Ho Chi Minh City Open University Journal of Science
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Canakinumab treatment in patients with colchicine-resistant familial mediterranean fever: a multicenter observational study
No full textBackground/aim: Anti-interleukin-1 agents have known beneficial effects in the treatment of colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever (cr-FMF); however, studies to date have tended to have small sample sizes and to be based on pooled data. The present study investigates the efficacy of Canakinumab (CAN) in a homogeneous cohort of cr-FMF cases. Materials and methods: The study included patients who underwent treatment in three tertiary rheumatology departments, whose electronic medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The inclusion criteria were presence of colchicine resistant disease activity or persistent proteinuria secondary to AA-amyloidosis, and treatment with CAN for at least 6 months. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before and after CAN treatment. Results: The study included 65 patients with a mean age of 38.2 +/- 13.8 years, with a mean disease duration of 23.7 +/- 11.4 years and a mean colchicine dosage of 1.5 +/- 0.6 mg/day. Of the total, 60% of the patients had an M694V homozygous mutation, and 41.5% were resistant to Anakinra. Furthermore, 25 had FMF-related amyloidosis, and 16 were renal transplant recipients. The mean CAN treatment duration was 31.3 +/- 23.1 months, and 80% of patients achieved complete remission, while 20% achieved partial remission. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, frequency of attacks, and patient global assessment decreased significantly after CAN (p < 0.001 for each). The mean serum creatinine level (mg/dl) decreased from 2.1 +/- 0.8 to 1.4 +/- 0.8 (p < 0.001), and median proteinuria (mg/day) decreased from 1475 to 675 (p < 0.001) in patients with AA-amyloidosis. Only one patient with chronic monoarthritis affecting the wrist discontinued CAN due to insufficient arthritis relief. Conclusion: Canakinumab demonstrates excellent efficacy and favorable safety as a treatment for cr-FMF. Our study is the first to indicate the efficacy of CAN in reducing serum creatinine levels
Sürdürülebilir kalkınma çerçevesinde modern yenilenebilir enerji ve enerji yoğunluğunun değerlendirilmesi: Türkiye örneği
No full textTăng trưởng kinh tế tại các quốc gia ASEAN: Vai trò của chuyển đổi số các phương thức giao dịch ngân hàng
No full textThis study examines the impact of digital transformation in banking transaction methods on economic growth in selected ASEAN countries during the period 2013 - 2024. The research approaches transaction methods through three channels, including Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale terminals (POS), Internet banking, and mobile banking. By utilizing quarterly panel data, the results estimated using the Panel-Corrected Standard Errors method (PCSE) document the significant role of digital transformation in banking transactions in fostering economic growth in selected ASEAN countries. The study demonstrates the positive and statistically significant impacts of ATMs, Internet banking, and mobile banking channels on economic growth, while the POS method indicates a non-significant effect. The digital transformation facilitates transactions that are conducted faster, more conveniently, and cost-efficiently, enhancing capital circulation and contributing to economic growth. The empirical evidence from the research enriched the existing academic literature and elicits policy implications for promoting economic growth in the context of digital transformation.Nghiên cứu này xem xét tác động của việc chuyển đổi số các phương thức giao dịch ngân hàng đến tăng trưởng kinh tế tại một số quốc gia ASEAN giai đoạn 2013 - 2024. Các phương thức giao dịch được nghiên cứu tiếp cận qua ba kênh bao gồm máy giao dịch tự động (ATM), các thiết bị bán hàng chấp nhận thanh toán (POS), Internet banking và mobile banking. Với dữ liệu thu thập hàng quý, kết quả bằng ước lượng hiệu chỉnh sai số dữ liệu bảng (PCSE) ghi nhận vai trò của chuyển đổi số các phương thức giao dịch ngân hàng trong việc khuyến khích tăng trưởng kinh tế. Nghiên cứu chứng minh sự tồn tại của tác động tích cực từ các phương thức giao dịch qua ATM, Internet banking và mobile banking đến tăng trưởng kinh tế, trong khi ảnh hưởng của giao dịch qua POS chưa tìm thấy ý nghĩa thống kê. Việc chuyển đổi số tạo điều kiện để các giao dịch được thực hiện nhanh chóng, tiện lợi, tiết kiệm chi phí giao dịch, tăng dòng chu chuyển vốn, góp phần thúc đẩy nền kinh tế. Bằng chứng nghiên cứu đóng góp vào tài liệu nghiên cứu học thuật hiện có và gợi ra những hàm ý chính sách nhằm phát triển kinh tế trong giai đoạn chuyển đổi số
Phát triển mô hình hỗ trợ tìm kiếm việc làm cho người mới tốt nghiệp trong bối cảnh chuyển đổi số và truyền thông đa phương tiện
No full textThis study develops and validates a job-search support model for recent graduates in the context of digital transformation, clarifying the digital “levers” that enhance employability. Using a mixed-methods design, the study synthesizes prior literature to specify core digital competencies and then tests the framework with a survey of 224 final-year students and recent graduates in Vietnam, analyzed through reliability testing, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression. The results indicate three groups of factors that consistently and positively influence job-search success: digital career competencies, working skills in digital environments, and online personal brand management. Online personal branding emerges as the most actionable lever, while the other two dimensions strengthen candidates’ readiness throughout platform-mediated hiring processes. By integrating competencies, digital work practices, and online branding into a single, empirically grounded model-rather than treating skills in isolation-the study offers practical guidance for universities, employers, and graduates in curriculum design, talent development, and job-search strategies, beginning with an authentic online presence supported by disciplined digital work habits.Nghiên cứu này xây dựng và kiểm định mô hình hỗ trợ tìm việc cho người mới tốt nghiệp trong bối cảnh chuyển đổi số, làm rõ các “đòn bẩy” số nâng cao khả năng có việc làm. Nghiên cứu tổng hợp tài liệu để xác định các năng lực số, sau đó khảo sát 224 sinh viên năm cuối và người mới tốt nghiệp tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (TP.HCM), phân tích bằng kiểm định độ tin cậy, phân tích nhân tố khám phá và hồi quy bội. Kết quả chỉ ra ba nhóm yếu tố tác động tích cực đến thành công khi tìm việc: năng lực số nghề nghiệp, kỹ năng làm việc trong môi trường số và quản trị thương hiệu cá nhân trực tuyến. Trong đó, thương hiệu cá nhân trực tuyến là đòn bẩy dễ kích hoạt, còn hai nhóm còn lại củng cố sự sẵn sàng trong các quy trình tuyển dụng. Bằng cách tích hợp ba nhóm yếu tố vào một mô hình thống nhất thay vì xem xét rời rạc, nghiên cứu cung cấp gợi ý cho nhà trường, doanh nghiệp và người học trong thiết kế chương trình và nỗ lực tìm việc
The effect of dry-period heat stress on inflammatory, oxidative and metabolic alterations, and acquired immunity in dairy cows and offspring
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the effects of dry-period heat stress on metabolic and oxidative stress parameters, cytokine release, and T lymphocyte percentages in dairy cows and their offspring. Thirty-two Holstein cows were randomly assigned to heat stress (HS) and cooling (CL) groups. Blood samples were collected to harvest serum and isolate peripheral blood leukocytes, from cows at 21 – 28 days before the expected calving date and immediately after calving, and from their calves postnatally (before colostrum consumption and 24 ± 1 h after birth). Helper (Th1, Th2), regulatory T (Treg), and gamma/delta T (γδT) lymphocytes were enumerated by flow cytometry. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were measured using bovine-specific commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits. Nitric oxide, paraoxonase, total oxidant capacity, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), albumin, total protein, cholesterol, bilirubin, and creatinine levels were measured using an auto-analyzer. Compared to the CL group, in the HS cows, serum retinoic acid, alpha-tocopherol (p < 0.05), ALP, catalase, GSH-Px and IL-1β levels (p < 0.01) were significantly lower, whereas IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-10 levels were higher (p < 0.01). The HS cows presented with higher Th1 lymphocyte percentages (p < 0.01), and lower γδT and Treg lymphocyte percentages (p < 0.01). Treg lymphocyte percentages showed no difference between the groups, but varied by day. Specifically, in both the HS and CL dams, Treg lymphocyte percentages were significantly lower at the calving time than on day 21 before the expected calving date (p = 0.021). Colostral IgG concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in the HS group. In the offspring, there were no significant differences between the HS and CL groups for the T lymphocyte percentages before colostrum consumption and the serum IgG concentrations at 24 ± 1 h after birth. In conclusion, the study findings suggest that providing heat stress abatement to dry cows may modulate both Th1, Treg, and γδT lymphocyte functions, and the release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, intrauterine heat stress did not affect lymphocyte percentages in offspring before colostrum consumption
Nefes Egzersizinin Koroner Anjiyografi Uygulanacak Hastalarda Umut Ağrı ve Yaşam Bulgularına Etkisi
No full textPerceptions of good death and attitudes toward dignified death and euthanasia among nursing students in Türkiye: a cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study
No full textBackground: Nursing students’ perceptions and attitudes towards death and end-of-life care are of critical importance for the quality of end-of-life care and the professional roles they will undertake in this regard in the future. This study aimed to examine nursing students’ perceptions of good death, their attitudes towards the principles of dignified death, euthanasia, and the relationship between them. Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study consisted of 259 nursing students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year at two state universities in Türkiye during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected with the “Personal Information Form,” “Good Death Scale,” “Assessment Scale of Attitudes toward the Principles of Dying with Dignity (ASAPDD)” and “Euthanasia Perception Scale.” Results: Nursing students’ ASAPDD (49.21 ± 6.42) and Good Death Scale (57.18 ± 2.65) mean scores were above average. Regarding euthanasia, the positive (52.89 ± 16.87) and cultural (11.50 ± 2.90) sub-dimensions were above average, the negative sub-dimension was moderate (28.44 ± 8.47), and the penal (11.64 ± 5.17) and opportunistic (7.05 ± 2.84) sub-dimensions were below average. Conclusions: Nursing students generally approached dignified and good death positively and held supportive views on euthanasia, particularly in its positive and cultural dimensions. Nursing students did not support punitive approaches toward euthanasia and the idea of deriving personal profit from its implementation. As students’ attitudes toward the principles of dignified death increased, their perceptions of a good death and positive and cultural attitudes toward euthanasia also increased. As students’ perceptions of a good death increased, cultural attitudes also increased. These results highlight the importance of incorporating ethics and end-of-life care education into the nursing curriculum. Clinical trial number: Not applicable
Phytochemical composition and biological activities of selected essential oils and their discrimination through principal component analysis
No full textThe present study aimed to determine the phytochemical characterization, anticancer and antioxidant activities of essential oils (EOs) obtained from nine commonly used medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) including Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf (Poaceae), Cistus creticus L. (Cistaceae), Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Apiaceae), Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae), Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), Pinus cembra L. (Pinaceae), Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench, and Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton (Asteraceae) taxa from Türkiye. The chemical composition of the EOs was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antioxidant activities were evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging methods. In addition, the anticancer potential of the EOs were assessed using MTT assay against human cell lines, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), gastric carcinoma (NCI-N87), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and human prostate carcinoma (LNCaP clone FGC-Luc2) cancer cells, as well as non-cancerous human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The antioxidant activities of the EOs varied from 35.21 to 79.12%. Consistent with their antioxidant activities, the anticancer activities of the EOs of C. citratus, L. nobilis and, C. creticus exhibited significantly higher anticancer activities compared to the others. However, almost all EOs were found to inhibit cell viability and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Among the tested concentrations, the highest anticancer activity was observed against against MCF-7 cells, followed by NCI-N87, LNCaP, and HepG2 cancer cells, with the IC50 values ranging from 15.10 ± 1.00 to 78.12 ± 0.32 µg/mL, respectively. The major components of the EOs distilled from studied MAPs were found as anethole, borneol, carvacrol, citral, α-pinene, eucalyptol and β-citral at different concentrations in the EOs. Overall, it can be clearly concluded that the EO samples distilled from studied MAPs contain valuable bioactive compounds and accordingly exhibit remarkable biological activities
Efficacy and tolerability of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate prophylaxis in HBV-infected individuals receiving chemo/ immunosuppressive therapy
No full textBackground and Aim: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) prophylaxis in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected or HBV-experienced individuals with benign and ma-lignant diseases receiving chemo/immunosuppressive or biological modifier therapy. Materials and Methods: This is a multicenter, observational study in which data from 13 centers were reviewed and entered into a standardized electronic case report form. Results: A total of 158 individuals who received TAF prophylaxis were included in the analysis. Before starting the prophylaxis, 51 individuals were hepatitis B surface antigen positive, while 107 were HBV-experi-enced. Thirty patients had detectable HBV DNA levels. Twelve of them had abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Forty patients were switched to TAF. Solid tumors (34%) were the most common primary disease types. The median follow-up period was 17.2 months. From baseline to the end of the follow-up period, none of the patients had clinical, biochemical, or serological evidence of HBV reactivation under TAF prophylaxis. The virological response rate was 87%. HBV suppression was well maintained after switching in the 40 patients who were switched to TAF treatment. All patients maintained their chemo/ immunosuppressive therapy without interruption. TAF prophylaxis was well tolerated. No drug discontinuation due to adverse effects was observed. No HBV-related morbidity or mortality was observed during the TAF prophylaxis. No significant differences were found in the glo-merular filtration rate change or hypophosphatemia during TAF pro-phylaxis, but the serum triglyceride levels were significantly increased (p=0.019). Conclusion: TAF prophylaxis is effective, safe, and tolerable in preventing chemo/immunosuppressive or biological modifier-induced HBV reactivation in HBV-infected or HBV-experienced individuals
Finding balance in the digital world: The parallel mediating role of digital and mental well-being in the correlation between digital stress and internet addiction
No full textInternet addiction has emerged as a significant problem among university students. However, no study has been found in Turkey that examines the parallel mediating role of digital and mental well-being in the correlation between digital stress and internet addiction among university students. This study aims to examine the parallel mediating role of digital and mental well-being in the correlation between digital stress and internet addiction among university students. This descriptive study was conducted with 525 university students. The researcher collected data using “Internet Addiction Scale”, “Digital Stress Scale”, “Digital Well-Being Scale”, and “Mental Well-Being Scale”. It was found that 5.7% of university students were addicted to the internet, and 31.0% had a risky level of internet use. Students had moderate levels of digital stress, while their mental and digital well-being levels were above average. A significant correlation was determined between digital stress, digital well-being, mental well-being, and internet addiction (p < 0.001). All these predictor variables explained 50.2% of the variance in internet addiction (R² = 0.502). Digital well-being partially mediated the correlation between digital stress and internet addiction, while mental well-being did not significantly influence this correlation. These findings may assist mental health professionals in developing psychosocial interventions to encourage balanced internet use among university students