Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the self-amplifying mRNA ARCT-154 COVID-19 vaccine: pooled phase 1, 2, 3a and 3b randomized, controlled trials.

Combination of waning immunity and lower effectiveness against new SARS-CoV-2 variants of approved COVID-19 vaccines necessitates new vaccines. We evaluated two doses, 28 days apart, of ARCT-154, a self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, compared with saline placebo in an integrated phase 1/2/3a/3b controlled, observer-blind trial in Vietnamese adults (ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT05012943).

Impact of targeted diabetic retinopathy training for graders in Vietnam and the implications for future diabetic retinopathy screening programmes: a diagnostic test accuracy study.

Objectives: To compare the accuracy of trained level 1 diabetic retinopathy (DR) graders (nurses, endocrinologists and one general practitioner), level 2 graders (midlevel ophthalmologists) and level 3 graders (senior ophthalmologists) in Vietnam against a reference standard from the UK and assess the impact of supplementary targeted grader training.

Design: Diagnostic test accuracy study.

Setting: Secondary care hospitals in Southern Vietnam.

Ophthalmologists' and patients' perspectives on treatments for diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy in Vietnam: a descriptive qualitative study.

Introduction: Globally, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in working-aged adults. Early detection and treatment of DR is essential for preventing sight loss. Services must be available, accessible and acceptable to patients if we are to ensure they seek such care.

Patients' Perspectives on Transforming Clinical Trial Participation: Large Online Vignette-based Survey.

Background: Patients' participation is crucial to the success of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, recruiting and retaining patients in trials remain a challenge.

Objective: This study aims to describe patients' preferences for the organization of RCTs (visits on- site or remotely) and evaluate the potential impact of fulfilling preferences on their willingness to participate in a clinical trial.

Problems with evidence assessment in COVID-19 health policy impact evaluation: a systematic review of study design and evidence strength.

Introduction: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 policy is critical for informing future policies. However, there are concerns about the overall strength of COVID-19 impact evaluation studies given the circumstances for evaluation and concerns about the publication environment.

Methods: We included studies that were primarily designed to estimate the quantitative impact of one or more implemented COVID-19 policies on direct SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 outcomes.

Risk of bias in observational studies using routinely collected data of comparative effectiveness research: a meta-research study.

Background: To assess the completeness of reporting, research transparency practices, and risk of selection and immortal bias in observational studies using routinely collected data for comparative effectiveness research.

Method: We performed a meta-research study by searching PubMed for comparative effectiveness observational studies evaluating therapeutic interventions using routinely collected data published in high impact factor journals from 01/06/2018 to 30/06/2020. We assessed the reporting of the study design (i.

Environmental impacts of a rice-beef-biogas integrated system in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam evaluated by life cycle assessment.

It is essential to increase the production of foods to meet the increasing future food demand, but this should be done in an environmentally sustainable manner. Integrated crop-livestock systems have been suggested to balance the reduction of environmental impacts and the increase in food production. Here we assessed and compared the environmental impacts of specialized (SPC) and integrated (ITG) rice and beef production systems in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using a life-cycle assessment (LCA).

Capturing the clinical decision-making processes of expert and novice diabetic retinal graders using a 'think-aloud' approach.

Background: Diabetic eye screening programmes have been developed worldwide based on evidence that early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy are crucial to preventing sight loss. However, little is known about the decision-making processes and training needs of diabetic retinal graders, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To provide data for improving evidence-based diabetic retinopathy training to help novice graders process fundus images more like experts.

Problems with Evidence Assessment in COVID-19 Health Policy Impact Evaluation: A systematic review of study design and evidence strength.

Introduction: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 policy is critical for informing future policies. However, there are concerns about the overall strength of COVID-19 impact evaluation studies given the circumstances for evaluation and concerns about the publication environment. This study systematically reviewed the strength of evidence in the published COVID-19 policy impact evaluation literature.

Network analysis and functional estimation of the microbiome reveal the effects of cashew nut shell liquid feeding on methanogen behaviour in the rumen.

The effects of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) feeding on the methane (CH ) emission and the ruminal microbiome of Lai Sind beef cattle were investigated. Changes in the methane production and rumen microbiome by CNSL feeding were monitored by a respiration chamber and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing respectively. The results demonstrated that CNSL feeding mitigated 20.

Research response to coronavirus disease 2019 needed better coordination and collaboration: a living mapping of registered trials.

Objectives: Researchers worldwide are actively engaging in research activities to search for preventive and therapeutic interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to describe the planning of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in terms of timing related to the course of the COVID-19 epidemic and research question evaluated.

Study Design And Setting: We performed a living mapping of RCTs registered in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.

The research burden of randomized controlled trial participation: a systematic thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Background: Participation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) may be quite demanding and could represent an important burden for patients. We aimed to explore this research burden (i.e.

Meta-analysis of average costs of HIV testing and counselling and voluntary medical male circumcision across thirteen countries.

Explore facility-level average costs per client of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services in 13 countries. Through a literature search we identified studies that reported facility-level costs of HTC or VMMC programmes. We requested the primary data from authors and standardised the disparate data sources to make them comparable.

Overcoming Barriers to Mobilizing Collective Intelligence in Research: Qualitative Study of Researchers With Experience of Collective Intelligence.

Background: Innovative ways of planning and conducting research have emerged recently, based on the concept of collective intelligence. Collective intelligence is defined as shared intelligence emerging when people are mobilized within or outside an organization to work on a specific task that could result in more innovative outcomes than those when individuals work alone. Crowdsourcing is defined as "the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call.

A scoping review provided a framework for new ways of doing research through mobilizing collective intelligence.

Objectives: New forms of research involving collective intelligence (CI) of diverse individuals mobilized through crowdsourcing is successfully emerging in various fields. This scoping review aimed to describe these methods across different fields and propose a framework for implementation.

Study Design And Setting: We searched seven electronic databases for reports describing projects that had mobilized CI with crowdsourcing.

Antifungal activity of sterols and dipsacus saponins isolated from Dipsacus asper roots against phytopathogenic fungi.

The in vivo antifungal activity of crude extracts of Dipsacus asper roots was evaluated against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum coccodes, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, Magnaporthe grisea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita and Rhizoctonia solani using a whole-plant assay method.

Inhibitory effects of serratene-type triterpenoids from Lycopodium complanatum on cholinesterases and β-secretase 1.

Phytochemical investigation of Lycopodium complanatum whole plants led to the isolation of two new serratene-type triterpenoids (1 and 2) along with eight known triterpenoids (3-10). Their structures were established using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry. These compounds did not inhibit acetylcholinesterases (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), but did inhibit β-secretase 1 (BACE1).

Chemical constituents from the fruits of Ligustrum japonicum and their inhibitory effects on T cell activation.

A previously undescribed nor-dammarane, 3β,20,23-trihydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranordammarane; three previously undescribed secoiridoid glycosides, ligujaponosides A-B, and iso-oleonuzhenide; and twenty three known compounds, were isolated from the fruits of Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRMS. The isolated compounds were screened for immunosuppressive effects on T activated cells by evaluating interleukin-2 (IL-2) production.

Anti-inflammatory activities of compounds from twigs of Morus alba.

Five new compounds, 10-oxomornigrol F (1), (7″R)-(-)-6-(7″-hydroxy-3″,8″-dimethyl-2″,8″-octadien-1″-yl)apigenin (2), ramumorin A (3), ramumorin B (4), and (4S,7S,8R)-trihydroxyoctadeca-5Z-enoic acid (5), together with 31 known compounds (6-36), were isolated from the twigs of Morus alba (Moraceae). The chemical structures of these compounds were established using spectroscopic analyses, 1D and 2D NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and Mosher's methods. The anti-inflammatory activities of the compounds were evaluated by investigating their ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage RAW 264.

Cytotoxic Activity of Compounds from Styrax obassia.

Cancer is a major public health burden in both developed and developing countries. Plant-derived compounds have played an important role in the development of useful anti-cancer agents. The current study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of chemical compounds from the stem bark of Styrax obassia.

Isolation of a New Homomonoterpene from Madhuca pasquieri and Effect of Isolated Compounds on NO Production.

A new homomonoterpene, 1,3,3-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[3.1.1]hexa-9-en-10-oic acid, named madhusic acid A (1), together with ten known compounds (2-11) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the dried leaves of Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard) H.

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from the Leaves of Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard).

A novel pyrrolizidine alkaloids, madhumidine A (1), and two known alkaloids, lindelofidine benzoic acid ester (2) and minalobine B (3) were isolated from the leaves of Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard) H. J. LAM.

Isolation of cholinesterase and β-secretase 1 inhibiting compounds from Lycopodiella cernua.

Three new serratene-type triterpenoids (1-3) and a new hydroxy unsaturated fatty acid (13) together with nine known compounds (4-12) were isolated from Lycopodiella cernua. The chemical structures were established using NMR, MS, and Mosher's method. Compound 13 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with an IC50 value of 0.

Expenditure Analysis of HIV Testing and Counseling Services Using the Cascade Framework in Vietnam.

Objectives: Currently, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) services in Vietnam are primarily funded by international sources. However, international funders are now planning to withdraw their support and the Government of Vietnam (GVN) is seeking to identify domestic funding and generate client fees to continue services. A clear understanding of the cost to sustain current HTC services is becoming increasingly important to facilitate planning that can lead to making HTC and other HIV services more affordable and sustainable in Vietnam.