Knowledge and Attitude Related to Hepatitis C among Medical Students in the Oral Direct Acting Antiviral Agents Era in Vietnam.

Background: Medical students play important frontline roles in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of hepatitis C. This study investigated knowledge and attitudes toward hepatitis C among 5th- and 6th-year medical students and possible associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2000 students from eight medical universities using a self-administered structured questionnaire.

Correlation Between the Amount of Extracellular Polymeric Substances and the Survival Rate to Freeze-Drying of Probiotics.

To demonstrate that the amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the freeze-dried viability of probiotics are correlated. Three strains of probiotics including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum were subjected to environmental challenges, such as temperature, pH, and carbon dioxide. The results indicated that the challenges could stimulate the EPS synthesis of the probiotics.

Efficacy of the incorporation between self-encapsulation and cryoprotectants on improving the freeze-dried survival of probiotic bacteria.

Aims: This study aimed to improve the viability of probiotic bacteria during freeze-drying by the combination of self-encapsulation and cryoprotectants.

Methods And Results: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VAL6 and Lactobacillus acidophilus VAR1 were exposed to environmental stresses including temperature, pH and increased CO concentration before performing freeze-drying with the addition of cryoprotectants. The results proved that tested stresses can stimulate the bacteria to synthesize more extracellular polymeric substances to form self-encapsulation that increases their freeze-dried viability.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices toward Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Students of Medicine in Vietnam.

Background: Building capacity in hepatitis B virus prevention and management for medical students and health professionals is one of the pillars of the national viral hepatitis control strategy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at eight medical universities from the northern, central and southern regions of the country between May and November 2020 using a systematic random sampling technique.

Results: Among 2000 participants, 84.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels among office workers living in industrial areas.

We examined exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among non-smoking office workers in 2 countries living in the vicinity of a coke-oven factory by measuring their levels of urinary 1-OHP, a known metabolite of PAHs. Subjects included 10 non-smoking office workers in Kitakyushu city (Japan) and 20 workers in Thai Nguyen city (Vietnam). Measurement was optimized by using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method developed by Jongeneelen et al.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels among coke-oven workers for 2 consecutive days.

Objectives: This study evaluated the levels of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their relationship with oxidative DNA damage among Vietnamese coke-oven workers.

Methods: We collected urine from 36 coke-oven workers (exposed group) at the beginning and end of the shift on 2 consecutive days. We also collected urine from 78 medical staff (control group).