Genomicus 2018: karyotype evolutionary trees and on-the-fly synteny computing.

Since 2010, the Genomicus web server is available online at http://genomicus.biologie.ens.

Molecular analysis of haemoglobin E in Southeast Asian populations.

Haemoglobin (Hb) E is the most common Hb variant in Asia where its gene frequency approaches 0.3 in some areas. We studied genetic background of Hb E genes among Southeast Asian populations.

Digital immunization registry: evidence for the impact of mHealth on enhancing the immunization system and improving immunization coverage for children under one year old in Vietnam.

Background: The Vietnam National Expanded Program on Immunization (NEPI) has been successfully implementing a nationwide immunization system since 1985. From the start, the program has increased the immunization coverage rate; however, data on immunization coverage in Vietnam are gathered and aggregated from commune health centers in routine, paper-based reports, which have shortcomings. Also, calculations of coverage are inconsistent at subnational levels, which lead to uncertainty about the size of the target population used as the denominator in coverage calculations.

Sustainability of knowledge implementation in a low- and middle- income context: Experiences from a facilitation project in Vietnam targeting maternal and neonatal health.

Background: In a previous trial in Vietnam, a facilitation strategy to secure evidence-based practice in primary care resulted in reduced neonatal mortality over a period of three years. While little is known as to what ensures sustainability in the implementation of community-based strategies, the aim of this study was to investigate factors promoting or hindering implementation, and sustainability of knowledge implementation strategies, by means of the former Neonatal Knowledge Into Practice (NeoKIP) trial.

Methods: In 2014 we targeted all levels in the Vietnamese healthcare system: six individual interviews with representatives at national, provincial and district levels, and six focus group discussions with representatives at the commune level.

Diet, Alcohol Use, and Colorectal Cancer Screening among Black Church-goers.

Objectives: Interventions for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention among black adults are needed. Connections between CRC screening non-adherence and other health risk behaviors may inform intervention development.

Methods: Associations between red meat (RM) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, at-risk alcohol use, and CRC ever-screening were examined using adjusted logistic regressions among 520 church-going black adults in Houston, Texas, aged >50.

Resveratrol inhibits phorbol ester-induced membrane translocation of presynaptic Munc13-1.

Background: Resveratrol (1) is a naturally occurring polyphenol that has been implicated in neuroprotection. One of resveratrol's several biological targets is Ca-sensitive protein kinase C alpha (PKCα). Resveratrol inhibits PKCα by binding to its activator-binding C1 domain.

A qualitative evaluation of breast cancer survivors' acceptance of and preferences for consumer wearable technology activity trackers.

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are common amongst breast cancer survivors. These behaviours are associated with an increased risk of comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes and other cancers. Commercially available, wearable activity trackers (WATs) have potential utility as behavioural interventions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour within this population.

Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in an ethnic minority group in Central Vietnam: implications to health burden and relationship between two ethnic minority groups.

Thalassemia is a genetic condition that can result in long and expensive treatments, and severe thalassemia may lead to death if left untreated. Couples contributing two genes for thalassemia place their children at particular risk for severe thalassemia. Gene frequency of thalassemia varies in Vietnam, but presents remarkably high levels among some ethnic minority groups.

High prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in coastal areas of Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam.

In Vietnam, especially central Vietnam, patients with fascioliasis are increasingly being reported. Since the fascioliasis is zoonotic, survey on the cattle fascioliasis should be informative for the control of human fascioliasis. In this study, the prevalence of cattle fascioliasis as well as the density of the intermediate host snails, Lymnaea swinhoei and L.

Early-onset neonatal sepsis is associated with a high heart rate during automatically selected stationary periods.

Aim: This study examined the heart rate variability characteristics associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis in a prospective, observational controlled study.

Methods: Eligible patients were full-term neonates hospitalised with clinical signs that suggested early-onset sepsis and a C-reactive protein of >10 mg/L. Sepsis was considered proven in cases of symptomatic septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia or enterocolitis.

Impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on the activity budget, ranging ecology and habitat use of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands.

Understanding the extent to which primates in forest fragments can adjust behaviorally and ecologically to changes caused by deforestation is essential to designing conservation management plans. During a 12-month period, we studied the effects of habitat loss and degradation on the Ethiopian endemic, bamboo specialist, Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) by comparing its habitat quality, activity budget, ranging ecology and habitat use in continuous forest and two fragments. We found that habitat loss and fragmentation resulted in major differences in vegetation composition and structure between forest types.

Comparative primate obstetrics: Observations of 15 diurnal births in wild gelada monkeys (Theropithecus gelada) and their implications for understanding human and nonhuman primate birth evolution.

Objectives: The birth process has been studied extensively in many human societies, yet little is known about this essential life history event in other primates. Here, we provide the most detailed account of behaviors surrounding birth for any wild nonhuman primate to date.

Materials And Methods: Over a recent ∼10-year period, we directly observed 15 diurnal births (13 live births and 2 stillbirths) among geladas (Theropithecus gelada) at Guassa, Ethiopia.

Population Size Estimation of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An Using Social App Multiplier Method.

This study aims to estimate the number of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Nghe An province, Viet Nam, using a novel method of population size estimation, and to assess the feasibility of the method in implementation. An innovative approach to population size estimation grounded on the principles of the multiplier method, and using social app technology and internet-based surveys was undertaken among MSM in two regions of Viet Nam in 2015. Enumeration of active users of popular social apps for MSM in Viet Nam was conducted over 4 weeks.

Solar-powered hearing aids for children with impaired hearing in Vietnam: a pilot study.

Background: Hearing loss is a barrier to speech and social and cognitive development. This can be especially pronounced in children living in low- and middle-income countries with limited resources.

Aim: To determine the feasibility, durability and social impact of ComCare GLW solar-powered hearing aids provided for Vietnamese children with hearing impairment.

The ribosomal transcription units of Haplorchis pumilio and H. taichui and the use of 28S rDNA sequences for phylogenetic identification of common heterophyids in Vietnam.

Background: Heterophyidiasis is now a major public health threat in many tropical countries. Species in the trematode family Heterophyidae infecting humans include Centrocestus formosanus, Haplorchis pumilio, H. taichui, H.

MG53-IRS-1 (Mitsugumin 53-Insulin Receptor Substrate-1) Interaction Disruptor Sensitizes Insulin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle.

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is an E3 ligase that interacts with and ubiquitinates insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in skeletal muscle; thus, an MG53-IRS-1 interaction disruptor (MID), which potentially sensitizes insulin signaling with an elevated level of IRS-1 in skeletal muscle, is an excellent candidate for treating insulin resistance. To screen for an MID, we developed a bimolecular luminescence complementation system using an N-terminal luciferase fragment fused with IRS-1 and a C-terminal luciferase fragment fused with an MG53 C14A mutant that binds to IRS-1 but does not have E3 ligase activity. An MID, which was discovered using the bimolecular luminescence complementation system, disrupted the molecular association of MG53 with IRS-1, thus abolishing MG53-mediated IRS-1 ubiquitination and degradation.

Targeting Liver Fibrosis with a Cell-penetrating Protease-activated Receptor-2 (PAR2) Pepducin.

Chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure for which there are currently no approved treatments. Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is an emerging new target expressed on liver stellate cells and hepatocytes that regulates the response to liver injury and inflammation. Here, we identified a pepducin to block the deleterious actions of PAR2 in promoting liver fibrosis.

Production of Cytomegalovirus Dense Bodies by Scalable Bioprocess Methods Maintains Immunogenicity and Improves Neutralizing Antibody Titers.

Unlabelled: With the goal of developing a virus-like particle-based vaccine based on dense bodies (DB) produced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections, we evaluated scalable culture, isolation, and inactivation methods and applied technically advanced assays to determine the relative purity, composition, and immunogenicity of DB particles. Our results increase our understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of methods to recover immunogenic DB and inactivate contaminating viral particles. Our results indicate that (i) HCMV strain Towne replicates in MRC-5 fibroblasts grown on microcarriers, (ii) DB particles recovered from 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole riboside (BDCRB)-treated cultures and purified by tangential flow filtration (TFF-DB) or glycerol tartrate gradient sedimentation (GT-DB) constitute 92% or 98%, respectively, of all particles in the final product, (iii) epithelial cell-tropic DB particles are recovered from a single round of coinfection by AD169 and Towne strain viruses, consistent with complementation between the UL130 and UL131A expressed by these strains and restoration of gH/gL/UL128-UL131A (gH pentamer), (iv) equivalent neutralizing antibody titers are induced in mice following immunization with epithelial cell-tropic DB or gH pentamer-deficient DB preparations, (v) UV-inactivated residual virus in GT-DB or TFF-DB preparations retained immunogenicity and induced neutralizing antibody, preventing viral entry into epithelial cells, and (vi) GT-DB and TFF-DB induced cellular immune responses to multiple HCMV peptides.

Simultaneous Administration Compared With a 24-Hour Mifepristone-Misoprostol Interval in Second-Trimester Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare outcomes with simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol with a regimen in which the drugs are administered at a 24-hour interval for second-trimester abortion.

Methods: In this placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, participants were randomized to receive mifepristone either 24 hours before or at the same time as misoprostol. Participants were hospitalized to receive 400 micrograms buccal misoprostol at 3-hour intervals up to 48 hours or until uterine expulsion.

A complete mitochondrial genome from Echinochasmus japonicus supports the elevation of Echinochasminae Odhner, 1910 to family rank (Trematoda: Platyhelminthes).

The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the trematode Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926 was fully determined and annotated. The circular mt molecule of this species is 15,865bp in length, containing 12 protein-coding genes (arranged in the following order: cox3-cob-nad4L-nad4-atp6-nad2-nad1-nad3-cox1-cox2-nad6-nad5), two ribosomal RNA genes (rrnL and rrnS) and 22 transfer RNA genes (trnH; trnQ; trnF; trnM; trnV; trnA; trnD; trnN; trnP; trnI; trnK; trnS; trnW; trnT; trnC; trnL; trnS; trnL; trnG; and trnE). The atp8 gene is absent.

Health insurance drop-out among adult population: findings from a study in a Health and demographic surveillance system in Northern Vietnam 2006-2013.

The coverage of health insurance as measured by enrollment rates has increased significantly in Vietnam. However, maintaining health insurance to the some groups such as the farmer, the borderline poor and informal workers, etc. has been very challenging.

Dietary ecology of fossil Theropithecus: Inferences from dental microwear textures of extant geladas from ecologically diverse sites.

As the only extant graminivorous primate, gelada monkeys (Theropithecus gelada) offer unique insights into how hominins and other extinct primates with strong C4 isotopic signatures may have subsisted on graminoid-rich diets. Fossil Theropithecus species sharing a strong C4 signal (i.e.

Randomized safety and immunogenicity trial of a seasonal trivalent inactivated split virion influenza vaccine (IVACFLU-S) in healthy young Vietnamese adults.

Background: Under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan, PATH supported evaluation of a trivalent, seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine candidate produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), a Vietnamese manufacturer.

Methods: In 2015, 60 healthy adult subjects 18-45years of age were enrolled in a Phase 1, single center, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted at a district health center in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam. The study evaluated the overall safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal, trivalent inactivated split virion influenza vaccine.

An educational video game for nutrition of young people: Theory and design.

Background: Playing (DIAB) and (NANO) epic video game adventures, increased fruit and vegetable consumption among a multi-ethnic sample of 10-12 year old children during pilot testing. Key elements of both games were educational mini-games embedded in the overall game that promoted knowledge acquisition regarding diet, physical activity and energy balance. 95-100% of participants demonstrated mastery of these mini-games suggesting knowledge acquisition.

Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements.

Hydroponic systems have been utilized as one of the standard methods for plant biology research and are also used in commercial production for several crops, including lettuce and tomato. Within the plant research community, numerous hydroponic systems have been designed to study plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here we present a hydroponic protocol that can be easily implemented in laboratories interested in pursuing studies on plant mineral nutrition.