Anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) effects of aminoreductone (AR), a Maillard reaction product, were evaluated in this study. AR effectively inhibited the growth of all 24 strains (19 clinical isolates and 5 isogenic mutants) irrespective of susceptibility to antibiotics and clinical manifestation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AR ranged from 0.5 to 5 mM. A killing assay with multiples of MIC was performed, demonstrating that the killing activity of AR was significantly higher than that of its derived melanoidin, an inhibitor of H. pylori urease-gastric mucin adherence, formed in the final stage of the Maillard reaction. These significant effects of AR on H. pylori were observed even in acidic conditions (pH 3). At most, 25 mM AR effectively exhibited bactericidal activity in all strains. These results rise up the possibility that foods containing AR, such as milk and dairy products, are valuable sources for preventing colonization of H. pylori in the stomach and its associated tissue damages.

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In this study, antimicrobial activity of aminoreductone (AR), a product formed during the initial stage of the Maillard reaction, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated. The significant growth inhibition of all 51 MRSA isolates irrespective of drug susceptibility by AR was observed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AR ranged from 13 to 26 mM. The bactericidal activity of AR was evaluated by a killing assay with multiples of MIC, and it was recognized to depend on its dose. The combined effects of AR and antibiotics frequently used for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as amikacin (AN), ciprofloxacin, imipenem and levofloxacin, were examined. As a result, AR did not interfere with these antibiotic activities against 12 MRSA isolates selected and showed the advanced effect of growth inhibition in combination with antibiotics. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of AR were similar to those of AN, an antibiotic with known adverse effects, some serious. These findings show that AR is a naturally formed antimicrobial agent present in thermally processed foods with potential health benefits in medical practice.

Research on coping strategies and social support among Vietnamese cancer caregivers remains limited. In this study, we aim to examine the relationships between types of coping strategies utilized and social support among cancer caregivers. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in three main cancer hospitals in the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Vietnam. The 28-item Brief COPE Inventory (BCI) Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were utilized. Descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression were performed. Active coping, acceptance and positive reframing were the most used coping strategies among participants, while substance use was the least commonly used. Level of social support was positively correlated with the utilization of coping mechanisms. Receiving high social support and utilizing positive coping strategies enables caregivers to mitigate their caregiving burden, control the situation and enhance their own quality of life.

This study evaluated the quality of life of older adults in Vietnam. A survey was conducted on 291 old people at eight public and private nursing homes using cluster sampling. Quality of life was predicted by gender, duration of stay, center activities and community tangible support, and connection with family. Results were consistent across the four subscales of the Quality of Life Index. Quality of life of Vietnamese older adults depends not only on the quality of services provided by the nursing homes but also on family and community connections.

This review describes both magnitude and patterns of major behavioral risk factors for NCDs. Positive changes in tobacco use were identified, though this is far to meet the established expectation. Harmful alcohol consumption was reported, especially for males. Only small proportion of the population consumed an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables daily. Average salt intake was approximately doubled, in comparison to WHO’s recommendations. Physical activity has shifted gradually negatively, but future trends are unpredictable. An organized surveillance system should be developed initially with adequate tools and public resources to maintain and ensure sustainability over time.

Antimicrobial activities of aminoreductone (AR), a product formed in the initial stages of the Maillard reaction, were investigated using eight clinical isolates of antibiotic-susceptible/resistant pathogenic bacteria: four Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP), one Escherichia coli, one methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, and one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). AR showed advanced growth inhibition effects compared to antibiotics (amikacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and levofloxacin) frequently used for the treatment of infectious diseases, and worked synergistically with these antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of AR ranged from 13 to 20 mM. The bactericidal activity of AR was dose and time dependent. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was lower for Gram-negative bacteria (32 to 40 mM). These findings suggest that AR, a naturally formed antimicrobial agent present in thermally processed foods, has promising potential for health promotion and for use in medical practices.

The essential oil (EO) obtained from the leaves of the thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) grown in Vietnam was found to contain thymol (39.79%), cymene (17.33%), and γ-terpinene (13.45%) as the main volatile components. The antimicrobial activities of this oil were screened against several food-borne bacteria and fungi species. Significant growth inhibition effects against food-borne bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella Typhimurium were observed using the standard disc diffusion method. Thyme EO showed the antibacterial effect against all the test pathogenic strains with the inhibition zones were 23.3 ± 0.4 mm, 24.7 ± 0.4 mm, 29.0 ± 0.7 mm, 32 ± 0.7 mm in diameter against B. subtilis,  E. coli, S. Typhimurium and S. aureus, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by micro-dilution method in MHB liquid medium was 1.56 µl/ml. The bactericidal concentrations (MBC) was 3.13 µl/ml for three isolates from B. subtilis,  E. coli, and S. aureus, while the MBC tested for S. typhi was 1.56 µl/ml. The antifungal properties of the thyme EO were also determined in this study against three important pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum with the inhibition zones ranging approximately from 23.20 ± 0.06 to 44.10 ± 0.03 mm. On the other hands, the results also showed the antioxidant activity of Vietnamese thyme EO and suggested that thyme EO can be applied in food industries as natural flavoring preservatives/additives to control food spoilage and food born bacteria and fungi.