In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Berberine Against Rotavirus.

Although berberine (BBR) is well known as an active constituent in traditional medicines used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, its potential against viral gastroenteritis has not been specifically reported. This study aims to investigate the antiviral activity of BBR against rotavirus and evaluate its cytotoxicity and pharmacological efficacies, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, the saturation concentration of BBR was determined as 2261 μg/mL, indicating that BBR is a poor water-soluble compound.

Drug release system based on a composite polycaprolactone nanofiber membrane with dual functionality of shape memory effect and antibacterial ability.

In this study, a multifunctional composite membrane based on polycaprolactone nanofibers having controlled drug release, shape memory effect, and antibacterial ability was successfully prepared by the electrospinning technique. The addition of graphene oxide (GO), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and berberine (BBR) strongly affected the morphology, crystalline degree, melting temperature, and shape memory performance of the composite membrane, thanks to the physical crosslinking network formed by the hydrogen bonding or van der Waals interactions between the components. As a result, the recovery ratio of the composite membrane reached a higher value (76.

Insights into Full-congener Profiles of Chlorinated Benzenes in Fly and Bottom Ash: Case Study in Vietnamese Industrial and Municipal Waste Incinerators.

Chlorinated benzenes (CBzs) are a group of organic pollutants, which have been industrially or unintentionally produced through various chemical and thermal processes. Studies on full congener profiles of CBzs in waste and environmental samples are relatively limited and not updated. In the present study, concentrations of 12 CBzs were determined in fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA) samples collected from one municipal waste incinerator (MWI) and one industrial waste incinerator (IWI) in northern Vietnam.

Berberine-loaded polylactic acid nanofiber scaffold as a drug delivery system: The relationship between chemical characteristics, drug-release behavior, and antibacterial efficiency.

Hydrophobic berberine powder (BBR) and hydrophilic BBR nanoparticles (BBR NPs) were loaded into an electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) nanofiber scaffold for modulating the release behavior of BBR in an aqueous medium. The BBR release from the BBR/PLA and BBR NPs/PLA nanofiber scaffolds was investigated in relation to their chemical characteristics, BBR dispersion into nanofibers, and wettability. The BBR release profiles strongly influenced the antibacterial efficiency of the scaffolds over time.

Telemedicine in home-based care for COVID-19 patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made devastating impacts on public health and global economy. While most people experience mild symptoms, it is highly transmissible and deadly in at-risk populations. Telemedicine has the potential to prevent hospitalization and provide remote care.

The role of chitosan in enhancing the solubility and antibacterial activity of emodin against drug-resistant bacteria.

Similar to most anthraquinone compounds, the pharmacological properties of emodin are limited because of its low water solubility. In this study, the formulation of chitosan and emodin (EMD/CS) was prepared by a bottom-up method with precipitation and sonication steps in order to enhance the solubility of emodin. Thanks to the interactions of oxygen-and nitrogen-containing groups in chitosan with emodin molecules, the solubility of emodin in the formulation was remarkably increased to 0.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Air and Dust Samples from Vietnamese End-of-life Vehicle Processing Workshops: Contamination Status, Sources, and Exposure Risks.

Concentrations of 18 unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 11 methylated derivatives (Me-PAHs) were measured in polyurethane foam-based passive air (PUF-PAS) and settled dust samples collected from end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing workshops in northern Vietnam. Concentrations of total 29 PAHs ranged from 42 to 95 (median 57) ng/m and from 860 to 18,000 (median 5700) ng/g in air and dust samples, respectively. PAH levels in ELV air and dust samples were 1.

Complexes of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles with BBR for enhancement of gastrointestinal antibacterial activity through the impacts of size and composition.

This study introduces the bioformulations of Ag/BBR and ZnO/BBR complexes against pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Without the use of toxic reduction agents, Ag and ZnO NPs were prepared using an electrochemical method and then facially mixed with BBR solution to form Ag/BBR and ZnO/BBR complexes. BBR molecules are strongly conjugated with Ag and ZnO NPs through coordinated bonding and electrostatic interaction.

Emission and distribution profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in solid residues of municipal and industrial waste incinerators, Northern Vietnam.

The concentrations and profiles of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM), fly ash (FA), and bottom ash (BA) were examined in three incineration residues. Samples were collected from different municipal and industrial solid waste incinerators in Northern Vietnam. The average concentrations of total PAHs in PM, fly ash, and bottom ash were 9.

Enhancement of protective efficacy of innate immunostimulant based formulations against yolk sac infection in young chicks.

This study was conducted to characterize and compare the protective effects of various innate immune stimulants against yolk sac infection (YSI) caused by an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in young chicks. The immune stimulants were administered alone or in various combinations of unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG), polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), and avian antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Routes included in ovo or in ovo followed by a subcutaneous (S/C) injection.

Antibacterial activity of a berberine nanoformulation.

This study describes the preparation of berberine (BBR) in nanoformulation to enhance its solubility and increase its antibacterial effectiveness against hospital-acquired infections. BBR nanoparticles (BBR NPs) were formed by antisolvent precipitation (ASP) using glycerol as a safe organic solvent. UV-vis absorption spectra demonstrated that the solubility of BBR NPs was greatly enhanced compared to that of pure BBR.

Characterization of Dosage Levels for In Ovo Administration of Innate Immune Stimulants for Prevention of Yolk Sac Infection in Chicks.

Innate immune stimulants, especially toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and agonists, are the main players in the initiation of innate immunity and have been widely studied as alternatives to antibiotics to control infection. In the present study, we characterized the dosage levels of various innate immune stimulants, including unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanosine dinucleotide -containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), cyclic polyphosphazene 75B (CPZ75B), avian beta-defensin 2 (ABD2), and combinations of these reagents given in ovo. Data derived from a series of animal experiments demonstrated that the in ovo administration of 10-50 µg CpG ODN/embryo (on embryonic day 18) is an effective formulation for control of yolk sac infection (YSI) due to avian pathogenic () in young chicks.

Health Technology Assessment Development in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study of Current Progress, Barriers, Facilitators, and Future Strategies.

Introduction: To make more efficient use of limited resources, Vietnam incorporated health technology assessment (HTA) into the decision-making process for the health insurance benefit package in 2014. We evaluated progress in HTA institutionalization in Vietnam based on the theoretical framework developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, identified negative and conducive factors for HTA development, and finally suggested policy recommendations that fit the Vietnamese context.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted between December 2017 and March and April 2018 with a purposive sample of 24 stakeholders involved in decision-making for health insurance reimbursement.

Quality of life among chronic myeloid leukemia patients in the second-line treatment with nilotinib and influential factors.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients prescribed with nilotinib as a second-line therapy and explores the influential factors.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A total of 121 adult CML patients resistant to imatinib and used nilotinib for at least 3 months were enrolled.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in indoor dusts from industrial factories, offices, and houses in northern Vietnam: Contamination characteristics and human exposure.

Information about the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dusts from various industrial sectors in Southeast Asia is still scarce. In this study, concentrations and congener-specific profiles of PBDEs were determined in indoor dusts from industrial factories, offices, and houses in northern Vietnam. Levels of Σ8PBDEs were higher in the office dusts (median 270; range 230-300 ng/g) and factory dusts (170; 89-510 ng/g) than in the house dusts (61; 25-140 ng/g).

Cost-Effectiveness of Ticagrelor Compared with Clopidogrel in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome from Vietnamese Healthcare Payers' Perspective.

Introduction: The PLATelet inhibition and patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial (NCT00391872) demonstrated that ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel significantly reduced the rate of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction or stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study is to analyze the long-term cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel in ACS patients from a Vietnamese healthcare payers' perspective.

Methods: A two-part cost-effectiveness model was developed to estimate long-term costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY).

Avian antimicrobial peptides: in vitro and in ovo characterization and protection from early chick mortality caused by yolk sac infection.

Increasing antibiotic resistance is a matter of grave concern for consumers, public health authorities, farmers, and researchers. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as novel and effective non-antibiotic tools to combat infectious diseases in poultry. In this study, we evaluated six avian AMPs including 2 truncated cathelicidins, [CATH-1(6-26) and CATH-2(1-15)], and 4 avian β-defensins (ABD1, 2, 6 and 9) for their bactericidal and immunomodulatory activities.

Study loading capacties of air pollutant emissions for developing countries: a case of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is one of the cities in developing countries where many concentrations of air pollutants exceeded the Vietnam national technical regulation in ambient air quality including TSP, NO, Ozone and CO. These high pollutant concentrations have destroyed the human health of people in HCMC. Many zones in HCMC can't receive more air pollutants.

α-Enolase as a novel vaccine candidate against Streptococcus dysgalactiae infection in cobia (Rachycentron canadum L.).

Streptococcus dysgalactiae is an important pathogenic bacterium that has caused economic loss for the cobia industry in Taiwan, ROC. This study presents a highly effective subunit vaccine composed of a moonlight protein, α-enolase, for the prevention of S. dysgalactiae infection.

Enhanced immune responses and effectiveness of refined outer membrane protein vaccines against Vibrio harveyi in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

Vibriosis is a severe infection occurring in many commercially important marine fish species. In this study, vaccines containing Vibrio harveyi recombinant outer membrane protein K (rOmpK), outer membrane protein U (rOmpU) and rOmpK-OmpU fusion protein in addition to the metabolizable Montanide ISA 763 A VG adjuvant were developed and evaluated in the orange-spotted grouper. The results indicate that recombinant V.

Identification of protective protein antigens for vaccination against Streptococcus dysgalactiae in cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

Streptococcus dysgalactiae is considered a causative agent of severe infection and economic loss for the cobia industry in Taiwan. In this study, protective antigens of this pathogenic bacterium were identified and screened in cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Outer surface proteins (OMPs) of this pathogen were extracted using mutanolysin digestion.

Effectiveness of formalin-killed vaccines containing CpG oligodeoxynucleotide 1668 adjuvants against Vibrio harveyi in orange-spotted grouper.

Vibrio harveyi is a major bacterial pathogen that causes serious vibriosis in cultured groupers, leading to massive deaths. In this study, we evaluated the immune responses and protective efficacy of vaccines containing V. harveyi formalin-killed cells (FKC) formulated with CpG ODN 1668-enriched plasmids (p30CpG and p60CpG) in the orange-spotted grouper.

Identification and expression analysis of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-8, in cobia (Rachycentron canadum L.) in response to Streptococcus dysgalactiae infection.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8) play pivotal roles in mediating inflammatory responses to invading pathogens. In this study, we identified and analyzed expressions of cobia TNF-α and IL-8 during Streptococcus dysgalactiae infection. The cloned cDNA transcript of cobia TNF-α comprised of 1281 base pairs (bp), with a 774 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 257 amino acids.

A formalin-inactivated vaccine provides good protection against Vibrio harveyi infection in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

Vibrio harveyi is one of the most common threats to farmed grouper, so considerable efforts are in practice to control the pathogen. This study presents a highly effective vaccine against V. harveyi in the orange-spotted grouper with the help of a single intraperitoneal immunization.