The Levels of COVID-19 Related Health Literacy among University Students in Vietnam

Duong Minh Cuong,Nguyen Hong Trang,Duong Bich Thuy,Vu Minh Thuy 대한감염학회 2021 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.53 No.1

Background: Vietnam is among the few countries that were successful in the fight against the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, subsequent domestic outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to occur. To sharp the community education program to guarantee the final success in the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam and comparable countries, we examined the levels of COVID-19 knowledge and associated predictors among university students in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all students enrolling at Phenikaa University using a self-developed questionnaire consisted of 20 questions regarding COVID-19's risk factors, transmission routes, symptoms, and prevention. Results: Among 728 participants, 40.9% were male, 63.2% studied health-related majors, and 18.1% lived alone. Correct response rates ranged from 25.3% to 98.9% across 20 questions. Only 51.9% (378/728) of participants had good knowledge levels. Studying health majors (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.547, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.398 - 0.751, P <0.001), and living with the seniors (AOR 0.612, 95% CI 0.389 - 0.963, P = 0.034) or with friends (AOR 0.405, 95% CI 0.252 – 0.650, P <0.001) were negatively associated with a poor level of COVID-19 knowledge. Conclusion: The proportion of university students having good knowledge levels is suboptimal. It is essential to improve the quality of COVID-19 education with a more focus on not only the preventive measures, but also the disease itself. More studies are needed to improve the level of COVID-19 knowledge among those living alone or do not study healthrelated majors.

Smart vaccine delivery based on microneedle arrays decorated with ultra-pH-responsive copolymers for cancer immunotherapy

Duong, Huu Thuy Trang,Yin, Yue,Thambi, Thavasyappan,Nguyen, Thanh Loc,Giang Phan, V.H.,Lee, Min Sang,Lee, Jung Eun,Kim, Jaeyun,Jeong, Ji Hoon,Lee, Doo Sung Elsevier 2018 Biomaterials Vol.185 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Despite the tremendous potential of DNA-based cancer vaccines, their efficacious delivery to antigen presenting cells to stimulate both humoral and cellular response remains a major challenge. Although electroporation-based transfection has improved performance, an optimal strategy for safe and pain-free vaccination technique remains elusive. Herein, we report a smart DNA vaccine delivery system in which nanoengineered DNA vaccine was laden on microneedles (MNs) assembled with layer-by-layer coating of ultra-pH-responsive OSM-(PEG-PAEU) and immunostimulatory adjuvant poly(I:C), a synthetic double stranded RNA. Transcutaneous application of MN patches onto the mice skin perforate the stratum corneum with minimal cell damage; subsequent disassembly at the immune-cell-rich epidermis/dermis allows the release of adjuvants and DNA vaccines, owing to the ultra-sharp pH-responsive nature of OSM-(PEG-PAEU). The released adjuvant and DNA vaccine can enhance dendritic cell maturation and induce type I interferons, and thereby produce antigen-specific antibody that can achieve the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cell to kill cancer cells. Strikingly, transcutaneous application of smart vaccine formulation in mice elicited 3-fold greater frequencies of Anti-OVA IgG1 serum antibody and 3-fold excess of cytotoxic CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cell than soluble DNA vaccine formulation. As a consequence, the formulation rejected the murine B16/OVA melanoma tumors in C57BL/6 mice through the synergistic activation of antigen-specific ADCC and cytotoxic CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells. The maneuvered use of vaccine and adjuvant poly(I:C) in MNs induces humoral and cellular immunity, which provides a promising vaccine technology that shows improved efficacy, compliance, and safety.</P>

Degradation-regulated architecture of injectable smart hydrogels enhances humoral immune response and potentiates antitumor activity in human lung carcinoma

Duong, Huu Thuy Trang,Thambi, Thavasyappan,Yin, Yue,Kim, Seong Han,Nguyen, Thanh Loc,Phan, V.H. Giang,Kim, Jaeyun,Jeong, Ji Hoon,Lee, Doo Sung Elsevier 2020 Biomaterials Vol.230 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Cancer vaccines that elicit a robust and durable antitumor response show great promise in cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, low immunogenicity and weak immune response limit the application of cancer vaccines. To experience next generation cancer vaccines that elicit robust, durable, and anti-tumor T cell response, herein we design injectable smart hydrogels (ISHs) that self-assemble into a cellular microenvironment-like microporous network using a simple hypodermic needle injection, to localize the immune cells and program host cells. ISHs, composed of levodopa- and poly(ε-caprolactone-<I>co</I>-lactide)ester-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-PCLA), are loaded with immunomodulatory factor (OVA expressing plasmid, pOVA)-bearing nano-sized polyplexes and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as dendritic cell (DC) enhancement factor. Subcutaneous administration of ISHs effectively localized immune cells, and controlled the delivery of immunomodulatory factors to recruit immune cells. The microporous network allowed the recruitment of a substantial number of DCs, which was 6-fold higher than conventional PCLA counterpart. The locally released nano-sized polyplexes effectively internalized to DCs, resulting in the presentation of tumor-specific OVA epitope, and subsequent activation of CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T cells and generation of OVA-specific serum antibody. By the controlled release of nano-sized polyplexes and GM-CSF through a single subcutaneous injection, the ISHs effectively eliminated B16/OVA melanoma tumors in mice. These ISHs can be administered using a minimal invasive technique that could bypass the need for extracorporeal training of cells <I>ex vivo</I>, and provide sustained release of cancer vaccines for immunomodulation. These important findings suggest that ISHs can serve as powerful biomaterials for cancer immunotherapy.</P>

Who Influences the Public Intention to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine and What are the Public References and Concerns? A Population Survey in Vietnam

Duong Minh Cuong,Nguyen Hong Trang,Duong Bich Thuy 대한감염학회 2021 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.53 No.4

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine acceptance is influenced by the trusted recommenders. This survey examined the public references, concerns, and trust in seven groups of recommenders regarding COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1,579 participants between April 16 and July 16, 2021. Participants’ references, concerns, and responses to vaccination recommendations made by government officials, employers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, senior family members, and religious leaders were captured using a selfadministered questionnaire. Results: Rates of trust ranged from 18.5% to 89.1%. The highest rates were attributable to government (89.1%) and physicians (85.9%). Less than half of participants would accept the vaccines if pharmacists (45.5%), nurses (44.7%), employers (42.4%), senior family members (28.1%), and religious leaders (18.4%) recommended it. Only 37.6% of participants thought that vaccines were safe for them, while 57% were unsure. Most participants would wait and see how people respond to the vaccines before getting vaccinated (91.5%), preferred to receive the vaccines at public hospitals (88.6%), and were concerned about vaccine effectiveness (86.9%) and side effects (76.4%), while 61.8% were concerned about vaccine cost. Conclusion: Focusing on the personal benefit and relying on the government, physicians, and social role models would make the vaccine advertising campaigns more effective. If annual vaccinations were needed, providing the community with affordable vaccines would be an appropriate, long-term solution to ensure vaccination coverage in low-resource countries like Vietnam. Further studies are needed to examine reasons for the public reference of vaccination centers which may help in improving their confidence in getting the vaccine, regardless of the settings.

Double burden of malnutrition in ethnic minority school-aged children living in mountainous areas of Vietnam and its association with nutritional behavior

Truong Duong Thuy Thi,Tran Trang Huyen Thi,Nguyen Tam Thanh Thi,Tran Van Hong Thi 한국영양학회 2022 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.16 No.5

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Although children of ethnic minority groups are experiencing a transition from a predominance of undernutrition to overnutrition, there is little evidence of a dual-malnutrition burden. Therefore, this study examined the double burden of malnutrition among school-aged ethnic minority children living in mountainous areas and its association with their diets. SUBJECTS/METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to March 2020 in 3 mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam among 1,556 ethnic minority school-aged children. The prevalence of under-nutrition (stunting and thinness) and over-nutrition (overweight and obesity) were measured using the WHO 2006 child growth standards (height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-score). Nutritional practices were evaluated by the frequency of food consumption based on a 4-level scale. RESULTS The percentage of children with stunting and thinness were 14.0% and 5.4%, respectively, while the figure for overweight/obesity was 9.4%. The factors positively associated with stunting were living in a family with more than 2 children or being Muong/other ethnicities compared to the Tay ethnicity. Children who consumed fish/shrimps/crabs or milk weekly/daily were less likely to be undernourished compared to those who never consumed these foods. By contrast, children who never consumed foods rich in vitamin A precursors and vitamin A and fruit or consumed daily snacks/junk food were more likely to be overweight/obese. CONCLUSIONS Undernutrition remains a common issue among school-aged children and adolescents of ethnic minority groups, while over-nutrition exists simultaneously. Public health nutrition programs promoting adequate diets and positive lifestyle changes related to nutrition are essential to tackle the double burden of malnutrition among ethnic minority children.

Impacts of Foreign Direct Investment on Human Capital in ASEAN

Hoi Van NGUYEN,Thuy Thi Thu NGUYEN,Tha Hien TO,Duong Quy DANG,Trang Thi Dai Luong 한국유통과학회 2020 유통과학연구 Vol.18 No.9

Purpose: Research and development of human capital in countries bring sustainable development to the nations. Especially for developing countries, the attraction of foreign direct investment not only brings economic growth to the country but also contributes to improving human capital. This study aims to assess the impact of foreign direct investment on human capital in ASEAN countries. Research design, data and methodology: With data collected from ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2019, panel data analysis is performed with revised model types (the Pooled OLS, Fixed effect model, Random effect model and regression with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors). Result: The results of the regression analysis show that FDI has a positive impact on human capital. At the same time, the study also found that public investment in education also positively affects human capital; the life expectancy factor does not affect human capital. Conclusions: With this research result, the authors also proposed a number of solutions to improve human capital by attracting FDI and improving the efficiency of investment for the education of ASEAN countries. Besides, public expenditure on education also plays an important role in raising human capital. Therefore, investment in education should be promoted further in the future.

DOES PARASOCIAL INTERACTION WITH DIGITAL INFLUENCERS AFFECT WELL-BEING? FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF DIGITAL INFLUENCERS’ ATTRIBUTES AND FOLLOWERS’ COMPENSATION PSYCHOLOGY

Chien-Wen Chen,Nguyen Duong Thuy Trang,Mingchang Chih,Pei-Ying Chen 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2023 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2023 No.07

With the development of social media, most people will use social media to watch the videos of digital influencers to get spiritual comfort, and they will think that digital influencers are like friends who are connected with their own lives. However, most of the previous studies focused on the influence of digital influencers on followers’ behavioral intentions (e.g. loyalty, and purchase intention). They rarely discussed the online social well-being obtained by followers after watching digital influencers' posts. Therefore, this study integrates the attributes of followers (loneliness, low self-esteem, empathy) and the characteristics of digital influencers (social attractiveness, expertise, homophily) to explore the influence of the parasocial interaction established between digital influencers and followers on followers’ online social well-being. This study uses the Internet to collect questionnaires and takes users who have watched digital influencers' posts on social media as the research object. A total of 597 valid questionnaires are collected. The research results show that: the characteristics of digital influencers (social attractiveness, expertise, and homophily), and followers' attributes (low self-esteem and empathy) have positively affected parasocial interaction. It is noteworthy that loneliness has no significant effect on parasocial interaction.

Modularly engineered injectable hybrid hydrogels based on protein-polymer network as potent immunologic adjuvant <i>in vivo</i>

Giang Phan, V.H.,Duong, Huu Thuy Trang,Thambi, Thavasyappan,Nguyen, Thanh Loc,Turabee, Md. Hasan,Yin, Yue,Kim, Seong Han,Kim, Jaeyun,Jeong, Ji Hoon,Lee, Doo Sung IPC Science and Technology Press 2019 Biomaterials Vol.195 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Lymphoid organs, which are populated by dendritic cells (DCs), are highly specialized tissues and provide an ideal microenvironment for T-cell priming. However, intramuscular or subcutaneous delivery of vaccine to DCs, a subset of antigen-presenting cells, has failed to stimulate optimal immune response for effective vaccination and need for adjuvants to induce immune response. To address this issue, we developed an in situ-forming injectable hybrid hydrogel that spontaneously assemble into microporous network upon subcutaneous administration, which provide a cellular niche to host immune cells, including DCs. In situ-forming injectable hybrid hydrogelators, composed of protein-polymer conjugates, formed a hydrogel depot at the close proximity to the dermis, resulting in a rapid migration of immune cells to the hydrogel boundary and infiltration to the microporous network. The biocompatibility of the watery microporous network allows recruitment of DCs without a DC enhancement factor, which was significantly higher than that of traditional hydrogel releasing chemoattractants, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Owing to the sustained degradation of microporous hydrogel network, DNA vaccine release can be sustained, and the recruitment of DCs and their homing to lymph node can be modulated. Furthermore, immunization of a vaccine encoding amyloid-β fusion proteinbearing microporous network induced a robust antigen-specific immune response in vivo and strong recall immune response was exhibited due to immunogenic memory. These hybrid hydrogels can be administered in a minimally invasive manner using hypodermic needle, bypassing the need for cytokine or DC enhancement factor and provide niche to host immune cells. These findings highlight the potential of hybrid hydrogels that may serve as a simple, yet multifunctional, platform for DNA vaccine delivery to modulate immune response.</P>

Simultaneous delivery of DNA vaccine and hydrophobic adjuvant using reducible polyethylenimine-functionalized graphene oxide for activation of dendritic cells

Yue Yin,Thanh Loc Nguyen,Bo Wang,Huu Thuy Trang Duong,이두성,김지흥,김재윤,정지훈 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.80 No.-

The activation and maturation of dendritic cells are critical in immunotherapy, and the potency of DCs isassociated with high levels of antigen presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Iand II and the expression of costimulatory signals. Graphene oxide (GO) and its derivatives have manyexcellent physicochemical properties, including large and hydrophobic surface available for interactingwith hydrophobic or aromatic drugs via p–p stacking forces,flexibility of the chemical modification onthe surfaces, and capacity of DC activation. In this study, we designed a simple strategy to achieve the codeliveryof a DNA vaccine and hydrophobic immune adjuvant (R848) and to enhance the adjuvanticity ofR848 via the synergistic effect of GO and R848. Thiolated low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine(TPEI1.8) was crosslinked with 4-aminothiophenol-modified GO (TGO) via the formation of disulfidebonds. Thus, TGO with its assembled TPEI1.8 could not only load R848 but also electrostatically interactwith the DNA vaccine. Owing to the reducibility of the disulfide bond in the cellular environment, theDNA vaccine could be readily released. This system can significantly enhance the DNA transfection, theexpression of the costimulatory signal, and the level of antigen presentation to MHC class I DCs for theiractivation and maturation.

Management of Antibiotic-Resistant Helicobacter pylori Infection: Perspectives from Vietnam

Vu Van Khien,Duong Minh Thang,Tran Manh Hai,Nguyen Quang Duat,Pham Hong Khanh,Dang Thuy Ha,Tran Thanh Binh,Ho Dang Quy Dung,Tran Thi Huyen Trang,Yoshio Yamaoka 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2019 Gut and Liver Vol.13 No.5

Antibiotic resistance is the most important factor leading to the failure of eradication regimens. This review focuses on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori primary and secondary resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug in Vietnam. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Vietnamese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Vietnamese Biomedical databases from January 2000 to December 2016. The search terms included the following: H. pylori infection, antibiotic (including clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug) resistance in Vietnam. The data were summarized in an extraction table and analyzed manually. Finally, Excel 2007 software was used to create charts. Ten studies (three studies in English and seven in Vietnamese) were included in this review. A total of 308, 412, 523, 408, 399, and 268 H. pylori strains were included in this review to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori primary resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance, respectively. Overall, the primary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance were 15.0%, 34.1%, 69.4%, 27.9%, 17.9% and 48.8%, respectively. Secondary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance were 9.5%, 74.9%, 61.5%, 45.7%, 23.5% and 62.3%, respectively. In Vietnam, primary and secondary resistance to H. pylori is increasing over time and affects the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication.