Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023. All participants underwent bronchoscopy to collect bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) from two bronchial locations: one in the region with the greatest bronchial dilatation and one in the normal bronchi or in patients with all lobes affected, the least abnormal lobe (abnormal BLF [ABLF] and normal BLF [NBLF], respectively). Spontaneously expectorated sputum was also collected.Results: Out of 24 cases, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis was 14/24 (58.4%), 5/24 (20.8%), and 5/24 (20.8%), respectively. NE concentration and activity were significantly higher in sputum and ABLF than in NBLF (p<0.001). Sputum and ABLF were highly correlated (r=0.841, p<0.001) with no significant difference in NE activity between sputum and ABLF. Higher levels of NE activity were seen in more severe bronchiectasis than in mild bronchiectasis in all samples but were only statistically significant for NE activity in sputum (r=0.418, p=0.042).Conclusion: NE activity and concentration are elevated in areas of the lung most affected by bronchiectasis. Sputum is a valid surrogate of pulmonary NE levels, as they correlate strongly with ABLF and confirm in a Vietnamese population the relationship between NE activity and disease severity.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex and multifactorial syndrome with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Accumulative evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in maintaining cardiac homeostasis. The dysregulation of various miRNAs has been reported in different studies on failing human hearts. However, little is known about their circulatory profile. In this study, comprehensive miRNA profiling was performed by next-generation sequencing for plasma samples of 24 HF and 24 age and sex-matched, non-HF patients. A total of 1391 miRNAs were detected, of which 228 miRNAs and 261 miRNAs were commonly expressed in the HF and non-HF groups, respectively. Eight miRNAs (hsa-let-7b-3p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-145-3p, hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-664a-5p, hsa-miR-1307-5p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, and hsa-miR-3074-5p) were found to be dysregulated between HF and non-HF patients. The expression of another seven miRNAs (hsa-miR-589-5p, hsa-miR-30b-5p, hsa-miR-654-3p, hsa-miR-1292-5p, hsa-miR-659-5p, hsa-miR-548d-5p, and hsa-miR-7847-3p) was frequently observed in HF patients but not in non-HF cases. Subsequent analyses of target gene prediction and associated pathways revealed the enrichment of pathways related to vascular development, the cell cycle, and transcriptional activity. These data reveal the expression profile and the dysregulation of circulating miRNAs in our patients with HF.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRs) are emerging targets for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of heart failure (HF). Accumulated evidence showed that microRNA-132 (miR-132) and microRNA-152 (miR-152) play critical roles in the development of multiple pathological processes of the heart. Although their upregulations have been detected in the failing hearts of humans and animal models, little is known about the circulating levels of miR-132 and miR-152 in patients with HF. Methods: Our study was conducted from January 2022 to August 2022 at the Cardiology Department of the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. During study period, 36 participants were consecutively enrolled, including 18 HF patients and 18 patients who age and sex matched the non-HF controls. Serum samples of study participants were collected on admission and the expression levels of miR-132 and miR-152 were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The comparative cycle threshold method (ΔCt) was applied to calculate the relative expression of miRs. Results: The miR concentration in HF group was significantly lower than that in the control group. In contrast, the serum levels of miR-132 and miR-152 were significantly higher in HF patients. Further analyses of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that miR-132 and miR-152 individually had moderate diagnostic potential for HF (with area under curve [AUC] values of 0.713 and 0.698, respectively). A positive correlation between these miRs was also confirmed. Conclusion: Serum miR-132 and miR-152 were upregulated in Vietnamese patients with HF and may serve as candidate biomarkers for diagnostic purposes.

Background: Nanomaterials have emerged as a transformative approach in modern pharmaceutical applications, offering advanced benefits compared to conventional therapies. Among available pharmaceutical nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been reported with broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential and drug delivery potency. Nevertheless, some studies suggested that chemical synthesis of AgNPs might result in redundant chemicals, posing environmental and health risks. To minimize undesired products, a promising approach is to biologically synthesize this potent nanomaterial. Methods: This study ultilized an eco-friendly system for AgNPs synthesis using Aspergillus terreus isolated from the air. Physical properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated by UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Antibacterial activity of biosynthesized AgNPs was examined by well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration, while in vitro cytotoxicity was used to determine the antitumor activity of AgNPs. Results: The biosynthesized AgNPs had a size of around 60 nm, a PDI inferior to 0.2, and a zeta potential of −30 mV. They exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Additionally, these nanoparticles also exerted a selective antiproliferative effect on MCF-7, A549, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Conclusions: Our research presented the potential of biosynthesized AgNPs using Aspergillus terreus for antimicrobial and anticancer applications, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional chemical methods.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the largest contributors to disease burden and healthcare expenditure worldwide. Countless studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators of heart homeostasis and promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of HF. Among the reported miRNAs, miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p have been implicated in various cardiovascular diseases through involvement in cardiac injury, fibrosis, and cell survival pathways. Although cellular functions of miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p have been investigated intensively, their circulating levels remain largely elusive in patients with HF. This study examined expression levels of plasma miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) in a study cohort comprising 41 chronic HF patients and 41 matched, non-HF subjects. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted for miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p to discover their potential target genes, biological functions, and association with cardiovascular-related clinical phenotypes. Chronic HF patients presented a significant increase in plasma miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p levels. Diverse expressive patterns of miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p were observed in different types and functional classes of HF. A positive correlation between plasma miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p was also identified. In silico analysis suggested that many genes related to cell proliferation and metabolic pathways were shared targets of miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p. Our study reveals dysregulation of plasma miR-106b-5p and miR-185-5p in patients with chronic HF that may contribute to the pathological course of this disease.