Chylous ascites and chylothorax due to constrictive pericarditis in a patient infected with HIV: a case report.

Introduction: Chylothorax and chylous ascites are uncommon and usually associated with trauma or neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, constrictive pericarditis leading to chylothorax and chylous ascites in a person infected with HIV has never previously been described.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old Thai man was referred to our institute with progressive dyspnea, edema and abdominal distension.

Trends in COPD mortality and hospitalizations in countries and regions of Asia-Pacific.

Background And Objective: The growing burden of COPD in the Asia-Pacific region supports the need for more intensive research and analysis of the epidemiology of COPD to raise awareness of the disease and its causes, to ensure the development of effective national health policies and to facilitate equitable deployment of finite health-care resources in the prevention and management of COPD. This study estimated and compared COPD mortality and hospital morbidity rates and trends in these rates over time across countries and regions of Asia-Pacific.

Methods: Data consistent with standard definitions of COPD (ICD-9/ICD-10) for the period 1991-2004 were obtained from national health statistics agencies.

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.

Allergen sensitization to aeroallergens including Blomia tropicalis among adult and childhood asthmatics in Thailand.

To study prevalence of allergen sensitization among asthmatics in Thailand, skin prick tests (SPT) were performed in 84 pediatric, 71 adult asthmatics and 71 adult volunteers. Allergen extracts used for testing included common allergens in Thailand and in Singapore. The incidence of positive SPT to any allergen among the three groups (childhood, adult patients and adult controls) were 64.

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.

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).