Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) affects about 60% of men with azoospermia, representing a severe form of male infertility. The current approach to manage NOA primarily involves testicular sperm retrieval methods such as conventional testicular sperm extraction (c-TESE) and microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). While combining testicular sperm retrieval with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) offers hope for patients, the overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) stands at around 50%. In cases where micro-TESE fails to retrieve sperm, limited options, like donor sperm or adoption, can be problematic in certain cultural contexts. This paper delves into prospective treatments for NOA management. Gene editing technologies, particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), hold potential for correcting genetic mutations underlying testicular dysfunction. However, these technologies face challenges due to their complexity, potential off-target effects, ethical concerns, and affordability. This calls for research to address key challenges associated with NOA management within the clinical settings. This also necessitate ongoing research essential for developing more sensitive diagnostic tests, validating novel treatments, and customizing current treatment strategies for individual patients. This review concluded that the future of NOA management may entail a combination of these treatment options, tailored to each patient's unique circumstances, providing a comprehensive approach to address NOA challenges.
Humans ; Male ; Gene Editing/methods* ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Spermatozoa ; Stem Cells

INTRODUCTION

For female nursing students in Vietnam, juggling work, school, and personal obligations can be especially difficult. Research on how these students develop resilience while juggling their multiple roles is still lacking, despite the fact that their numbers in nursing school are increasing. This study explores how the work-life-study balance (WLSB) of female students pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is shaped by their real-life experiences and sociocultural influences.

A qualitative research design informed by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used in this study. In September 2024, ten carefully selected female nursing students participated in semi-structured interviews at a private university in Ho Chi Minh City. From October 2024 to February 2025, each 45–60 minute interview was subjected to a thematic analysis using Delve software.

The challenges faced by the participants, along with their support systems, coping strategies, and aspirations, were captured in four key themes, each with its own set of sub-themes. The first theme, Navigating Life's Crossroads: The Struggle for Balance, highlighted the students' struggles to manage competing demands, featuring subthemes, Pulled in All Directions, Time as a Scarce Commodity, and Compromises and Sacrifices. The second theme, Anchors in the Storm: Finding Strength in Support, emphasized the vital role of relational support, showcasing subthemes, Peer Solidarity and Shared Struggles, and Family as a Pillar of Strength. The third theme, Pathways to Resilience: Strategies for Survival, focused on coping strategies and adaptive techniques, incorporating subtheme, Faith and Inner Strength, Embracing the Role of a Working Learner, and Prioritizing and Organizing. Finally, the last theme, Purpose, Aspiration, and Future Orientation, brought attention to the participants' sources of motivation and their optimistic outlook, with subthemes, Motivation Rooted in Family and Self and Hope and Optimism as Sustaining Forces. These findings, grounded in the Transformative Resilience Model, illustrate how students harness their inner drive, familial and social responsibilities, and cultural values to adapt and thrive in the face of challenges. To maintain their dedication to education and uplift their families, participants leaned on hope, spiritual insights, and a sense of agency, viewing their struggles as meaningful experiences.

The experiences of Vietnamese female nursing students reveal a remarkable resilience shaped by both heavy social expectations and personal challenges. Drawing from the Transformative Resilience Model, this study highlights how facing and overcoming adversity can lead to significant identity development and personal growth. Institutional support plays a crucial role in enhancing a student's well-being, which can include flexible academic policies, accessible mental health services, and adaptable work-study options. Financial pressures, job-related stress, and academic demands often contribute to burnout. These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic, collaborative efforts to foster inclusive and sustainable learning environments for nursing students who are balancing work and study.

This article presented a reflexive narrative inquiry into the work–life–study balance of Vietnamese nurse scholars pursuing advanced education in the Philippines. Drawing on qualitative interviews and personal insights, it explored the complex interplay of cultural, institutional, and personal dynamics that had shaped their academic journeys. Integrating feminist, intersectional, and decolonial perspectives, the study highlighted the significance of power, positionality, and structural inequities in shaping these scholars' lived realities. Reflexivity serves as both method and critical lens, enabling deeper engagement with ethical responsibilities, knowledge production, and the politics of representation. This inquiry not only foregrounded the voices of Vietnamese nurse scholars but also contributed to broader conversations on transnational education, academic labor, and feminist praxis in qualitative health research.

Eczema herpeticum (EH), a life -threatening viral infection complicating atopic dermatitis, is rarely reported in adults with erythroderma. We present a 58-year-old male with untreated, severe atopic dermatitis who developed EH, manifesting as generalised erythroderma, monomorphic vesicles, and systemic symptoms with fever, hypertension. Diagnosis was confirmed by Tzanck smear, HSV-1 PCR, and bacterial culture revealing Staphylococcus aureus. Resource limitations necessitated oral acyclovir which achieved resolution of vesicles and fever within eight days. Concurrent management included intravenous vancomycin for bacterial superinfection, topical therapies, and cyclosporine for recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. Hypertension, a relative contraindication to cyclosporine, was controlled with nifedipine, enabling safe immunosuppression. By day 13, skin lesions normalised, pruritus resolved, and blood pressure stabilised. This case underscores oral acyclovir ’s efficacy in resource-limited settings and highlights multidisciplinary strategies for managing EH with comorbidities like hypertension. Early antiviral intervention, tailored antimicrobial therapy, and vigilant monitoring remain critical to optimising outcomes in severe EH-atopic dermatitis overlap.

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.

Purpose: Endosseous titanium dental implants are widely regarded as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Despite the proven osseointegration of titanium implants, particularly those with enhanced surface modifications, concerns remain regarding esthetics, the risk of peri-implantitis, and potential hypersensitivity. Consequently, alternative materials, such as zirconia, have received increasing attention in recent years. This study evaluated the osseointegration parameters of zirconia implants placed in the mandibles of beagle dogs, as a preliminary in vivo evaluation of zirconia dental implants in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Seven 8-month-old beagle dogs underwent premolar extraction followed by placement of implants in the healed mandibular ridges. The following implants were used in this study: six turned-surface titanium implants, six rough-surface titanium implants, and six zirconia implants, following which the implants and surrounding tissues were harvested en bloc for histological analyses. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and new bone area (BA) percentages (%) were calculated and compared between the groups. Statistical analyses were conducted using ANOVA, with the significance level set at p < .05. Results: Histological analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in BIC between the rough-surface titanium and zirconia implants, although the turned-surface titanium implants exhibited significantly lower BIC than the other two groups (p < .05). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of BA. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that zirconia implants achieve BIC comparable to that of rough-surface titanium implants, suggestive of their potential clinical application.

Purpose: Endosseous titanium dental implants are widely regarded as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Despite the proven osseointegration of titanium implants, particularly those with enhanced surface modifications, concerns remain regarding esthetics, the risk of peri-implantitis, and potential hypersensitivity. Consequently, alternative materials, such as zirconia, have received increasing attention in recent years. This study evaluated the osseointegration parameters of zirconia implants placed in the mandibles of beagle dogs, as a preliminary in vivo evaluation of zirconia dental implants in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Seven 8-month-old beagle dogs underwent premolar extraction followed by placement of implants in the healed mandibular ridges. The following implants were used in this study: six turned-surface titanium implants, six rough-surface titanium implants, and six zirconia implants, following which the implants and surrounding tissues were harvested en bloc for histological analyses. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and new bone area (BA) percentages (%) were calculated and compared between the groups. Statistical analyses were conducted using ANOVA, with the significance level set at p < .05. Results: Histological analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in BIC between the rough-surface titanium and zirconia implants, although the turned-surface titanium implants exhibited significantly lower BIC than the other two groups (p < .05). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of BA. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that zirconia implants achieve BIC comparable to that of rough-surface titanium implants, suggestive of their potential clinical application.

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure financial toxicity (FT) among patients with cancer in Vietnam using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and to describe the cost management strategies employed by these patients. Methods: This comprehensive cross-sectional study enrolled 634 patients from 2 specialized oncology hospitals in Vietnam. Using COST cut-off scores, FT was classified as none/mild (≥26), moderate (14-25), or severe (≤13). Cost management strategies, or coping mechanisms, were classified into 4 groups: lifestyle changes, financial resource strategies, treatment modifications, and support seeking. Results: The prevalence of FT was 91.8%, with 51.7% of participants demonstrating severe and 40.1% exhibiting moderate FT. Severe FT was significantly associated with female, low education level, unstable employment, low household economic status, and advanced cancer stage. The most common coping strategies were as follows: among lifestyle changes, reducing spending on basic items and leisure activities (78.7%) and cutting back on essential household expenses (66.4%); among financial resource strategies, borrowing money from relatives or friends (49.1%) and withdrawing funds from retirement or savings accounts (34.1%); within treatment modifications, switching treatment facilities or doctors due to cost concerns (9.3%); and within support seeking, obtaining help from welfare or community organizations (18.8%). All strategies were significantly more likely to be used by patients with severe FT. Conclusions FT was highly prevalent among patients with cancer. Most patients relied on lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, underscoring the need for improved financial support systems to alleviate the economic burden associated with cancer care.

Purpose: Endosseous titanium dental implants are widely regarded as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Despite the proven osseointegration of titanium implants, particularly those with enhanced surface modifications, concerns remain regarding esthetics, the risk of peri-implantitis, and potential hypersensitivity. Consequently, alternative materials, such as zirconia, have received increasing attention in recent years. This study evaluated the osseointegration parameters of zirconia implants placed in the mandibles of beagle dogs, as a preliminary in vivo evaluation of zirconia dental implants in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Seven 8-month-old beagle dogs underwent premolar extraction followed by placement of implants in the healed mandibular ridges. The following implants were used in this study: six turned-surface titanium implants, six rough-surface titanium implants, and six zirconia implants, following which the implants and surrounding tissues were harvested en bloc for histological analyses. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and new bone area (BA) percentages (%) were calculated and compared between the groups. Statistical analyses were conducted using ANOVA, with the significance level set at p < .05. Results: Histological analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in BIC between the rough-surface titanium and zirconia implants, although the turned-surface titanium implants exhibited significantly lower BIC than the other two groups (p < .05). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of BA. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that zirconia implants achieve BIC comparable to that of rough-surface titanium implants, suggestive of their potential clinical application.