Effects of Stroke Unit Care in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient Ineligible for Thrombolytic Treatment.

Background: Several trials have verified the benefits of stroke unit (SU) in acute stroke care worldwide.

Objective: Compare clinical outcomes and costs of care in acute ischemic stroke patients who were ineligible for thrombolytic treatment (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator-rt PA) in a primary stroke center.

Material And Method: A prospective study was conducted in acute ischemic stroke patients, aged 15 years old and above, presenting within 72 hours of onset.

Infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis in Thailand, 2003-2005.

Acute encephalitis is a severe neurologic syndrome. Determining etiology from among ≈100 possible agents is difficult. To identify infectious etiologies of encephalitis in Thailand, we conducted surveillance in 7 hospitals during July 2003-August 2005 and selected patients with acute onset of brain dysfunction with fever or hypothermia and with abnormalities seen on neuroimages or electroencephalograms or with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis.

Japanese encephalitis virus remains an important cause of encephalitis in Thailand.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in Thailand and prevention strategies include vaccination, vector control, and health education.

Methods: Between July 2003 and August 2005, we conducted hospital-based surveillance for encephalitis at seven hospitals in Bangkok and Hat Yai. Serum and cerebrospinal (CSF) specimens were tested for evidence of recent JEV infection by immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT).