Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura led to the isolation of 12 known compounds (1‒12). Notably, this study marks the first report of 3-epimeridinol (1) being isolated and structurally characterized from a natural source. Additionally, compounds 3, 4, and 7 were isolated from the Asteraceae family for the first time. The structural elucidation of the isolated compound was achieved through analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, and MS data. Upon evaluation of their inhibitory effects against lipopolysaccharideinduced nitric oxide production, compound 12 demonstrated significant inhibitory activity with greater potency than the reference compound quercetin. These results established A. iwayomogi as a promising source of antiinflammatory agents.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected. Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042). Conclusion NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Background: This study examined the clinical application of the modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) and retroperitoneal extension classification (REC) in the evaluation of acute pancreatitis (AP) among Vietnamese patients. Methods: Data from 115 patients with AP between January 2022 and February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. AP was diagnosed using the revised Atlanta classification (RAC) criteria. All computed tomography images were assessed by two abdominal radiologists with over 10 years of experience. Patients with AP secondary to blunt abdominal trauma were excluded. Results: The mean patient age was 49.8 ± 16.7 years, and the male:female ratio was 2.7:1. Necrotizing AP was observed in 24.3% of cases and extrapancreatic complications in 35.7%. Pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections were noted in 68.7% of cases, including 39.1% with acute peripancreatic fluid collection, 7.8% pseudocyst, 21.7% acute necrotic collection, and 4.3% walled-off necrosis. Based on MCTSI, the rates of mild, moderate, and severe AP were 28.7%, 53.9%, and 17.4%, respectively. Grades I, II, III, IV, and V REC represented 55.7%, 13.0%, 19.1%, 5.2%, and 7.0% of patients, respectively. MCTSI and REC were correlated with RAC in the evaluation of AP severity. Multivariate regression analysis revealed MCTSI to be an independent predictor of severe AP (odds ratio, 2.719; 95% confidence interval, 1.149–6.437; P = 0.023). MCTSI > 7 was the cutoff for predicting severe AP, with a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 86.2%, and area under the curve of 0.944 (P < 0.001). Compared to the non-severe group, those with severe AP according to MCTSI had a longer hospitalization period (11 [9.25–16.75] days vs. 9 [6.50–12.00] days), a higher intensive care unit admission rate (30.0% vs. 3.2%), and greater mortality (15.0% vs. 1.1%). Conclusion In the assessment of AP severity, MCTSI and REC were correlated with RAC. MCTSI was an independent predictor of severe AP.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a configurable clean room paradigm with low air pressure for assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and demonstrate the concept’s efficacy using in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A high-standard clean room system with positive pressure (13 Pa) was built using accessible materials and equipment for ART laboratories. Methods for controlling and evaluating the clean room’s characteristics were developed and implemented for quality assessment and calibration to maximize efficiency. The feasibility of the flexible clean room concept was assessed by analyzing the key performance indicators of embryo culture and IVF treatment. Results: After 3 weeks of testing, the concentration of particles ≥0.5 μm was 6.04 times lower than the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 5 standard (3,520 particles/m3) in the IVF laboratory. Air pressure, noise, temperature, and humidity were controlled stably and appropriately. Five days after installation and handover, the volatile organic compound concentration dropped to 0.00 ppm. With blastocysts and a respectable blastocyst rate, embryonic culture with female patients younger than 40 matched the criteria (63.5% and 38.9%, respectively). After vitrified blastocysts were transferred, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 58.5% and 36.2%, respectively, demonstrating a high degree of treatment success. Conclusion Our customizable, high-quality, low-air-pressure clean room model can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes for infertility treatment.

Laparoscopic total pancreatectomy (LTP) is technically challenging and infrequently documented in the literature. In this paper, we present a new approach for performing fully LTP, a pancreatic tail-first approach with a counterclockwise technique, to accomplish total mesopancreas dissection and standard lymphadenectomy en bloc. Firstly, the tail and body of the pancreas without the spleen were dissected retrogradely, starting from the lower border of the body of pancreas and then from left to right. After that, a counterclockwise dissection of the tail and body of the pancreas was performed. The splenic artery and vein were divided at the terminal end of the pancreatic tail. The spleen was preserved. The entire body and tail of the pancreas were then pulled to the right side. This maneuver facilitated the isolation and dissection of arteries in the retropancreatic region more easily via laparoscopy, including the splenic artery, gastroduodenal artery, and supporting superior mesenteric artery first-approach. It also enabled total mesopancreas dissection.The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was resected last during this phase. The remainder of the dissection was like that of a laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with total mesopancreas dissection, involving two laparoscopic manual anastomoses. The operative time was 490 minutes and the total blood loss was 100 mL. Pathology revealed a low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm extending from the head to the tail of the pancreas.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura led to the isolation of 12 known compounds (1‒12). Notably, this study marks the first report of 3-epimeridinol (1) being isolated and structurally characterized from a natural source. Additionally, compounds 3, 4, and 7 were isolated from the Asteraceae family for the first time. The structural elucidation of the isolated compound was achieved through analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, and MS data. Upon evaluation of their inhibitory effects against lipopolysaccharideinduced nitric oxide production, compound 12 demonstrated significant inhibitory activity with greater potency than the reference compound quercetin. These results established A. iwayomogi as a promising source of antiinflammatory agents.

Laparoscopic total pancreatectomy (LTP) is technically challenging and infrequently documented in the literature. In this paper, we present a new approach for performing fully LTP, a pancreatic tail-first approach with a counterclockwise technique, to accomplish total mesopancreas dissection and standard lymphadenectomy en bloc. Firstly, the tail and body of the pancreas without the spleen were dissected retrogradely, starting from the lower border of the body of pancreas and then from left to right. After that, a counterclockwise dissection of the tail and body of the pancreas was performed. The splenic artery and vein were divided at the terminal end of the pancreatic tail. The spleen was preserved. The entire body and tail of the pancreas were then pulled to the right side. This maneuver facilitated the isolation and dissection of arteries in the retropancreatic region more easily via laparoscopy, including the splenic artery, gastroduodenal artery, and supporting superior mesenteric artery first-approach. It also enabled total mesopancreas dissection.The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was resected last during this phase. The remainder of the dissection was like that of a laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with total mesopancreas dissection, involving two laparoscopic manual anastomoses. The operative time was 490 minutes and the total blood loss was 100 mL. Pathology revealed a low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm extending from the head to the tail of the pancreas.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a configurable clean room paradigm with low air pressure for assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and demonstrate the concept’s efficacy using in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A high-standard clean room system with positive pressure (13 Pa) was built using accessible materials and equipment for ART laboratories. Methods for controlling and evaluating the clean room’s characteristics were developed and implemented for quality assessment and calibration to maximize efficiency. The feasibility of the flexible clean room concept was assessed by analyzing the key performance indicators of embryo culture and IVF treatment. Results: After 3 weeks of testing, the concentration of particles ≥0.5 μm was 6.04 times lower than the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 5 standard (3,520 particles/m3) in the IVF laboratory. Air pressure, noise, temperature, and humidity were controlled stably and appropriately. Five days after installation and handover, the volatile organic compound concentration dropped to 0.00 ppm. With blastocysts and a respectable blastocyst rate, embryonic culture with female patients younger than 40 matched the criteria (63.5% and 38.9%, respectively). After vitrified blastocysts were transferred, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 58.5% and 36.2%, respectively, demonstrating a high degree of treatment success. Conclusion Our customizable, high-quality, low-air-pressure clean room model can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes for infertility treatment.

Background: This study examined the clinical application of the modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) and retroperitoneal extension classification (REC) in the evaluation of acute pancreatitis (AP) among Vietnamese patients. Methods: Data from 115 patients with AP between January 2022 and February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. AP was diagnosed using the revised Atlanta classification (RAC) criteria. All computed tomography images were assessed by two abdominal radiologists with over 10 years of experience. Patients with AP secondary to blunt abdominal trauma were excluded. Results: The mean patient age was 49.8 ± 16.7 years, and the male:female ratio was 2.7:1. Necrotizing AP was observed in 24.3% of cases and extrapancreatic complications in 35.7%. Pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections were noted in 68.7% of cases, including 39.1% with acute peripancreatic fluid collection, 7.8% pseudocyst, 21.7% acute necrotic collection, and 4.3% walled-off necrosis. Based on MCTSI, the rates of mild, moderate, and severe AP were 28.7%, 53.9%, and 17.4%, respectively. Grades I, II, III, IV, and V REC represented 55.7%, 13.0%, 19.1%, 5.2%, and 7.0% of patients, respectively. MCTSI and REC were correlated with RAC in the evaluation of AP severity. Multivariate regression analysis revealed MCTSI to be an independent predictor of severe AP (odds ratio, 2.719; 95% confidence interval, 1.149–6.437; P = 0.023). MCTSI > 7 was the cutoff for predicting severe AP, with a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 86.2%, and area under the curve of 0.944 (P < 0.001). Compared to the non-severe group, those with severe AP according to MCTSI had a longer hospitalization period (11 [9.25–16.75] days vs. 9 [6.50–12.00] days), a higher intensive care unit admission rate (30.0% vs. 3.2%), and greater mortality (15.0% vs. 1.1%). Conclusion In the assessment of AP severity, MCTSI and REC were correlated with RAC. MCTSI was an independent predictor of severe AP.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura led to the isolation of 12 known compounds (1‒12). Notably, this study marks the first report of 3-epimeridinol (1) being isolated and structurally characterized from a natural source. Additionally, compounds 3, 4, and 7 were isolated from the Asteraceae family for the first time. The structural elucidation of the isolated compound was achieved through analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, and MS data. Upon evaluation of their inhibitory effects against lipopolysaccharideinduced nitric oxide production, compound 12 demonstrated significant inhibitory activity with greater potency than the reference compound quercetin. These results established A. iwayomogi as a promising source of antiinflammatory agents.