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Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has different features depending on different geographic areas. We collected Mtb strains from patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Using a whole genome sequencing platform, including genome assembly complemented by long-read-sequencing data, genomic characteristics were studied. Of 181 Mtb isolates, predominant Vietnamese EAI4_VNM and EAI4-like spoligotypes (31.5%), ZERO strains (5.0%), and part of EAI5 (11.1%) were included in a lineage-1 (L1) sublineage, i.e., L1.1.1.1. These strains were found less often in younger people, and they genetically clustered less frequently than other modern strains. Patients infected with ZERO strains demonstrated less lung infiltration. A region in RD2bcg spanning six loci, i.e., PE_PGRS35 , cfp21 , Rv1985c, Rv1986, Rv1987, and erm(37) , was deleted in EAI4_VNM, EAI4-like, and ZERO strains, whereas another 118 bp deletion in furA was specific only to ZERO strains. L1.1.1.1-sublineage-specific deletions in PE_PGRS4 and PE_PGRS22 were also identified. RD900, seen in ancestral lineages, was present in majority of the L1 members. All strains without IS 6110 (5.0%) had the ZERO spoligo-pattern. Distinctive features of the ancestral L1 strains provide a basis for investigation of the modern versus ancestral Mtb lineages and allow consideration of countermeasures against this heterogeneous pathogen.

For effective management of water quantity and quality, it is absolutely essential to estimate the pollution level of the existing surface water. This case study aims to evaluate the performance of twelve machine learning (ML) models, including five boosting-based algorithms (adaptive boosting, gradient boosting, histogram-based gradient boosting, light gradient boosting, and extreme gradient boosting), three decision tree-based algorithms (decision tree, extra trees, and random forest), and four ANN-based algorithms (multilayer perceptron, radial basis function, deep feed-forward neural network, and convolutional neural network), in estimating the surface water quality of the La Buong River in Vietnam. Water quality data at four monitoring stations alongside the La Buong River for the period 2010–2017 were utilized to calculate the water quality index (WQI). Prediction performance of the ML models was evaluated by using two efficiency statistics (i.e., R2 and RMSE). The results indicated that all twelve ML models have good performance in predicting the WQI but that extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) has the best performance with the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.989 and RMSE = 0.107). The findings strengthen the argument that ML models, especially XGBoost, may be employed for WQI prediction with a high level of accuracy, which will further improve water quality management.

The positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been demonstrated for plant biomass, and zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) uptake, under soil nutrient deficiency. Additionally, a number of Zn and P transporter genes are affected by mycorrhizal colonisation or implicated in the mycorrhizal pathway of uptake. However, a comprehensive study of plant physiology and gene expression simultaneously, remains to be undertaken. Medicago truncatula was grown at different soil P and Zn availabilities, with or without inoculation of Rhizophagus irregularis . Measures of biomass, shoot elemental concentrations, mycorrhizal colonisation, and expression of Zn transporter ( ZIP ) and phosphate transporter ( PT ) genes in the roots, were taken. Mycorrhizal plants had a greater tolerance of both P and Zn soil deficiency; there was also evidence of AMF protecting plants against excessive Zn accumulation at high soil Zn. The expression of all PT genes was interactive with both P availability and mycorrhizal colonisation. MtZIP5 expression was induced both by AMF and soil Zn deficiency, while MtZIP2 was down-regulated in mycorrhizal plants, and up-regulated with increasing soil Zn concentration. These findings provide the first comprehensive physiological and molecular picture of plant-mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis with regard to soil P and Zn availability. Mycorrhizal fungi conferred tolerance to soil Zn and P deficiency and this could be linked to the induction of the ZIP transporter gene MtZIP5 , and the PT gene MtPT4 .

Background Dementia is a global public health priority. The World Health Organization adopted a Global Action Plan on Dementia, with dementia awareness a priority. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and self-confidence with skills required for providing dementia care among primary health care providers in Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 primary health care providers who worked at commune health stations and district health centers in eight provinces across Vietnam. Results The results showed that primary health care providers had poor knowledge and little confidence but more positive attitudes toward dementia care and management. Conclusions The results suggest the training needs for building capacity amongst primary health care providers, which will be critical as Vietnam’s population ages.

Hemorrhagic disease in Pangasius ( Pangasianodon hypophthalmus ) poses a significant challenge to intensive aquaculture, leading to economic losses and reduced productivity. This study aimed to identify pathogenic bacteria associated with the disease and select beneficial bacterial strains with strong antagonistic potential for sustainable disease management. Through isolation and characterization, Kurthia gibsonii was identified as a novel pathogen causing hemorrhagic disease in pangasius, confirmed using infection experiments and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Additionally, 14 bacterial strains were isolated from sediment and fish gut samples, of which eight exhibited inhibitory activity against K. gibsonii . Among these, two strains, Bacillus velezensis (A2A) and Bacillus subtilis (CL2.1), demonstrated the highest inhibitory effects, with inhibition zone diameters of 10.8 mm and 10.5 mm, respectively. These strains were identified through MALDI-TOF analysis and comparison with the NCBI database. The findings highlight the potential of Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus subtilis as biocontrol agents in mitigating hemorrhagic disease in pangasius, offering a sustainable alternative to antibiotics.

Based on the positions of 1027 typhoons that passed through the Western Pacific (WP), East China Sea (ECS), and South China Sea (SCS), the results indicate that the category of marine heatwaves (MHWs) significantly decreases or dissipates after a typhoon’s passage, with stronger typhoons causing more pronounced dissipation. The presence of MHWs does not necessarily enhance typhoon intensity; in as many as 151 cases, typhoons weakened despite the presence of MHWs. Furthermore, case studies were conducted using three typhoons that traversed different regions—Hinnamnor (2022), Mawar (2023), and Koinu (2023)—to investigate the dual effects of MHWs on typhoon intensity and their dissipation using satellite observations and ocean reanalysis datasets. Results show that MHWs enhance typhoon intensity by increasing sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean heat content (OHC), while also strengthening stratification through a shallower mixed layer depth (MLD), creating favorable conditions for intensification. While MHWs may initially enhance typhoon intensity, the passage of a typhoon triggers intense vertical mixing and upwelling, which disrupts MHW structures and alters heat distribution, potentially leading to intensity fluctuations. The impact of MHWs on typhoon intensity varies in time and space, MHWs can sustain typhoon strength despite heat loss induced by the typhoon. Additionally, variations in OHC and the mean upper 100 m temperature (T100¯) were more pronounced in the inner-core region (R50) than in the outer-core region (R30), indicating that energy exchange is concentrated in the inner core, while broader air–sea interactions occur in the outer core. The results show that MHWs can enhance typhoon development by increasing stratification and SST but are also highly susceptible to rapid dissipation due to typhoon-induced impacts, forming a highly dynamic two-way interaction.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine doctors’ level of adherence to the natriuretic peptide testing guideline and to identify the factors influencing their adherence.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingWeb-based survey.ParticipantsFull-time doctors involved in heart failure (HF) treatment in Vietnam.Primary and secondary outcome measuresDoctors using natriuretic peptide testing for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment assessment and prognosis of patients with HF were classified as adhering to the guidelines. We assessed the practice of natriuretic peptide testing and stratified the doctors based on their professional qualifications. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (ORs) and 95% CIs for associations between guideline adherence and selected covariates.ResultsOver half of the participants adhered to the natriuretic peptide testing guidelines (57.4%). Cardiologists adhered more closely to the guidelines than other professionals; they had approximately four times higher odds of adherence than other doctors (univariate model, OR: 3.88, 95% CI: 2.56 to 5.89, p<0.001; multivariate model, OR: 4.24, 95% CI: 2.64 to 6.82, p<0.001). Cardiologists also had significantly higher rates of using natriuretic peptide testing for diagnosis (93.8% vs 84.1%, p<0.002), differential diagnosis (71.4% vs 53.5%, p<0.001), treatment assessment (87% vs 64.2%, p<0.001) and prognosis (68.2% vs 50.4%, p<0.001) than other professionals. More years of professional experience correlated with higher guideline adherence (<2 years was used as a reference point; >5 to <10 years, OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.45 to 4.60, p<0.001; ≥10 years, OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.30 to 4.09, p<0.004).ConclusionThe level of adherence to natriuretic peptide testing guidelines among doctors treating patients with HF varies across Vietnam. Targeted interventions are needed to enhance understanding and proficiency, especially among non-cardiologists and those with limited experience. A dedicated fact sheet focusing on natriuretic peptide testing in HF management, separate from the existing guidelines, could bridge this gap.

INTRODUCTION: Vietnam is among the countries with the highest smoking prevalence among male adults, as well as high prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure at indoor places. In many countries, including Vietnam, exposure to tobacco smoking is greatest in restaurants/bars and hotels. This study aims to analyze the compliance of hotels and restaurants to smoke-free environment regulations before and after an intervention. METHODS: Direct observations were done at the receptions, conference rooms, designated smoking areas, restaurants, and lobbies of 140 hotels and the dining rooms, kitchens, and toilets of 160 restaurants before and after an intervention. The intervention was a training course conducted by police officers followed by 3 monthly supervision visits by police officers. Compliance with smoke-free enviornment regulations was observed and assessed to generate a compliance score for each location and overall. Tobit regression was used to examine the relationship between compliance scores and the intervention and other variables such as hotel and restaurant characteristics. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the highest compliance rates were found for “no tobacco advertisement” and “no cigarette selling” regulations (95%-100%) in almost all sites in hotels and restaurants. The lowest compliance rates were found for “having nonsmoking signs.” The rate of compliance with all regulations was only 5% for hotels and 0.06% of restaurants. Improvement after intervention was clearly observed, in the rate of compliance with all regulations by more hotels (15.7%) and overall compliance scores of hotels and restaurants. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention with participation of the police officers proved to be effective in improving compliance with smoke-free regulations. It is recommended to continue this intervention in the same areas as well as to expand the intervention to other areas.

Culinary experiences can be seen as one of the initial impressions of a destination for tourists and a significant factor in their decision-making process. It serves as an effective marketing tool for shaping the destination’s image. This study explores the causal relationships between street food experiences, particularly those related to local culinary culture, with destination image, satisfaction, and future behavior of tourists. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 412 domestic tourists who had experienced street food in Da Lat, a renowned destination in Vietnam. The empirical evidence affirms that when tourists have positive street food experiences, their perception of the destination image is also positive, leading to higher satisfaction, positive word-of-mouth behavior, and a higher likelihood of returning to the destination. The results also emphasize the importance of cultural consumption value in the street food experience through distinctive characteristics. Based on these findings, the study also proposes further research directions and managerial implications for local authorities and businesses aiming to highlight the cultural and emotional aspects of street food experiences, thereby enhancing the destination image in visitors’ eyes.

Mucopolysaccharidosis is a group of rare metabolic disorders characterized by a deficiency of enzymes in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. The incomplete degradation process leads to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in lysosomes of various tissues, which interferes with cell function. We report three cases that were classified as Hurler—Mucopolysaccharidosis I, Morquio—Mucopolysaccharidosis IV A, and Maroteaux–Lamy—Mucopolysaccharidosis VI. Clinical presentations of these cases vary, depending on each type of enzyme defect. All the patients appeared healthy at birth, and symptoms appear at around 1 or 2 years. Clinical features, radiological findings, and especially enzyme assays have allowed us to establish a definitive diagnosis in these cases. These cases highlight that abnormal clinical symptoms, such as growth failure, coarse facial features, and joint problems, are key points for further investigation relating to mucopolysaccharidosis disease. However, in low- and middle-income countries, it is difficult to have a definitive diagnosis of one of the mucopolysaccharidoses due to lacking enzyme assays.