Role of Piezo2 in Schwann Cell Volume Regulation and Its Impact on Neurotrophic Release Regulation.

Background/aims: Tactile perception relies on mechanoreceptors and nerve fibers, including c-fibers, Aβ-fibers and Aδ-fibers. Schwann cells (SCs) play a crucial role in supporting nerve fibers, with non-myelinating SCs enwrapping c-fibers and myelinating SCs ensheathing Aβ and Aδ fibers. Recent research has unveiled new functions for cutaneous sensory SCs, highlighting the involvement of nociceptive SCs in pain perception and Meissner corpuscle SCs in tactile sensation.

Delivery of bFGF for Tissue Engineering by Tethering to the ECM.

Delivery of growth factors to target cells is an important subject in tissue engineering. Towards that end, we have developed a growth factor-tethered extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was tethered to extracellular matrix noncovalently.

Human leptospirosis trends: northeast Thailand, 2001-2012.

The objective of this study was to determine the changing trend of leptospirosis over time in Thailand using two prospective hospital-based studies conducted amongst adult patients with acute undifferentiated fever (AUFI) admitted to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand between July 2001 to December 2002 and between July 2011 to December 2012. During the first period, leptospirosis (98 patients, 40%) and scrub typhus (59 patients, 24.1%) were the two major causes of AUFI.

Performance of SD Bioline Tsutsugamushi assays for the diagnosis of scrub typhus in Thailand.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic capacity of a commercially available test (SD Bioline Tsutsugamushi assay) to aid with the diagnosis of scrub typhus in febrile patients in Thailand.

Material And Method: A commercially available lateral-flow-format immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of O. tsutsugamushi IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies was evaluated, using archived serum samples from 102 laboratory confirmed scrub typhus patients and from 63 patients with other causes of fever as the negative control.

Performance of Leptospira immunoglobulin M ELISA and rapid immunoglobulin G immunochromatographic assays for the diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Using archived samples, we assessed the diagnostic capacity of two commercially available tests (an ELISA IgM and a rapid immunochromatographic test, ICT) for the detection of Leptospira spp. IgM and IgG antibodies to aid with the diagnosis of acute leptospirosis in febrile patients in Thailand. The sensitivities of the ELISA for the detection of IgM and the rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of IgG were 60.

Strategies for diagnosis and treatment of suspected leptospirosis: a cost-benefit analysis.

Background: Symptoms and signs of leptospirosis are non-specific. Several diagnostic tests for leptospirosis are available and in some instances are being used prior to treatment of leptospirosis-suspected patients. There is therefore a need to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the different treatment strategies in order to avoid misuse of scarce resources and ensure best possible health outcomes for patients.

An open randomized controlled trial of desmopressin and pulse dexamethasone as adjunct therapy in patients with pulmonary involvement associated with severe leptospirosis.

Pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis is emerging as a common complication of severe leptospirosis. A prospective randomized controlled trial of desmopressin or high-dose (pulse) dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy in 68 patients with pulmonary involvement associated with severe leptospirosis was conducted between July 2003 and October 2006 at five hospitals in Thailand. There were 23 patients in the desmopressin group, 22 in the pulse dexamethasone group, and 23 in a control group who received standard critical care alone.

Epidemiology and clinical aspects of rickettsioses in Thailand.

Scrub typhus and murine typhus are widespread in Thailand. Clinical manifestations of both diseases are nonspecific and vary widely. Acute undifferentiated fever (AUF), with or without organ dysfunction, is a major clinical presentation of these two diseases.

Doxycycline versus azithromycin for treatment of leptospirosis and scrub typhus.

Leptospirosis and scrub typhus are important causes of acute fever in Southeast Asia. Options for empirical therapy include doxycycline and azithromycin, but it is unclear whether their efficacies are equivalent. We conducted a multicenter, open, randomized controlled trial with adult patients presenting with acute fever (<15 days), without an obvious focus of infection, at four hospitals in Thailand between July 2003 and January 2005.

Radiographic chest findings and clinical correlations in leptospirosis.

Objective: To determine the clinical presentations, radiographic chest findings, and their correlation in patients with leptospirosis.

Design: A cross sectional study.

Setting: Between July 2001- December 2002 at 3 hospitals in North Eastern Thailand.

Causes of acute, undifferentiated, febrile illness in rural Thailand: results of a prospective observational study.

The adult patients who, between July 2001 and June 2002, presented at any of five hospitals in Thailand with acute febrile illness in the absence of an obvious focus of infection were prospectively investigated. Blood samples were taken from all of the patients and checked for aerobic bacteria and leptospires by culture. In addition, at least two samples of serum were collected at different times (on admission and 2-4 weeks post-discharge) from each patient and tested, in serological tests, for evidence of leptospirosis, rickettsioses, dengue and influenza.

Scrub typhus: chest radiographic and clinical findings in 130 Thai patients.

Objective: To describe chest radiographic findings and their clinical correlation in patients with scrub typhus diagnosed in Thailand and to determine abnormalities that assist in the diagnosis of scrub typhus.

Material And Method: Between July 2001 and December 2002, 130 patients with scrub typhus admitted to three hospitals in the northeastern Thailand were studied. Data of clinical presentations and chest radiographic findings, reviewed by two radiologists who were unaware of the final diagnosis, were analyzed.

Haemodynamics in leptospirosis: effects of plasmapheresis and continuous venovenous haemofiltration.

Background: Haemodynamics in leptospirosis may differ from that of sepsis because of frequently obeserved myocarditis and severe cholestatic jaundice. A haemodynamic study was therefore made in 10 patients with severe leptospirosis.

Methods And Results: All patients had pulmonary complications with a chest X-ray showing either pulmonary oedema or infiltration.

An open, randomized, controlled trial of penicillin, doxycycline, and cefotaxime for patients with severe leptospirosis.

Background: Leptospirosis is an important cause of fever in the rural tropics. Since 1996, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of leptospirosis in northeastern Thailand. Although leptospirosis generally is susceptible to antibiotics, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for severe leptospirosis.

Possible scrub typhus coinfections in Thai agricultural workers hospitalized with leptospirosis.

Possible coinfections with Orientia tsutsugamushi the causative agent of scrub typhus, were prospectively evaluated in rice farmers hospitalized with leptospirosis in Northeast Thailand. Of 22 adults with leptospirosis diagnosed by the microscopic agglutination test, 9 also had serologic evidence of scrub typhus. Of 9 individuals with possible coinfections, 5 had signs or symptoms typical of scrub typhus and atypical of leptospirosis.

Efficacy and safety of twice daily administration of cefpirome in the empiric treatment of sepsis.

Cefpirome is a fourth-generation cephalosporin with good activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. A multicentre trial was performed to study the efficacy and safety of cefpirome 2 g twice daily in the treatment of sepsis. Sixty-three cases were recruited from 10 hospitals from April 1996 to January 1998.