Effectiveness of Bach Nien Kien Health Supplement in the Treatment of Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background/aim: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common disease in adults. We conducted a clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bach Nien Kien (BNK) in supportive therapy for patients with symptomatic KOA.

Patients And Methods: An open interventional study was performed on 60 patients aged 38 to 70 with the diagnosis of symptomatic KOA.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ich Nieu Khang Dietary Supplement for Overactive Bladder.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of plant-derived food supplement Ich Nieu Khang (INK) as a dietary supplement for overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. A total of 50 patients 18-80 years of age with the diagnosis and symptoms of the OAB were enrolled in the study and followed up for 30 days. The INK treatment efficacy, in terms of changes in nocturnal and day-time urination frequency, urination incontinence episodes, level of OAB symptoms according to Homma's OABSS scale, sleep quality according to Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and possible side effects of the INK phytotherapy, was evaluated.

Traditional Vietnamese medicine Kovir capsule for non-severe COVID-19 patients: A phase III double-blind randomized controlled trial.

The number of COVID-19 infections is still increasing with the omicron variant. Although vaccination has shown its effectiveness, efficacious treatments are still required. Kovir, a Vietnamese herbal medicine, has shown potential effects for non-severe COVID-19 patients in terms of symptom resolution and prevention of disease progression in previous studies.

Risk factors of Pancreatic Cancer in Vietnam: A Matched Case-Control Hospital-Based Study.

Background: Data about the risk factors and pancreatic cancer in developing countries remain limited. We investigated for the first time the role of a number of risk factors (family cancer history, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, inflammation disease, HBV infection) associated with pancreatic cancer among Vietnamese patients.

Methods: We included all patients hospitalized at 4 Northern Vietnamese hospitals (Vietnam National Cancer Hospital, Bach Mai, Viet Duc, Thai Nguyen) and diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the period from 2017 to 2019.

Immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of ROTAVAC® in healthy infants aged 6-8 weeks in Vietnam.

Background: ROTAVAC® is derived from human 116E rotavirus (RV) neonatal strain. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of ROTAVAC® in Vietnam.

Method: We conducted a phase IV clinical trial in healthy infants aged 6-8 weeks using the complete regimen of ROTAVAC® with three doses.

Prognostic Role of Left Ventricular Systolic Function Measured by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Septic Shock.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is common in septic shock. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a useful marker of intrinsic left ventricular systolic function. However, the association between left ventricular GLS and outcome in septic patients is not well understood.

Laparoscopic Ladd's procedure in neonates: A simple landmark detorsion technique.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of our simple landmark technique for laparoscopic detorsion and the Ladd's procedure (lap-Ladd) for malrotation with midgut volvulus in neonates and to identify the risk factors for reoperation after the lap-Ladd.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 42 patients after lap-Ladd for malrotation between April 2017 and June 2019. Information regarding patient status and intraoperative and postoperative data were analyzed.

Robotic-assisted surgery for choledochal cyst in children: early experience at Vietnam National Children's Hospital.

Purpose: We aimed to describe our robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) techniques and assess the early results of RAS for choledochal cysts in children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of children who underwent RAS for a congenital choledochal cyst at our institution between February 2013 and August 2016. We analyzed patient characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes.

Fragment-Based Screening of a Natural Product Library against 62 Potential Malaria Drug Targets Employing Native Mass Spectrometry.

Natural products are well known for their biological relevance, high degree of three-dimensionality, and access to areas of largely unexplored chemical space. To shape our understanding of the interaction between natural products and protein targets in the postgenomic era, we have used native mass spectrometry to investigate 62 potential protein targets for malaria using a natural-product-based fragment library. We reveal here 96 low-molecular-weight natural products identified as binding partners of 32 of the putative malarial targets.

Achyrodimer F, a tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I inhibitor from an Australian fungus of the family Cortinariaceae.

Mass-guided isolation of the dichloromethane/methanol extracts from a specimen of teleomorphic fungus of the family Cortinariaceae resulted in the identification of a new dimeric cyclobutane metabolite, achyrodimer F (1), along with the monomers hispidin (2) and bisnoryangonin (3). Their structures were determined by NMR and MS data analyses. Density Function Theory (DFT) NMR calculations was employed to confirm the chemical structure of achyrodimer F.

Controlling the Spontaneous Emission Rate of Quantum Wells in Rolled-Up Hyperbolic Metamaterials.

We experimentally demonstrate the enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate of GaAs quantum wells embedded in rolled-up metamaterials. We fabricate microtubes whose walls consist of alternating Ag and (In)(Al)GaAs layers with incorporated active GaAs quantum-well structures. By variation of the layer thickness ratio of the Ag and (In)(Al)GaAs layers we control the effective permittivity tensor of the metamaterial according to an effective medium approach.

Bioaffinity Mass Spectrometry Screening.

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS or ESI-FTMS) was used to screen 192 natural product extracts and a 659-member natural product-based fragment library for bindings to a potential malaria drug target, Plasmodium falciparum Rab11a (PfRab11a, PF13_0119). One natural product extract and 11 fragments showed binding activity. A new natural product, arborside E, was identified from the active extract of Psydrax montigena as a weak binder.

Experimental strategies for functional annotation and metabolism discovery: targeted screening of solute binding proteins and unbiased panning of metabolomes.

The rate at which genome sequencing data is accruing demands enhanced methods for functional annotation and metabolism discovery. Solute binding proteins (SBPs) facilitate the transport of the first reactant in a metabolic pathway, thereby constraining the regions of chemical space and the chemistries that must be considered for pathway reconstruction. We describe high-throughput protein production and differential scanning fluorimetry platforms, which enabled the screening of 158 SBPs against a 189 component library specifically tailored for this class of proteins.

Transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery with conventional instruments for choledochal cyst in children: early results of 86 cases.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to present our techniques and early results of transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (TULESS) for childhood choledochal cyst (ChC).

Materials And Methods: Medical records of all children undergoing TULESS for ChC at our center from September 2012 to December 2013 were reviewed. Our TULESS operations started with a Z-shaped umbilical skin incision and placement of three 3-5-mm ports at separate points in the same incision site.

Plasmodium gametocyte inhibition identified from a natural-product-based fragment library.

Fragment-based screening is commonly used to identify compounds with relatively weak but efficient localized binding to protein surfaces. We used mass spectrometry to study fragment-sized three-dimensional natural products. We identified seven securinine-related compounds binding to Plasmodium falciparum 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (PfdUTPase).

Laparoscopic management of pyloric atresia in a neonate with epidermolysis bullosa.

Pyloric atresia (PA) is rare and may be associated with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This is the first case report of a successful laparoscopic treatment of PA in a full-term 7-day-old neonate with EB. The laparoscopic approach consists of a longitudinal pyloromyotomy and excision of the thick obstructing pyloric membrane with a Heineke-Mickulicz pyloroplasty closure.

Brevifollis gellanilyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a gellan-gum-degrading bacterium of the phylum Verrucomicrobia.

The taxonomic properties of strain DC2c-G4(T), a Gram-staining-negative, ovoid, gellan-gum-degrading bacterial isolate, were examined. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences identified this isolate as a member of the phylum Verrucomicrobia and closest to the genus Prosthecobacter. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between this isolate and any of the type strains of species of the genus Prosthecobacter were less than 95 %.

Cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptides from the Australian marine sponge Neamphius huxleyi.

Three new cyclic depsipeptides, neamphamides B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the Australian sponge Neamphius huxleyi. The planar structural characterization of these molecules was elucidated using 2D NMR experiments and ESI-FTICR-MS(n). Their configurations were determined by Marfey's method and J-based NMR analysis.

Early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts with 400 patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to report early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts with 400 cases.

Patients And Methods: The operation was performed using four ports. The cystic duct was identified and divided.

Cytotoxic evaluation of alkaloids and isoflavonoids from the Australian tree Erythrina vespertilio.

A new glucoalkaloid, vespertilioside, together with three known alkaloids, including 11- β-methoxyglucoerysovine, erysotrine, and hypaphorine, were isolated from the fruits of E. vespertilio Benth. In addition, three known isoflavonoids, including phaseollin, alpiniumisoflavone, and phaseollidin, were identified from the plant stems.

Promiscuity of carbonic anhydrase II. Unexpected ester hydrolysis of carbohydrate-based sulfamate inhibitors.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are enzymes whose endogenous reaction is the reversible hydration of CO(2) to give HCO(3)(-) and a proton. CA are also known to exhibit weak and promiscuous esterase activity toward activated esters. Here, we report a series of findings obtained with a set of CA inhibitors that showed quite unexpectedly that the compounds were both inhibitors of CO(2) hydration and substrates for the esterase activity of CA.

Is the laparoscopic operation as safe as open operation for choledochal cyst in children?

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the safety of laparoscopic operation with open surgery for choledochal cyst in children.

Methods: Early outcomes of open surgery from January 2001 to December 2006 were compared with early outcomes of laparoscopic operations from January 2007 to July 2010. The main outcome variables included intra- and early postoperative complications, operative time, rate of reintervention, and duration of postoperative stay.

Fragment-based screening by X-ray crystallography, MS and isothermal titration calorimetry to identify PNMT (phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) inhibitors.

CNS (central nervous system) adrenaline (epinephrine) is implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. PNMT (phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) catalyses the final step in the biosynthesis of adrenaline, the conversion of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) to adrenaline by methylation. To help elucidate the role of CNS adrenaline, and to develop potential drug leads, potent, selective and CNS-active inhibitors are required.