Background: Sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening global health challenges associated with high mortality rates. Early identification of high-risk patients is critical for improving outcomes. In the present study, the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-to-albumin ratio (NLAR) and mortality in septic patients was evaluated. Methods: A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. Patients ≥18 years of age diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock based on the Sepsis-3 criteria were included. Exclusion criteria included recent corticosteroid use within 7 days, autoimmune diseases, hematological disorders, and active cancer within 5 years. NLAR was calculated from complete blood counts and albumin levels within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit admission. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the predictive ability of NLAR for in-hospital mortality. Results: The present study included 141 patients with a mean age of 72 years. Non-survivors were significantly older with higher rates of mechanical ventilation. NLAR was significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors (0.88 [0.57–1.24] vs. 0.44 [0.28–0.77], P<0.001). In ROC analysis, the area under the curve for NLAR was 0.70 (P<0.001). Using a cutoff value of 0.56, NLAR showed a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 61.5% for predicting in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Elevated NLAR on admission was associated with a higher mortality rate in sepsis patients. NLAR could be used as an early prognostic marker for sepsis mortality.

A new crinane-type alkaloid, 6-epihydroxypowelline (1), together with six known alkaloids, lycorine (2), 2-O-acetyllycorine (3), deacetylbowdensine (4), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (5), 8-demethyl-3-oxomaritidine (6), and (-)-marithamine (7) were isolated from the whole parts of the Crinum latifolium L. in Vietnam. The structure identification of all compounds was determined by 1D, 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of these compounds was established by the ECD data. In addition, in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities was assessed for all isolated alkaloids. All alkaloids had AChE inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 32.65 ± 2.72 to 212.76 ± 8.30 µM and compound 3 displayed the strongest inhibition of AChE, with IC50 values of 32.65 ± 2.72 µM (in comparison to the reference drug, galanthamine, which had an IC50 of 2.40 ± 0.45 µM).

A new crinane-type alkaloid, 6-epihydroxypowelline (1), together with six known alkaloids, lycorine (2), 2-O-acetyllycorine (3), deacetylbowdensine (4), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (5), 8-demethyl-3-oxomaritidine (6), and (-)-marithamine (7) were isolated from the whole parts of the Crinum latifolium L. in Vietnam. The structure identification of all compounds was determined by 1D, 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of these compounds was established by the ECD data. In addition, in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities was assessed for all isolated alkaloids. All alkaloids had AChE inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 32.65 ± 2.72 to 212.76 ± 8.30 µM and compound 3 displayed the strongest inhibition of AChE, with IC50 values of 32.65 ± 2.72 µM (in comparison to the reference drug, galanthamine, which had an IC50 of 2.40 ± 0.45 µM).

A new crinane-type alkaloid, 6-epihydroxypowelline (1), together with six known alkaloids, lycorine (2), 2-O-acetyllycorine (3), deacetylbowdensine (4), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (5), 8-demethyl-3-oxomaritidine (6), and (-)-marithamine (7) were isolated from the whole parts of the Crinum latifolium L. in Vietnam. The structure identification of all compounds was determined by 1D, 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of these compounds was established by the ECD data. In addition, in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities was assessed for all isolated alkaloids. All alkaloids had AChE inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 32.65 ± 2.72 to 212.76 ± 8.30 µM and compound 3 displayed the strongest inhibition of AChE, with IC50 values of 32.65 ± 2.72 µM (in comparison to the reference drug, galanthamine, which had an IC50 of 2.40 ± 0.45 µM).

A new crinane-type alkaloid, 6-epihydroxypowelline (1), together with six known alkaloids, lycorine (2), 2-O-acetyllycorine (3), deacetylbowdensine (4), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (5), 8-demethyl-3-oxomaritidine (6), and (-)-marithamine (7) were isolated from the whole parts of the Crinum latifolium L. in Vietnam. The structure identification of all compounds was determined by 1D, 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of these compounds was established by the ECD data. In addition, in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities was assessed for all isolated alkaloids. All alkaloids had AChE inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 32.65 ± 2.72 to 212.76 ± 8.30 µM and compound 3 displayed the strongest inhibition of AChE, with IC50 values of 32.65 ± 2.72 µM (in comparison to the reference drug, galanthamine, which had an IC50 of 2.40 ± 0.45 µM).

A new crinane-type alkaloid, 6-epihydroxypowelline (1), together with six known alkaloids, lycorine (2), 2-O-acetyllycorine (3), deacetylbowdensine (4), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (5), 8-demethyl-3-oxomaritidine (6), and (-)-marithamine (7) were isolated from the whole parts of the Crinum latifolium L. in Vietnam. The structure identification of all compounds was determined by 1D, 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of these compounds was established by the ECD data. In addition, in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities was assessed for all isolated alkaloids. All alkaloids had AChE inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 32.65 ± 2.72 to 212.76 ± 8.30 µM and compound 3 displayed the strongest inhibition of AChE, with IC50 values of 32.65 ± 2.72 µM (in comparison to the reference drug, galanthamine, which had an IC50 of 2.40 ± 0.45 µM).

Objective: : This study aimed to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guidance in transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) to manage lumbosacral chronic radicular pain. Methods: : Using the combination of nerve stimulator and ultrasound guidance, TESIs were performed in 125 segments of 78 patients who presented with chronic lumbar radicular pain. Demographic characteristics and surgical outcomes were recorded on admission, pre-procedural and post-procedural for 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. The result was measured using the Numeric rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results: : Patients who received TESIs showed significant improvements on two evaluation tools (NRS, ODI), compared to that before procedure (p<0.001). No significant complications were observed for 6 months’ follow-up. Conclusion : The result suggests that a combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guidance in transforaminal epidural injections is safe, reliable and effective for short-term management of lumbar disc herniation. It is a promising technique and has shown good results in providing intermediate pain relief.

Backgroud: The aim of this study is to update on antibiotic resistance of common pathogenical bacteria isolated in Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (Hue UMP Hospital). Methodology: Use of the agar disk diffusion method to test the susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of 3709 bacterial strains from infected patients hospitalized in Hue UMP Hospital in 2020 - 2022. Results: Among 3709 strains of pathogenical bacteria isolated, S.aureus was found with the rate of 29.9%, followed by E. coli (24.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginasa (17.8%), Enterococcus spp. (11.8%), Klebsiella spp (9.7%) and Acinetobacter spp (4.1%). The proportion of bacterial isolates has changed, but Staphylococcus aureus is still highest rate. S.aureus is resistant to many antibiotics, but MRSA strains have decreased significantly, from 73.3% in 2020 to 62.5% in 2022. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to some of the group A recommended antibiotics such as ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam with the rate of 56.6% and 48.7%. The percentage of E. coli with ESBL strains (+) was at 28.2% - 30.3%. Enterococus spp strains are still sensitive to vancomycin (83.1% - 91.9%). The rate of Klebsiella ESBL (+) is only 6.9% to 8.2%. The strains of Acinetobacter spp were highly resistant to Piperacillin (100%) and Ceftriaxone (96.5%) but they are still sensitive to imipenems 70 - 71%, highly sensitive to Doxycillin (95.2%) and Cefotaxime (88.4%). Conclusion: Many bacterial strains are resistant to many commonly antibiotics. Providing timely, regular, and effective management of antibiotic resistance patterns for common pathogenic bacteria in hospitals, will help reduce the risk of bacterial resistance.

Objectives: Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS) has been considered an alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based bone mineral density (BMD) for assessing bone health. This study sought to examine the utility of QUS as an osteoporosis screening tool by evaluating the correlation between QUS and DXA. Methods: The study was a part of the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study that involved 1270 women and 773 men aged 18 years and older. BMD at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine was measured using DXA. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on the femoral neck T-score using World Health Organization criteria. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the calcaneus was measured by QUS. The concordance between BUA and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model. Results: In all individuals, BUA modestly correlated with femoral neck BMD (r = 0.35; P < 0.0001) and lumbar spine BMD (r = 0.34; P < 0.0001) in both men and women. In individuals aged 50 years and older, approximately 16% (n = 92/575) of women and 3.2% (n = 10/314) of men were diagnosed to have osteoporosis. Only 0.9% (n = 5/575) women and 1.0% (n = 3/314) men were classified as “Low BUA”. The kappa coefficient of concordance between BMD and BUA classification was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.15) for women and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.22) for men. Conclusions In this population-based study, QUS BUA modestly correlated with DXA BMD, suggesting that BUA is not a reliable method for screening of osteoporosis.

Objectives: Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS) has been considered an alternative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based bone mineral density (BMD) for assessing bone health. This study sought to examine the utility of QUS as an osteoporosis screening tool by evaluating the correlation between QUS and DXA. Methods: The study was a part of the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study that involved 1270 women and 773 men aged 18 years and older. BMD at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine was measured using DXA. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on the femoral neck T-score using World Health Organization criteria. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the calcaneus was measured by QUS. The concordance between BUA and BMD was analyzed by the linear regression model. Results: In all individuals, BUA modestly correlated with femoral neck BMD (r = 0.35; P < 0.0001) and lumbar spine BMD (r = 0.34; P < 0.0001) in both men and women. In individuals aged 50 years and older, approximately 16% (n = 92/575) of women and 3.2% (n = 10/314) of men were diagnosed to have osteoporosis. Only 0.9% (n = 5/575) women and 1.0% (n = 3/314) men were classified as “Low BUA”. The kappa coefficient of concordance between BMD and BUA classification was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.15) for women and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.22) for men. Conclusions In this population-based study, QUS BUA modestly correlated with DXA BMD, suggesting that BUA is not a reliable method for screening of osteoporosis.