Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) are a pressing problem in Vietnam, in particular because of propaganda associating HIV with the "social evils" of sex work and drug use. There is little understanding of the causes and sequelae of stigma and discrimination against PLHIV in Vietnam. Fifty-three PLHIV participated in focus group discussions in Ho Chi Minh City. Nearly all participants experienced some form of stigma and discrimination. Causes included exaggerated fears of HIV infection, misperceptions about HIV transmission, and negative representations of PLHIV in the media. Participants faced problems getting a job, perceived unfair treatment in the workplace and experienced discrimination in the healthcare setting. Both discrimination and support were reported in the family environment. There is a need to enforce laws against discrimination and provide education to decrease stigma against PLHIV in Vietnam. Recent public campaigns encouraging compassion toward PLHIV and less discrimination from healthcare providers who work with PLHIV have been encouraging.

In this study, the performance of 17 different density functional theory functionals was compared for the calculation of the bond dissociation energy (BDE) values of X−H (X=C, N, O, S) bonds of aromatic compounds. The effect of the size of the basis set (expansions of 6-31(G)) was also assessed for the initial geometry and zero-point energy calculations, followed by the single-point BDE calculations with different model chemistries with the 6-311 + (3df,2p) basis set. It was found that the size of the basis set for geometry optimization has a much smaller effect on the accuracy of BDE than the choice of functional for the following single-point calculations. The M06-2X, M05-2X and M08−HX functionals yielded highly accurate BDE values compared to experimental data (with the average mean unsigned error MUE = 1.2–1.5 kcal mol −1 ), performing better than any of the other functionals. The results suggest that geometry optimization may be performed with B3LYP functional and a small basis set, whereas the M06-2X, M05-2X and M08-HX density functionals with a suitably large basis set offer the best method for calculating BDEs of ArX−H (X=C, N, O, S) bonds.

Anthraquinones (ANQs) isolated from Paederia plants are known to have antidiarrheal, antitussive, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycaemic, and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant properties were also noted but not confirmed thus far. In this study, the superoxide and hydroperoxide radical scavenging activities of six ANQs were evaluated using a computational approach. The results suggest that the ANQs exhibit low HOO• antiradical activity in all environments, including the gas phase (k < 102 M–1 s–1). In contrast, the ANQs might exert excellent O2 •– radical scavenging activity, particularly in aqueous solution. The rate constants of the superoxide anion scavenging in water (at pH = 7.4) range from 3.42 × 106 to 3.70 × 108 M–1 s–1. Compared with typical antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and quercetin, the superoxide anion scavenging activity of ANQs is significantly higher. Thus, the ANQs are promising O2 •– radical scavengers in polar media.

Medical education reforms are a crucial component to ensuring healthcare systems can meet current and future population needs. In 2010, a Lancet commission called for ‘a new century of transformative health professional education’, with a particular focus on the needs of low-income and-middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Vietnam. This requires policymakers and educational leaders to find and apply novel and innovative approaches to the design and delivery of medical education. This review describes the current state of physician training in Vietnam and how innovations in medical education curriculum, pedagogy and technology are helping to transform medical education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It also examines enabling factors, including novel partnerships and new education policies which catalysed and sustained these innovations. Our review focused on the experience of five public universities of medicine and pharmacy currently undergoing medical education reform, along with a newly established private university. Research in the area of medical education innovation is needed. Future work should look at the outcomes of these innovations on medical education and the quality of medical graduates. Nonetheless, this review aims to inspire future innovations in medical education in Vietnam and in other LMICs.

Two new compounds, named eudesm-4(15),7-diene-3α,9β,11-triol (1) and eudesm-4(15),7diene-1β,3α,9β,11-tetraol (2) together with three known sesquiterpene lactones (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone (3), (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone-11-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (4) atractylenolide III (5) were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. Their structures were elucidated by using 1D and 2D-NMR spectra and HRESIMS data. Compound 5 exhibited the most active anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 27.5 μM in inhibiting of nitric oxide production. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate effects while compound 4 was inactive.