Background: The results of previous studies showed that there was an increase of serum TNF-alpha in diabetes mellitus type 2.\r\n', u'Objectives: To study the change of serum TNF-alpha and the relationship between TNF-alpha and various anthropometrics indexes. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The controlled, prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed on 117 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (62 male and 55 female, average age of 60.1 10.3) and 39 control subjects (21 male and 18 female, average age of 63.3 11.1).\r\n', u'Results:The concentration of serum TNF-alpha of diabetes mellitus type 2 group was significantly higher than that of control subjects (80.45 \xb1 96.57pg/ml in type 2 diabetes group and 15.8 \xb1 48.72 pg/ml in control subjects). In diabetes mellitus patients with elevated serum TNF-alpha, body mass index (BMI) (22.93 \xb1 2.67kg/m2), waist circumference (WC) (82.4 \xb1 7.51cm) were significantly higher than those in diabetes mellitus patients with normal serum TNF alpha (21.59 \xb1 2.76kg/m2, 79 \xb18.15cm, respectively)\r\n', u'Conclusion: There was an increase of serum TNF alpha in diabetes mellitus type 2 and there was the relationship between TNF alpha with BMI and WC.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
serum TFN-alpha ; body mass index ; waist circumference ; type 2 diabetes

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex Immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, the multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to further investigate the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based-case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to shed further light on the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.

Aims: The objective of the study was to isolate bacteriophages and conduct a comprehensive analysis of their potential against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) strains in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Methodology and results: Twelve Xoo strains were isolated from rice fields located in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Among these strains, three strains Xoo L019, L020 and L024, showed the highest disease index of bacterial blight. Four phages specific to Xoo were isolated from soil, water and leaf samples, and their morphologies were determined. In a test against 12 Xoo strains, phage L541, MLA23 or W41 could infect 10 of the 12 Xoo strains, while phage LBH01 could infect 8 of the 12 Xoo strains. The stability of the phages to pH, organic solvents, UV-A and UV-B was also evaluated. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The initial characterization of the phages indicates their potential as biocontrol agents against bacterial blight in rice. The study is one of the very first studies about Xoo phages in rice in Vietnam.