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: This study aimed to develop a configurable clean room paradigm with low air pressure for assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and demonstrate the concept’s efficacy using in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A high-standard clean room system with positive pressure (13 Pa) was built using accessible materials and equipment for ART laboratories. Methods for controlling and evaluating the clean room’s characteristics were developed and implemented for quality assessment and calibration to maximize efficiency. The feasibility of the flexible clean room concept was assessed by analyzing the key performance indicators of embryo culture and IVF treatment. Results: After 3 weeks of testing, the concentration of particles ≥0.5 μm was 6.04 times lower than the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 5 standard (3,520 particles/m3) in the IVF laboratory. Air pressure, noise, temperature, and humidity were controlled stably and appropriately. Five days after installation and handover, the volatile organic compound concentration dropped to 0.00 ppm. With blastocysts and a respectable blastocyst rate, embryonic culture with female patients younger than 40 matched the criteria (63.5% and 38.9%, respectively). After vitrified blastocysts were transferred, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 58.5% and 36.2%, respectively, demonstrating a high degree of treatment success. Conclusion Our customizable, high-quality, low-air-pressure clean room model can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes for infertility treatment.

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: This study aimed to develop a configurable clean room paradigm with low air pressure for assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and demonstrate the concept’s efficacy using in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A high-standard clean room system with positive pressure (13 Pa) was built using accessible materials and equipment for ART laboratories. Methods for controlling and evaluating the clean room’s characteristics were developed and implemented for quality assessment and calibration to maximize efficiency. The feasibility of the flexible clean room concept was assessed by analyzing the key performance indicators of embryo culture and IVF treatment. Results: After 3 weeks of testing, the concentration of particles ≥0.5 μm was 6.04 times lower than the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 5 standard (3,520 particles/m3) in the IVF laboratory. Air pressure, noise, temperature, and humidity were controlled stably and appropriately. Five days after installation and handover, the volatile organic compound concentration dropped to 0.00 ppm. With blastocysts and a respectable blastocyst rate, embryonic culture with female patients younger than 40 matched the criteria (63.5% and 38.9%, respectively). After vitrified blastocysts were transferred, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 58.5% and 36.2%, respectively, demonstrating a high degree of treatment success. Conclusion Our customizable, high-quality, low-air-pressure clean room model can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes for infertility treatment.

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: This study aimed to develop a configurable clean room paradigm with low air pressure for assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and demonstrate the concept’s efficacy using in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A high-standard clean room system with positive pressure (13 Pa) was built using accessible materials and equipment for ART laboratories. Methods for controlling and evaluating the clean room’s characteristics were developed and implemented for quality assessment and calibration to maximize efficiency. The feasibility of the flexible clean room concept was assessed by analyzing the key performance indicators of embryo culture and IVF treatment. Results: After 3 weeks of testing, the concentration of particles ≥0.5 μm was 6.04 times lower than the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) class 5 standard (3,520 particles/m3) in the IVF laboratory. Air pressure, noise, temperature, and humidity were controlled stably and appropriately. Five days after installation and handover, the volatile organic compound concentration dropped to 0.00 ppm. With blastocysts and a respectable blastocyst rate, embryonic culture with female patients younger than 40 matched the criteria (63.5% and 38.9%, respectively). After vitrified blastocysts were transferred, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 58.5% and 36.2%, respectively, demonstrating a high degree of treatment success. Conclusion Our customizable, high-quality, low-air-pressure clean room model can be implemented to achieve positive outcomes for infertility treatment.

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).

Background: s/Aims: Hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis are frequent pathologies and unfortunately, with the current treatment strategies, the recurrence incidence is still high. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of laparoscopic choledochotomy using cholangioscopy via the percutaneous-choledochal tube for the treatment of hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis in Vietnamese patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with hepatolithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis who underwent laparoscopic choledochotomy using intraoperative cholangioscopy via percutaneous-choledochal tube at the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 108 Military Central Hospital, from June 2017 to March 2020. Results: A total of 84 patients were analyzed. Most patients were females (56.0%) with a median age of 55.56 years. Among them, 41.8% of patients had previous abdominal operations, with 33.4% having choledochotomy. All patients underwent successful laparoscopic common bile duct exploration followed by T-tube drainage without needing to convert to open surgery. Most patients (64.3%) had both intrahepatic and extrahepatic stones. The rate of stones ≥ 10 mm in diameter was 64.3%. Biliary strictures were observed in 19.1% of patients during cholangioscopy. Complete removal of stones was achieved in 54.8% of patients. Intraoperative complications were encountered in two patients, but there was no need to change the strategy. The mean operating time was 121.85 ± 30.47 minutes.The early postoperative complication rate was 9.6%, and all patients were managed conservatively. The residual stones were removed through the T-tube tract by subsequent choledochoscopy in 34/38 patients, so the total success rate was 95.2%. Conclusions Laparoscopic choledochotomy combined with cholangioscopy through the percutaneous-choledochal tube is a safe and effective strategy for hepatolithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis, even in patients with a previous choledochotomy.