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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Objective: To investigate the cause of a foodborne outbreak that occurred in Dong Nai province, Viet Nam, in 2024, and implement control measures. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak, which was followed by epidemiological and environmental investigations to find the plausible causative food item. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested to identify the pathogen. Results: A total of 547 symptomatic cases were recorded, of whom two were in severe condition requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilation, one of whom died. Among 99 interviewed cases, the mean incubation time was 9 hours (range 2–24 hours), with the main symptoms being fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. All patients had eaten banh mi from a local bakery. Salmonella spp. were identified in food samples and clinical specimens. The bakery halted production, and the outbreak ended after 1 week. Discussion: All the patients were exposed to only one food in common, which facilitated the investigation process. This outbreak is a reminder to small retailers and take-away shops of the importance of food safety management in preventing similar future outbreaks. All food handlers must comply with food hygiene principles, especially in hot temperatures, which boosts bacterial growth.

Even though the combined use of ultrasound (US) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is recommended for the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the utilization of AFP has its challenges, including accuracy dependent on its cut-off levels, degree of liver necroinflammation, and etiology of liver disease. Though various studies have demonstrated the utility of protein induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II) in surveillance, treatment monitoring, and predicting recurrence, it is still not recommended as a routine biomarker test. A panel of 17 experts from Asia-Pacific, gathered to discuss and reach a consensus on the clinical usefulness and value of PIVKA-II for the surveillance and treatment monitoring of HCC, based on six predetermined statements. The experts agreed that PIVKA-II was valuable in the detection of HCC in AFP-negative patients, and could potentially benefit detection of early HCC in combination with AFP. PIVKA-II is clinically useful for monitoring curative and intra-arterial locoregional treatments, outcomes, and recurrence, and could potentially predict microvascular invasion risk and facilitate patient selection for liver transplant. However, combining PIVKA-II with US and AFP for HCC surveillance, including small HCC, still requires more evidence, whilst its role in detecting AFP-negative HCC will potentially increase as more patients are treated for hepatitis-related HCC. PIVKA-II in combination with AFP and US has a clinical role in the Asia-Pacific region for surveillance. However, implementation of PIVKA-II in the region will have some challenges, such as requiring standardization of cut-off values, its cost-effectiveness and improving awareness among healthcare providers.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is characterized by acute enteritis, watery diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, and death, with high mortality in neonatal piglets. In this study, 3 virus isolates collected in Vietnam between 2016 and 2017 were propagated successfully in Vero cells at high virus titers. Sequence analysis of the full-length spike (S) gene showed that all 3 isolates belong to genogroup 2b, which is closely related to other prevalent Asian strains. A comparison of the amino acid sequence revealed a 98.19% to 99.13% homology with the Vietnam isolates circulating during 2013–2015, suggesting that field PED viruses (PEDVs) are evolving continuously. Experiments in animals showed that the antisera from guinea pigs immunized with the vaccine strain resulted in higher levels (5 log2) of neutralizing antibodies against the homologous strain and a relatively moderate level of neutralizing antibodies against the field isolates. This finding would be helpful in selecting a PEDV strain for vaccine development.