Recurrence and death from breast cancer after complete treatments: an experience from hospitals in Northern Thailand.

Objective: To describe the pattern of disease progression and to describe locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and death rates in breast cancer patients after complete treatment.

Material And Method: Medical records of women diagnosed with breast cancer at two university affiliated tertiary care hospitals in the Northern Thailand that had complete treatments between 2006 and 2010 were traced. Extracted key information included patient clinical profiles and documented recurrence of cancer The causes of death were verified from breast cancer case registration database, death certificates through The Ministry of Internal Affairs'civil registration, by direct telephone contact, or by distributed prepaid postcards.

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on thalassemia with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: To compare pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) between thalassemic patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) for whom acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was and was not prescribed after 1 year.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the hematological outpatient clinic at Chiang Rai Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand. All new cases of thalassemia with PAH from January 2007 to January 2012 were studied at the first month and at 12 months.

Benefits of chronic blood transfusion in hemoglobin E/β thalassemia with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: The aim of the research reported here was to compare pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and 6-minute walk distance after 1 year of follow-up in hemoglobin E/β thalassemia (E/β-Thal) with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients who received chronic blood transfusions versus those who received occasional transfusions.

Methods: A nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted at the Hematological Outpatient Clinic of Chiang Rai Hospital, Thailand. All adult cases of E/β-Thal with PAH (defined as PASP >35 mmHg by Doppler echocardiography) were evaluated and followed for the next 12 months.

Validation of dengue infection severity score.

Objective: To validate a simple scoring system to classify dengue viral infection severity to patients in different settings.

Methods: The developed scoring system derived from 777 patients from three tertiary-care hospitals was applied to 400 patients in the validation data obtained from another three tertiary-care hospitals. Percentage of correct classification, underestimation, and overestimation was compared.

Validation of a clinical risk-scoring algorithm for severe scrub typhus.

Objective: The aim of the study reported here was to validate the risk-scoring algorithm for prognostication of scrub typhus severity.

Methods: The risk-scoring algorithm for prognostication of scrub typhus severity developed earlier from two general hospitals in Thailand was validated using an independent dataset of scrub typhus patients in one of the hospitals from a few years later. The predictive performances of the two datasets were compared by analysis of the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AuROC).

Clinical risk-scoring algorithm to forecast scrub typhus severity.

Purpose: To develop a simple risk-scoring system to forecast scrub typhus severity.

Patients And Methods: Seven years' retrospective data of patients diagnosed with scrub typhus from two university-affiliated hospitals in the north of Thailand were analyzed. Patients were categorized into three severity groups: nonsevere, severe, and dead.

Differential prognostic indicators for locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and death of breast cancer.

Objective. To explore prognostic characteristics for locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and mortality in patients with breast cancer. Methods.

Development of dengue infection severity score.

Objectives. To develop a simple scoring system to predict dengue infection severity based on patient characteristics and routine clinical profiles. Methods.

Are both ultrasonography and mammography necessary for cancer investigation of breast lumps in resource-limited countries?

Objective. To reevaluate the diagnostic value of breast imaging in the diagnosis of breast cancer in areas where health resources are limited. Methods.

Fundal height growth curve for thai women.

Objectives. To develop fundal height (FH) growth curve from normal singleton pregnancy based on last menstrual period (LMP) and/or ultrasound dating for women in the northern part of Thailand. Methods.

Predictors for kidney stones recurrence following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Background: Stone recurrence after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) are common. Predictors for kidney stones vary among populations and areas.

Objective: To determine predictors for kidney stones recurrence after ESWL or PCNL.

Clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension in thalassemia.

Objective: To explore clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in thalassemia (Thal).

Material And Method: A study was conducted in thalassemia patients at Chiang Rai Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was determined by doppler echocardiography and PAH was defined as PASP > 35 mmHg.

Screening scheme development for active TB prediction among HIV-infected patients.

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a simple scoring scheme to screen for active tuberculosis (TB) among HIV-infected patients. Two hundred fifty-seven HIV-infected patients were enrolled in the study between April 2009 and May 2010 from Mae Sai District Hospital and Lampang Regional Hospital. Participants underwent routine evaluations to diagnose TB.

Diagnostic value of two rapid immunochromatographic tests for suspected tuberculosis diagnosis in clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of two immunochromatographic tests for tuberculosis (ICT-TB) in clinical practice.

Material And Method: The present extended cross-sectional study investigated suspected active TB patients at Maesai district hospital, and Lampang regional hospital between April 2009 and May 2010. Subjects underwent two commercial ICT-TB serum tests including: an endogenous ICT-TB, a local made test coated with 38 kD, 16 kD, and 6 kD antigens; and an exogenous ICT-TB, an imported test coated with 38 kD and lipoarabinomanan [LAM] antigens.

Diagnostic value of an immunochromatographic test over clinical predictors for tuberculosis in HIV patients.

Purpose: The value of an immunochromatographic test for tuberculosis (ICT-TB) combined with clinical predictors has yet to be evaluated in Thailand. This study aimed to assess any additional diagnostic value of an ICT-TB test over that of clinical predictors in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients as well as in subgroups of HIV patients classified by clinical risk scores.

Patients And Methods: An extended cross-sectional study was conducted at a community hospital in Chiang Rai and a general hospital in Lampang.

Kidney stones recurrence and regrowth after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective: To estimate and compare the incidence rate of kidney stone recurrence and regrowth after ESWL with PCNL at one, two, and three years.

Material And Method: A retrospective cohort study was performed The study recruited patients aged more than 18 years, diagnosed with kidney stones and treated by ESWL or PCNL between January 2006 and August 2010 at the urological unit of a university hospital located in the northern part of Thailand. Data were retrieved from medical records and analyzed using exact probability test or student's t-test.

Prognostic factors for success in treating kidney stones by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is widely used worldwide to treat kidney stone because it is without invasive and can be done on an outpatient basis. However, not all patients are treated successfully. The success of kidney stone treatment by ESWL depends on several factors.

Infant male sex as a risk factor for shoulder dystocia but not for cephalopelvic disproportion: an independent or confounded effect?

Background: Shoulder dystocia (ShD) and cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) share some common risk factors. Whether infant male sex is an independent risk factor for ShD, or if the risk is confounded by other known factors, is uncertain.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the unconfounded effect of infant male sex on the risk for ShD and its interaction with other risk factors compared with CPD.

Pain reduction of a pain management regimen in orthopedic patients at Lamphun Hospital.

Background: VAS pain score is an effective method to evaluate patients. Pain control regimens are varied and rarely evaluated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical benefit of pain control regimens using a visual analogue scale during hospital stays.

A randomized controlled trial of pentazocine versus ondansetron for the treatment of intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in patients undergoing cesarean delivery.

Background: Ondansetron is effective for the treatment of intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus. There is evidence that kappa-opioid receptor agonists have antipruritic activity. Pentazocine is an agonist of kappa-opioid receptors and partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors.

Factors related to intraoperative oxygen desaturation in geriatric patients in a Thai university hospital.

Background: As a site of the Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of anesthetic adverse outcome, the authors continued the institutional data collection to determine the incidence of intraoperative oxygen desaturation of geriatric patients (age 65 years and over) and relative factors representing a Thai university hospital.

Material And Method: Between July 1, 2003 and March 31, 2007, an anesthesia registry was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Anesthesiologists and anesthesia residents were requested to record perioperative variables and adverse outcomes including oxygen desaturation (SpO2 < or = 90% for 3 minutes or SpO2 < 85%) on a structured data record form.

Factors related to 24-hour perioperative cardiac arrest in geriatric patients in a Thai university hospital.

Background: As a site of the Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of anesthetic adverse outcome, the authors continued the institutional data collection to determine the incidence and factors related to 24-hour perioperative cardiac arrest in geriatric patients (aged 65 years and over) representing a Thai university hospital.

Material And Method: Between July 1, 2003 and March 31, 2007, an anesthesia registry was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Anesthesiologists and anesthesia residents were requested to record perioperative variables and adverse outcomes including 24-hour perioperative cardiac arrest on a structural data record form.

Validation of risk scoring scheme for cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion in Lamphun Hospital.

Objective: To validate the risk scoring scheme for cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion in Lamphun Hospital.

Material And Method: A case-control study was conducted between January 1st, 2005 and April 30th, 2006, including, prospectively collected, 132 women who had cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) as cases and 394 women who delivered by normal labor as controls. Cases and controls were evaluated for risk scores, the scoring scheme of which had previously been developed.

Risk indicators for cesarean section due to cephalopelvic disproportion in Lamphun hospital.

Objective: To investigate risk indicators for cesarean section due to cephalopelvic disproportion.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Lamphun Hospital.

Design: Case-control study.

Development of risk scoring scheme for prediction of cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion in Lamphun Hospital, Thailand.

Aim: To develop a simple risk scoring scheme for the prediction of cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) in Lamphun Hospital, Thailand.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 116 pregnant women with cesarean delivery due to CPD and 307 pregnant women delivering by normal labor. Obstetric information was retrieved from medical records.