Visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline using ZnO/g-C₃N₄/biochar composite in aqueous solution

Nguyen Van Hung,Bui Thi Minh Nguyet,Nguyen Huu Nghi,Nguyen Minh Luon,Nguyen Ngoc Bich,Le Van Thanh Son,Nguyen Trung Kien,Dao Ngoc Nhiem,Nguyen Thanh Tuoi,Dinh Quang Khieu 대한환경공학회 2024 Environmental Engineering Research Vol.29 No.4

In the present work, ZnO/g-C₃N₄/biochar was prepared, and it was used for visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation of some colorants (methylene blue, rhodamine B, methyl orange) and some antibiotics (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, amoxicilline). Biochar was prepared by pyrolysing Phragmites australis biomass. The ZnO/g-C₃N₄/biochar composite was synthesized with the alkaline hydrolysis method. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray/elemental mapping, ultraviolet-visible-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles with a large surface area are highly dispersed on the g-C₃N₄ particle surface and biochar. The composite exhibits superior photocatalytic degradation ability toward doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline compared with individual components (ZnO or g-C₃N₄) and satisfies stability after six treatment cycles. The kinetics and degradation mechanisms of doxycyline were also addressed. In addition, the present catalyst also exhibits the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, rhodamine B, methyl orange, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin in visible-light regions.

Highly efficient adsorption of arsenite from aqueous by zirconia modified activated carbon

Pham Ngoc Chuc,Nguyen Quang Bac,Dao Thi Phuong Thao,Nguyen Trung Kien,Nguyen Thi Ha Chi,Nguyen Van Noi,Vo Thang Nguyen,Nguyen Thi Hong Bich,Dao Ngoc Nhiem,Dinh Quang Khieu 대한환경공학회 2024 Environmental Engineering Research Vol.29 No.2

Identification of three novel mutations in PCNT in vietnamese patients with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II

Thu Hien Nguyen,Ngoc‑Lan Nguyen,Chi Dung Vu,Can Thi Bich Ngoc,Ngoc Khanh Nguyen,Huy Hoang Nguyen 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.2

Background Primordial dwarfsm (PD) is a group of genetically heterogeneous disorders related to developmental disabilities occurring in the uterus and prolongs during all stages of life, resulting in short stature, facial deformities and abnormal brain. Objective To determine the exact cause of the disease in two Vietnamese patients priory diagnosed with PD by severe preand postnatal growth retardation with marked microcephaly and some bone abnormalities. Methods Whole-exome sequencing was performed for the two patients and mutations in genes related to PD were screened. Sanger sequencing was applied to examine the mutations in the patients of their families. Results Three novel mutations in the PCNT gene which have not been reported previously were identifed in the two patients. Of which, two frameshift mutations (p.Thr479Profs*6 and p.Glu2742Alafs*8) were detected in patient I and one stop-gained mutation (p.Gln1907*) was detected in the patient II. These mutations may result in a truncated PCNT protein, leading to an inactivated PACT domain corresponding to residue His3138–Trp3216 of PCNT protein. Therefore, the three mutations may cause a defciency of protein functional activity and result in the phenotypes of primordial dwarfsm in the two patients. Conclusions Clinical presentations in combination with genetic analyses supported an accurate diagnosis of the two patients with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfsm type II (MOPD II). In addition, these results have important implications for prenatal genetic screening and genetic counseling for the families.

Two Human Cases of Echinococcus ortleppi Infection in the Lung and Heart in Vietnam

Nguyen Van De,Pham Ngoc Minh,Le Van Duyet,Nguyen Ngoc Bich,Trinh Nam Son,정봉광,채종일 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2020 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.58 No.4

This is a report of 2 cases of human hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus ortleppi in Vietnam. The patients were a 12-year-old male (case 1) having a cyst of 10.0×9.0 cm size in the lung and a 50-year-old female with a 3.0×3.3 cm-sized cyst in the heart. Eosinophilia was 33.7% in the male and 45.8% in the female patient. C-reactive protein was increased to 16.5 mg/L in the male and 18.2 mg/L in the female. Both patients were positive for ELISA at OD=2.5 and 3.1, respectively. Echinococcus protoscolices were collected from the cysts by amniocentesis and surgery. The protoscolices were identified as E. ortleppi by morphology and analysis of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (nad1) gene sequence. Both patients were cured by surgical resection of the hydatid cyst combined with albendazole medication. The E. ortleppi infection in lung is the second report, and the other in the heart is the first in Vietnam.

베트남산 농수산물 수입에 대한 한국의 산업피해 보호와 위생검역조치(SPS)의 발동 효과

Nguyen Bich Ngoc,김태황 무역구제학회 2023 무역구제연구 Vol.0 No.69

We analyze the impact of Korea's Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) on Vietnam's agricultural and marine product exports. Over the years, under the influence of economic integration, Vietnam has signed many free trade agreements, including the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA). Through the free trade agreement, South Korea and Vietnam have reduced many tariffs on each other. However, developed countries are increasingly using non-tariff barriers to protect domestic production. In particular, Korea is a country that values food safety and has set quite strict SPS barriers. This means that Vietnam's exports of agricultural and marine products will be affected to some extent. To analyze the impact of Korea's SPS measures on the export of Vietnamese agricultural and marine products, the author used data on the number of nonconformities when importing Vietnamese agricultural and marine products to Korea. In addition, other factors such as productivity, export volume, and export amount of Vietnamese agricultural and fishery products are also analyzed. As a result, Korea's SPS measures (focusing on pesticide residue standards) were found to be stricter than those of other major export countries to Vietnam, such as Japan or the United States. When agricultural and fishery products are exported to Korea, the nonconformity rate is also higher than that of other countries. Although the nonconformity rate has been less than 1% for several years, it is noteworthy that Vietnam's agricultural and fishery products are always among the top five countries with the most nonconformity in terms of number, weight, and value when exported to Korea. This shows not only that Korea's SPS standards are relatively strict, but also the carelessness of Vietnamese exporters and farmers in not carefully checking the quality of products and the production process. This suggests that the Vietnamese agricultural and fisheries industry, exporters, and the government need to pay comprehensive attention to the export of Vietnamese agricultural and fishery products and prepare policy responses. 본 연구는 한국의 위생검역조치(SPS)가 베트남산 농수산물 수입에 어떤 영향을 끼치는지를 고찰하였다. 한국과 베트남은 자유무역협정(FTA)을 발효하여 관세를 인하하고 비관세 수입규제를 완화하였으나 SPS에 의한 수입 제한은 국민 건강권과 산업 보호를 위한 일관된 조치로써 엄격하게 활용되고 있다. 베트남은 한국에 대한 농수산물 주요 수출국이므로 한국의 SPS 조치의 직접적인 영향을 받는다. 본 연구는 베트남 농수산물의 한국에 대한 수출이 부적합 판정을 받은 정도와 내용을 파악하고 일본과 미국에 의한 부적합 판정과 비교 분석하였다. 한국의 잔류농약 허용 기준 중심의 SPS 조치는 일본이나 미국에 비해 상대적으로 엄격하게 적용됨에 따라 베트남 농수산물의 대 한국 수출에 대한 부적합률은 상대적으로 높게 나타났다. 비록 부적합률이 1% 이하이지만 베트남은 수출 건수, 중량, 총액 기준으로 한국의 농수산물 수입 부적합도가 높은 상위 5개국에 지속적으로 포함되었다. 이러한 부적합한 농수산물 교역 양상은 양국의 지속가능한 통상관계 발전에 리스크로 작용할 수 있다. 한국의 SPS 조치의 요구조건이 베트남 농수산물에 대해 배타적으로 적용되는 것이 아니라면 베트남 산업의 견지에서는 전략적 대응책이 필요하다. 베트남 농수산물 생산자와 수출업자가 상품의 위생적 생산과정과 품질 관리 체계를 혁신해야 한다. 베트남 정부는 생산자와 수출업자가 한국의 잔류농약 허용기준을 중심으로 한 SPS 조치의 핵심적인 요건을 사전적으로 엄격하게 관리할 수 있도록 정책적 동기부여와 실천적 지원을 강화해야 한다.

Efonidipine Inhibits JNK and NF-κB Pathway to Attenuate Inflammation and Cell Migration Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Microglial Cells

Nguyen Ngoc Minh,Duong Men Thi Hoai,Nguyen Phuong Linh,Bui Bich Phuong,Ahn Hee-Chul,Cho Jungsook 한국응용약물학회 2022 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.30 No.5

Efonidipine, a calcium channel blocker, is widely used for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In our preliminary study using structure-based virtual screening, efonidipine was identified as a potential inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3). Although its antihypertensive effect is widely known, the role of efonidipine in the central nervous system has remained elusive. The present study investigated the effects of efonidipine on the inflammation and cell migration induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using murine BV2 and human HMC3 microglial cell lines and elucidated signaling molecules mediating its effects. We found that the phosphorylations of JNK and its downstream molecule c-Jun in LPS-treated BV2 cells were declined by efonidipine, confirming the finding from virtual screening. In addition, efonidipine inhibited the LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide. Similarly, the IL-1β production in LPS-treated HMC3 cells was also inhibited by efonidipine. Efonidipine markedly impeded cell migration stimulated by LPS in both cells. Furthermore, it inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B, thereby suppressing nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in LPS-treated BV2 cells. Taken together, efonidipine exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-migratory effects in LPS-treated microglial cells through inhibition of the JNK/NF-κB pathway. These findings imply that efonidipine may be a potential candidate for drug repositioning, with beneficial impacts on brain disorders associated with neuroinflammation.

Seroprevalence of Tissue and Luminal Helminths among Patients in Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Vietnam, 2018

Nguyen Van De,Pham Ngoc Minh,Nguyen Ngoc Bich,채종일 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2020 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.58 No.4

A serological survey was performed using ELISA to estimate the prevalence of tissue and luminal helminthic infections among hospital patients in Hanoi region, Vietnam. An overall seroprevalence of tissue and luminal helminthiases was 64.0% (95% CI 61.2–66.8) among 1,120 patients who visited Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Vietnam in 2018. The highest seroprevalence was observed against Toxocara spp. (59.0%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (46.3%), Gnathostoma spp. (25.5%), cysticercus (12.8%), Angiostrongylus cantonensis (10.5%), Fasciola spp. (11.1%), and Clonorchis sinensis (8.7%). Mono-infection by one species (11.1%) was lower than multiple infections (53.0%) (P<0.05). The seroprevalence in males (59.3%) was lower than in females (66.2%) but not statistically significant (P>0.05). Children (<15 years) revealed lower seroprevalence (34.0%) than adults (68.4%), and the age group 51–70 years revealed the highest seroprevalence (76.0%). Among the seropositive patients, eosinophilia (≥8.0%) was noted in 80.2%. The present results suggested active transmission of various tissue and luminal helminths among people in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Smoke-Free Universities: Changes Since Enactment of Vietnamese Tobacco Control Legislation

Nguyen, Ngoc Bich,Cook, Margaret,Johnstone, Kelly,Capra, Mike,Vu, Thi Hoang Lan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.no.sup1

Background: In 2013, legislation in Vietnam regulated smoking in public areas. Included was a ban on indoor smoking at universities. Objective: Since awareness and attitude are moderators of the effectiveness of smoke-free policy, ou aim was to assess changes in students' knowledge and attitude tosecond hand smoke (SHS) and awareness and support of smoke-free legislation at four Vietnamese universities, one year after legislative changes. Methods: A two-phase cross sectional study of undergraduate students using self-administered questionnaires (based on the Global Adult Tobacco Survey and the Thrasher survey) was conducted at the introduction of the legislation and one year thereafter. Results: One-year post legislation there were significant increases in knowledge of smoke-free legislation and awareness of universities as smoke-free environments. There was a significant increase in knowledge of harmful effects of SHS on diseases such as examples in the heart and lung, including lung cancer, and miscarriage. Students expressed strong support of smoke-free environments in universities, hospitals, schools, workplaces, public transport, libraries, cinemas and theatres; support was also increased post legislation. Changes were seen in attitude to SHS, and rights of non-smokers and smokers. Conclusions: Positive changes have occurred in knowledge and attitude toward smoke-free environments and SHS in universities since enactment of Vietnamese tobacco control legislation.

A Taguchi approach with electron-beam irradiation to optimize the efficiency of removing enrofloxacin from aqueous media

Hong Thi Bich Truong,Hiep Nghia Bui,Hieu Trung Nguyen,Thanh-Luu Pham,Duy Ngoc Nguyen,Yuan-Shing Perng,Linh Thi My Lam,Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo,Van-Truc Nguyen,Ha Manh Bui 한국화학공학회 2022 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.39 No.4

Electron-beam (EB) irradiation was employed to degrade enrofloxacin (ENR) in an aqueous solution. Thealgal growth inhibition test revealed that ENR exhibited low toxicity against the cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp., with anEC50-96 h value of 5.17mg/L. The Taguchi design also involved finding the best optimum for ENR treatment using EB. Results revealed that the high-efficiency removal of ENR in an aqueous solution was approximately 98.53% under theoptimum conditions of an absorbed dose of 5 kGy, a pH of 5.0, and an initial ENR concentration of 10 mg/L and anH2O2 concentration of 2mM. The ERR degradation under a couple of EB irradiation and H2O2 followed pseudo-firstorderkinetics, with an R2 of ~0.970. The major degradation pathways of ENR were suggested by density functional theory,natural bond orbital calculations, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) was also performed to evaluate the impact of the EB on removing ENR; the industrial processwas designed based on laboratory tests aimed with the ReCiPe tool. The obtained results indicated that energy consumptionand H2O2 affect environmental impacts with order human health, ecology systems, and natural resource. The LCAalso proved that EB could be a green and efficient method for eliminating pharmaceutical contaminants in water.

Digital Citizenship Awareness in EFL Context in Vietnam : A Project Evaluation

Diem Thi Ngoc Hoang,Trang Thi Thu Tran,Ngoc Thi Bich Nguyen,Linh Thuy Nguyen 아시아영어교육학회 2020 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.17 No.1