Evaluation of beam convergence driven by spherical gradient refractive index lenses based on nonparaxial beam propagation.

We utilize a theoretical method based on nonlinear beam propagation and finite difference eigenmode solver methods to precisely simulate Gaussian beam propagation in electrical fields through spherical gradient refractive index lenses. The theoretical computation uses second-order partial differentiation of propagation coordinates to generate microwave field propagation. Consequently, it offers accurate simulation results for any complex refractive index profile.

Predictability of Neutrophile to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio on the Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The associations between the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with the responses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and the NLR/PLR predictive potential were evaluated via meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library databases until October 2021. The relationship between NLR/PLR and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated using pooled hazard ratios (HR).

Glycemic Control in Diabetic Patients Receiving a Diabetes-Specific Nutritional Enteral Formula: A Case Series in Home Care Settings.

Background And Aim: In patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Enteral Nutrition (EN) is associated with less hyperglycemia and lower insulin requirements compared to Parenteral Nutrition (PN). The primary aim of this study was to assess changes in glycemic control (GC) in DM patients on EN therapy. The secondary objectives included evaluating the impact of the specialized formula on various clinical parameters and the tolerability of the nutritional formula by monitoring potential gastrointestinal side effects.

COVID-19, Nutrients and Lifestyle Eating Behaviors: A Narrative Review.

Background: COVID-19 infection, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), quickly emerged as the most significant event of the new millennium. A balanced diet seems to ensure the proper functioning of the immune system and plays a fundamental role in the prevention of viral disease, inflammation, or thrombosis. The principal aim of this secondary study was to investigate the relationship between nutrients, lifestyle eating behaviors, and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Suaedamas A-D: Four New Compounds from the Aerial Parts of Suaeda maritima with Inhibition of NO Production Activity.

Four new compounds, suaedamas A-D (1-4), and seven known ones (5-11) were isolated from the aerial parts of Suaeda maritima. Their chemical structures were evaluated by the IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D-, and 2D-NMR, experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Compounds 1-6 inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS activated RAW 264.

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).

New diterpene lactone derivatives from leaves inhibit nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells.

Phytochemical studies on plants have attracted considerable attention over the past few decades due to the structural diversities and significant biological activities of terpenoids produced by these plants. In the present study, five new acyclic diterpene lactone derivatives, aphanamixionolides A-E (1-5), and three known tirucallane-type triterpenes, namely, piscidinol A (6), hispidone (7), and bourjotinolone A (8), were isolated from the leaves of . Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data and by comparison with those reported in the literature.

Bithiophene and coumestan derivatives from (L.) L. and their hepatoprotective activity.

One new bithiophene derivative, 5-(but-3-en-1-yn-1-yl)-5'-(methoxymethyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (1), along with twelve known compounds, senecioester (2), tiglinsaureester (3), 5-acetoxymethyl-2'-(but-3-en-1-yn-1-yl)-2,5'-bithiophene 4), 5-(4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (5), 5-hydroxymethyl-(2,5':2',5'')-terthienyl tiglate (6), 5-hydroxymethyl-(2,5':2',5'')-terthienyl agelate (7), 5- hydroxymethyl-2,5':2',5''-terthiophene dimethylacrylate (8), 5-methoxymethyl-2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (9), α-terthiophene (10), 1,3,8,9-tetrahydroxycoumestan 3-sulfate (11), demethylwedelolactone (12), and wedelolactone (13) were isolated from the methanol extract of aerial parts of (L.) L. All isolated compounds were evaluated for the protective ability on the HepG2 cells.

Undescribed (2-7')-neolignans and polyoxygenated cyclohexene glycosides from the aerial parts of Piper mutabile C. DC. and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production.

A phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Piper mutabile C. DC. revealed seven undescribed compounds [two (2-7')-neolignans and five polyoxygenated cyclohexene glycosides] and six known propenylcatechol derivatives.

A study of the impact of an interprofessional education module in Vietnam on students' readiness and competencies.

Introduction: The literature puts forward a range of challenges of interprofessional education (IPE) related to its planning, initiation, implementation, and especially to IPE assessment. The present study aims to map changes in students' readiness and interprofessional collaboration competence (IPCC) in implementing an innovative IPE module. Potential differences in impact related to the health education programs and IPCC scores resulting from self-, peer-, and tutor assessments will also be analysed.

A systematic review on the direct approach to elicit the demand-side cost-effectiveness threshold: Implications for low- and middle-income countries.

Several literature review studies have been conducted on cost-effectiveness threshold values. However, only a few are systematic literature reviews, and most did not investigate the different methods, especially in-depth reviews of directly eliciting WTP per QALY. Our study aimed to 1) describe the different direct approach methods to elicit WTP/QALY; 2) investigate factors that contribute the most to the level of WTP/QALY value; and 3) investigate the relation between the value of WTP/QALY and GDP per capita and give some recommendations on feasible methods for eliciting WTP/QALY in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Undescribed Triterpenes from the Leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium with Their α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition Activity.

Two undescribed triterpenes, syzyfolium A (1) and syzyfolium B (2), together with twelve known compounds, terminolic acid (3), actinidic acid (4), piscidinol A (5), threo-dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (6), lariciresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside (7), icariol A (8), 14β,15β-dihydroxyklaineanone (9), garcimangosone D (10), (+)-catechin (11), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), quercitrin (13), and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14) were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium. Their chemical structures were determined by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compounds 3 and 4 inhibited significantly α-glucosidase with IC values of 23.

Yoga or Mindfulness on Diabetes: Scoping Review for Theoretical Experimental Framework.

Background: About one in 11 adults worldwide suffers from diabetic disease with constantly increasing prevalence; from the 529 million patients registered in 2021, the number of people with diabetes was predicted to rise to approximately 1.31 billion in 2050. In Italy, 5.

Undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya selectively modulate inflammatory markers in RAW 264.7 cells.

Aphanapolystachones A-C (1-3), three undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers, were obtained from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures and absolute configurations were identified by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. The biosynthetic pathway of them was also proposed, which is produced by key intermolecular Diels-Alder [4 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction between a guaiane sesquiterpene and an acyclic diterpene.

Four Steroidal Saponins from the Trunks of Dracaena cambodiana with Inhibition of NO Production in LPS Activated RAW264.7 Cells.

Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep. is well known as a medicinal plant and widely distributed in Vietnam. Phytochemical investigation on the trunks of D.

Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and Lifestyle Medicine (LM) for support and care of patients with type II diabetes in the COVID-19 era: a cross-observational study.

Introduction: Diabetes affects 425 million people worldwide (range 20-79 years). Of these, between 87% and 91% are affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and 79% live in medium/low income countries.

Objectives: the main objective of the study was to observe, through the administration of specific questionnaires, the relationship existing between metabolic clinical parameters, quality of life of patients with DM2 and adherence to the MedDiet at first access to Diabetes Center in the period after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Metformin and Covid-19: a systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

the COVID-19 infection, caused by severe Coronavirus 2 syndrome (Sars-Cov-2), immediately appeared to be the most tragic global pandemic event of the twentieth century. Right from the start of the pandemic, diabetic patients treated with metformin experienced a reduction in mortality and complications from COVID-19 compared to those with different treatments or no treatment. Objective The main objective of the study was to observe the effects of metformin in hospitalized subjects infected with COVID-19.

Implementation outcomes and strategies for delivering evidence-based hypertension interventions in lower-middle-income countries: Evidence from a multi-country consortium for hypertension control.

Guidance on contextually tailored implementation strategies for the prevention, treatment, and control of hypertension is limited in lower-middle income countries (Lower-MIC). To address this limitation, we compiled implementation strategies and accompanying outcomes of evidence-based hypertension interventions currently being implemented in five Lower-MIC. The Global Research on Implementation and Translation Science (GRIT) Coordinating Center (CC) (GRIT-CC) engaged its global network sites at Ghana, Guatemala, India, Kenya, and Vietnam.

Dimethylbutyrylated Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans from the Fruits of Schisandra cauliflora Inhibit NO Production in LPS-Activated RAW264.7 Cells.

From the fruits of Schisandra cauliflora, five new dimethylbutyrylated dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, named schisandracaurins A-E, were isolated using separation and chromatographic techniques. Their structures were determined by extensive analyses of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and ECD spectra. The schisandracaurins A-E potentially inhibited NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.

Associations between four polymorphisms of the SLCO1B1 and effectiveness of the statins: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Statins are the first-choice therapy for dyslipidemia, but their effectiveness can be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. This study was conducted to assess the association of variants of the solute carrier anion transporter family 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene, which encodes a transporter involving the hepatic clearance of the statins and their therapeutic efficacy.

Method: A systematic review was performed on four electronic databases to identify relevant studies.

Glycoside constituents of and their -glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Four new glycosides, named amplexicosides A-D (-), and five known compounds: benzyl 2-[-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)--D-glucopyranosyloxy]-benzoate (), benzyl 2-neohesperidosyloxy-6-hydroxybenzoate (), chrysandroside A (), chrysandroside B () and camelliquercetiside C () were isolated from the branches and leaves of (Pit.) Cohen-Stuart. Their structures were elucidated using HR-ESI-MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra and compared to reported NMR data.

Diversity of Bacterial Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Three Vietnamese Sponges.

Recent reviews have reinforced sponge-associated bacteria as a valuable source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with potent biological properties, which makes these microbial communities promising sources of new drug candidates. However, the overall diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential present in bacteria is difficult to access due to the fact that the majority of bacteria are not readily cultured in the laboratory. Thus, use of cultivation-independent approaches may allow accessing "silent" and "cryptic" secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters present in bacteria that cannot yet be cultured.

Association between and additional chromosomal abnormalities in the prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Objectives: Internal tandem duplications of the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene ( and additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) are prognostic factors in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). This study aimed to determine the effect of the association between and ACA in the prognosis of APL.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including 60 patients with APL treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy.

Phytochemical constituents from (Thunb.) Hyl. and their nitric oxide production inhibitory activities.

A new megastigmane glycoside, (3,47-megastigma-5,7-diene-9-one-3,4-diol 3-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)--D-glucopyranoside () and a new cyanogenic glycosyl derivative, ()-2-(6'rosmarinoyl--D-glucopyranosyloxy)-phenylacetonitrile () were isolated from the methanol extract of the together with twelve known compounds, 1-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-4-allylbenzene (), citrusin C (), 1,2-di-D-glucopyranosyl-4-allylbenzene (), manglieside B (), 4-allyl-2-hydroxyphenyl 1-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)--D-glucopyranoside (), (-)-isolariciresinol 3α--D-glucopyranoside (), 7,8-threo-4,7,9-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-84'-neolignan-9'-D-glucopyranoside (), 7,8-threo-4,7,9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxy-84'-neolignan-9'-D-glucopyranoside (), cedrusin-4-D-glucopyranoside (), icariside E (), everlastoside L () and rosmarinic acid (). Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basic of extensive 1D and 2D-NMR experiments, as well as their mass spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the compounds and were successfully indicated by both theoretical and calculated CD spectra.