Evaluation of the conservation status and risks for some endangered plant species in Ba Be National Park, B̆ác Kan Province, Vietnam

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Science.Ba Be National Park, in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, is an important conservation area with numerous rare, endangered and endemic plant and animal species. The plant resources of the park are exploited by local ethnic minority (hill tribe) people to provide food, medicines and wood products; their high birth rate, general ignorance of plant propagation and husbandry and their dependence on the forest resources to maintain a subsistence level of life has placed many plant species in the Park at increasing risk of local extinction. Moreover, many essential plants are becoming so difficult to find that the local peoples’ lifestyle is threatened. This thesis evaluates the socio-economic features of the threat to plant species in the Park, the broad ecological determinants of the distribution of plants in the area and the genetic diversity of a selected number of plant species. The results demonstrate that national and international schemes for the classification of the conservation status of plant species is of limited relevance in the local context and a mixture of national, international and local criteria enabled the compilation of a plant species conservation ranking for the Park. A suite of environmental factors was chosen to investigate their collective influence on plant species distribution; the main determinants of floristic composition appear to be topography and disturbance, with soil factors being important for endangered species, though other factors not measured here may influence species composition at small scales. The genetic diversity of four priority plant species was determined using the Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique and the Random Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphisms (RAMP) technique was used to further investigate genetic diversity in two of the four species; the latter proved somewhat more useful in distinguishing between populations than the former. A preliminary evaluation of the location of high-genetic-diversity populations and individuals should allow an informed selection of source plants for future propagation. Some recommendations on future management of the National Park are made

Stationary cocycles and Busemann functions for the corner growth model

We study the directed last-passage percolation model on the planar square lattice with nearest-neighbor steps and general i.i.d. weights on the vertices, out- side of the class of exactly solvable models. Stationary cocycles are constructed for this percolation model from queueing fixed points. These cocycles serve as bound- ary conditions for stationary last-passage percolation, solve variational formulas that characterize limit shapes, and yield existence of Busemann functions in directions where the shape has some regularity. In a sequel to this paper the cocycles are used to prove results about semi-infinite geodesics and the competition interface

Geodesics and the competition interface for the corner growth model

We study the directed last-passage percolation model on the planar square lattice with nearest-neighbor steps and general i.i.d. weights on the vertices, out- side of the class of exactly solvable models. Stationary cocycles are constructed for this percolation model from queueing fixed points. These cocycles serve as bound- ary conditions for stationary last-passage percolation, solve variational formulas that characterize limit shapes, and yield existence of Busemann functions in directions where the shape has some regularity. In a sequel to this paper the cocycles are used to prove results about semi-infinite geodesics and the competition interface

Barriers and enablers to blood culture sampling in Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam: a Theoretical Domains Framework-based survey

Objective: Blood culture (BC) sampling is recommended for all suspected sepsis patients prior to antibiotic administration. We examine barriers and enablers to BC sampling in three Southeast Asian countries. Design: A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)-based survey, comprising a case scenario of a patient presenting with community-acquired sepsis and all 14 TDF domains of barriers/enablers to BC sampling. Setting: Hospitals in Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam, December 2021 to 30 April 2022. Participants: 1070 medical doctors and 238 final-year medical students were participated in this study. Half of the respondents were women (n=680, 52%) and most worked in governmental hospitals (n=980, 75.4%). Outcome measures: Barriers and enablers to BC sampling. Results: The proportion of respondents who answered that they would definitely take BC in the case scenario was highest at 89.8% (273/304) in Thailand, followed by 50.5% (252/499) in Viet Nam and 31.3% (157/501) in Indonesia (p<0.001). Barriers/enablers in nine TDF domains were considered key in influencing BC sampling, including ‘priority of BC (TDF-goals)’, ‘perception about their role to order or initiate an order for BC (TDF-social professional role and identity)’, ‘perception that BC is helpful (TDF-beliefs about consequences)’, ‘intention to follow guidelines (TDF-intention)’, ‘awareness of guidelines (TDF-knowledge)’, ‘norms of BC sampling (TDF-social influence)’, ‘consequences that discourage BC sampling (TDF-reinforcement)’, ‘perceived cost-effectiveness of BC (TDF-environmental context and resources)’ and ‘regulation on cost reimbursement (TDF-behavioural regulation)’. There was substantial heterogeneity between the countries. In most domains, the lower (higher) proportion of Thai respondents experienced the barriers (enablers) compared with that of Indonesian and Vietnamese respondents. A range of suggested intervention types and policy options was identified. Conclusions: Barriers and enablers to BC sampling are varied and heterogenous. Cost-related barriers are more common in more resource-limited countries, while many barriers are not directly related to cost. Context-specific multifaceted interventions at both hospital and policy levels are required to improve diagnostic stewardship practices

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Pathogens Isolated from Patients with Wound Infection at a Teaching Hospital in Vietnam

Nguyen Van An,1,&ast; Hoang Trung Kien,2,&ast; Le Huy Hoang,3 Nguyen Hung Cuong,1 Hoang Xuan Quang,1 Tuan Dinh Le,4 Ta Ba Thang,5 Tien Tran Viet,6 Luong Cong Thuc,7 Dinh Viet Hung,8 Nguyen Hoang Viet,9 Le Nhat Minh,10,11 Vu Huy Luong,12,13 Vinh Thi Ha Nguyen,13,14 Pham Quynh Hoa,15 Hai Ha Long Le16,17 1Department of Microbiology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Department of Immunology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Department of Bacteriology, National of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Medical Military University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Respiratory Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Medical Military University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 7Cardiovascular Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 8Department of Psychiatry, Military Medical 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 9Molecular Pathology Department, Faculty of Medical Technology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 10Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, NIID, Tokyo, Japan; 11Tay Nguyen Institute of Science Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam; 12Department of Laser and Skincare, National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 13Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 14Department of General Planning, National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 15Department of Microbiology, Mycology and Parasitology, National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 16Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 17Department of Biochemistry, Hematology and Immunology, National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hai Ha Long Le, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam, Tel +84 978520055, Email [email protected]: At a teaching Hospital in Vietnam, the persistently high incidence of diagnosed wound infection poses ongoing challenges to treatment. This study seeks to explore the causative agents of wound infection and their antimicrobial and multidrug resistance patterns.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam. Data on microorganisms that caused wound infection and their antimicrobial resistance patterns was recorded from hospitalized patients from 2014 to 2021. Using the chi-square test, we analyzed the initial isolation from wound infection specimens collected from individual patients.Results: Over a third (34.9%) of wound infection samples yielded bacterial cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Worryingly high resistance rates were observed for several antibiotics, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. Ampicillin displayed the highest resistance (91.9%), while colistin and ertapenem remained the most effective. In Gram-positive bacteria, glycopeptides like teicoplanin and vancomycin (0% and 3.3% resistance, respectively) were most effective, but their use was limited. Clindamycin and tetracycline showed decreasing effectiveness. Resistance rates differed between surgical and non-surgical wards, highlighting the complex dynamics of antimicrobial resistance within hospitals. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was substantial, with Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting a 63.6% MDR rate. Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest MDR rate (88.0%).Conclusion: This study investigated wound infection characteristics, antibiotic resistance patterns of common bacteria, and variations by hospital ward. S. aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, and concerning resistance rates were observed, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. These findings highlight the prevalence of multidrug resistance in wound infections, emphasizing the importance of infection control measures and judicious antibiotic use.Keywords: wound infection, multidrug resistance, antimicrobial resistance, AMR in Vietna

Genome sequences of a novel Vietnamese bat bunyavirus

To document the viral zoonotic risks in Vietnam, fecal samples were systematically collected from a number of mammals in southern Vietnam and subjected to agnostic deep sequencing. We describe here novel Vietnamese bunyavirus sequences detected in bat feces. The complete L and S segments from 14 viruses were determined

Psychobiotics for Patients with Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders Having Anxiety or Depression Symptoms

Viet Hang Dao,1,2 Long Bao Hoang,2 Thi Oanh Trinh,2 Thi Thu Trang Tran,2 Van Long Dao1,2 1Internal Medicine Faculty, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Research and Training Management Unit, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Viet Hang Dao Email [email protected]: Using psychobiotics to modify the gut microbiome has been shown to improve the anxiety and depression situation of patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study evaluated changes in depression, anxiety, GI symptomss and side effects when patients used a multispecies probiotics product.Patients and Methods: A single-center uncontrolled trial was conducted in patients with chronic GI symptoms, anxiety and depression who used a multispecies probiotics product. The patients were screened for anxiety and depression symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Those who had a component score of 8 or higher were given the multispecies probiotics product for 2 months and followed up after 1 and 2 months. All data are collected and managed in a case report form.Results: Eighty-three patients were enrolled, with a mean age (SD) of 43.9 (12.3) years; 73.5% of the patients were female. Of these patients, 8 met the Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. The HADS scores displayed significant improvement at follow-up. The mean (SD) total HADS scores were 20.0 (6.3), 7.2 (5.4), and 4.9 (5.1) at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months, respectively. Quality of life also improved significantly. A small proportion (&lt; 5%) of patients developed mild symptoms, including fullness, diarrhea, and sleep complaints.Conclusion: After 2 months using the probiotic product, the symptoms of anxiety and depression improved significantly. Mild gastrointestinal or constitutional symptoms developed in some patients.Keywords: probiotics, anxiety, depressio