This study aimed to measure the exposure of residents to health education messages about non-communicable diseases (NCD)-related risk factors, and activities of village health workers (VHWs) in NCDs ...prevention and control in the mountainous setting of Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was performed in Dap Thanh commune (Ba Che, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam), a mountainous area. There were 151 residents aged 18 years or above recruited for this study. Information regarding exposure to messages about risk factors of NCDs, and activities of VHWs was collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors with exposing messages about NCD-related risk factors. The majority of participants heard about messages related to risk factors of NCDs in the last 30 days, from 56.3% (physical inactivity message), 59.6% (diet message), 75.5% (alcohol use message) to 79.5% (smoking message). Radio/television was the most common source of the messages (from 91.8% to 95.8%) and the majority of participants heard these messages from one source (from 77.1% to 80.9%). Most of sample reported the unavailability of VHWs in their locals (53.6%). Among locals having VHWs, health communication and education was the most common service provided (54.3%); however, only 30% received NCD management services. Participants who had other jobs were less likely to hear about diet-related messages (OR = 0.32; 95%CI = 0.11-0.92), and those ever smoking were more likely to hear these messages in the last 30 days (OR = 6.86; 95%CI = 1.06-44.51). People who had diabetes mellitus were more likely to hear physical activity-related messages in the last 30 days (OR = 2.55; 95%CI = 1.20-5.41). Our findings indicated that health communication regarding risk factors of NCDs in mountainous areas in Vietnam was insufficient, and the role of health workers as formal information source was not recognized. Efforts should be made to increase the capacity and involvement of VHWs in health education and NCD prevention in mountainous regions.
In this work, a series of unsaturated polyester resin (UPRs)/electrochemically exfoliated graphene oxide (e-GO) polymer nanocomposites with different ratios of e-GO (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt%) ...were prepared
via
an
in situ
polymerization method. The surface morphology and structural and chemical properties of the original UPR and UPR/e-GO nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The positive influence of e-GO nanosheets on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and anti-UV aging performance of UPR/e-GO nanocomposites was demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The obtained results showed that the incorporation of e-GO nanosheets within the UPR matrix, despite the addition of e-GO at as low as 0.2 wt% comprehensively improves the advanced functional properties of UPR/e-GO nanocomposites as compared to the original UPR. In addition, artificial weathering testing of quartz-based artificial stone using UPR/e-GO 0.2 wt% showed excellent UV-resistant efficiency, supporting the use of e-GO nanosheets as an additive in manufacturing the industrial-scale UPRs-based artificial quartz stone samples for real outdoor applications.
Preparation of UPR/e-GO polymer nanocomposites for anti-UV aging application in quartz-based artificial stone.
Designing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates that combine multiple advanced features in synergy is highly desirable for the SERS technique, however, it has been a long-standing ...challenge due to inherent trade-offs in feature selection. For instance, while nanoplasmonic surface functionalization bolsters attraction to target analytes, it simultaneously introduces barriers to direct contact. Similarly, the intrinsic hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of substrates often limits their sensing effectiveness across a wide range of analyte types. Here, we demonstrate a smart 3D Ag-decorated TiO2 nanostructure, an advanced synergistic SERS substrate, created by controlling the formation of Ag nanoparticles on functionalized TiO2 nanomaterials, which integrates four unique features: uniform hotspot distribution, efficient analyte trapping, accessible plasmonic surfaces, and dual-phase detection. This design brings unachieved sensor efficiency across a diverse array of analytes with varying sizes and hydrophobicity. Moreover, our design exhibits a novel dual-phase detection capability within mixtures of hydrophilic and hydrophobic analytes. As a proof-of-concept, our results highlight the potential of designing SERS substrates with multiple advanced features that work synergistically, enabling trace detection of a broader range of analyte types in various environments. More broadly, we anticipate that this work paves the way for the development of other nanomaterials that are capable of attracting diverse molecules while retaining key features such as accessible plasmonic surfaces and wide-area ordered hotspot distribution. Such nanomaterials could be powerful for advanced applications in hotspot engineering, surface analysis, catalysis, and plasmon-mediated reactions.
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•Smart 3D Ag-decorated TiO2 nanostructure, an advanced synergistic SERS substrate, has been successfully fabricated.•Integrating multiple unique features, this structure overcomes inherent trade-offs in feature selection during fabrication.•This substrate demonstrates exceptional detection efficiency for diverse analytes with varying natural properties.•The SERS substrate exhibits a novel dual-phase detection capability within mixtures of hydrophilic and hydrophobic analytes.
Evaluating the prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who may be at risk of poor outcomes using grading systems is one way to make a better decision on treatment for ...these patients. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the modified World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) Grading Scales in predicting the outcomes of patients with aSAH. From August 2019 to June 2021, we conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study on adult patients with aSAH in three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. The primary outcome was the 90-day poor outcome, measured by a score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death) on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We calculated the areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUROCs) to determine how well the grading scales could predict patient prognosis upon admission. We also used ROC curve analysis to find the best cut-off value for each scale. We compared AUROCs using Z-statistics and compared 90-day mean mRS scores among intergrades using the pairwise multiple-comparison test. Finally, we used logistic regression to identify factors associated with the 90-day poor outcome. Of 415 patients, 32% had a 90-day poor outcome. The modified WFNS (AUROC: 0.839 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.795-0.883; cut-off valuegreater than or equal to2.50; P.sub.AUROC <0.001), WFNS (AUROC: 0.837 95% CI: 0.793-0.881; cut-off valuegreater than or equal to3.5; P.sub.AUROC <0.001), and H&H scales (AUROC: 0.836 95% CI: 0.791-0.881; cut-off valuegreater than or equal to3.5; P.sub.AUROC <0.001) were all good at predicting patient prognosis on day 90.sup.th after ictus. However, there were no significant differences between the AUROCs of these scales. Only grades IV and V of the modified WFNS (3.75 standard deviation, SD: 2.46 vs 5.24 SD: 1.68, p = 0.026, respectively), WFNS (3.75 SD: 2.46 vs 5.24 SD: 1.68, p = 0.026, respectively), and H&H scales (2.96 SD: 2.60 vs 4.97 SD: 1.87, p<0.001, respectively) showed a significant difference in the 90-day mean mRS scores. In multivariable models, with the same set of confounding variables, the modified WFNS grade of III to V (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 9.090; 95% CI: 3.494-23.648; P<0.001) was more strongly associated with the increased risk of the 90-day poor outcome compared to the WFNS grade of IV to V (AOR: 6.383; 95% CI: 2.661-15.310; P<0.001) or the H&H grade of IV to V (AOR: 6.146; 95% CI: 2.584-14.620; P<0.001). In this study, the modified WFNS, WFNS, and H&H scales all had good discriminatory abilities for the prognosis of patients with aSAH. Because of the better effect size in predicting poor outcomes, the modified WFNS scale seems preferable to the WFNS and H&H scales.
The prevalence of risk factors for poor outcomes from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) varies widely and has not been fully elucidated to date in Vietnam. Understanding the risk and prognosis ...of aneurysmal SAH is important to reduce poor outcomes in Vietnam. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the rate of poor outcome at 90 days of ictus and associated factors from aneurysmal SAH in the country.
We performed a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients (≥18 years) presenting with aneurysmal SAH to three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 2019 to August 2020. We collected data on the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with aneurysmal SAH and compared these data between good (defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0 to 3) and poor (mRS, 4-6) outcomes at 90 days of ictus. We assessed factors associated with poor outcomes using logistic regression analysis.
Of 168 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 77/168 (45.8%) were men, and the median age was 57 years (IQR: 48-67). Up to 57/168 (33.9%) of these patients had poor outcomes at 90 days of ictus. Most patients underwent sudden-onset and severe headache (87.5%; 147/168) and were transferred from local to participating central hospitals (80.4%, 135/168), over half (57.1%, 92/161) of whom arrived in central hospitals after 24 hours of ictus, and the initial median World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grading score was 2 (IQR: 1-4). Nearly half of the patients (47.0%; 79/168) were treated with endovascular coiling, 37.5% (63/168) were treated with surgical clipping, the remaining patients (15.5%; 26/168) did not receive aneurysm repair, and late rebleeding and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) occurred in 6.1% (10/164) and 10.4% (17/163) of patients, respectively. An initial WFNS grade of IV (odds ratio, OR: 15.285; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.096-75.466) and a grade of V (OR: 162.965; 95% CI: 9.975-2662.318) were independently associated with poor outcomes. Additionally, both endovascular coiling (OR: 0.033; 95% CI: 0.005-0.235) and surgical clipping (OR: 0.046; 95% CI: 0.006-0.370) were inversely and independently associated with poor outcome. Late rebleeding (OR: 97.624; 95% CI: 5.653-1686.010) and DCI (OR: 15.209; 95% CI: 2.321-99.673) were also independently associated with poor outcome.
Improvements are needed in the management of aneurysmal SAH in Vietnam, such as increasing the number of aneurysm repairs, performing earlier aneurysm treatment by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling, and improving both aneurysm repairs and neurocritical care.
In-paper flexible SERS chips were simply prepared by immersing pieces of filter paper into colloidal silver nanoparticle (e-AgNP) solution for 24 h and drying naturally at room temperature. ...Characteristic properties of cellulose fibers allowed the paper-based chips to be available for two sample collecting approaches. Being hydrophilic but insoluble in water, the chips were convenient to be dipped into aqueous media to collect soluble target analytes. Besides, they could “stick” on wet surfaces and bend along them to grab analytes. Hence, they were employed for in-situ detection of methylene blue dye in river water using “dip and dry” method and thiram pesticide on apple skin using “paste and peel off” procedure, resulting in detection limit of 10−10 M with excellent recovery rates of 93–104% and 86–93%, respectively. Therefore, the e-AgNPs-based in-paper SERS chips have served as a versatile tool for a large range of samples. More importantly, simple procedures of SERS chip preparation and sample collecting do not require the use of any complex equipment or expert operators. It can bring SERS techniques a step closer to real applications.
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•In-paper flexible SERS chips were simply fabricated by immersing pieces of filter paper into electrochemically-synthesized silver nanoparticle (e-AgNPs) solution for 24 h and then being dried at room temperature.•The as-prepared SERS chips are convenient for two on-site sample collecting approaches: “dip and dry” method for liquid samples as well as “paste and peel off” method for surfaces.•In the “dip and dry” approach, the SERS chips could be employed to detect methylene blue in river water at concentrations as low as 1.0 × 10−10 M•In the “paste and peel off” approach, the SERS chips were effective to sense thiram on apple skin at concentrations down to 1.0 × 10−10 M (∼2.4 × 10−13 g/cm2).
African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II is endemic to Vietnam. We detected recombinant ASFV genotypes I and II (rASFV I/II) strains in domestic pigs from 6 northern provinces in Vietnam. The ...introduction of rASFV I/II strains could complicate ongoing ASFV control measures in the region.
This multicentre prospective cohort study aimed to compare the accuracy of the PAASH, WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) scales in predicting the outcomes of adult patients with aneurysmal SAH presented ...to three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 2019 to June 2021. Of 415 eligible patients, 32.0% had a 90-day poor outcome, defined as an mRS score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death). The PAASH, WFNS and H&H scales all have good discriminatory abilities for predicting the 90-day poor outcome. There were significant differences in the 90-day mean mRS scores between grades I and II (p = 0.001) and grades II and III (p = 0.001) of the PAASH scale, between grades IV and V (p = 0.026) of the WFNS scale, and between grades IV and V (p < 0.001) of the H&H scale. In contrast to a WFNS grade of IV-V and an H&H grade of IV-V, a PAASH grade of III-V was an independent predictor of the 90-day poor outcome. Because of the more clearly significant difference between the outcomes of the adjacent grades and the more strong effect size for predicting poor outcomes, the PAASH scale was preferable to the WFNS and H&H scales.
Titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) nanomaterials have been comprehensively studied in recent decades because of their possible practical applications in diverse fields, including photocatalysis, energy ...storage, sensing and biomedicine. Numerous strategies have been reported on preparing TiO
2
nanostructures with regulated sizes, shapes and surface ligands; however, developing a simple, eco-friendly, cost-effective and scalable procedure for the fabrication of TiO
2
nanomaterials while controlling those properties is still challenging. Herein, titanium dioxide nanostructures, e-TiO
2
, are prepared using a scalable green electrochemical approach, in which Ti foils act as precursors. Electrolysis is carried out in an electrolyte solution containing only a surfactant in water. This approach reduces the use of toxic chemicals, and thus it is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Moreover, the electrochemical synthesis of colloidal e-TiO
2
can be successfully scaled up to 5 L. Three cationic surfactants, tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB), tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), are employed as electrolytes to fabricate e-TiO
2
, resulting in the formation of three types of nanostructures: negatively charged e-TiO
2
/TPAB nanospheres, negatively charged e-TiO
2
/TBAB nano-ellipses and positively charged e-TiO
2
/CTAB nanorods. They are characterized to clarify the roles of surfactants in controlling sizes, shape and surface properties of e-TiO
2
nanostructures. Dispersibility of three types of e-TiO
2
is investigated in aqueous and nonpolar solvents. e-TiO
2
/TPAB and e-TiO
2
/TBAB are only well-dispersed in aqueous media. In particular, e-TiO
2
/CTAB can be dissolved in both kinds of solvents. Thanks to the unique rotatable property of the coating agent (CTAB), a “smart” TiO
2
nanomaterial (e-TiO
2
/CTAB nanorod) has been fabricated, which can migrate from an aqueous medium to a nonpolar one and vice versa.
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