Aims: Microorganisms play a vital role in the breakdown of natural organic compounds and are valuable objects for worldwide enzyme production. The aim of this study was to identify favorable production conditions for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D19 protease, followed by the purification and chemical characterization of this novel enzyme to assess its potential applications in various fields. Methodology and results: In this study, favorable conditions of protease production from B. amyloliquefaciens D19 were determined using a medium containing soluble starch (1.5%), earthworm extract (1.0%), yeast extract (0.5%), NaCl (1.0%), at pH 7.0-8.0, 37 °C for 36 h with 150 rpm shaking condition. The protease was purified and had a molecular weight of about 23 kDa. The optimum condition for casein hydrolysis was at 40 °C and pH 6.5-7.0 in the presence of 1.0 mM Na+ or 5.0 mM Zn2+. The enzymatic activity was maintained at 75-100% at 30-50 °C and in pH 6.0-10.0. The values of Vmax and KM were also determined as 1547 U/mg and 6.33 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The identified optimal conditions will serve as the foundation for the production of the 23 kDa B. amyloliquefaciens D19 protease, one of the smallest proteases within the Bacillus genus. Moreover, its notable heat resistance, broad pH tolerance, high substrate catalysis and moderate substrate binding affinity make this enzyme a promising candidate for various applications in the food-feed and brewing industries.

Objective: The risk of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from schoolchildren to their household and the protective effects of vaccination in these settings remain poorly understood. We assessed the transmission dynamics of schoolchildren with SARS-CoV-2 within their households and the protective effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination among household members in Viet Nam. Methods: We estimated the attack rate, vaccine effectiveness and adjusted risk ratio (aRR) of factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission to household contacts of children confirmed to have COVID-19 who attended three schools in Ha Nam, Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces between September and December 2021 using multivariable regression with household-level random effects. Results: This retrospective cohort study included 157 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their 540 household contacts. The attack rate among household contacts was 24.6% (133/540). Overall, vaccine effectiveness among household contacts was 39% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1 to -63), higher among males than females and higher in adults aged >40 years. COVID-19 transmission was greater among female household contacts compared with males (aRR: 1.35, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.95), although not statistically significant, and highest among those aged 19–39 years (aRR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.50 to 4.21). Fully vaccinated household contacts had significantly lower infection risk (aRR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.84). Discussion: We found substantial onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from schoolchildren to household members, and older people were more likely to be protected by vaccination. We recommend that schoolchildren and all household members living with schoolchildren receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Recognizing the role of schoolchildren in the onward transmission of COVID-19 is an important lesson learned by Viet Nam that can help not only in managing other outbreaks but also in protecting schoolchildren by predicting the progress of the outbreak and preparing for a timely response.

An adolescent’s most common mental condition is depression. Adolescent depression is rising. This study examined characteristics that could affect adolescent depressive symptoms and if they would have a substantial impact on depressive disorders. 1,336 secondary and high school students from Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, were convenience sampled. This study examined how academic stress, self-rating life experiences, rejection, (over) protection, emotional warmth, social support, life satisfaction, and resilience can lead to depressive disorder. Academic stress, self-rating life events, rejection, and (over) protection were positively associated with depression symptoms among teenagers in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. Depressive illnesses are also linked to life satisfaction, social support, and resilience. Academic stress dominated work contentment.

In the present study, bioactivity-guided extraction and isolation of the n-hexane fraction of the fruits of Vietnamese Schisandra sphenanthera led to the isolation of five dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans as gomisin N (1), schisandrin C (2), gomisin H (3), gomisin D (4), and gomisin C (5). All the isolates were tested for their inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, compounds 4 and 5 showed weak inhibition of NO production with IC 50 values of 25.0 ± 1.6 and 24.8 ± 2.0 µM, respectively. Compound 1 exhibited NO production inhibition with an IC 50 value of 15.8 ± 2.1 µM, meanwhile, schisandrin C (2) showed the most potent inhibition with an IC 50 value of 8.5 ± 0.5 µM. In addition, compound 2 had a concentrationdependent inhibitory effect on the protein expression of the inflammatory enzymes iNOS and COX-2. Their physicochemical properties and ADMET data were predicted by in silico, indicating favorable drug-like properties as well as low acute oral toxicity. The results suggest that the fruit of S. sphenanthera and its phytochemical constituents might be used as anti-inflammatory agents.

Little is known about antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) intestinal carriage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Vietnam. All HCWs at a tertiary intensive care units were asked to undertake weekly rectal swabs. Among 40 participants, 65% (26/40) carried extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Two HCWs colonized with ESBL/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. One HCW colonized with Acinetobacter baumannii. No one carried Pseudomonas spp.. A quarter (10/40) of HCWs were identified as persistent and frequent carriers. There is an urgent need to screen antibiotic-resistant GNB among HCWs and improve HCWs' hand hygiene compliance to reduce the transmission of antibiotic-resistant GNB in the hospital.

Little is known about antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) intestinal carriage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Vietnam. All HCWs at a tertiary intensive care units were asked to undertake weekly rectal swabs. Among 40 participants, 65% (26/40) carried extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Two HCWs colonized with ESBL/AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. One HCW colonized with Acinetobacter baumannii. No one carried Pseudomonas spp.. A quarter (10/40) of HCWs were identified as persistent and frequent carriers. There is an urgent need to screen antibiotic-resistant GNB among HCWs and improve HCWs' hand hygiene compliance to reduce the transmission of antibiotic-resistant GNB in the hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To identify trends in percentage body fat (PBF) in adolescents to determine gender-specific classification thresholds for being overweight and obese. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 899 adolescents (11 to 14.5 years) from Hanoi and Nam Dinh was conducted in Vietnam. PBF, subcutaneous fat and percentage of lean mass were measured directly using OMRON HBF 375 scales to measure bioelectrical impedance. RESULTS: PBF decreased in boys with increasing age (p < 0.001). The difference in PBF between boys and girls, significantly increased with age after 12.5 years (p < 0.001). There was a stronger correlation between PBF and fat content (Pearson's r = 0.860, p < 0.0001) than that between (BMI) and fat content (Pearson's r = 0.521, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of being overweight or obese in girls was similar when determined by PBF or BMI. Hanoi had higher rates of adolescents being overweight or obese compared with Nam Dinh. CONCLUSION: PBF provides a more accurate body assessment for being overweight or obese in adolescents compared with BMI.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Classification ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Vietnam ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between dyslipidemia and obesity status among Viet-namese adolescents. METHODS: In this case-control study, 282 adolescents (6–11 years), including 88 obese cases and 194 normal-weight controls, were recruited from a population-based cross-sectional study from two provinces in Vietnam. The anthropometric, blood lipid, and other laboratory test results of the study subjects were analyzed. RESULTS: Obese children tended to have more visceral fat (Pearson's r = 0.795, p < 0.0001) than subcutaneous fat (Pearson's r = 0.754, p < 0.0001), and this difference was associated with an increase in blood triglyceride level (Pearson's r = 0.232, p < 0.05) and a strikingly high rate of hypertriglyceridemia (38.6%). We also found that birth weight and parental body mass index were related to the status of obesity among the study subjects. However, only birth weight was significantly higher in the obese group than in the normal weight group. These findings indicate the effect of prenatal nutrition on childhood obesity. Furthermore, high-birth weight children had a surprisingly high rate of obesity. CONCLUSION: Together, our data suggest that obesity increased the risk for hypertriglyceridemia, which was, at least partially, due to prenatal nutrition.
Adolescent ; Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies* ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia* ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Obesity ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Triglycerides ; Vietnam*

Background: Secondary injuries are frequent in stroke patients at the acute phase. The early rehabilitation for these patients currently still hasn't received enough attention. Thus it may increase the rate of the secondary disorders. Objectives: To describe the common secondary injuries in stroke patients at the acute phase. Subjects: 90 stroke patients over 18 years old that had experienced hemiplegia less than 30 days, and were treated at Neurology Department, Bach Mai Hospital. Method: Cross-sectional study. Data was analyzed by SPSS software, version 13.0. Results: The rate of the secondary injuries in these patients had reached 80.0%. Among them, the rate of pneumonia is the highest with 30.0%, then urological infections with 17.8%, followed by muscular atrophies, contracture of muscles, stress ulcer, and orthostatic hypotension. There is a close relation between pneumonia and perception impairment: the rate of pneumonia in perception impairment patients was 5.25 folds higher than that in patients without perception impairment (67.9% vs. 12.9%, p< 0.001). Similarly, pneumonia rate in patients with nasogastric tube was 4.2 folds higher than that of patients without nasogastric tube (90.9% vs. 21.5%, p< 0.001). Conclusion: The rate of the secondary injuries in acute stroke patients is high. It is necessary to carry out intensive nursing and rehabilitation for these patients.
secondary injuries ; stroke

Introduction: Rabies is a serious problem in the area of public health in developing countries including Vietnam. The death rate is almost 100%, however rabies can be prevented and preventively treated by vaccine, or a combination between vaccine with rabies resistant serum. The production of Vero cell culture vaccine is becoming a common trend worldwide because of its effective protection and safety. There is a requirement for the domestic production of cell cultured rabies vaccine. \r\n', u'Objectives: To determine the adaptive ability of VNUCOVO - 32 rabies vaccine strain into Vero cell. \r\n', u'Subjects and Method: Rabies vaccine propagation strains the rat\u2019s kidney cells. VNUCOVO - 32 was cultured into Vero cell with different conditions such as pH, temperature, multiplicity of infection (MOl) and time of virus harvests to discover the optimal conditions for virus propagation. \r\n', u'Results: The optimal condition for VNUCOVO - 32 propagation into vero cell with MOl 0.3, pH 7.4 and temperature is 37\xb0C. The highest titer achieves 103,4FFLJ/ml. The best time for virus harvest is 12 - 13 days post inoculation. \r\n', u'Conclusion: VNUCOVO rabies vaccine strain can penetrate and propagate into vera cell. \r\n', u'
Rabies virus ; VNKONO \u2013 32 strain ; Vero cell