Predictors of Postoperative Hypocalcemia and Hypoparathyroidism Following Thyroidectomy in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Background: Hypocalcemia is the most frequent complication of thyroid surgeries. Hypocalcemia is the most common complication following thyroid surgeries and is crucial in managing patients with thyroid cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy and evaluate the factors associated with postoperative hypocalcemia.

Leveraging near-real-time patient and population data to incorporate fluctuating risk of severe COVID-19: development and prospective validation of a personalised risk prediction tool.

Background: Novel strategies that account for population-level changes in dominant variants, immunity, testing practices and changes in individual risk profiles are needed to identify patients who remain at high risk of severe COVID-19. The aim of this study was to develop and prospectively validate a tool to predict absolute risk of severe COVID-19 incorporating dynamic parameters at the patient and population levels that could be used to inform clinical care.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of vaccinated US Veterans with SARS-CoV-2 from July 1, 2021, through August 25, 2023 was created.

Genome-wide mapping and quantification of DNA damage induced by catechol estrogens using Click-Probe-Seq and LC-MS.

Genotoxic estrogen metabolites generate various DNA lesions; however, their target genes and carcinogenic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, genome-wide sequencing using click probe enrichment coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Click-Probe-Seq/LC-MS) is developed to identify damaged genes and characterize the released and stable adducts induced by 4-hydroxy-17β-estradiol (4OHE2) in MCF-7 cell chromatin. The data reveal that guanine nucleobases in the GC-rich transcription-relevant domain are the main target sites.

Synergistic effect of electrocoagulation and antifouling nanofiltration membranes for microcystin removal.

This study aims to develop fouling-resistant membranes utilizing zwitterionic polymers for an integrated electrocoagulation (EC) and nanofiltration (NF) process to effectively remove microcystin-LR (MC-LR). The fabricated membranes were thoroughly characterized through contact angle measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The efficacy of these modified membranes was investigated for synthetic microcystin removal, employing both commercial NF 270 membranes and modified NF 270 with zwitterionic polymers.

AC electrical transport detection of magnetic properties of small, granular, and heterogeneous samples.

Experimental constraints and sample limitations can preclude ideal measurements of electrical transport properties of materials. In such situations, AC electrical transport methods are often employed due to a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio they can provide. However, dynamic effects that are not often accounted for may be present that may modify the signals in these measurements.

Development of a force field for ATP - how charge scaling controls self-association.

The discovery that ATP can prevent the aggregation of proteins and enhance their stability sparked significant interest in understanding the interactions between ATP and proteins. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations provide detailed insight into the underlying mechanism, while an appropriate force field must be developed. Existing force fields accurately describe the conformations of polyphosphates, but are not suitable for simulations at high ATP concentrations, because excessive self-aggregation occurs.

Ligand Conformational and Metal Coordination Isomers in Complexes of Metal Ions and Cyclic Depsipeptides.

A critical challenge in the structural characterization of metal complexes in apolar environments is distinguishing transient structural isomers within an ensemble of lower- and higher-order assemblies. These structural variations arise from subtle changes in ligand architecture and metal coordination chemistry, which are often difficult to deconvolute. Here, we utilize ion activation in both drift-tube and cyclic ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) to resolve ligand conformational isomerism and metal coordination isomerism in metal sandwich complexes of cyclic depsipeptide ligands known for selective metal ion transport.

Combined Loss of Obsc and Obsl1 in Murine Hearts Results in Diastolic Dysfunction, Altered Metabolism, and Deregulated Mitophagy.

Background: Muscle proteins of the obscurin protein family play important roles in sarcomere organization and sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubule architecture and function. However, their precise molecular functions and redundancies between protein family members as well as their involvement in cardiac diseases remain to be fully understood.

Methods: To investigate the functional roles of Obsc (obscurin) and its close homolog Obsl1 (obscurin-like 1) in the heart, we generated and analyzed knockout mice for , , as well as double knockouts.

The Cross-Cultured Validity and Reliability of the Vietnamese Nijmegen Questionnaire.

Introduction: The Nijmegen Questionnaire assesses hyperventilation syndrome (HVS), but a validated Vietnamese version is lacking. This study investigates the cross-culture validity, structural validity, and reliability of the Vietnamese Nijmegen questionnaire (VNQ) for screening HVS in primary healthcare settings.

Methods: Following Beaton's guidelines, translation and adaptation involved two independent expert panels for content validity.

Neutralizing Activity and T-Cell Responses Against Wild Type SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Omicron BA.5 Variant After Ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Booster Dose in PLWH Receiving ART Based on CD4 T-Cell Count.

Background: We evaluated severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific humoral and cellular responses for up to 6 months after the 3rd dose of ancestral coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in people living with HIV (PLWH) and healthy controls (HCs) who were not infected with COVID-19.

Methods: Anti-spike receptor-binding domain IgG (anti-RBD IgG) concentrations using chemiluminescence immunoassay and neutralizing antibodies using focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) were assessed at 1 week after each dose of vaccination, and 3 and 6 months after the 3rd dose in 62 PLWH and 25 HCs. T-cell responses using intracellular cytokine stain were evaluated at 1 week before, and 1 week and 6 months after the 3rd dose.

Gender Differences in the Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia Among Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients in Vietnam.

Aim: The prevalence and associated factors of dialysis-related sarcopenia could vary greatly according to gender. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in haemodialysis patients according to gender and to assess some factors related to sarcopenia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in maintenance haemodialysis patients.

Trans-ancestral rare variant association study with machine learning-based phenotyping for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, rare coding variant studies have been limited by phenotyping challenges and small sample sizes. We test associations of rare and ultra-rare coding variants with proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and MASLD case-control status in 736,010 participants of diverse ancestries from the UK Biobank, All of Us, and BioMe and performed a trans-ancestral meta-analysis.

Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid Total Tau in Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1: Correlation With Clinical Severity and Response to Therapeutic Interventions.

Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is an inborn error of intracellular cholesterol transport. Impaired function of NPC1 leads to endolysosomal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol, which results in progressive neurodegeneration. Although the age of onset is variable, classical NPC1 is a pediatric disease.

Advanced Exosome Isolation through Electrophoretic Oscillation-Assisted Tangent-Flow Ultrafiltration with a PVDF-Fiber-Coated SiN Nanofilter.

This study introduces a comprehensive approach to enhancing SiN nanofilters for exosome isolation from bovine milk using the electrophoretic oscillation-assisted tangent-flow ultrafiltration (EPOTF) process. Reinforcing the nanofilter with electro-spun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fibers significantly improved durability under high-pressure conditions, withstanding nearly 2.8 times greater pressures than nonreinforced nanofilters.

Frequencies of different blood group antigens and phenotypes in Northern Vietnamese donors.

Background And Objectives: Blood safety is the top priority in transfusion medicine. However, patients in Vietnam are only transfused with ABO and RhD compatible blood products, which could pose a threat to induce alloimmunization. This study was performed to provide information about the frequencies of antigens and phenotypes of clinically significant blood groups in Vietnamese donors.

Non-Funduscopic Slit Lamp Assessment of the Posterior Hyaloid Membrane - A Simpler and More Effective Way of Clinically Diagnosing Posterior Vitreous Detachments.

Purpose: To assess the clinical utility of a simpler method of detecting a complete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) - visualization of the posterior hyaloid membrane at the slit lamp - which does not require expert dilated fundus examination skills, special instrumentation (fundoscopy lenses), or imaging devices (OCT or B-scan).

Design: Cross-sectional case series PARTICIPANTS: All eligible patients presenting to the retina clinic during the study period were consecutively examined.

Methods: All patients were examined for the presence or absence of a PVD using the posterior hyaloid membrane assessment method, Weiss ring assessment method, and via optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed by three masked graders.

Reversible CO2 Hydrogenation, Neutron Crystallography, and Hydride Reactivity of a Triiridium Heptahydride Complex.

We report the structure, reactivity, and catalytic utility of a triiridium complex, [Ir3H6(µ3-H)(PN)3]2+ (2-H, PN = (2-pyridyl)CH2PBut2). Despite its unusual stability to unsaturated organics, electrophiles, and even CF3SO3D, we find that complex 2-H catalyzes hydrogenation of CO2 to formate (TONIr = 9,600) and reverse formic acid dehydrogenation (TONIr = 54,400). The hydrogenation operates via a reactive intermediate [Ir3H4(µ-H)4(PN)3]+ (5).

Area Deprivation Index and Melanoma Thickness in Veterans.

Importance: The US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides comprehensive medical care for enrolled veterans. Differences in melanoma diagnosis, associated with individual-level factors, have been previously published. The area deprivation index (ADI) ranks a neighborhood's level of deprivation and can inform whether the characteristics of a patient's area of residence can contribute to delayed diagnosis, measured by melanoma thickness.

Improving the health of the rural population in India through bundling WASH practices.

Achieving access to clean and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, most efforts to improve access to clean and safe WASH focus on a single practice, resulting in a low adoption rate and limited impact. This study analyses data from 63,732 rural households from the 76th Round of the Indian National Sample Survey in 2018 to (i) identify the factors associated with the adoption of WASH practices using logit estimations, (ii) explore adoption disparities via the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method, and (iii) assess the health impacts of having one vs.

Assessment of Brix values for estimating nitrogen and gross energy concentrations of pig urine.

The present study aimed to develop equations for estimating the dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and gross energy (GE) concentrations in pig urine using Brix values. A total of 96 urine samples were obtained from pigs of 6.0 to 62.

Factors Associated With Aborted Whipple Procedures for Periampullary Carcinoma: A Multicenter Case-Control Study by the SAR Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Disease Focus Panel.

A number of patients with periampullary carcinoma deemed resectable on preoperative CT have their curative-intent surgery aborted on the basis of intraoperative findings. This study sought to identify imaging and clinical factors associated with aborted curative-intent Whipple procedures for periampullary adenocarcinoma. Ten U.

Psychological Factors and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Risk in Stroke Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: As of 2023, stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of death and disability globally, with an expected rise by 2030. While traditional risk factors like demographics, smoking, inactivity, diabetes, and hypertension are well-known, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains under-studied despite its 13% incidence rate and link to stroke risk.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from 1 November, 2023 to 30 January, 2024 in Doanhung, Phutho Province, involved stroke patients over 18 years old diagnosed within the past year.

Safety and efficacy of extravascular renal denervation using HyperQure™ renal denervation system in short-term swine model of hypertension.

This study investigated the safety and efficacy of the HyperQure™ extravascular renal denervation (RDN) system in a swine model of mild hypertension. Ten female pigs were fed a 3% salt diet to induce hypertension and underwent either extravascular RDN using the HyperQure™ RDN system ( = 7) or a sham procedure ( = 3). Blood pressure (BP) was continuously monitored using implanted transmitters, and safety assessments were conducted via computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 28 days post-procedure.

Feasibility of Immersive Virtual Reality Feedback for Enhancing Learning in Brain-Computer Interface Control of Ambulation.

After prolonged paralysis, paraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients typically lose the ability to generate the expected electroencephalogram (EEG) α/β modulation associated with leg movements. Brain computer interface (BCI)-controlled ambulation devices have emerged as a way to restore brain-controlled walking, but this loss of EEG signal modulation may impede the ability to operate such systems and prolonged training may be necessary to restore this physiologic phenomenon. To address this issue, this study explores the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) in providing more convincing feedback to enhance learning within a BCI training paradigm.