A second cluster of COVID-19 cases imported from Europe occured in Vietnam from early March 2020. We describe 44 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive patients (cycle threshold value <30) admitted to the ...National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi between March 6 and April 15 2020. Whole SARS-CoV-2 genomes from these patients were sequenced using Illumina Miseq and analysed for common genetic variants and relationships to local and globally circulating strains. Results showed that 32 cases were Vietnamese with a median age of 37 years (range 15-74 years), and 23 were male. Most cases were acquired outside Vietnam, mainly from the UK (n = 15), other European countries (n = 14), Russia (n = 6) and countries in Asia (n = 3). No cases had travelled from China. Forty-one cases had symptoms at admission, typically dry cough (n = 36), fever (n = 20), sore throat (n = 14) and diarrhoea (n = 12). Hospitalisation was long with a median of 25 days, most commonly from 20-29 days. All SARS-CoV-2 genomes were similar (92-100% sequence homology) to the reference sequence Wuhan_1 (NC_045512), and 32 strains belonged to the B.1.1 lineage. The three most common variants were linked, and included C3037T, C14408T (nsp12: P323L) and A23403G (S: D614G) mutations. This group of mutations often accompanied variant C241T (39/44 genomes) or GGG 28881..28883 AAC (33/44 genomes). The prevalence of the former reflected probable European origin of viruses, and the transition D614G was dominant in Vietnam. New variants were identified; however, none could be associated with disease severity.
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.
African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting swine of all ages. ASF was first reported in Vietnam in February 2019, and it is now considered endemic in Vietnam. In ...this study, 122 ASF-positive samples collected from domestic pigs in 28 different provinces of northern, central, and southern Vietnam during outbreaks in 2019–2021 were genetically characterized. The findings confirmed that all ASF virus (ASFV) strains circulating in Vietnam belonged to p72 genotype II, p54 genotype II, CD2v serogroup 8, and CVR gene variant type I. However, further analysis based on the tandem repeat sequences located between I73R and I329L genes revealed that there were three different variants of ASFV, IGR I, II, and III, circulating in the domestic pig population in Vietnam. The IGR II variants were the most prevalent (117/122 strains) and were detected in pigs in all of the provinces tested, followed by IGR III (4/122 strains) and IGR I (1/122 strains). This study confirms for the first time the presence of IGR III variants in Vietnam.
Silica aerogel (SA) particle was synthesized and characterized. The effects of silica content in silicic acid solution and molar ratio of trimethyl chlorosilane (TMCS)/pore water on silica aerogel ...physical characteristics such as surface area, pore volume, apparent density, and porosity were investigated. We observed that when the silica content increased from 4 to 7% of weight (wt%), the silica aerogel surface area increased from 628.5 m
2
/g to 914.4 m
2
/g and thereafter (>9%). When the molar ratio of TMCS/pore water increased from 0.1–0.4, the silica aerogel’s surface area increased from 816.8 m
2
/g to 924.1 m
2
/g. The highest silica aerogel surface area of 924.1 m
2
/g and porosity of 96.4% were achieved with a silica content in silicic acid of 7.011 wt% and TMCS/pore water of 0.4. Finally, silicon aerogel particles applied to water-based paint to improve the thermal insulation was about 1.2 °C with surrounding ambient temperature of 45 °C.
Vietnam is undergoing a rapid epidemiological transition with a considerable burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially hypertension and diabetes (T2DM). Continuity of care (COC) is ...widely acknowledged as a benchmark for an efficient health system. This study aimed to determine the COC level for hypertension and T2DM within and across care levels and to investigate its associations with health outcomes and disease control.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 602 people with T2DM and/or hypertension managed in primary care settings. We utilized both the Nijmegen continuity of care questionnaire (NCQ) and the Bice - Boxerman continuity of care index (COCI) to comprehensively measure three domains of COC: interpersonal, informational, and management continuity. ANOVA, paired-sample t-test, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to examine the predictors of COC.
Mean values of COC indices were: NCQ: 3.59 and COCI: 0.77. The proportion of people with low NCQ levels was 68.8%, and that with low COCI levels was 47.3%. Primary care offered higher informational continuity than specialists (p < 0.01); management continuity was higher within the primary care team than between primary and specialist care (p < 0.001). Gender, living areas, hospital admission and emergency department encounters, frequency of health visits, disease duration, blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and disease control were demonstrated to be statistically associated with higher levels of COC.
Continuity of primary care is not sufficiently achieved for hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Vietnam. Strengthening robust primary care services, improving the collaboration between healthcare providers through multidisciplinary team-based care and integrated care approach, and promoting patient education programs and shared decision-making interventions are priorities to improve COC for chronic care.
The insufficiency of waste treatment capacity is a considerable challenge that must be solved by cultivating concern for waste problems. Correspondingly, this research investigated waste separation ...behavior (WSB) in rural Vietnam, specifically among 298 rural and semi-rural households, which were divided into livestock and non-livestock groups on the basis of livelihood. The study's objectives were to identify differences in WSB and waste separation performance between these groups using an independent samples t-test and to introduce new WSB-related constructs associated with the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The constructs, namely, awareness, perception, and socioeconomic factors (the ownership of a garden, the number of pigs and chickens raised, and the money saved from using waste), were incorporated into multiple regression models of the household groups. Results showed that the livestock group exhibits more positive attitudes toward waste separation, greater concern for subjective norms, a stronger awareness of the negative effects of waste, a more well-developed perception of the encouragement of waste separation, and higher waste separation performance than does the non-livestock group (p < 0.01). The multiple regression analyses indicated that the presence of a garden—a feature characteristic of rural areas in Vietnam—is a very significant and powerful factor that affects the locals' waste separation habits (p < 0.01). This finding is attributed to the fact that gardens are convenient places for disposing of waste. Another determinant of waste separation performance in the entire community is trust in the waste management capabilities and policies of local authorities. In the livestock group, all the proposed socioeconomic factors are significantly correlated with WSB (p < 0.01). In particular, households engaged in small-scale livestock farming present potential to initiate waste separation given the tendency of families who rear a few chickens to use waste as animal feed (β = −0.157, p < 0.01). Win–win outcomes are achieved by the livestock group when they segregate waste and use it as livestock feed. Finally, the newly introduced TPB constructs effectively represent WSB in the chosen context.
•The typical characteristics of rural areas are examined.•Integration of waste separation and waste use is a “win-win outcomes” solution.•Win–win outcomes are achieved by the livestock group.•Rural areas are affirmed to value waste separation.
Mpox was diagnosed in 2 women returning to Vietnam from the United Arab Emirates. The monkeypox viruses belonged to an emerging sublineage, A.2.1, distinct from B.1, which is responsible for the ...ongoing multicountry outbreak. Women could contribute to mpox transmission, and enhanced genomic surveillance is needed to clarify pathogen evolution.
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is one of the cities in developing countries where many concentrations of air pollutants exceeded the Vietnam national technical regulation in ambient air quality including ...TSP, NO
, Ozone and CO. These high pollutant concentrations have destroyed the human health of people in HCMC. Many zones in HCMC can't receive more air pollutants. The objectives of this research are: (i) Air quality modeling over HCMC by using the TAPM-CTM system model by using a bottom up air emission inventory; and (ii) Study loading capactities of air pollutant emissions over Ho Chi Minh City. Simulations of air pollution were conducted in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the largest city of Vietnam by using the TAPM-CTM model. The model performance was evaluated using observed meteorological data at Tan Son Hoa station and air quality data at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science. The model is then applied to simulate a retire 1-year period to determine the levels of air pollutants in HCMC in 2017, 2025 and 2030. The results show that the highest concentrations of CO, NO
, and O
in 2017 exceeded the National technical regulation in ambient air quality (QCVN 05:2013) 1.5, 1.5, and 1.1 times, respectively. These values also will increase in 2025 and 2030 if the local government does not have any plan for the reduction of emissions, especially, SO
in 2030 also will be 1.02 times higher than that in QCVN 05:2013. The emission zoning was initially studied by calculating and simulating the loading capacities of each pollutant based on the highest concentration and the National technical regulation in ambient air quality. The results show that the center of HCMC could not receive anymore the emission, even needs to reduce half of the emission. Under the easterly prevailing wind in the dry season, the high pollution was more likely to be experienced in the west of Ho Chi Minh. In contrast, the eastern regions were the upwind areas and the pollutants could transport to the downwind sectors. It was recommended that the best strategy for emission control in HCMC is avoiding industrial and urban development in the upwind areas to achieve better air quality for both areas. In the case of necessity to choose one area for development, the downwind sector is preferred. The results show that TAPM-CTM performed well as applied to simulate the air quality in HCMC and is a promising tool to study the emission zoning.
This study assessed the knowledge and attitude toward palliative care for the elderly among health professionals in a tertiary geriatric hospital in Vietnam and explored their determinants. ...Cross-sectional data were obtained on 161 geriatric health professionals at the National Geriatric Hospital. Modified-Palliative Care Knowledge Test and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying instruments were used to measure knowledge and attitude toward geriatric palliative care. As a result, 40.5% physicians and 74.2% nurses showed insufficient knowledge about geriatric palliative care (
< 0.05). The lowest score was for dyspnea, following by gastrointestinal and pain problems. No significant difference was found regarding the attitude between physicians and nurses (
> 0.05). Health professional category, age, and years of experience were found to be associated with knowledge about palliative care. Meanwhile, only knowledge score had correlations with total attitude score (Coef. = 0.2; 95%CI = 0.1-0.3), attitude toward patients (Coef. = 0.1; 95%CI = 0.0-0.1) and toward patients' family (Coef. = 0.1; 95%CI = 0.0-0.1). This study highlights a significant knowledge gap and preferable attitude toward palliative care for the elderly among physicians and nurses in the geriatric hospital. Intensive training about geriatric palliative care, focusing on pain, dyspnea and gastrointestinal issue management, should be performed to ensure the quality of palliative care services, especially in nurses.
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•A semi-nested, heptaplex RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection has been developed.•The complex melting spectrum was interpreted by an artificial intelligence algorithm.•The developed ...assay enables 96-sample pooled testing for increase of testing capacity.•About 8,000 pre-amplified samples could be screened in one realtime PCR run.
Asymptomatic transmission was found to be the Achilles’ heel of the symptom-based screening strategy, necessitating the implementation of mass testing to efficiently contain the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic. However, the global shortage of molecular reagents and the low throughput of available realtime PCR facilities were major limiting factors.
A novel semi-nested and heptaplex (7-plex) RT-PCR assay with melting analysis for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been established for either individual testing or 96-sample pooled testing. The complex melting spectrum collected from the heptaplex RT-PCR amplicons was interpreted with the support of an artificial intelligence algorithm for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The analytical and clinical performance of the semi-nested RT-PCR assay was evaluated using RNAs synthesized in-vitro and those isolated from nasopharyngeal samples.
The LOD of the assay for individual testing was estimated to be 7.2 copies/reaction. Clinical performance evaluation indicated a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 97.83–100) and a specificity of 99.87% (95% CI: 99.55–99.98). More importantly, the assay supports a breakthrough sample pooling method, which makes possible parallel screening of up to 96 samples in one real-time PCR well without loss of sensitivity. As a result, up to 8,820 individual pre-amplified samples could be screened for SARS-CoV-2 within each 96-well plate of realtime PCR using the pooled testing procedure.
The novel semi-nested RT-PCR assay provides a solution for highly multiplex (7-plex) detection of SARS-CoV-2 and enables 96-sample pooled detection for increase of testing capacity.
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