Association of SOCS1 mRNA expression with hepatitis B virus infection-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of liver cancer worldwide, can be triggered by a variety of causes such as chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The immune response to HBV activates the janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. Suppressor of cytokine singnaling 1 (SOCS1) is a negative feedback regulator of JAK/STAT pathway. Our study was carried out to evaluate SOCS1 mRNA expression and its correlation with paraclinical characteristics in patients with HBV-related HCC. The SOCS1 mRNA expression level in adjacent non-tumour tissues and tumour liver tissues were determined in 44 patients with HBV infection-associated HCC by real-time RT-PCR. Our results showed that SOCS1 mRNA expression level in adjacent non-tumour tissues were significantly higher than in HCC tissues (p=0.003). High expression of SOCS1 in adjacent non-tumour tissue was observed in patients with single tumour (p=0.024), tumour size ≤5 cm (p=0.011), vascular invasion (p=0.047), and no vascular invasion (p=0.007). Red blood cell counts were positively correlated with SOCS1 gene expression (Spearman’s rho=0.359, p=0.018). Our results suggested that SOCS1expression may be considered as a potential factor involved in the pathogenesis of HCC.

In-silico genome-wide identification and characterisation of NBS-LRR gene family in banana Musa acuminata

Various common diseases caused by bacteria and viruses are increasing threats to the production of bananas worldwide. Besides the practical application of cultivation techniques, intensive exploitation of resistant genes, most of which belong to the NBS-LRR(Nucleotide-binding site - Leucine-rich repeat) gene family, in fortifying banana’s disease resistance, has been considered as a sustainable approach. The recently published genome assembly of Musa acuminata, a species of the Musa genus native to Southern Asia, has facilitated the genome-wide identification and characterisation of NBS-LRR genes. In the present study, an in-silicoapproach was employed to identify and characterise 97 NBS-LRR genes and their evolution in M. acuminatagenome. Except Ma_NBS_083 belonging to the RNLsub-family, other identified genes are members of the sub-family CNL and most of them contain only one exon. Sixty-six (66) NBS-LRR genes (68%) were mapped on 11 banana chromosomes, among them 38 genes (39%) located in clusters. Phylogenetic analysis in combination with conserved motif identification classified the banana NBS-LRR genes into seven groups. This study provides novel insight into the NBS-LRR gene family in bananas as a potential resource for further research in functional evaluation and utilisation of resistant genes.

Underlying causes of persistent pneumonia in children at the Intensive Care Unit,Vietnam National Children’s Hospital

The study describes underlying causes of children with severe persistent pneumonia (sPP) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Vietnam National Children’s Hospital. In the prospective and descriptive study, all patients classified as sPP (pneumonia persisting for 30 days or more, despite receiving antibiotics for a minimum period of 10 days), admitted to ICU, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from November 2019 to August 2020 were recruited. Patients were divided into groups based on having a recurrent lesion in the same lobe or lesion in multiple lobes before undergoing several investigational tests to identify the underlying causes. 82 patients with sPP accounted for 21.9% of children admitted to ICU due to pneumonia and 10.6% of total patients at ICU. Underlying causes were diagnosed in 82.9% of sPP children, with the most common causes are abnormalities in respiratory (19.5%), immune disorders (18.3%), congenital heart diseases (17.1%). Underlying causes couldn’t be identified in 17.1% of the patients, among whom necrotizing pneumonia or lung abscess account for 50%, ARDS 21.4%, and tuberculosis 14.3%. Local and recurrent x-ray lesions in one lung lobe accounted for 22%.

Allelopathy and allelochemical quantitative analysis in Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi)

Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi) considered as a perennial legume animal fed plant with good soil fertility improvement was uesed for its allelopathy that had been reported on the germination of Ageratum conyzoides L, Comnyza canadensis L. Cronq., Bidens pilosa L., Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annum. through the solutions extracted from different parts of pinto peanut on mustard greens (Brassica juncea), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and junglerice (Echinochloa colonum). Consideration of the growth of hypocotyls and rootlets at 48 hours after incubation with pinto peanut extracts, results showed that 1.0 g/ml of the methanolic pinto peanut stem extract greatly inhibited 100% mustard greens growth, 77.7% and 93.5% the hypocotyls and rootlets growth of barnyardgrass, 57.2% and 92.7% the hypocotyls and rootlets growth of junglerice, respectively. The allelopathic activity after liquid-liquid extraction of the ethyl acetate phase greater than the aqueous phase. Allelopathic extract loading from C18 chromatographic column was purified by HPLC to obtain 6 phenolic compounds with the contents in 1 g fresh pinto peanut weight were 0.214 μg (cinamic acid), 0.8344 μg (caffeic acid), 7.7676 μg (coumaric acid), 2.2354 μg (ferullic acid), 0.045 μg (2-4 dimehydroxy benzoic) and 32.1162 μg (salicylic acid). These results should be accordingly considered in the production of biological herbicides.

Study on in vitro propagation of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep through stem node culture

In the present study, authors propagated Sophora tonkinensisGagnep plants using stem nodal culture. The results indicated that on MS medium supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose, 5.5 g/l agar, 200 ml/l coconut water, 1 g/l activated charcoal, 0.75 mg/l TDZ shoots proliferated from stem segments have the best count and height of shoots. The most appropriate medium for multiplication of shoots was the MS medium supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose, 5.5 g/l agar, 200 ml/l coconut water, 1 g/l activated charcoal, 0.75 mg/l TDZ, 0.5 mg/l IBA, 2.0 g/l peptone, 30 g/l carrot puree, pH 5.5 with the results of 20.60 shoots/explant, shoot height of 3.75 cm and 4.6 leaves/shoot after 8 weeks of culture. Root formation of shoots carried out on the MS medium supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose, 5.5 g/l agar, 200 ml/l coconut water, 1 g/l activated charcoal, 1.0 mg/l αNAA gave the best result. In the nursery, a mixture of humus + coconut fiber powder (70:30 ratio) was regarded as the best substrate due to the high survival rate of plantlets (92%) and healthy plantlets (10.30 cm high with 7.2 leaves and 4.3 new roots/a plantlet) at 10 weeks after planting

Prevalence of Escherichia colicarrying a gene encoding ESBLs in patients with common infectious diseases visiting primary health care centres in some provinces and cities of Vietnam

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of E. coli carrying the gene encoding ESBLs in patients with common diseases visiting primary health care centres in 8 provinces of the Northern region (Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh), the Central region (Thua Thien - Hue, Khanh Hoa), and the Southern region (Can Tho, Ben Tre) of Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was implemented on patients with symptoms of diarrhea, urinary tract infections, skin infections, and respiratory infections. The study used questionnaires to collect epidemiological information and samples to culture, isolate and test E. coli carrying genes encoding ESBLs by PCR technique. The results showed that the percentage of E. coli bacteria carrying genes encoding ESBLs was relatively high (57.4%), the highest rate was in E. coli bacteria on patients with diarrhea (65.4%), followed by urinary tract infections (22.1%), pneumonia (8.82%) and skin infections (3.68%). The rate of co-infection with two genes accounted for 40.9%. The TEM gene was dominant (88.2%), followed by the CTX-M gene (51%). Different types of specimens were also found to have a different rate of carrying this gene. E. coli isolated in the Southern region has a lower risk of carrying genes encoding antibiotic-resistant ESBL, only 42% of the Nothern region’s rates (RR=0.42, p<0.001). Families that used antibiotics also had a higher rate of being infected with bacteria carrying genes encoding ESBLs than families that did not use antibiotics.

Isolation and structure determination of some compounds from the aerial parts of Solanum torvum Swartz. collected in Thua Thien - Hue

Solanum torvum Swartz, belonging to the family Solanaceae, a herb known as “Ca dai hoa trang”, “Ca hoang gai”, “Ca nong”, or “Ca du” in Vietnam, is widely distributed in Vietnam. Solanum torvum has been used as folk medicine to treat various illnesses, such as stomachache, cough, fever, toothache, and bee stings. As a part of our research on genus Solanum in Vietnam, three natural compounds including paniculonin A (1), paniculonin B (2), and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (3) were isolated from the water layer of Solanum torvum collected in Thua Thien - Hue. This is the first time compound 3 was isolated from this species.

Report of some cases with chromosomal mosaicism in prenatal diagnosis and the corresponding results after birth

Chromosomal mosaicism in prenatal diagnosis is a complex problem that confuses the perception of true mosaicism or pseudomosaicismand often causes difficulties in genetic counseling. In this study, the authors reported 5 cases of chromosomal mosaicism in prenatal karyotype diagnosisand compared them withthe corresponding karyotype results of children after birth. Amniotic fluid and peripheral blood cells were prepared chromosomal metaphase by culture method and chromosomal analysis according to ISCN 2016 standards. Samples were collected and analysed at Hanoi Medical University Hospital from 2017 to 2020. There were 3 cases of abnormal prenatal chromosomal mosaicism, but the postnatal results were normal, two cases of abnormal prenatal chromosome mosaicism, but had abnormal peripheral blood postnatal chromosome results. These results, together with discussion, will provide more valuable information for the prognosis of chromosome mosaicism cases in prenatal diagnosis and give better genetic counseling for the patients.

Whole exome sequencing revealed a large deletion in EDAof a Vietnamese patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) (OMIM # 305100) is a congenital genetic disorder caused by mutations in EDA (NM_001399) on chromosome X. Children with HED have the abnormal development of epidermal structures such as skin, hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands. The present study aimed to detect mutations in EDA of a Vietnamese family with a son having only five teeth and no sweat glands, using whole exome sequencing (WES) and multiplex PCR. The results showed that patient had a deletion of exon 1 in EDA (c.2_396del), which is likely to be inherited from the healthy mother. The results will partly contribute to molecular studies on HED, helping in genetic counseling and disease treatment.

Effect of packaging materials on the quality of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus saijo caju) during storage

The study aims to investigate the optimal packaging material to maximise the restriction of physiological and biochemical changes which reduce oyster mushroom (Pleurotus saijo caju) quality during the storage after harvesting. There are six packaging techniques tested, including PET box, PET box with kraft paper, PET box with kraft covered by GreenMAP bag, soft tray covered GreenMAP bag, soft tray with kraft paper in GreenMAP bag, and kraft paper. The result shows that the PET box with kraft paper in the GreenMAP bag is the most suitable for the storage of oyster mushrooms. After 10 days under 4oC, the lowest weight reduction can be seen with only 5.78%, soluble protein declines 65.49%, and decrease of vitamin C with 27.87 mg/100 g. In addition, the fruit body can maintain the colour, structure, and taste better than those packed with other materials