The Effect of English Language on Multiple Choice Question Scores of Thai Medical Students.

Background: Universities in Thailand are preparing for Thailand's integration into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by increasing the number of tests in English language. English language is not the native language of Thailand Differences in English language proficiency may affect scores among test-takers, even when subject knowledge among test-takers is comparable and may falsely represent the knowledge level of the test-taker.

Objective: To study the impact of English language multiple choice test questions on test scores of medical students.

Impact of GLI-2012 Spirometric References and Lower Limit of Normal on Prevalence of COPD in Older Urban Thai Persons.

Background: Previous analysis of survey data from a study in older urban Thai persons reported prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of 7.11% according to formerly recommended criteria that used fixed ratio (70%) of pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC as the cut-off value. In 2012, the Global Lung Initiative (GLI)-2012 equations for spirometric reference were established and the diagnostic criteria for COPD were changed.

Validity and reliability assessment of the Siriraj Asthma Control Questionnaire.

Objective: The present study assessed the validity and reliability of the Siriraj Asthma Control Questionnaire in Asthma Clinic, Siriraj Hospital.

Material And Method: The data of the questionnaire responses and spirometric results from 20 randomized asthmatic patients in the clinic including the record of 3 visits for each subject. The validation was performed by Kruskal-Wallis test comparing the scores with the level of asthma control determined by physicians according to GINA guideline.

Asthma, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumonia infection in adult Thai population.

Background: The associations between Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumonia infection and chronic asthma or bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) have been inconclusive.

Objective: We aimed to determine the association between C. pneumonia infection and asthma as well as BHR in the adult Thai population.

Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma in the adult population in Thailand.

Objectives: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of respiratory health in adults aged 20 to 44 years during 2001 to 2002 to determine the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and asthma in the adult Thai population.

Design: Subjects were selected by a multistage stratified random sampling. The stratification was done on geographic area, age group, and sex.

Acute respiratory illness in patients with COPD and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination: a randomized controlled study.

Study Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of influenza vaccination on influenza-related acute respiratory illness (ARI) and overall ARI in patients with COPD, and its relationship to the degree of airflow obstruction.

Design: Stratified, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: From June 1997 to November 1998 at a single university hospital.

The most cost-effective screening method for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the Bangkok elderly.

Our previous studies demonstrated the high prevalence and incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among the Bangkok elderly, as well as the cost-effectiveness of a questionnaire, chest radiography, and mini peak expiratory flow rate (miniPEF) as screening tools. This final study aimed to identify the most cost-effective screening method among individual, serial and parallel combinations of the above tools, based on the guidelines for diagnosing COPD of the Thoracic Society of Thailand. There were 3,094 elderly aged 60 years and over in 124 urban communities around Siriraj Hospital who participated and completed all the tests.

The cost-effectiveness of mini peak expiratory flow as a screening test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the Bangkok elderly.

This study aims to explore the cost-effectiveness of Mini Peak Expiratory Flow (miniPEF) as a screening test for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among the elderly in 124 urban communities around Siriraj Hospital, using the gold standard of diagnosis based on the guidelines of the Thoracic Society of Thailand. There were 3,094 subjects who participated and completed all the tests. The results showed that the cut-off miniPEF percentage of predicted value of highest average accuracy was 62 per cent.

The cost-effectiveness of chest radiography as a screening test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the Bangkok elderly.

Regular screening with chest radiography (CXR) in an annual physical check up of the elderly is most frequently practiced. This study aimed to identify the CXR indices and the cost-effectiveness of CXR as a screening test for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among the elderly in 124 urban communities of Bangkok around Siriraj Hospital. The gold standard for diagnosing COPD followed the guidelines of the Thoracic Society of Thailand.

The cost-effectiveness of a questionnaire as a screening test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the Bangkok elderly.

This study aimed to explore the cost-effectiveness of using a questionnaire as a screening test for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) among the Bangkok elderly residing around Siriraj Hospital. The gold standard used for diagnosing COPD followed the guidelines of the Thoracic Society of Thailand. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions on smoking status, respiratory symptoms and previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The prevalence and incidence of COPD among urban older persons of Bangkok Metropolis.

COPD substantially affects the national healthcare resource and healthcare cost especially among the older persons. Identifying the accurate prevalence and incidence reflects the scale of problem posed by COPD. This epidemiological study using the criteria for diagnosing COPD based on ratio of FEV1.

Comparison between specified percentage and fifth percentile criteria for spirometry interpretation in Thai patients.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the degree of agreement between the interpretation of spirometry using a specified percentage of predicted value (SPC) and the fifth percentile (FPC) as the cut off between normal and abnormal.

Methodology: Spirometric values were collected for 1754 subjects attending the respiratory service at Siriraj Hospital between February 2000 and April 2001. These values included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, maximal mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Diagnostic utility of CYFRA 21-1 in malignant pleural effusion.

Objective: The diagnostic utility of the tumour marker CYFRA 21-1 in malignant pleural effusion is not yet clear. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of serum and pleural fluid CYFRA 21-1 in malignant pleural effusion.

Methodology: The validity of serum and pleural fluid CYFRA 21-1 was determined in 62 patients with exudative pleural effusion (27 malignant and 35 benign).

Reference spirometric values for healthy lifetime nonsmokers in Thailand.

The normal spirometric reference values for Thai people are still not yet available. The aim of this study was to establish standard spirometric equations for Thai people. Subjects 10 years of age and over were selected and their demographic distributions represented that of the population of the whole country.

Pulmonary dirofilariasis in a patient with multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis--the first reported case in Thailand.

Despite a high prevalence of canine dirofilariasis, there is no case of pulmonary dirofilariasis reported from Thailand. We herein report a case of multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis who had an incidental pulmonary dirofilariasis found at the time of autopsy as a solitary nodule at the periphery of the right lower lobe. This is the first reported case in Thailand.

Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage and postbronchoscopic sputum cytology in peripheral lung cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and postbronchoscopic sputum cytology in diagnosing peripheral lung cancer. We performed a prospective study in 55 patients with lesions on chest radiographs who were suspected of having lung cancer and had non-endoscopically visible lesions on fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The sequence of procedures in all cases was BAL and transbronchial forceps biopsy.

Evaluation of the MycoDot test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients.

Setting: Patients were recruited from Siriraj, Bamrasnaradura, and Central Chest Hospitals, the three major hospitals responsible for tuberculosis patients in Bangkok, Thailand, and vicinity.

Objective: To evaluate a new rapid serologic test, the MycoDot test, for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB).

Design: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey.

Is driving oxygen flow rate clinically important for nebulizer therapy in patients with COPD?

Our study suggests that the administration of bronchodilator drug via nebulizer powered by flow rate 6 L/min is more suitable in COPD patients. The oxygen flow rates should not be given more than 6 L/min. In this study, we recruited COPD patients in a stable stage, in whom the risk of hyperoxic induced hypercarbia is less than in the acute exacerbation stage.

Diagnostic role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in suspected smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) was performed in 40 patients suspected to have pulmonary tuberculosis, in whom chest roentgenogram revealed minimal infiltration and sputum smears were negative for acid-fast bacilli. Bronchoscopic procedures provided overall diagnostic yields in 47.5% (19/40) of patients.