imported livestock into an area originally endemic for F. gigantica leading to frequent hybridization. Sequences, phylogenetic trees, and networks indicate that the origins of intermediate/hybrid fasciolids and factors underlying human infection risk differ in eastern and western South Asia. The emergence scenario in southern China and Vietnam resembles the aforementioned of northeastern India and Bangladesh, whereas in Pakistan it is linked to increasing monsoon rainfall within climate change combined with an impact of an extensive irrigation system. Past human-guided movements of pack animals along the western Grand Trunk Road and the eastern Tea-Horse Road explain the F. gigantica mtDNA results obtained. Physicians should be aware about these emerging scenarios, clinical pictures, diagnostic techniques and treatment. Government authorities must appropriately warn health professionals, ensure drug availability and improve livestock control.

Temporal Trends in Tobacco Smoking Prevalence During the Period 2010-2020 in Vietnam: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: This study used repeated cross-sectional data from three national surveys in Vietnam to determine tobacco smoking prevalence from 2010 to 2020 and disparities among demographic and socioeconomic groups. Methods: Tobacco smoking temporal trends were estimated for individuals aged 15 and over and stratified by demographic and socioeconomic status (SES). Prevalence estimates used survey weights and 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression models adjusted for survey sample characteristics across time were used to examine trends. Results: Tobacco smoking prevalence dropped from 23.8% in 2010 to 22.5% in 2015 and 20.8% in 2020. The adjusted OR for 2015 compared to 2010 was 0.87, and for 2020 compared to 2010 was 0.69. Smoking decreased less for employed individuals than unemployed individuals in 2020 compared to 2010. Smoking was higher in the lower SES group in all 3 years. Higher-SES households have seen a decade-long drop in tobacco use. Conclusion: This prevalence remained constant in lower SES households. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by lower-SES smokers and emphasizes the importance of further research to inform effective policies.

Changes in the Quality of Life and Nutrition Markers in Transition From End-Stage Kidney Disease to Kidney Transplantation: Insights From a Vietnamese Cohort.

Background Malnutrition is strongly associated with lower quality of life (QoL) and lower survival rates in patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, the impact of renal transplantation on nutrition factors and QoL is unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess changes in QoL and investigate the relationships with nutrition factors among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Materials and methods A longitudinal study included 86 dialysis patients aged 18-65 years who underwent primary kidney transplantation (KTx) and were followed up for one year. Body weight, biochemical parameters, and QoL data were collected before transplantation (T0) and at six months (T6) and 12 months (T12) post-transplantation. Effect size (ES) was used to measure the impact of KTx on QoL and nutritional status from T0 to T12. The predictors of QoL were calculated with ß-coefficients and p<0.05 in linear regression. Results The ES of transplantation on the QoL of KTRs was large, at 1.1 for health change, 0.9 for physical health, and moderate (0.7) for mental health (MH) over one year. Hemoglobin and malnourished were affected by KTx, with ES being 2.4 and 0.6, respectively. Linear regression showed that physical health was predicted by hemoglobin (ß=0.12, p<0.01), phosphorus (ß=7.82, p<0.05), and dose of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (ß=-0.01, p<0.05). Mental health was predicted by obesity (ß=-7.63, p<0.05), hemoglobin (ß=0.11, p<0.05), and phosphorus (ß=8.49, p<0.01). Health change was indicated by nutritional risk index (NRI) score (ß=0.47, p<0.05), total cholesterol (ß=3.39, p<0.01), and kidney function (ß=0.15, p<0.05). Conclusions The transition from end-stage kidney disease to transplantation has positive impacts on QoL and nutrition markers. Nutritional status, kidney function, and the dose of mycophenolate mofetil are significant determinants of QoL in KTRs.

Enhancing hydrological insight: isotopic methods revealing groundwater-surface water interactions in the Lower Quang Tri River Group, Vietnam.

The Lower Quang Tri River Group, situated in central Vietnam, faces a myriad of challenges, notably the decline in groundwater levels and the salinisation of both groundwater and surface water, significantly impacting water availability for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. To address these pressing concerns, this study adopts a comprehensive methodology integrating hydrogeological measurements, isotopic techniques, and chemical analyses of various water sources, including local precipitation, surface water bodies, reservoirs, and groundwater samples. Utilising the deuterium and oxygen-18 signatures (δ2H and δ18O) in water molecules as environmental tracers for the assessment of base flow and water sources enables a nuanced understanding of the intricate interaction between surface water and groundwater. Research findings elucidate that during the dry season, groundwater recharge primarily stems from water in the reservoirs over approximately seven months. Base flow contributes between 80 and 85 % of streamflow during the rainy season, escalating to 100 % during the dry season. The mean travelling time of the base flow is estimated at 120 ± 10 days using the sine curve model developed by Rodgers et al. The insights gleaned from this study are poised to play a pivotal role in guiding the local water resources managers in licensing for the exploitation of a right quantities of groundwater as sustainable management strategies in the region.

High Prevalence of Colistin-Resistant Encoding Genes Carriage among Patients and Healthy Residents in Vietnam.

Background and Objectives: We aimed to investigate the carriage of colistin-resistant genes among both patients with a history of antibiotic exposure and apparently healthy adults with no recent healthcare contact. Materials and Methods: Stool swabs were collected from healthy people, and specimens were collected at the infection foci from the patients. Eleven primer/probe sets were used to perform the Multiplex Real-Time PCR assay with the QuantiNova Multiplex Probe PCR kit for screening the carriage of colistin-resistant genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) and 16S rRNA gene as internal control. Results: In total, 86 patients and 96 healthy residents were included. Twenty two patients (25.9%) were positive with at least one colistin-resistance encoding gene. The mcr-1 gene was the most frequent (16.5%), followed by mcr-9, mcr-6, and mcr-4 genes, where the prevalence was 11.8%, 10.6%, and 9.4%, respectively. No patient was positive with mcr-3, mcr-7, and mcr-8 genes. Eight patients (9.4%) were positive with multiple colistin-encoding genes. Twenty-three healthy people (24.0%) were positive with at least one colistin-resistance encoding gene, and the mcr-10 gene was the most frequent (27.0%), followed by the mcr-1, mcr-8, and mcr-9 genes, where the prevalence was 24.3%, 21.6%, and 13.5%, respectively. No person was positive with the mcr-2 and mcr-5 genes. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, infection control measures, and stewardship interventions to mitigate the spread of colistin resistance in Vietnam.

Dataset of Vietnamese preschool teachers' readiness towards teaching mathematics through experiential education.

Experiential education is an approach that promotes initiative and creativity in students. Many preschool education programs in countries around the world are applying this approach to educational innovation. However, teachers' competencies and readiness to implement experiential education are irreplaceable in determining Mathematics activities' frequency and effectiveness. This dataset surveyed 678 preschool teachers across five cities and provinces in Vietnam from 24 Sep 2023 to 22 Dec 2023. The survey sample was randomly selected, representing different regions of Vietnam. The dataset includes six main sections: (i) Demographics; (ii) Teachers' know-how about Mathematics in early years and experiential education; (iii) Teachers' competencies; (iv) Conditions to implement experiential education; (v) School policies; and (vi) Teachers' readiness to implement experiential education. This dataset can be used by educational policy researchers and early childhood education researchers to study experiential educational practices in early childhood education in Southeast Asian countries or regions of Asia.