Primary results from the Japanese Heart Failure and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Trial (HINODE).

Aims: The HINODE study aimed to analyse rates of mortality, appropriately treated ventricular arrhythmias (VA), and heart failure in Japanese patients and compared with those in Western patients.

Methods And Results: After treatment decisions following contemporary practice in Japan, patients were prospectively enrolled into four cohorts: (i) internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), (ii) cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) defibrillator (CRT-D), (iii) standard medical therapy ('non-device': ND), or (iv) pacing (indicated for CRT; received pacemaker or CRT pacing). Cohorts 1-3 required a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, a history of heart failure, and a need for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death based on two to five previously identified risk factors.

Nasal Dorsum Augmentation with Botulinum Toxin A: A Pilot Study.

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTxA) is used for cosmetic procedures, but its use for nasal dorsum augmentation has, to our knowledge, never been studied.

Objective: Here, we describe a method for using BTxA injection for nasal dorsum augmentation.

Methods: This was a pilot study.

Response surface optimization of microfluidic formulations of nanobilosomes for enhancement of aqueous solubility, digestive stability, and cellular antioxidant activity of mangiferin.

Mangiferin-loaded nanobilosomes (MGF-NBSs) were developed using microfluidic-based techniques to improve aqueous solubility, digestive stability, and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) of mangiferin. Preliminary experiments showed that optimal formation conditions were 5:1 aqueous (water) to solvent (ethanol) phase ratio and 85 mL/min total flow rate. Further optimization using response surface methodology provided the optimal formulation (200 mg encapsulant consisting of 90.

Prescriber compliance to direct oral anticoagulant labels and impact on outcomes in Thailand.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prescriber compliance to the approved labels of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and impact of appropriateness of dosing on clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using simple-stratified random sampling of adult patients receiving ≥6 months of DOACs for various indications during 2013-2017 in 10 tertiary care hospitals. Patients were classified into 3 dosing groups including approved dose, underdosing and overdosing based on the Thai Food and Drug Administration-approved labels.

Cytotoxic and inflammatory responses of TiO2 nanoparticles on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 -NPs) have been widely used in many applications. Owing to their nanoscale size, interactions between cells and NPs have been expansively investigated. With the health concerns raised regarding the adverse effects of these interactions, closer examination of whether TiO2 -NPs can induce toxicity towards human cells is greatly needed.

Cadmium Exposure and Potential Health Risk from Foods in Contaminated Area, Thailand.

Man-made cadmium (Cd) emissions can be transported between environmental matrices and the food chain. Food is the primary source of Cd exposure among general population as a consequence of the bio-concentration of Cd from soil. Chronic Cd exposure has been reported to be associated with chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Prognostic value of ABCG2 in moderately and poorly differentiated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Aims:  Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a primary hepatic malignancy derived from cholangiocytes. The survival rate of ICC patients is very low, and conventional chemotherapy is not effective in prolonging long-term survival. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters mediate the transport of various substances in several cellular processes.

Risk factors of Pneumocystis jeroveci pneumonia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Pneumocystis jeroveci pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection which occurs mostly in the immune-deficiency host. Although PCP infected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient carries poor outcome, no standard guideline for prevention has been established. The aim of our study is to identify the risk factors which will indicate the PCP prophylaxis in SLE.

Association between multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and poor prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) multidrug transporters have been associated with chemoresistance, which is a major obstacle in attempts to improve clinical outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we investigated 3 ABC multidrug transporters including MDR1, MRP1, and BCRP for their potential as prognostic indicators in patients with NPC. We examined the protein expression profiles of MDR1, MRP1, and BCRP in NPC tissues from 60 patients with advanced stages who were treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.

Polymorphism of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and its effect on blood lead levels in Thai workers.

To determine the prevalence of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) polymorphism and its effects on blood lead levels (BLLs) in Thai workers, the authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of 389 Thai workers who were exposed to lead in a battery plant. The authors collected blood for BLLs and genotypic study, and they found that the allele frequencies of ALAD1 and ALAD2 were 0.98 and 0.

Self-care process as experienced by middle-aged Thai women.

My purpose in this study was to explore the process of self-care actions in promoting health among middle-aged Thai women. Data were obtained from in-depth recorded interviews with 15 middle-aged Thai women living in Bangkok. Findings showed that the process of self-care actions for achieving health among middle-aged Thai women moved through a series of five stages: (1) perceiving health status, (2) developing awareness of the importance of one's own health, (3) finding motivation for self-care, (4) taking control for self-care, and (5) evaluating the consequences of self-care activities.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30): validation study of the Thai version.

The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) version 3.0. The questionnaire was completed by 310 cancer patients during their follow-up at 2 teaching hospital oncology clinics.

Functional independence and rehabilitation outcome in traumatic spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to investigation functional independence and rehabilitation outcomes of traumatic spinal cord patients. The data were obtained for 38 patients with traumatic spinal cord lesions admitted to the physical therapy unit from 1997 to 2001. The mean age was 32 +/- 6.

National survey of patients with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders in Thailand.

A national survey of patients with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders in Thailand was conducted in the years 2000 to 2002. Questionnaires were sent to physicians working at hospitals throughout the country. Although the overall response rate to the questionnaires was 19%, the two highest rates of 80% and 73.

Disseminated strongyloidiasis successfully treated with extended duration ivermectin combined with albendazole: a case report of intractable strongyloidiasis.

We describe a patient with an overlapping syndrome disseminated strongyloidiasis and gram-negative sepsis. She was previously treated with albendazole 400 mg/day 14 days before admission without success. This admission, she was treated with a combination of oral ivermectin (injectable solution form), with a dosage of 200-400 microg/kg/day, and albendazole for 14 days.

Aspergillosis of the central nervous system: a catastrophic opportunistic infection.

The clinical features and outcome of the treatment of aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) in Thai patients are presented. The patients who were diagnosed as having CNS aspergillosis by tissue biopsy or culture from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. The study variables including age, sex, underlying disease, symptoms and signs, neuro-imaging studies, pathological findings and outcome of treatment, are described.

Midlife experiences of Thai women.

Background: Midlife is not a universal notion because the conception of midlife arises from specific historical and social conditions. This can be a challenging time for women; however, the study of Thai women in the middle years has received relatively little attention.

Aim: This paper reports a study exploring the meaning of midlife to Thai women currently residing in Bangkok.

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in children with homozygous beta-thalassemia and severe beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E disease.

To determine the outcome of children with homozygous beta-thalassemia (beta/beta) and severe beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E disease (beta/E) who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The authors conducted a cohort study of allogeneic PBSCT in beta/beta and beta/E patients who had 6/6 or 5/6 HLA-matched sibling donors. All patients received a conditioning regimen including busulfan and cyclophosphamide, except one who received busul-fan and cyclophosphamide plus antithymocyte globulin.

Negative and positive adaptive behaviors of Thai school-aged children who have a sibling with cancer.

It is a difficult situation for any child who has to set aside some of his or her own personal needs to help an ill sibling. Thus, the child who is experiencing childhood cancer in the family should not be perceived as an external victim of the situation. The child is an insider who is able to adapt and respond to the situation in the family.