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Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that is being increasingly recognized as an etiological agent of human rickettsial disease globally. The agent is transmitted through the bite of an infected vector, the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis , however there is to date, no consensus on the pathogen’s vertebrate reservoir, required for the maintenance of this agent in nature. This study for the first time, demonstrates the role of the domestic dog ( Canis familiaris ) as a vertebrate reservoir of R. felis . The ability of dogs to sustain prolonged periods of rickettsemia, ability to remain asymptomatically infected with normal haematological parameters and ability to act as biological vehicles for the horizontal transmission of R. felis between infected and uninfected fleas provides indication of their status as a mammalian reservoir of this emerging zoonosis.

Air pollution-related particulate matter (PM) exposure reportedly enhances allergic airway inflammation. Some studies have shown an association between PM exposure and a risk for allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the effect of PM for AR is not fully understood. An AR mouse model was developed by intranasal administration of 100 μg/mouse PM with a less than or equal to 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) solution, and then by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) with alum and intranasal challenging with 10 mg/mL OVA. The effects of PM2.5 on oxidative stress and inflammatory response via the Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice with or without AR indicating by histological, serum, and protein analyses were examined. PM2.5 administration enhanced allergic inflammatory cell expression in the nasal mucosa through increasing the expression of inflammatory cytokine and reducing the release of Treg cytokine in OVA-induced AR mice, although PM2.5 exposure itself induced neither allergic responses nor damage to nasal and lung tissues. Notably, repeated OVA-immunization markedly impaired the nasal mucosa in the septum region. Moreover, AR with PM2.5 exposure reinforced this impairment in OVA-induced AR mice. Long-term PM2.5 exposure strengthened allergic reactions by inducing the oxidative through malondialdehyde production. The present study also provided evidence, for the first time, that activity of the Nrf2 signaling pathway is inhibited in PM2.5 exposed AR mice. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure increased the histopathological changes of nasal and lung tissues and related the inflammatory cytokine, and clearly enhanced PM2.5 phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages via activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. These obtained results suggest that AR patients may experience exacerbation of allergic responses in areas with prolonged PM2.5 exposure.

IntroductionImplementation of low-intensity, evidence-based psychological interventions can help meet the mental health and psychosocial needs of people with cancer, especially in low-resource settings where there is a dearth of mental health specialists. In this study, we will conduct a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the stress management intervention Self-Help Plus, which has been translated and adapted to Vietnamese, vSH+, among people newly diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancer in Viet Nam.Methods and analysisAt six participating hospitals, individuals diagnosed with breast or gynaecologic cancer within the past year will be recruited, consented and randomised into either enhanced usual care (EUC) or EUC plus the vSH+ intervention, which consists of four sessions each lasting approximately 75 min. Quantitative surveys will be administered at three time points: enrolment/baseline (T0), after 6 weeks (T1) and after 4 months (T2). A qualitative evaluation component, which will include in-depth interviews with patients, implementers and healthcare staff and managers, as well as focus group discussions with caregivers, will assess the acceptability and feasibility of the vSH+ intervention.Ethics and disseminationEthical reviews for the study were obtained from Boston University, Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH) and all the participating hospital sites. On completion of data collection and analyses, the research team will prepare and submit abstracts to scientific conferences as well as manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals. We will also conduct dissemination events to report the trial results to relevant stakeholders.Trial registration numberNCT06398067.

Background Vaginal candidiasis is frequent in women of reproductive age. Accurate identification Candida provides helpful information for successful therapy and epidemiology study; however, there are very limited data from the Vietnam have been reported. This study was performed to determine the prevalence, species distribution of yeast causing vaginal discharge and antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida albicans among symptomatic non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Methods Vaginal discharge samples were collected from 462 women of reproductive age in Hanoi, Vietnam between Sep 2019 and Oct 2020. Vaginal swabs from these patients were examined by direct microscopic examination (10% KOH). CHROMagar™ Candida medium and Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.5 g/l) were used to isolate yeast, and species identification was performed using morphological tests and molecular tools (PCR and sequencing). Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (M27-A3 and M27-S4). Results The prevalence of vaginal yeast colonization in non-pregnant women was 51.3% of 462 participants. Nine different yeast species were identified. Among these isolates, C. albicans (51.37%) was the most frequent, followed by C. parapsilosis (25.88%), C. glabrata (11.37%), C. tropicalis (4.31%), C. krusei (3.92%), C. africana (1.57%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (0.78%), C. nivariensis (1 isolates, 0.39%), and C. lusitaniae (1 isolates, 0.39%), respectively. Among C. albicans, all 46 isolates were 100% susceptible to micafungin, caspofungin, and miconazole. The susceptibility rates to amphotericine B, 5-flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole were 95.65, 91.30, 91.30, 82.61 and 86.95%, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of VVC among symptomatic non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Vietnam was higher than many parts of the world. The high frequency of non- albicans Candida species, which were often more resistant to antifungal agents, was a notable feature. Resistance rates of vaginal C. albicans isolates to antifungal agents was low. Our findings suggest that continued surveillance of changes in species distribution and susceptibility to antifungals should be routinely screened and treated.

Mangiferin (MF), extracted from mango trees, is considered to have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects. However, its effects on allergic rhinitis (AR), remain unclear. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the protective action of MF in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR models. AR was induced by OVA challenge in BALB/c mice. Prior to this, MF and dexamethasone were administered. Mice were examined for nasal mucosal inflammation, the generation of allergen-specific cytokine response, and histopathological changes in the nasal mucosa and lung tissue. MF ameliorated nasal symptoms and nasal mucosa inflammation in OVA-induced AR and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial disruption in these tissues. MF inhibited the overproduction of Th2/Th17 cytokines and transcription factors. MF downregulated the HO-1/Nrf2 pathways, reduced oxidative stress biomarker levels, and the NF-κB signaling pathways were inhibited. MF exerts protective effects in AR by inhibiting NF-κB and activating HO-1/Nrf2 pathways. MF could be used for the treatment of AR.

Diabetes mellitus is a major global health concern associated with severe metabolic and cardiovascular complications. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Oxalis corniculata L. aerial parts, with a focus on α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, using a combination of in vitro assays and in silico analyses. Among the tested fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity against both enzymes, with IC50 values of 0.097 and 0.015 mg/mL for α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively, surpassing those of the reference drug, acarbose. This fraction also demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 0.025 and 0.020 mg/mL in DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms beyond digestive enzyme inhibition, bioactive constituents were screened and evaluated using network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations confirmed stable and energetically favorable interactions with α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the antidiabetic effects of O. corniculata involve modulation of insulin resistance-related pathways, particularly PI3K/Akt signaling, GLUT4 translocation, and inflammation-associated targets, alongside regulation of oxidative stress through redox-related enzymes. Complementary DFT analysis provided molecular-level insights into the antioxidant mechanisms, highlighting favorable electronic properties that support efficient radical scavenging. Overall, this integrated experimental–computational study provided valuable evidence of O. corniculata aerial parts as a promising multi-target phytotherapeutic candidate for diabetes management, extending its therapeutic relevance beyond α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition.

Fructus Amomi Cardamomi (FA) is the mature fruit of Amomum villosum Lour (family Zingiberaceae) and is commonly used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. FA’s possible benefits as an allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment, however, have not been examined. We used an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model to identify any anti-allergic effects associated with the administration of 200 mg/kg FA or dexamethasone (Dex) 2.5 mg/kg by oral administration. The results of our testing confirm that FA ameliorated nasal symptoms and alleviated nasal epithelium swelling, reduced the goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophil cell infiltration in the nasal epithelium, and inhibited lung tissue inflammation and Dex as well. Significantly decreased Th2 cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, and IL-5) expression, and a correspondingly significant increase in Th1 cytokine (IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ) production, was observed in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) taken from mice that received FA or Dex treatment. FA also reduced the presence of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, OVA-specific IgG1, and histamine levels in serum, and inhibited mast cell degranulation in vitro. In addition, these effects were involved with the reduction in NF-κB phosphorylation. These results suggest that FA restores Th1/Th2 balance and inhibits NF-κB phosphorylation and mast cell degranulation, thereby achieving a notable anti-inflammatory effect. Accordingly, it has the potential to be used as an efficacious therapeutic treatment for AR.

Introduction For patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) who are HER2-negative and ineligible for targeted therapies, chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment. The modified docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (mDCF) regimen has been proposed as an effective and tolerable triplet regimen in this setting. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line mDCF in Vietnamese patients with HER2-negative AGC. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 64 patients with histologically confirmed HER2-negative advanced or recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma treated with mDCF at K Hospital, Vietnam, between January 2017 and January 2022. The regimen was administered every 14 days, consisting of docetaxel 40 mg/m2, cisplatin 40 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 IV bolus, and 5-FU 2000 mg/m2 as a 48-hour continuous infusion. The primary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Safety was assessed as a secondary endpoint. Results The overall DCR was 87.5%, including complete response in 9.4%, partial response in 59.4%, and stable disease in 18.7%. Median PFS was 8.7 months. Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities occurred in 21.9% of patients, including neutropenia (15.6%) and thrombocytopenia (3.1%). No grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicities were observed. Primary prophylactic G-CSF use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia (P < .05). In multivariate analysis, poor ECOG performance status (≥2) and poor histological differentiation were independently associated with shorter PFS (P < .05). Conclusions mDCF is an effective and tolerable first-line chemotherapy regimen for HER2-negative AGC patients in Vietnam. These findings support mDCF as a practical first-line option for HER2-negative AGC in real-world settings with limited access to targeted therapies. Plain Language Summary Gastric cancer is a major health concern in Vietnam, with many patients diagnosed at an advanced stage when surgery is no longer possible. For patients whose tumors do not have HER2 overexpression—a condition that limits the use of targeted treatments—chemotherapy remains the mainstay of care. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a chemotherapy regimen called modified DCF (mDCF), which includes docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil. We reviewed the treatment outcomes of 64 patients with HER2-negative advanced or recurrent gastric cancer who received mDCF as their initial therapy at a major oncology hospital in Vietnam. The findings showed that nearly 87.5% of patients experienced disease control, meaning the tumor either shrank or stopped growing. The time before the disease worsened was about 8.7 months. Most side effects were manageable. The most common serious issue was low white blood cell count (neutropenia), but this was significantly reduced in patients who received preventive treatment with G-CSF. Overall, this study suggests that mDCF is an effective and tolerable first-line treatment option for patients with HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer in Vietnam. In settings where access to other treatment options may be limited, mDCF continues to serve as a valuable and practical regimen that can help improve patient outcomes.

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) leaves contain significant bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity such as chlorophylls, total polyphenols, etc. but these have still been underutilized. In this study, the kinetics of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity extraction from P. fruticosa leaves by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were investigated. Microwave power was 300, 450, or 600 (W); the ratio of material/solvent varied from 1:40 to 1:80 (g/mL). In this study, the second-order kinetic model successfully predicted the change of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity during MAE. The increase of microwave power or/and the solvent amount increased saturated extraction efficiency and the extraction rate constant. However, the saturated concentration of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity increased with the increment of microwave power and the decrease in solvent amount.

Although avocado is a superfood rich in phytochemicals with high antioxidant activities, studies on the antibacterial properties of its pulp are limited, except for seed and peel portions. In this study, three types of solvent (acetone, methanol, and diethyl ether) were used to obtain the extracts from “Maluma” avocado pulp powder prepared by infrared drying. The extracts were analyzed for total polyphenols, phytopigments (total chlorophylls and carotenoids), antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays), and antibacterial activities against seven pathogens (Shigella sonnei ATCC 9290, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778). The results showed that the acetone solvent could extract the highest polyphenols and chlorophylls with the highest antioxidant activity in terms of ABTS and DPPH assays. In contrast, diethyl ether exhibited the most significant content of carotenoids and FRAP values. However, the methanol extract was the best solvent, exerting the strongest antibacterial and meaningful antioxidant activities. For the bacterial activities, Gram-positive pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were inhibited more efficiently by avocado extracts than Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the extracts from avocado powder showed great potential for applications in food processing and preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.