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Skin defects of the total nasal columella can significantly impact both nasal respiratory function and aesthetics. The reconstruction of total columella is a complex process and represents a significant challenge for plastic surgeons. Various factors can cause the loss of the columella. Numerous columella reconstruction procedures have been proposed, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The main issues to address include the need for regional flaps from the forehead or nasofacial sulcus, a long pedicle to reach the columella, and the double angular folding that causes a risk of malnutrition or venous congestion. Additionally, using horizontal nasolabial flaps may lead to deformation of the upper lip.

This study aims to make a plant expression vector with an RBD-T4-Linker-C5a sequence that codes for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen and an A3Dsp signal peptide from the rice 3D amylase gene located before the RBD. Methods of molecular cloning were applied in this study. The plant expression vector pNHL22 harboring the RBD-T4-Linker-C5a sequence was successfully established and conjugated into Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 by triparental mating. Bacteria A. tumefaciens containing the RBD-T4-Linker-C5a sequence are now ready for genetic transformation into the Nicotiana benthamiana plant for future applications.

Background: Facial nerve palsy is one of the most common complications in parotid gland surgery. This report evaluates the effectiveness of applying Tumescent solution for preserving the facial nerve in parotidectomy. Material and methods: Prospective and descriptive clinical study on 34 patients undergoing parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. Before skin incision, 5–10 min, we injected 100–200 ml of the Tumescent solution into the surgical area. We recorded the surgical method, tumor size, length of surgery, pathological results and facial nerve dysfunction. All patients were followed for a period ranging from 6 to 24 months. Results: There were 14 patients with malignant tumors and 20 patients with benign tumors. The length of surgery lasted from 90 to 180 min, with an average of 126.8 min. The number of patients having temporary facial paralysis was 22 cases (64.7%), recovery time ranged from 1 week to 6 months, and no permanent facial paralysis cases were recorded. The clinical occurrence of Frey's syndrome was five cases (14.7%). Conclusions: The application of Tumescent solution for preserving facial nerves in parotidectomy could minimize nerve injury and shorten the length of surgery.

Cryptotia is a rare congenital auricular deformity among Caucasians but more common in Asians. Various operative techniques have been described, such as skin graft, V-Y plasty, Z plasty, and islands skin flap. Among those techniques, V-Y plasty has many advantages and is indicated for severe cases. However, several problems remain when this method is adopted, such as conspicuous scars and lowered hairline. To overcome these problems, the authors have developed a new technique, multiple V-Y advancement modification, which stitches the skin flaps together to a tight, discrete central focal point. This technique has the advantage of hiding scars behind the earlobe, providing enough skin for the deformed areas, minimizing the condition of the hairline being lowered and auriculocephalic sulcus depth.

Coastal erosion and accretion along the Quang Nam coast in Vietnam have been increasing in recent years, causing negative impacts on the inhabitants and local ecology. The Cua Lo estuary in Nui Thanh district has a complex hydrodynamic regime owing to its connection with two estuaries and three different tributaries. Therefore, a detailed study of the mechanisms and processes of these phenomena is crucial to understand the potential impact of a proposed 50,000-ton cargo port. In this study, the Delft3D model is employed to evaluate the morpho-dynamic changes in the area of Cua Lo under monsoon wave climate, storm, and flood conditions both before and after port and navigation channel construction. Results indicate that in the absence of the port, tidal currents and waves during monsoon storms cause significant erosion on the south bank and accretion on the north bank. Furthermore, the GenCade model is utilized to predict the future shoreline changes after the construction of two jetties. The model reveals that after 50 years of operation, the shoreline modifications will extend 449 m towards the sea, in comparison to natural conditions. However, the design of the northern jetty will ensure safe and proper operation without impacting the navigation channel. This study offers valuable insights into the morphological changes in the Cua Lo area and their potential implications, which can aid in the development of sustainable coastal management strategies for the region.

Background: Peanut is a widely cultivated food crop of the legume family and is a major source of vegetable oil and protein in the global agricultural economy. However, the productivity of peanuts is severely affected by abiotic stress, particularly drought. Therefore, it is necessary to identify genes related to abiotic stress tolerance and analyze genetic diversity by SSR markers related to drought tolerance in peanut varieties. Methods: PCR amplification was used for the isolation of the DREB2C gene. The DREB2C gene sequence was analyzed using bioinformatic tools to identify functional domains, 3D modeling structures and other important characteristics. RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate the expression level of the DREB2C gene in the different tissues of peanut cultivars. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on SSR markers linked to drought tolerance to assess the genetic diversity among peanut cultivars. Result: The present study identified the DREB2C gene in peanut cultivar L14. The gene encodes a polypeptide chain of 492 amino acids lacking transmembrane domains and signal peptides and with a conserved domain (AP2/ERF) and DNA binding site. The 3D protein structure was predicted with high confidence using various tools. The gene expression was investigated in different tissues and at different growth and developmental stages, as well as in various cultivars. Based on SSR markers linked to drought tolerance, the study revealed that peanut cultivars in Vietnam exhibit a medium level of diversity. It may be suggested that crossbreeding between different groups may increase variability among crops, allowing the generation of dominant varieties with improved drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a member of the Coronaviridae family has become increasingly probelmatic in the pig farming industry. Currently, there are no effective, globally applicable vaccines against PEDV. Here, we tested a recombinant PEDV vaccine candidate based on the expression of the core neutralising epitope (COE) of PEDV conjugated to polymeric immunoglobulin G scaffold (PIGS) in glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The biological activity of COE-PIGS was demonstrated by binding to C1q component of the complement system, as well as the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in vitro. The recombinant COE-PIGS induced humoral and cellular immune responses specific for PEDV after both systemic and mucosal vaccination. Altogether, the data indicated that PEDV antigen fusion to poly-Fc could be a promising vaccine platform against respiratory PEDV infection.

The present work aims to establish an efficient protocol for in vitro regeneration of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivar L14. The study showed that de-embryonated cotyledon was a suitable explant for shoot multiplication on MS medium containing 4 mg/L BAP. The highest number of shoots per explant obtained after 4 weeks of culture was up to 6.8 shoots. Shoots in vitro were able to produce a large number of approximately 11 roots on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA. These results will be very useful in establishing an in vitro regeneration protocol for peanut cultivar L14 during gene transfer in the next studies to improve their disease resistance.

Background: Heavy metal contamination and related risks for the environment and human health are matters of increasing concern. Methods: The levels of 4 heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and As) were evaluated in 2 water types (surface and well), 4 types of seafood (tiger shrimp, stuffed snail, snake-head fish, and catfish), and 27 types of vegetables (12 leafy vegetables, 4 pea plants, 4 tuber vegetables, and 7 herbs) that are commonly consumed in northern coastal communes located in Vietnam. Atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for quantification. Results: The mean concentrations of heavy metals detected in water, seafood, and vegetable samples exceeded the national permitted standards and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation values by at least 2-fold, 2.5-fold, and 5-fold for surface water, vegetables, and well water, respectively. The concentrations of all 4 heavy metals detected in seafood samples were higher than the standards. The levels of heavy metals decreased with increasing distance between the sample collection point and the pollution source. Conclusions: This is the first report of heavy metal contamination of common sources of food and water in the northern coastal area of Vietnam. Significantly, the concentrations of heavy metals detected in study samples exceeded the regulatory limits. These results underscore the importance of continued monitoring and the development of intervention measures to ensure that the quality of food and water meets established standards and protects the health of the local population.

Tidal inlets along the central coast of Vietnam are located in a microtidal, wave-dominated coastal environment. In addition, the Vietnam coast is highly influenced by the seasonal monsoon regime, which is characterized by large northeast waves from October to March and calm southeast waves from April to September every year. Consequently, the tidal inlet entrance morphologies often suffer from a dynamic seasonal evolution due to distinct differences in the direction of wave-induced longshore sediment transport (LST) between the two monsoon seasons. The migration or closure of tidal inlets causes a lot of problems for socio-economic development in the region since these are the main reasons leading to an increase in the risk of coastal flooding and the obstruction of navigation. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the morphological evolutions of natural tidal inlets on the central coast of Vietnam using long-term remote sensing data sets and by the Delft3D numerical model. Surprisingly, the estimated LST rates from the former method are in an order of magnitude agreement with the results from the latter one for all of the areas in this study. Based on the conservation equation for sand and comprehensive data collection, a new simple empirical formula for predicting the sand spit elongation rate as a function of the sand spit width is developed. Although the breaching of sand spit might happen during an extreme flood event at some tidal inlets, the growth rate of the spit before and after the breaching is almost unchanged. These findings are very useful information for supporting the local coastal authorities to find better management solutions in terms of sustainable development.

We present a novel colorimetric aptasensing method for specific adenosine (Ade) detection based on complementary aptamer hybridization and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Unlike traditional approaches, our method overcomes limitations of selectivity and specificity by incorporating an additional step involving the complementary strand of the aptamer (c‐Ade aptamer) after incubating Ade with the aptamer. In the absence of Ade, the c‐Ade aptamer hybridizes with the aptamer, causing AuNPs aggregation and a blue color change. However, in the presence of Ade, the aptamer‐bound target prevents hybridization, allowing the free c‐Ade aptamer to adsorb onto the AuNPs, resulting in a red color change. This unique color reversal distinguishes our approach from conventional label‐free methods. We optimized the detection conditions, including incubation time and salt concentration, to enhance sensitivity and reproducibility. The calibration curve exhibited a linear relationship between the colorimetric response and Ade concentration, with a limit of detection of 3.0±0.8 nM. Our method demonstrated excellent selectivity for Ade, even in the presence of structurally similar interfering compounds. Furthermore, we successfully applied our approach to detect Ade in complex biological samples with minimal sample preparation. Our colorimetric aptasensing method offers a simple, cost‐effective, and specific tool for detecting targets in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical and subtropical areas, peanuts are a very important legume crop that is widely cultivated for food and cooking oil. They are, however, extremely susceptible to a wide range of phytopathogens, particularly soil-borne fungi, which result in low yields and poor seed quality. This study aimed to express three Trichoderma asperellum SH16 42 kDa chitinase-encoding genes in peanut to improve their resistance to some soil-borne fungi. Chi42 is a synthetic, intronless, wild-type gene, whereas syncodChi42-1 and syncodChi42-2 are peanut codon-optimized synthetic genes. These genes were introduced into a local peanut strain through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Analysis of the transgenic peanut lines showed that chitinase-specific activities from the syncodChi42-1 and syncodChi42-2 genes were approximately 1.2 and 1.4 times higher than those of the wild-type gene, respectively. The engineered peanut plants also exhibited antifungal activity against the soil-borne pathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. The transgenic peanut lines transformed with the two synthetic genes have stronger antifungal activities than those transformed with the wild-type version, suggesting that they could be used as novel peanut lines to combat phytopathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate how 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment affects appearance of plum fruit. Fruit of 'Angeleno' and 'Topend' cultivars were treated with 625 ppb gaseous 1-MCP at 1 °C for 24 h after harvest. Samples without treatment, called control, and those subjected to the treatment were stored at 1 °C for 8 weeks (Topend) and 10 weeks (Angeleno). The subgroup of initial samples and those withdrawn from cold storage were also measured after 7 d storage at 20 °C. According to measured parameters of ethylene, CO2 production, firmness, and total soluble solids content, there was a clear difference between 1-MCP- treated and control samples for both cultivars. Color attributes of hue angle and saturation changed significantly during storage, especially for flesh color measured on fruit cut in half. The comparison revealed that saturation responded more sensitively to changes. Firmness correlated significantly with color attributes, and flesh saturation reached the highest value of Pearson's correlation of r = 0.608 (p < 0.01) and Spearman's rank correlation of ρ = 0.636 (p < 0.01). The specific plum color was also evaluated with a normalized blue value, which obtained significant linear correlation with firmness (r = −0.7414, p < 0.001). There was significant difference between cultivars in terms of surface color and its correlation with firmness as Pearson's correlation obtained r = 0.833 (p < 0.001) for 'Topend' and r = 0.556 (p > 0.05) for 'Angeleno'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal erosion and accretion along the Quang Nam coast in Vietnam have been increasing in recent years, causing negative impacts on the inhabitants and local ecology. The Cua Lo estuary in Nui Thanh district has a complex hydrodynamic regime owing to its connection with two estuaries and three different tributaries. Therefore, a detailed study of the mechanisms and processes of these phenomena is crucial to understand the potential impact of a proposed 50,000-ton cargo port. In this study, the Delft3D model is employed to evaluate the morpho-dynamic changes in the area of Cua Lo under monsoon wave climate, storm, and flood conditions both before and after port and navigation channel construction. Results indicate that in the absence of the port, tidal currents and waves during monsoon storms cause significant erosion on the south bank and accretion on the north bank. Furthermore, the GenCade model is utilized to predict the future shoreline changes after the construction of two jetties. The model reveals that after 50 years of operation, the shoreline modifications will extend 449 m towards the sea, in comparison to natural conditions. However, the design of the northern jetty will ensure safe and proper operation without impacting the navigation channel. This study offers valuable insights into the morphological changes in the Cua Lo area and their potential implications, which can aid in the development of sustainable coastal management strategies for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic spread of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to the spleen is uncommon, only occurring in approximately 1% of cases. Atraumatic splenic rupture due to HCC metastasis is extremely rare and affects patient prognosis, clinical management, and mortality. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with a history of chronic hepatitis B infection who presented with left-sided abdominal pain and fatigue. Clinical examination showed acute anemia with elevated levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II). On ultrasound and computed tomography imaging, hemoperitoneum caused by a ruptured splenic tumor was revealed. In addition to multiple hepatic lesions, enlarged abdominal lymph nodes and osteolytic lesions in the thoracic vertebral bodies were detected. The patient underwent total splenectomy and was diagnosed histopathologically with splenic rupture secondary to Grade 2 HCC metastasis. Atraumatic, pathological splenic rupture due to HCC metastasis should be considered in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C infection and increasing serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels, even though splenic metastasis is uncommon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitinases are enzymes that catalyze the degradation of chitin, a major component of the cell walls of pathogenic fungi and cuticles of insects, gaining increasing attention for the control of fungal pathogens and insect pests. Production of recombinant chitinase in a suitable host can result in a more pure product with less processing time and a significantly larger yield than that produced by native microorganisms. The present study aimed to express the synthetic chi42 gene (syncodChi42), which was optimized from the chi42 gene of Trichoderma asperellum SH16, in Escherichia coli to produce 42 kDa chitinase (Ta-CHI42); then determined the activity of this enzyme, characterizations and in vitro antifungal activity as well as its immunogenicity in mice. The results showed that Ta-CHI42 was overexpressed in E. coli. Analysis of the colloidal chitin hydrolytic activity of purified Ta-CHI42 on an agar plate revealed that this enzyme was in a highly active form. This is a neutral chitinase with pH stability in a range of 6–8 and has an optimum temperature of 45°C with thermal stability in a range of 25–35°C. The chitinolytic activity of Ta-CHI42 was almost completely abolished by 5 mM Zn2+ or 1% SDS, whereas it remained about haft under the effect of 1 M urea, 1% Triton X-100 or 5 mM Cu2+. Except for ions such as Mn2+ and Ca2+ at 5 mM that have enhanced chitinolytic activity; 5 mM of Na+, Fe2+ or Mg2+ ions or 1 mM EDTA negatively impacted the enzyme. Ta-CHI42 at 60 U/mL concentration strongly inhibited the growth of the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. Analysis of western blot indicated that the polyclonal antibody against Ta-CHI42 was greatly produced in mice. It can be used to analyze the expression of the syncodChi42 gene in transgenic plants, through immunoblotting assays, for resistance to pathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal durations of sleep have been associated with risk of diabetes. However, it is not clear if sleep duration is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 1,231 (Malay, n = 395; Indian, n = 836) adults (mean age 64.4 ± 9.0 years, 50.4% female) with diabetes from the second visit of two independent population-based cohort studies (2011–15) in Singapore. Self-reported habitual sleep duration was categorized as short (<6 h), normal (6≤ h <8), and long (≥8 h). Questionnaires were administered to detect risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia, all of which may indicate poor quality of sleep. The associations between sleep-related characteristics with moderate DR and vision-threatening DR (VTDR) were analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Prevalence of moderate DR and VTDR in the study population were 10.5% and 6.3% respectively. The mean duration of sleep was 6.4 ± 1.5 h. Compared to normal sleep duration, both short and long sleep durations were associated with moderate DR with multivariable odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.73 (1.03–2.89) and 2.17 (1.28–3.66) respectively. Long sleep duration (2.37 [1.16–4.89]), high risk of OSA (2.24 [1.09–4.75]), and excessive daytime sleepiness (3.27 [1.02–10.30]) were separately associated with VTDR. Conclusion: Sleep duration had a U-shaped association with moderate DR; long sleep duration, excessive daytime sleepiness and high risk of OSA were positively associated with VTDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apricot is a popular fruit in the world with rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and elements as well as has high antioxidant capacity. In this study, fermentation of this juice by mono- and mixed cultures was investigated. All tested strains exhibited good growth properties on apricot juice without any nutrient supplementation. In monoculture fermentation, 7.2, 7.25, 7.06 and 7.16 log (cfu/mL h) cell yields were observed for Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12, Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46, Lactobacillus casei 01 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 strains, respectively, and higher cell yields were obtained in the mixed culture fermentation. The antioxidant capacity increased slightly during fermentation. The concentration of acetic acid (27-48 mM) were about doubled in cases of the mixed culture fermentations than of monoculture fermentations (18-30 mM), while the levels of lactic acid were similar (70-90 mM). The relatively high values of these properties offer the potential for development of novel probiotic apricot juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) causes mortality in numerous marine and freshwater fish species resulting in heavy losses in fish farming. The glycoprotein gene of VHSV was fused with the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and expressed transiently in leaf tissues of Nicotiana benthamiana via the agroinfiltration method. The glycoprotein gene was divided into two parts to improve assembly of CTB fusion proteins (CTB-VHSV 99-235 and CTB-VHSV 258-417 ). Production of CTB fusion proteins was confirmed in the agroinfiltrated leaf tissue by western blot analysis. The plant-produced CTB fusion proteins showed biological activity to G M1 -ganglioside, a receptor for biologically active CTB, on G M1 -ELISA. The expression level of the CTB-VHSV fusion proteins was 0.86% (CTB-VHSV 99-235 ) and 0.93% (CTB-VHSV 258-417 ) of total proteins in agroinfiltrated leaf tissue, as determined by G M1 -ELISA. These results suggest that Agrobacterium -mediated transient expression of CTB fusion antigens of VHSV is a rapid and convenient method and demonstrate the feasibility of using agroinfiltrated plant leaf tissues expressing CTB-fusion antigens as a plant-based vaccine to prevent VHSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) belongs to the Coronaviridae family and causes acute enteritis in pigs. A fragment of the large spike glycoprotein, termed the S1D epitope (aa 636-789), alone and fused with cholera toxin B subunit, were independently cloned into plant expression vectors, yielding plasmids pMYV717 and pMYV719, respectively. Plant expression vectors were transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens and subsequently infiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The highest expression level of S1D was found at 2 days post infiltration (dpi), reached 0.04 % of total soluble protein, and rapidly decreased thereafter. The expression and assembly of CTB-S1D fusion protein were confirmed by Western blot and G-ELISA. The highest expression level of CTB-S1D fusion protein was 0.07 % of TSP at 4 dpi, with a rapid decrease thereafter. In the presence of p19 protein from tomato bushy stunt virus, the S1D and CTB-S1D protein levels peaked at 6 dpi and were fourfold to sevenfold higher than in the absence of p19, respectively. After oral administration of transiently expressed CTB-S1D fusion protein, or with bacterial cholera toxin or rice callus expressing mutant cholera toxin 61F, mice exhibited significantly greater serum IgG and sIgA levels against bacterial CTB and S1D antigen, peaking at week 6. Transiently expressed CTB-S1D fusion protein will be administered orally to pigs to assess the immune response against PEDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gene encoding the B subunit of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) was adapted to the optimized plant coding sequence, and fused to the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal SEKDEL in order to enhance its expression level and protein assembly in plants. The synthetic LTB (sLTB) gene was placed into a plant expression vector under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, and subsequently introduced into the watercress ( Nasturtium officinale L .) plant by the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. The integration of the sLTB gene into the genomic DNA of transgenic plants was confirmed by genomic DNA PCR amplification. The assembly of plant-produced LTB protein was detected by western blot analysis. The highest amount of LTB protein produced in transgenic watercress leaf tissue was approximately 1.3% of the total soluble plant protein. G-ganglioside enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that plant-synthesized LTB protein bound specifically to G-ganglioside, which is the receptor for biologically active LTB on the cell surface, suggesting that the plant-synthesized LTB subunits formed biologically active pentamers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a member of the Coronaviridae family has become increasingly probelmatic in the pig farming industry. Currently, there are no effective, globally applicable vaccines against PEDV. Here, we tested a recombinant PEDV vaccine candidate based on the expression of the core neutralising epitope (COE) of PEDV conjugated to polymeric immunoglobulin G scaffold (PIGS) in glycoengineered Nicotiana be nthamiana plants. The biological activity of COE-PIGS was demonstrated by binding to C1q component of the complement system, as well as the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in vitro. The recombinant COE-PIGS induced humoral and cellular immune responses specific for PEDV after both systemic and mucosal vaccination. Altogether, the data indicated that PEDV antigen fusion to poly-Fc could be a promising vaccine platform against respiratory PEDV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rates of mosquito-transmitted dengue virus infection in humans have increased in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Domain III of dengue envelope protein (EDIII) is involved in cellular receptor binding and induces serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies. EDIII fused to the B subunit of Vibrio cholera (CTB–EDIII) was expressed in potatoes to develop a plant-based vaccine against dengue virus type 2. CTB–EDIII fused to an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal, SEKDEL, was introduced into potatoes by A. tumefaciens -mediated gene transformation. The integration of the CTB–EDIII fusion gene into the nuclear genome of transgenic plants was confirmed by genomic DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and mRNA transcripts of CTB–EDIII were detected. CTB–EDIII fusion protein was expressed in potato tubers and assembled into a pentameric form capable of binding monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1). The level of expression was determined to be ∼0.005% of total soluble protein in potato tubers. These results suggest that dengue virus antigen could be produced in potatoes, raising the possibility that edible plants are employed in mucosal vaccines for protection against dengue infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probiotics are extremely sensitive to various environmental factors, which imposes limitation on their health and functional effectiveness. Thus, development of delivery system for protection of viable cells while passing through different stages of the human digestion system is key factor in application of probiotic products. In our study, the effects of several polysaccharides such as alginate, κ-carrageenan, locust bean gum, gellan gum, xanthan gum and their combination with various prebiotic components (resistant starch, lactulose, lactosucrose) on encapsulation of probiotic Lactobacillus casei 01 strain were studied. Both regular and unregular beads with size distributions from 2 mm up to 5 mm were obtained. The encapsulation efficiencies varied from 64.4% up to 79%. Based on the texture's profiles, the capsules can be grouped into 5 clusters with squared Euclidean distance 3.5. Meanwhile, the starch-alginate and the lactosucrose LS55L – alginate beads were found to be the most stable and to have massive textural properties, whereas the gellan gum – xanthan gum and the chitosan coated alginate beads emerged as the softest. Encapsulation significantly improved the degree of gastric tolerance of probiotic cells even in the presence of pepsin. The INFOGEST in vitro digestion protocol was adapted to investigate the protection effects of different capsules. The highest survival (with loss rate of lower than 1 log CFU/g) was observed in the case of the cells encapsulated in starch-alginate beads. Moreover, the alginate microcapsules combined with lactosucrose LS55L also provided very promising shield for probiotics from the low pH of gastric conditions. Our findings suggest that incorporation of prebiotics into alginate-base encapsulation would be good idea in development of micro delivery systems that helps the survival of probiotics and their delivery to the target sites of action in human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare disease associated with metabolic disorders and alcoholism. In this report, we describe the clinical outcome and surgical protocol for eight men with Madelung collar who underwent treatment in a craniofacial and plastic surgery facility in Hanoi, Vietnam, between May 2018 and December 2020. We discuss the patients' clinical symptoms, subclinical signs, epidemiology, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, surgical protocol, complications, and postoperative indicators that we collected and evaluated. Each patient underwent surgery in two stages (i.e., in supine and prone positions). We injected a tumescent solution 10 min before the incision. Two surgeons performed each operation simultaneously. After surgery, we followed the patients for 6-27 months. All of the patients had a history of long-time alcohol abuse and had associated comorbidities that included liver disease, blood disorders, restricted neck movement, and orthopnea. We did not have to open the trachea or transfuse blood during any of the surgical procedures. Postoperatively, all patients were satisfied with their functional results and aesthetic appearance. One patient experienced a recurrence of his MSL. We believe our surgical protocol provides optimal results for patients with MSL and Madelung collar., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses. All rights reserved.)

Background: Access to psychiatric care for people who inject drugs (PWID) is limited/absent and stigmatized in most low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Innovative interventions are needed. We aimed to describe and assess the impact of a community-based psychiatric intervention among PWID in Hai Phong, Vietnam., Methods: In a cohort study with one year psychiatric follow-up, PWID diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, a major depressive episode, or suicide risk, were recruited from the wider Drug-Related Infections in ViEtnam (DRIVE) project in the city of Hai Phong. The community-based psychiatric intervention included specialized follow-up (free consultations with psychiatrists, free medication, referral to mental health department for hospitalization when necessary) and support from community-based organisations (case management, harm reduction, administrative support, linkage to HIV care, methadone maintenance treatment and mental health support). The main outcome was reduction/remission of symptoms. Access to and retention in psychiatric care, quality-of-life and stigmatization were also measured pre and post-intervention., Findings: Among the 1212 participants screened from March to May 2019, 271 met the inclusion criteria, 233 (86.3%) accepted the intervention and 170 completed the follow-up (72.9%). At inclusion, 80.6% were diagnosed with current depression, 44.7% with psychotic disorder and 42.4% with suicide risk. After a one-year follow-up, these proportions dropped to 15.9%, 21.8%, and 22.9% respectively. Quality-of-life and perceived stigma related to mental health were also significantly improved, while drug use decreased only marginally., Interpretation: Community-based psychiatric interventions are both feasible and efficient in the Vietnamese context. Similar interventions should be implemented and evaluated in other, different LMICs., Funding: : This work was supported by grants from NIDA (US) (#DA041978) and ANRS (France) (#13353). The funding agencies had no role in designing the research, data analyses, or preparation of the report., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate Choroidal Vascularity Index (CVI) of Haller's and Sattler's layers and their relationships with choroidal and retinal thickness, volumes measured on enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in the eyes of patients without diabetes, patients with diabetes with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) and patients with diabetes and DR., Research Design and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 165 eyes from 84 Singapore Indian Eye Study-2 study participants (group 1: no diabetes, group 2: diabetes with no DR and group 3: with DR). Groups 1 and 2 were matched by age and gender from group 3., Results: In the eyes of patients with diabetes without DR, the macular CVI of Haller's but not Sattler's layer was significantly reduced compared with eyes of patients without diabetes. Eyes with >5 years of diabetes have significantly decreased CVI of Sattler's layers (mean difference=0.06 ± 0.10, p=0.04) and also decreased subfoveal choroidal volume (mean difference=0.89 ± 0.16 mm 3 , p=0.02), compared with those with ≤5 years of diabetes., Conclusion: Diabetic eyes without DR had significantly lower CVI of macular Haller's layer than those of healthy controls. With a longer duration of diabetes, CVI of subfoveal Sattler's layer and choroidal volume continue to decrease, irrespective of diabetic control, suggesting that early diabetic choroidopathy mainly affects larger choroidal veins initially before medium-sized arterioles. The CVI of macular Haller's layer could potentially be used as a marker on spectral domain OCT imaging in newly diagnosed patients with diabetes for the onset of DR and as a possible prognostication tool in diabetic eyes. Future prospective longitudinal studies in diabetic eyes would be useful in establishing the relationship between CVIs of Haller's and Sattler's layer with visual acuity as a marker of photoreceptor health and visual prognosis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Apricot is a popular fruit in the world with rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and elements as well as has high antioxidant capacity. In this study, fermentation of this juice by mono- and mixed cultures was investigated. All tested strains exhibited good growth properties on apricot juice without any nutrient supplementation. In monoculture fermentation, 7.2, 7.25, 7.06 and 7.16 log (cfu/mL h) cell yields were observed for Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12, Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46, Lactobacillus casei 01 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 strains, respectively, and higher cell yields were obtained in the mixed culture fermentation. The antioxidant capacity increased slightly during fermentation. The concentration of acetic acid (27-48 mM) were about doubled in cases of the mixed culture fermentations than of monoculture fermentations (18-30 mM), while the levels of lactic acid were similar (70-90 mM). The relatively high values of these properties offer the potential for development of novel probiotic apricot juice., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standardsAuthors declare that they have not any conflicts of interest.

Purpose: To develop a fitness tracker (FitSight) to encourage children to increase time spent outdoors. To evaluate the wear pattern for this tracker and outdoor time pattern by estimating light illumination levels among children., Methods: The development of the FitSight fitness tracker involved the designing of two components: (1) the smartwatch with custom-made FitSight watch application (app) to log the instant light illuminance levels the wearer is exposed to, and (2) a companion smartphone app that synchronizes the time outdoors recorded by the smartwatch to smartphone via Bluetooth communication. Smartwatch wear patterns and tracker-recorded daily light illuminance levels data were gathered over 7 days from 23 Singapore children (mean ± standard deviation age: 9.2 ± 1.4 years). Feedback about the tracker was obtained from 14 parents using a three-level rating scale: very poor/poor/good., Results: Of the 14 parents, 93% rated the complete "FitSight fitness tracker" as good and 64% rated its wearability as good. While 61% of 23 children wore the watch on all study days (i.e., 0 nonwear days), 26% had 1 nonwear day, and 4.5% children each had 3, 4, and 5 nonwear days, respectively. On average, children spent approximately 1 hour in light levels greater than 1000 lux on weekdays and 1.3 hours on weekends (60 ± 46 vs. 79 ± 53 minutes, P = 0.19). Mean number of outdoor "spurts" (light illuminance levels >1000 lux) per day was 8 ± 3 spurts with spurt duration of 34 ± 32 minutes., Conclusion: The FitSight tracker with its novel features may motivate children to increase time outdoors and play an important role in supplementing community outdoor programs to prevent myopia., Translational Relevance: If the developed noninvasive, wearable, smartwatch-based fitness tracker, FitSight, promotes daytime outdoor activity among children, it will be beneficial in addressing the epidemic of myopia.