Predictive validity of interleukin 6 (IL-6) for the mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients with the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant in Vietnam: a single-centre, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the serum IL-6 levels and their rate of change in predicting the mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam.

Design: A single-centre, cross-sectional study.

Setting: An Intensive Care Centre for the Treatment of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

MELEP: A Novel Predictive Measure of Transferability in Multi-label ECG Diagnosis.

In practical electrocardiography (ECG) interpretation, the scarcity of well-annotated data is a common challenge. Transfer learning techniques are valuable in such situations, yet the assessment of transferability has received limited attention. To tackle this issue, we introduce MELEP, which stands for , a measure designed to estimate the effectiveness of knowledge transfer from a pre-trained model to a downstream multi-label ECG diagnosis task.

Post-Diagnosis HCV RNA Testing Rates Prior to HCV Treatment Among People Living With HIV With HCV Antibody Positivity in the Asia-Pacific Region.

HCV RNA test determines current active infection and is a requirement prior to initiating HCV treatment. We investigated trends and factors associated with post-diagnosis HCV RNA testing rates prior to HCV treatment, and risk factors for first positive HCV RNA among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with HCV in the Asia-Pacific region. PLHIV with positive HCV antibody and in follow-up after 2010 were included.

Arthroscopic debridement and antibiotic-loaded cement for treatment of chronic infected tibial tunnel post-ACL reconstruction: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Chronic extra-articular infections of the tibial tunnel are rare, and there are only a few cases reported in the literature, so the diagnosis and management of these infections are still unclear.

Case Presentation: We report a 36-year-old patient with chronic infection of the tibial tunnel after ACL reconstruction surgery. The patient was treated with arthroscopic debridement of the tibial tunnel and antibiotic cement filling.

Risk factors for toxoplasmosis in people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region.

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii can cause symptomatic toxoplasmosis in immunodeficient hosts, including in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH), mainly because of the reactivation of latent infection. We assessed the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its associated risk factors in PLWH in the Asia-Pacific region using data from the TREAT Asia Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Observational Database (TAHOD) of the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Asia-Pacific.

Methods: This study included both retrospective and prospective cases of toxoplasmosis reported between 1997 and 2020.

MPCNN: A Novel Matrix Profile Approach for CNN-based Single Lead Sleep Apnea in Classification Problem.

Sleep apnea (SA) is a significant respiratory condition that poses a major global health challenge. Deep Learning (DL) has emerged as an efficient tool for the classification problem in electrocardiogram (ECG)-based SA diagnoses. Despite these advancements, most common conventional feature extractions derived from ECG signals in DL, such as R-peaks and RR intervals, may fail to capture crucial information encompassed within the complete ECG segments.

Sulfate-induced large amplitude conformational change in a Solomon link.

A doubly-interlocked [2]catenane - or Solomon link - undergoes a complex conformational change upon addition of sulfate in methanol. This transformation generates a single pocket where two SO anions bind through multiple hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Despite the close proximity of the two anions, binding is highly cooperative.

A mini review of current studies on metal-organic frameworks-incorporated composite solid polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium batteries.

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) using solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are believed to be future next-generation batteries aiming to replace high-risk traditional batteries using liquid electrolytes, which have a wide application range in portable electronic devices, portable power supplies, and especially in electric vehicles. Moreover, the appearance of SPEs can overcome the electrolyte leakage and flammability problems in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, ASSLBs still face some limitations due to the low ionic conductivity of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) at room temperature and the poor contact electrode/electrolyte interface, which can be solved by suitable strategies.

Clinical characteristics and mortality risk among critically ill patients with COVID-19 owing to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant in Vietnam: A retrospective observational study.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant caused a large number of COVID-19 cases in many countries, including Vietnam. Understanding mortality risk factors is crucial for the clinical management of severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at an intensive care center in Ho Chi Minh City that urgently built by Bach Mai Hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam, when the Delta variant predominated.

CD4/CD8 Ratio Recovery Among People Living With HIV Starting With First-Line Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors: A Prospective Regional Cohort Analysis.

Background: We evaluated trends in CD4/CD8 ratio among people living with HIV (PLWH) starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) with first-line integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) compared with non-INSTI-based ART, and the incidence of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization.

Methods: All PLWH enrolled in adult HIV cohorts of IeDEA Asia-Pacific who started with triple-ART with at least 1 CD4, CD8 (3-month window), and HIV-1 RNA measurement post-ART were included. CD4/CD8 ratio normalization was defined as a ratio ≥1.

Virological failure and treatment switch after ART initiation among people living with HIV with and without routine viral load monitoring in Asia.

Introduction: Viral load (VL) testing is still challenging to monitor treatment responses of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV treatment programme in Asia. We assessed the association between routine VL testing and virological failure (VF) and determine factors associated with switching to second-line regimen.

Methods: Among 21 sites from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD), people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged ≥18 years initiating ART from 2003 to 2021 were included.

Factors associated with high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis in people living with HIV on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) in the Asia-Pacific.

Liver disease is a growing burden among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-limited settings. As an indicator of liver disease, risk factors of high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis were assessed among PLHIV in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD). Patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with a pre-cART ALT measurement and at least one follow-up ALT measurement were included.

VinDr-CXR: An open dataset of chest X-rays with radiologist's annotations.

Most of the existing chest X-ray datasets include labels from a list of findings without specifying their locations on the radiographs. This limits the development of machine learning algorithms for the detection and localization of chest abnormalities. In this work, we describe a dataset of more than 100,000 chest X-ray scans that were retrospectively collected from two major hospitals in Vietnam.

Room-Temperature-Stable Magnesium Electride via Ni(II) Reduction.

Herein, we report the synthesis of highly reduced bipyridyl magnesium complexes and the first example of a stable organic magnesium electride supported by quantum mechanical computations and X-ray diffraction. These complexes serve as unconventional homogeneous reductants due to their high solubility, modular redox potentials, and formation of insoluble, non-coordinating byproducts. The applicability of these reductants is showcased by accessing low-valent (bipy)Ni(0) species that are challenging to access otherwise.

BMI as a predictor of high fasting blood glucose among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region.

Background: Non-Asian body mass index (BMI) classifications are commonly used as a risk factor for high fasting blood glucose (FBG). We investigated the incidence and factors associated with high FBG among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region, using a World Health Organization BMI classification specific to Asian populations.

Methods: This study included people living with HIV enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study from 2003 to 2019, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and without prior tuberculosis.

Patterns and prognosis of holding regimens for people living with HIV in Asian countries.

The use of holding regimens for people living with HIV (PLWH) without effective antiretroviral options can have effects on outcomes and future treatment options. We aimed to investigate the use of holding regimens for PLWH in Asian countries. Data from adults enrolled in routine HIV care in IeDEA Asia-Pacific cohorts were included.

Fabella syndrome in a professional football player: A case report and literature review.

Introduction And Importance: Fabella syndrome is a rare cause of posterolateral knee pain. The definitive diagnosis and management of this syndrome remain unclear.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 19-year-old patient who is a Vietnamese professional football player.

Viral hepatitis and the cascade of care among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific.

Background: Although the prevalence and mortality of hepatitis is high in the Asia-Pacific region, few studies are available on the diagnosis, treatment, and cure rates for viral hepatitis among people living with HIV in this area. This study aims to report the cascade of care (CoC) for hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) among people living with HIV receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database Low Intensity Transfer (TAHOD-LITE) cohort, on ART, and with follow-up data from 2010 to 2019 were included.

Titanium isopropoxide-mediated -selective synthesis of 3,4-substituted butyrolactones from CO.

We report a Ti(OiPr)-mediated multicomponent reaction, which produces 3,4-substituted -δ-lactones from alkyl magnesium chloride, benzaldehyde and CO. The key intermediate, titanacyclopropane, is formed from Ti(OiPr) and a Grignard reagent, which enables 1,2-dinucleophilic reactivity that is used to insert carbon dioxide and an aldehyde. An alternative reaction route is also described where a primary alkene is used to create the titanacyclopropane.

Weight changes, metabolic syndrome and all-cause mortality among Asian adults living with HIV.

Objectives: We investigated weight changes following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with all-cause mortality among Asian adults living with HIV.

Methods: Participants enrolled in a regional Asian HIV-infected cohort with weight and height measurements at ART initiation were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. Factors associated with weight changes and incident MetS (according to the International Diabetic Federation (IDF) definition) were analysed using linear mixed models and Cox regression, respectively.

HIV treatment outcomes among people who acquired HIV via injecting drug use in the Asia-Pacific region: a longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Data on HIV treatment outcomes in people who inject drugs (PWID) in the Asia-Pacific are sparse despite the high burden of drug use. We assessed immunological and virological responses, AIDS-defining events and mortality among PWID receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: We investigated HIV treatment outcomes among people who acquired HIV via injecting drug use in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) between January 2003 and March 2019.

Characteristics and biomarkers of patients with central nervous system infection admitted to a referral hospital in Northern Vietnam.

Background: Laboratory facilities for etiological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infection are limited in developing countries; therefore, patients are treated empirically, and the epidemiology of the pathogens is not well-known. Tubercular meningitis is one of the common causes of meningitis, which has high morbidity and mortality, but lacks sensitive diagnostic assays. The objectives of this study were to determine the causes of meningitis in adult patients by using molecular assays, to assess the risk factors associated with them, and to explore whether biomarkers can differentiate tubercular meningitis from bacterial meningitis.

Respiratory microbes detected in hospitalized adults with acute respiratory infections: associations between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and intensive care unit admission or fatal outcome in Vietnam (2015-2017).

Background: Acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) is a leading cause of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Respiratory microbes that were simultaneously detected in the respiratory tracts of hospitalized adult ARI patients were investigated. Associations between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus (H1N1pdm) detection and intensive care unit (ICU) admission or fatal outcome were determined.

Smartphone Use and Willingness to Pay for HIV Treatment-Assisted Smartphone Applications among HIV-Positive Patients in Urban Clinics of Vietnam.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-assisted smartphone applications in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was performed in two urban outpatient clinics in Hanoi from May to December 2019. A simple random sampling method and a structured questionnaire were used to recruit 495 eligible participants and to collect data.

Evaluating Training Need for Epidemic Control in Three Metropolitans: Implications for COVID-19 Preparedness in Vietnam.

Upon the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries worldwide face a critical shortage of human resources in the health sector. Medical students are a potential task force with the capability to support the stretched health sector. This study aims to evaluate their training need for epidemic control in order to employ them effectively.