Hong Bang International University

Abstract Integrated packing and scheduling problems arising in maritime container terminal operations lead naturally to Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programs (MINLPs) in which discrete spatial assignments interact with continuous temporal variables and nonlinear physical constraints. These interactions often produce bilinear queueing relationships and quadratic vessel stability constraints, making the resulting optimization problems computationally challenging. In particular, standard polyhedral relaxations frequently yield weak lower bounds, limiting the effectiveness of classical spatial branch-and-bound methods. This paper proposes a lifted second-order cone (SOC) relaxation for a class of maritime packing and scheduling models. The formulation isolates the nonlinear queueing and stability structures and embeds them within a convex conic representation that preserves the geometry of the underlying quadratic constraints. We show that the resulting SOC relaxation strictly dominates the corresponding linear relaxation and provides significantly tighter lower bounds. Building on this relaxation, we develop a Conic Spatial Branch-and-Bound (Conic-sBB) algorithm that integrates the strengthened conic bounds with a hierarchical branching strategy and a deterministic primal heuristic. Computational experiments on a comprehensive benchmark set demonstrate that the proposed framework substantially improves root-node bounds and reduces search tree sizes compared with linear-relaxation-based approaches. In particular, the algorithm consistently solves medium- and large-scale instances more efficiently and proves optimality for problem sizes that remain challenging for baseline methods. The results highlight the potential of conic relaxation techniques for strengthening global optimization algorithms in integrated packing–scheduling problems.

This study examines how human resource management practices, work–family conflict, and family support influence organizational commitment among female healthcare workers in public hospitals, considering the mediating roles of work–life balance and job satisfaction and the moderating role of gender stereotypes. Using a mixed-methods design, survey data were collected from 695 female healthcare workers in four public hospitals in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that compensation and benefits, working conditions, and work environment significantly improve work–life balance, while all HRM practice dimensions positively affect job satisfaction. Job satisfaction emerges as the strongest predictor of organizational commitment and serves as a key mediating mechanism. Work–family conflict displays asymmetric effects: work-to-family interference weakens commitment, whereas family-to-work interference strengthens it. Family support enhances work–life balance, and gender stereotypes shape organizational commitment both directly and indirectly by moderating work–family relationships.

Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEIs) are rare genetic disorders that cause immunodeficiency. Diagnosis and classification of these disorders are challenging due to the heterogeneous clinical manifestations and genetic mutations. This is the first study to fully describe the spectrum of gene mutations and genetic diversity of IEIs in Vietnamese pediatric patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric patients diagnosed with IEIs at Children’s Hospital 1, Vietnam, from 2014 to 2024. Ninety-two patients with identified mutations were enrolled. Genetic testing was performed using Sanger, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and whole exome sequencing to identify pathogenic variants. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected from medical records and mutations were classified according to the IUIS 2024 classification. The study identified 99 mutations in 33 different genes, with X-linked inheritance being predominant (53.2%). The antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation groups were the most common (22.8% for each mutation). Nineteen novel mutations were identified, all of which were predictively classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic. The majority of mutations caused protein truncations, leading to loss of function, especially in the immunodeficiencies affecting cellular and humoral immunity and the phagocyte disorder groups. Clinical manifestations differed markedly between the different gene groups, highlighting the complexity of diagnosing IEIs. The number of cases with mutations causing X-linked inheritance was dominant, which was similar to studies from Asian countries, though different from studies from Africa due to the rates of consanguineous marriage. In addition, the variability between clinical phenotype and genotype in IEIs noted from our study has been a significant obstacle to the classification of diseases and their efficient treatment. This is the largest single center cohort to date in Vietnam to describe gene mutations in children with IEIs. The results of the study emphasize the importance of genetic testing in the diagnosis and treatment of IEIs, and open possible directions for further research for novel mutations.

Cancer remains a global health challenge, with conventional treatments limited by toxicity and drug resistance. Propolis, a natural resin with promising anticancer properties but restricted in clinical applications due to low bioavailability and poor solubility. Nanotechnology, offers a potential approach to enhance propolis' therapeutic efficacy through more efficient delivery and improved pharmacokinetics. Propolis-loaded niosomes (PLNs) were prepared using the ethanol injection method, optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) for surfactant type (Tween 80), cholesterol-to-surfactant ratio, and propolis content. Physicochemical properties, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were characterized. Stability was assessed under various storage conditions, and total polyphenol content (TPC) and entrapment efficiency (EE%) were determined. Anticancer activity wasin vitroassessed against MCF7 breast cancer and L929 fibroblast cell lines. The optimized PLN formulation (at a mass ratio 4:1:8 of propolis: cholesterol: Tween 80, respectively) achieved a particle size of 193.5 nm, PDI of 0.123, and zeta potential of -19.6 mV, with a TPC of 21.83 mg GAE g-1and EE% of 57.82%. Stability studies confirmed optimized formulation's robustness at 4 °C, with minimal changes over 42 d, though higher temperatures induced aggregation. PLNs exhibited superior cytotoxicity against MCF7 cells inhibitory concentration (IC50equivalent to 106.85 µg ml-1) compared to L929 cells (IC50equivalent to 127.14 µg ml-1). The formulation's uniformity and moderate stability support its potential for targeted drug delivery. PLNs effectively enhance propolis' anticancer efficacy and bioavailability, offering a promising delivery system for cancer therapy. Future studies should focus on improving zeta potential,in vivovalidation, and encapsulation efficiency to advance clinical translation.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic disease that leads to serious complications and increases the burden of healthcare costs. Identifying the direct medical costs (DMC) of inpatient care is essential to assessing the economic burden and proposing effective management strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study from medical records and hospital billing invoices of inpatients with T2DM at Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital (GDPH) in 2025. Results: A total of 464 patients were included, with a mean age of 70.0 ± 13.4 years; the majority were female (62.9%) and elderly (76.7%). The average DMC per inpatient episode was 7,287,627 VND (95% CI: 6,353,801 - 8,221,453 VND), of which the majority was covered by health insurance (88.48%). The three largest cost components were hospital bed-day charges (24.86%), laboratory tests (22.38%), and medications (22.11%). Length of stay and number of comorbidities were significantly correlated with DMC (r = 0.868; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The average DMC per inpatient episode for T2DM at GDPH in 2025 was approximately 7.3 million VND, with nearly 90% of expenses covered by health insurance. Length of stay and disease severity were the main factors influencing treatment costs.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rapidly becoming more prevalent among younger populations, posing significant impacts on health and socio-economic development. Therefore, analyzing direct medical costs (DMCs) in CKD treatment is essential. Objective: To analyze DMCs in the treatment of CKD at Thong Nhat Dong Nai General Hospital in 2024. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using retrospective electronic billing data of all CKD patients who met the sampling criteria at Thong Nhat Dong Nai General Hospital from January to December 2024. Results: The study analyzed data from 7,634 patients, with a mean age of 63.41 ± 13.76 years. Among them, 24.18% were diagnosed with stage 1 CKD. The average annual DMC per patient, per inpatient episode, and per outpatient visit was 14.02 million VND (95% CI: 13.28-14.77 million VND), 10.81 million VND (95% CI: 9.76-11.85 million VND), and 3.45 million VND (95% CI: 3.38-3.53 million VND), respectively. The majority of the costs were reimbursed by health insurance (ranging from 89.30% to 93.06%). Factors associated with DMCs included gender, CKD stage, insurance reimbursement rate, type of insurance coverage, and the presence of vascular comorbidities. Conclusion: The annual DMCs for CKD treatment were estimated to account for approximately 12.3% of the national GDP per capita in 2024, with inpatient DMCs representing around 9.48% and outpatient DMCs accounting for approximately 3.03%.

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) demonstrate superior efficacy over conventional chemotherapy but are associated with various adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that can compromise therapeutic efficacy and patient adherence. Objectives: This study analyzed the ADRs associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) prescribed for cancer patients undergoing treatment at the Oncology Department of Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using outpatient records and TKI prescriptions collected from treatment encounters from June 2024 to June 2025. Results: Among the 449 TKI-containing prescriptions reviewed, 416 (92.7%) were associated with at least one ADR, while 33 prescriptions (7.3%) reported no ADRs. The most prevalent toxicities involved gastrointestinal (59.2%), skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (58.6%), and hepatobiliary disorders (30.7%). Serious adverse events included interstitial lung disease (8.9%) and cardiac disorders (2.4%). Other observed ADRs were eye and general disorders (e.g., fatigue). Regarding concurrent toxicity (N = 416), 69.5% of cases involved 1-3 ADRs, while 23.2% experienced more than 3 ADRs. This high frequency of ADRs per TKI prescription reflects the complexity of the toxicity profile and the significant risk of patients facing concurrent adverse effects during targeted therapy. Conclusion: The use of TKIs in cancer patients is associated with a high prevalence of ADRs, primarily manifesting as gastrointestinal, skin, and subcutaneous tissue disorders, hepatobiliary disorders. These findings underscore the importance of careful monitoring and management of ADRs to optimize treatment efficacy. Furthermore, the frequent occurrence of concurrent ADRs necessitates a comprehensive pharmacovigilance approach. Early detection and proactive management of these toxicities are crucial to maintain treatment adherence and preserve the quality of life for cancer patients.

BackgroundCDX2, an intestine-specific transcription factor, is essential for colorectal epithelial differentiation and has been widely studied as a biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). However, most previous studies applied a binary evaluation (positive/negative), which may underestimate its clinical significance.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 356 surgically resected CRC cases at the University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City. CDX2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using an immunoreactivity score (IRS) that combined staining ratio and intensity. Associations between CDX2 expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression tests.ResultsHigh CDX2 expression was observed in 88.8% of tumors, whereas 11.2% showed low expression. Low CDX2 was significantly associated with poor histological differentiation (OR = 3.79; 95% CI: 1.11–12.93; p = 0.033) and advanced local stage pT4a–pT4b compared with pT1–pT3 (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.47–5.58; p = 0.002). No significant associations were found with patient age or sex. The combined scoring system allowed clearer discrimination between biologically distinct subgroups than the traditional binary method.ConclusionsLow CDX2 expression is linked to aggressive pathological features and advanced tumor stage in CRC, highlighting its clinicopathological associations. Semi-quantitative evaluation of CDX2 using both staining ratio and intensity provides a more informative assessment that may aid risk stratification and guide clinical decision-making in CRC patients.