Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: Physician and Patient Perspectives on Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Purpose: In several Asian countries, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths. HCC risk factors in Asia differ from those elsewhere and are changing with the treatment landscape as systemic treatment options increase. This study was conducted to gain insight from physicians and patients into HCC screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Mapping recommendations towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC) as part of the World Code Against Cancer Framework: an Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) initiative.

This paper outlines the process undertaken by Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) members in working towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC). The process involves: (i) identification of the criteria for selecting the existing set of national recommendations for ACAC (ii) compilation of existing national codes or recommendations on cancer prevention (iii) reviewing the scientific evidence on cancer risk factors in Asia and (iv) establishment of one or more ACAC under the World Code Against Cancer Framework. A matrix of national codes or key recommendations against cancer in ANCCA member countries is presented.

Towards elimination of cervical cancer - human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

About 95% of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected and treated early. We reviewed the latest national cervical cancer indicators, and barriers to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

Certification and stability assessment of recombinant human growth hormone as a certified reference material for protein quantification.

A certified reference material (CRM) for the quantification of protein, essential to manage quality control and quality assurance in protein-related works, has been developed. Amino acid analysis with conventional acid hydrolysis and isotope dilution HPLC-MS was used to establish an SI-traceable absolute protein quantification method using recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) as a model protein. The certification method was verified by comparative studies between 1) different methods of protein quantification based on microwave-assisted hydrolysis, and 2) different labs as part of the Asian Collaboration on Reference Material project with Japan, China, and Korea.

Implementation and assessment of diverse strategies for physical activity promotion in Vietnam-A case report.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) has documented effects in prevention and treatment of many non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Physical inactivity is recognized as the fourth leading risk factor for premature death, worldwide. Despite these facts, physical inactivity is increasing, not only in high-income, but also in middle- and low-income countries.

The association of estimated salt intake with blood pressure in a Viet Nam national survey.

Objective: To evaluate the association of salt consumption with blood pressure in Viet Nam, a developing country with a high level of salt consumption.

Design And Setting: Analysis of a nationally representative sample of Vietnamese adults 25-65 years of age who were surveyed using the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to Surveillance protocol. Participants who reported acute illness, pregnancy, or current use of antihypertensive medications were excluded.

Fully international system of units-traceable glycated hemoglobin quantification using two stages of isotope-dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA), defined as hemoglobin (Hb) molecules having a stable adduct of glucose on the N-terminal of the β-chains, has been endorsed as a diagnostic tool for diabetes mellitus and a prediction indicator for the development of diabetes complications. Here we describe an accurate procedure using two stages of isotope dilution-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) for the quantification of HbA that provides full traceability to International System of Units (SI). First, synthetic peptides representing specific markers of HbA (G-hexa) and hemoglobin A (Hexa) were certified by amino acid analysis via acid hydrolysis as reference materials (RMs) for the next step.

A reference measurement procedure for amino acids in blood using isotope dilution ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

We described a reference measurement procedure for amino acid (AA) quantification in blood samples based on deproteinization with 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) and an isotope dilution-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. The serum was deproteinized with 15% v/v SSA and the supernatant was injected directly into the LC-MS system without further processing. Compared with the use of other precipitants and water as a control, five model AAs-valine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine-in the SSA-treated samples showed ionization enhancement as well as stable background signals without significant ion suppression effects.

Validity and reliability of the Vietnamese Physician Professional Values Scale.

Physician values influence a physician's clinical practice and level of medical professionalism. Currently, there is no psychometrically valid scale to assess physician values in Vietnam. This study assessed the initial validity and reliability of the Vietnamese Physician Professional Values Scale (VPPVS).

Arsenic (V) induces a fluidization of algal cell and liposome membranes.

Arsenate is one of the most poisonous elements for living cells. When cells are exposed to arsenate, their life activities are immediately affected by various biochemical reactions, such as the binding of arsenic to membranes and the substitution of arsenic for phosphate or the choline head of phospholipids in the biological membranes. The effects of arsenate on the life activities of algae Chlorella vulgaris were investigated at various concentrations and exposure times.