As authorities braced for the arrival of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), infrastructure investments and government directives prompted action in central Viet Nam to establish capacity for genomic surveillance sequencing. From 17 November 2021 to 7 January 2022, the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang sequenced 162 specimens from 98 150 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in the region collected from 8 November to 31 December 2021. Of these, all 127 domestic cases were identified as the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, whereas 92% (32/35) of imported cases were identified as the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, all among international flight passengers. Patients were successfully isolated, enabling health-care workers to prepare for additional cases. Most (78%) of the 32 Omicron cases were fully vaccinated, suggesting continued importance of public health and social measures to control the spread of new variants.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent somatic stem/progenitor cells that can be isolated from various tissues and have attracted increasing attention from the scientific community. This is due to MSCs showing great potential for incurable disease treatment, and most applications of MSCs involve tissue degeneration and treatment of immune- and inflammation-mediated diseases. Conventional MSC cultures contain fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a common supplement for cell development but is also a risk factor for exposure to animal-derived pathogens. To avoid the risks resulting from the xenogeneic origin and animal-derived pathogens of FBS, xeno-free media have been developed and commercialized to satisfy MSC expansion demands for human clinical applications. This review summarized and provided an overview of xeno-free media that are currently used for MSC expansion. Additionally, we discussed the influences of different xeno-free media on MSC biology with particular regard to cell morphology, surface marker expression, proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulation. The xeno-free media can be serum-free and xeno-free media or media supplemented with some human-originating substances, such as human serum, human platelet lysates, human umbilical cord serum/plasma, or human plasma-derived supplements for cell culture medium. These media have capacity to maintain a spindle-shaped morphology, the expression of typical surface markers, and the capacity of multipotent differentiation and immunomodulation of MSCs. Xeno-free media showed potential for safe use for human clinical treatment. However, the influences of these xeno-free media on MSCs are various and any xeno-free medium should be examined prior to being used for MSC cultures.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent somatic stem/progenitor cells that can be isolated from various tissues and have attracted increasing attention from the scientific community. This is due to MSCs showing great potential for incurable disease treatment, and most applications of MSCs involve tissue degeneration and treatment of immune- and inflammation-mediated diseases. Conventional MSC cultures contain fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a common supplement for cell development but is also a risk factor for exposure to animal-derived pathogens. To avoid the risks resulting from the xenogeneic origin and animal-derived pathogens of FBS, xeno-free media have been developed and commercialized to satisfy MSC expansion demands for human clinical applications. This review summarized and provided an overview of xeno-free media that are currently used for MSC expansion. Additionally, we discussed the influences of different xeno-free media on MSC biology with particular regard to cell morphology, surface marker expression, proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulation. The xeno-free media can be serum-free and xeno-free media or media supplemented with some human-originating substances, such as human serum, human platelet lysates, human umbilical cord serum/plasma, or human plasma-derived supplements for cell culture medium. These media have capacity to maintain a spindle-shaped morphology, the expression of typical surface markers, and the capacity of multipotent differentiation and immunomodulation of MSCs. Xeno-free media showed potential for safe use for human clinical treatment. However, the influences of these xeno-free media on MSCs are various and any xeno-free medium should be examined prior to being used for MSC cultures.

Interleukin (IL)-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-2, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the pleural fluid are valuable biomarkers in early diagnosis of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion (TPE). This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic values of some cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-2) in pleural fluid for identifying TPE in Vietnam. We performed a cross-sectional study on tuberculosis (TB) patients with pleural effusion. Pleural IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2 were measured by ELISA® Kit (Abcam, USA) on Biotek system. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), an area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy (ACC) of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2 in identifying TBE were assessed. Among 386 patients, 234 (60,6%) had TPE, and 152 (39,4%) did not have TPE. The median of IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in TPE compared to the non-TPE group (p<0.05). AUC for IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were 0.54, 0.57, 0.62. 0.84 (p<0.05), respectively. The sensitivity of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the diagnosis of TPE were 82.1, 53.4, 77.8, and 80.3, while the specificity was 28,4, 69.7, 47.4, and 80.9, respectively. IFN-γ and TNF-α are potential biomarkers in diagnosing TPE.

Anaplasma marginale and A. platys were detected and characterized (16S rDNA sequence analysis) from dairy and indigenous cattle, and the latter in domestic dogs in Vietnam. A phylogenetic tree was inferred from 26 representative strains/species of Anaplasma spp. including 10 new sequences from Vietnam. Seven of our Vietnamese sequences fell into the clade of A. marginale and 3 into A. platys, with strong nodal support of 99 and 90%, respectively. Low genetic distances (0.2–0.4%) within each species supported the identification. Anaplasma platys is able to infect humans. Our discovery of this species in cattle and domestic dogs raises considerable concern about zoonotic transmission in Vietnam. Further systematic investigations are needed to gain data for Anaplasma spp. and members of Anaplasmataceae in animal hosts, vectors and humans across Vietnam.
Anaplasma marginale ; Anaplasma ; Anaplasmataceae ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Dogs ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Trees ; Vietnam

Objective: To evaluate the antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo of saponin–phospholipid complex of Panax notoginseng. Methods: The in vitro cytotoxic effect of saponins extract and saponin–phospholipid complex against human lung cancer NCI-H460 and breast cancer cell lines BT474 was examined using MTS assay. For in vivo evaluation of antitumor potential, saponin and saponin–phospholipid complex were administered orally in rats induced mammary carcinogenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, for 30 days. Results: Our data showed that saponin–phospholipid complex had stronger anticancer effect compared to saponin extract. The IC50 values of saponin–phospholipid complex and saponin extract for NCI-H460 cell lines were 28.47μg/mL and 47.97μg/mL, respectively and these values for BT474 cells were 53.18μg/mL and 86.24μg/mL, respectively. In vivo experiments, administration of saponin, saponin–phospholipid complex and paclitaxel (positive control) effectively suppressed 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-induced breast cancer evidenced by a decrease in tumor volume, the reduction of lipid peroxidation level and increase in the body weight, and elevated the enzymatic antioxidant activities of su-peroxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase in rat breast tissue. Conclusions: Our study suggests that saponin extract from Panax notoginseng and saponin–phospholipid complex have potential to prevent cancer, especially breast cancer.

Objective To evaluate the antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo of saponin–phospholipid complex of Panax notoginseng. Methods The in vitro cytotoxic effect of saponins extract and saponin–phospholipid complex against human lung cancer NCI-H460 and breast cancer cell lines BT474 was examined using MTS assay. For in vivo evaluation of antitumor potential, saponin and saponin–phospholipid complex were administered orally in rats induced mammary carcinogenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, for 30 days. Results Our data showed that saponin–phospholipid complex had stronger anticancer effect compared to saponin extract. The IC50 values of saponin–phospholipid complex and saponin extract for NCI-H460 cell lines were 28.47 μg/mL and 47.97 μg/mL, respectively and these values for BT474 cells were 53.18 μg/mL and 86.24 μg/mL, respectively. In vivo experiments, administration of saponin, saponin–phospholipid complex and paclitaxel (positive control) effectively suppressed 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-induced breast cancer evidenced by a decrease in tumor volume, the reduction of lipid peroxidation level and increase in the body weight, and elevated the enzymatic antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase in rat breast tissue. Conclusions Our study suggests that saponin extract from Panax notoginseng and saponin–phospholipid complex have potential to prevent cancer, especially breast cancer.

In this report we describe a new approach in HIV sentinel surveillance that was piloted in Viet Nam in 2009 and is currently being rolled out in all provinces. It comprises a brief behavioural questionnaire added to the HIV sentinel surveillance surveys conducted routinely among people who inject drugs, female sex workers and men who have sex with men. Timely reporting of data from this system has resulted in improvements to HIV prevention efforts for most at-risk populations.

Phytochemical investigation of Kandelia candel resulted in the isolation of six triterpenes (1 - 5) and two glyceryl glycosides (6 and 7) and their structures were determined by comparing the spectroscopic data with those of reported values. In present study, we described the inhibitory effects of fractions and isolated compounds from K. candel on pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Results indicated that compounds 3, 6, and 7 showed potent inhibition on IL-6 production (IC50 values at less than 0.5 microM, respectively). Meanwhile, compounds 6 and 7 exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the production of TNF-alpha (IC50 values of 1.7 +/- 0.1 and 5.5 +/- 0.2 microM). Compounds 1 and 3 were also showed the inhibitory effects on IL-12 p40 production (IC50 values of 8.9 +/- 0.4 and 3.3 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively).
Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells ; Glycosides* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Rhizophoraceae* ; Triterpenes* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To investigated the protective potential of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury. Methods: Dried roots of S. baicalensis were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Mice were administered 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered a single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Both protein and mRNA levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were evaluated by ELISA assay and quantitative PCR. Cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB protein levels in liver tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Results: Liver injury induced by LPS significantly increased necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB in liver tissues. Treatment with ethanol extracts of S. baicalensis prevented all of these observed changes associated with LPS-induced injury in liver mice. Conclusions: Our study showed that S. baicalensis is potentially protective against LPS-induced liver injury in mice.