The effect of antimicrobial stewardship interventions upon antimicrobial consumption and appropriateness in Vietnamese district hospitals: a cluster randomised trial.

Background: Inappropriate antimicrobial use is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) promotes the judicious use of antimicrobials to address this problem. This study evaluated the effect of an AMS program on antimicrobial prescribing practices in district hospitals in Vietnam.

Reduced cell-substrate adhesion formation promotes cell migration in .

Many cells adhere to the extracellular matrix (ECM) for efficient cell migration. This adhesion is mediated by focal adhesions, a protein complex linking the ECM to the intracellular cytoskeleton. Focal adhesions have been studied extensively in metazoan mesenchymal cells, but recent research in physiological contexts and amoeboid cells suggests that focal adhesion regulation differs from the mesenchymal focal adhesion paradigm.

Perceptions of a Menthol Cigarette and Flavored Cigar Ban in Black and White Adults in the United States who Smoke Menthol Cigarettes and Factors Associated with Ban Opposition or Ambivalence.

Objectives: Menthol flavoring is a critical public health issue, but prior work has largely represented the voices of White adults who smoke (AWS) menthol cigarettes who comprise a small subset of AWS menthol cigarettes in the US. This study compared perceptions of a hypothetical MC/FC ban among Black and White AWS menthol cigarettes.

Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of 2,113 Black and 1,087 White AWS menthol cigarettes collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk between July 2023 and January 2024.

Examining the challenges in sustaining user engagement with a mobile app to enhance multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) care in Vietnam and its implications for implementing person-centred mHealth interventions.

Digital health technologies, especially mobile application (mHealth), offer great potential for enhancing person-centred care and managing MDR-TB. The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure in Vietnam presents a valuable opportunity for such interventions. This qualitative study examines user experiences to explain reported reduction in engagement with (i.

A novel gene linked to Imipenem resistance in E. coli isolate lacking known Imipenem-resistance genes.

Imipenem-resistant Escherichia coli strains represent a growing public health concern, posing a threat due to their resistance to last-resort antibiotics. Here, we present the discovery of the Imipenem-Linked Resistance Gene VIN (ILR-VIN) within E. coli isolates from Vietnam, revealing its absence in non-resistant E.

Synthesis of zinc oxide nano-rice decorated with silver nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) trace detection of isoprocarb and crystal violet.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has gained substantial interest for the practical analysis of trace amounts of various molecules. However, improving the magnitude of the electromagnetic enhancement and preparing the substrate for long-term use remains top research priorities. This study presents a novel and straightforward synthesis method for zinc oxide nanorices (ZnONRs) decorated with small silver particles (Ag/ZnONR), which can serve as a highly stable, sensitive, and reproducible material for SERS detection of isoprocarb (IPC) and crystal violet (CV).

An mHealth app technology to strengthen adverse event management of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Vietnam: Protocol for a process evaluation of the V-SMART trial.

Background: Drug-related adverse events cause poorer treatment outcomes amongst people with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, exacerbating a major global public health problem. The Harnessing new mHealth technologies to Strengthen the Management of Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Vietnam (V-SMART) trial tests whether a mobile health (mHealth) application (app) can optimise management of drug-related adverse events, within routine health services in Vietnam. Implementation of digital health within routine services is complex and driven by behaviour change as well as a range of health system factors.

Endocuff Vision-Assisted Colonoscopy Significantly Improves Adenoma Detection in a Shorter Withdrawal Time Compared with Standard Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Although several studies in Western countries have shown that Endocuff Vision-assisted colonoscopy (EC) can improve the colorectal adenoma detection rate (ADR), such evidence in Asia is still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of EC in detecting colorectal adenomas in Vietnamese patients.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam.

Hierarchical structures of surface-accessible plasmonic gold and silver nanoparticles for SERS detection.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly sensitive analytical technique with excellent molecular specificity. However, separate pristine nanoparticles produce relatively weak Raman signals. It is necessary to focus on increasing the "hot-spot" density generated at the nanogaps between the adjacent nanoparticles (second-generation SERS hotspot), thus significantly boosting the Raman signal by creating an electromagnetic field.

Rational side-by-side self-assembly of gold nanorods with short and medium aspect ratios the self-evaporation method to boost their potential as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) represents a compelling detection methodology centered on the electromagnetic fields, commonly termed "hot spots", generated around noble nanoparticles. Nonetheless, the efficacy of electromagnetic field (EMF) amplification is constrained when utilizing individual nanoparticles. There has been a notable lack of experimental and theoretically simulated studies regarding the increase of the electromagnetic field when gold nanorods with different aspect ratios undergo self-assembly in either perpendicular or parallel orientations to substrates.

Modified hydrothermal method for synthesizing titanium dioxide-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites for the solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of dyes.

This study aimed to address the issue of rapid electron-hole recombination in photocatalysis by exploiting multi-phase TiO decorated on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to improve the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. A simple and eco-friendly one-pot method was utilized to create the TiO/MWCNT nanostructure using glucose as both a structure-directing agent and a carbon source without requiring any prior covalent or non-covalent functionalization of the MWCNTs at 160 °C. Furthermore, it was found that the average width of the nanocomposites changed from 20 ± 1 and 42 ± 2 nm to 56 ± 3 nm, corresponding to MWCNT contents of 1.

Gold nanoparticle-decorated amorphous carbon for oxidative cyclization of anthranilamide and aryl alcohols.

Herein, gold nanoparticle-decorated amorphous carbon (Au/AC) was prepared by reducing chloroauric acid and layering it on amorphous carbon. The characteristics of Au/AC were examined using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM, EDS, and XPS. To assess its catalytic activity, Au/AC was tested in a reaction involving anthranilamide and benzyl alcohol at 110 °C for 24 hours.

Sustainability and impact of an intervention to improve initiation of tuberculosis preventive treatment: results from a follow-up study of the ACT4 randomized trial.

Background: In a cluster randomized trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02810678) a flexible but comprehensive health system intervention significantly increased the number of household contacts (HHC) identified and started on tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT). A follow-up study was conducted one year later to test the hypotheses that these effects were sustained, and were reproducible with a simplified intervention.

High-dose, short-duration versus standard rifampicin for tuberculosis preventive treatment: a partially blinded, three-arm, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is a key component of tuberculosis elimination. To improve completion and reduce the burden for people and health systems, short, safe, and effective TPT regimens are needed. We aimed to compare safety and treatment completion of various doses and durations of rifampicin in people who were recommended to receive TPT.

Screening for Comorbidity of Sleep Disorders in Career Firefighters.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and sequelae of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and comorbid OSA and insomnia (COMISA).

Method: In the morning, after a shift end, Midwest career firefighters ( N = 89) in a midsized city completed an electronic battery of questionnaire to screen for OSA, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, presleep arousal, nightmares, mental and physical health symptoms, and a one-night sleep diary.

Results: Prevalence of firefighters exceeding screening thresholds: OSA: 54%; insomnia: 30%; COMISA: 17%; four or more nightmares per month: 15%.

The inclusion of diagnostics in national health insurance schemes in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Viet Nam.

The Lancet Commission on Diagnostics highlighted a huge gap in access to diagnostic testing even for basic tests, particularly at the primary care level, and emphasised the need for countries to include diagnostics as part of their universal health coverage benefits packages. Despite the poor state of diagnostic-related services in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), little is known about the extent to which diagnostics are included in the health benefit packages. We conducted an analysis of seven Asian LMICs-Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Viet Nam-to understand this issue.

Good citizens, perfect patients, and family reputation: Stigma and prolonged isolation in people with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Vietnam.

Stigma and isolation are common in people with tuberculosis (TB). Social isolation contributes to reduced health outcomes and TB treatment adherence. Stigma and the drivers of isolation in people with Drug-Resistant (DR)-TB may include modifiable advice and practices of family and Health Care Workers (HCW).

Mapping access to drug outlets in Vietnam: distribution of drug outlets and the sociodemographic characteristics of the communities they serve.

Background: Drug outlets are a vital first point of healthcare contact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but they are often poorly regulated and counter staff may be unqualified to provide advice. This introduces the risk of easy access to potentially harmful products, including unnecessary antimicrobials. Over-the-counter antimicrobial sales are a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in LMICs.

High dose rifampin for 2 months vs standard dose rifampin for 4 months, to treat TB infection: Protocol of a 3-arm randomized trial (2R2).

Introduction: Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is an essential component for TB elimination. In order to be successfully implemented on a large scale, TPT needs to be safe, affordable and widely available in all settings. Short TPT regimens, that are less burdensome than longer regimens, to patients and health systems, are needed.

Spin Trapping Analysis of Radical Intermediates on the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Polypropylene.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermo-oxidative degradation behavior of polypropylene (PP) by comparing three types of pristine PP granules (consisting of homopolymer, random copolymer, and block copolymer) with their corresponding oxidized analogues. These analogues were intensely oxidized under oxygen at 90 °C for 1000 h by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method that can detect short-lived radical intermediates during the degradation. The degrees of oxidation could be evaluated by chemiluminescence (CL) intensity, which was related to the concentration of hydroperoxide groups generated in the PP chain.

Single-step controlled synthesis of flower-like gold nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan for sensitive detection of heparin using a surface-enhanced Raman scattering method.

A novel single-step and template-free procedure, including controlled synthesis of gold flowers (AuNFs), conjugation to a 4-MBA reporter, and stabilization with chitosan, is proposed to develop the SERS tags-based nanoparticles for trace detection of heparin. This SERS detection assay is based on the aggregation/non-aggregation balance of AuNFs-4-MBA@chitosan nanoparticles, which was induced by adding a very low concentration of heparin in the as-synthesized colloidal solutions. SERS-tag colloids are prepared by mixing chitosan with HAuCl and 4-mercapto benzoic acid before being reduced with ascorbic acid under appropriate pH conditions.

Facile tuning of tip sharpness on gold nanostars by the controlled seed-growth method and coating with a silver shell for detection of thiram using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Developing SERS substrates based on individual gold and silver metals, either with rough surfaces or bare nanoparticles, has certain limitations in practical analysis applications. In order to improve the range of applications of the noble metallic substrates, a comprehensive approach has been proposed for preparing non-traditional SERS nano-substrates by combining tip-enhanced gold nanostars and Raman signal amplification of the silver layer. This preparation process is conducted in two steps, including tuning the sharpness and length of tips by a modified seed growth method followed by coating the silver layer on the formed star-shaped nanoparticles.