Brief Report: Cobicistat Compared With Ritonavir as a Pharmacoenhancer for Atazanavir in Combination With Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate: Week 144 Results.

Background: Cobicistat (COBI) is a pharmacoenhancer with no antiretroviral activity.

Methods: International, randomized double-blind active-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of COBI vs ritonavir (RTV) as a pharmacoenhancer of atazanavir in combination with emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in HIV treatment-naive patients followed through week 144.

Results: At Week 144, virologic suppression was achieved in 72% (COBI) and 74% (RTV) of patients.

Cognitive improvements in a mouse model with substituted 1,2,3-triazole agonists for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a recognized drug target for dementias of aging and certain developmental disorders. Two selective and potent α7-nAChR agonists, winnowed from a list of 43 compounds characterized in a companion article (DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.

Delirium in critical care: a study of incidence, prevalence, and associated factors in the tertiary care hospital of older Thai adults.

Objectives: Delirium is a common condition in older adults which can have devastating outcomes. The studies about delirium in intensive care units (ICU) are relatively rare compared to studies in the non-ICU setting. This study aimed to study the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of delirium among older Thai adults in ICU.

Toxicity evaluation of cordycepin and its delivery system for sustained in vitro anti-lung cancer activity.

In the previous study, we have found that the cordycepin which was extracted from Cordyceps mycelia produced by growing Cordyceps militaris on the dead larva of Bombyx mori silkworms showed the anti-proliferative effect toward lung cancer cells without toxicity to non-cancer cells. In this work, the cordycepin was tested for its in vitro mutagenicity and in vivo toxicity. From the Ames test and subacute toxicity test using oral administration in a rat model, the cordycepin was proved to be a non-mutagenic and non-toxic compound.

Influence of variety and harvest maturity on phytochemical content in corn silk.

Corn silk has been used as a traditional herb in Asia. The objective of this study was to evaluate variability in phytochemicals in corn varieties at three maturity stages of corn silk. Ten vegetable corn varieties were evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replications.

Outcomes of thalassemia patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by using a standard myeloablative versus a novel reduced-toxicity conditioning regimen according to a new risk stratification.

Improving outcomes among class 3 thalassemia patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) remains a challenge. Before HSCT, patients who were ≥ 7 years old and had a liver size ≥ 5 cm constitute what the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research defined as a very high-risk subset of a conventional high-risk class 3 group (here referred to as class 3 HR). We performed HSCT in 98 patients with related and unrelated donor stem cells.

Triterpene lactones from cultures of Ganoderma sp. KM01.

A revised structure of colossolactone G (1), seven new triterpene lactones, ganodermalactones A-G (2-8), and five known triterpene lactones, colossolactone I (9), schisanlactone B (10), colossolactone B (11), colossolactone E (12), and colossolactone IV (13), and ergosterol have been isolated from cultured biomass of the macrofungi Ganoderma sp. KM01. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

Cost-utility analysis of dasatinib and nilotinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia refractory to first-line treatment with imatinib in Thailand.

Background: Recently, the second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors dasatinib and nilotinib have emerged as alternative treatments in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are resistant to or intolerant of imatinib.

Objective: This article aimed to assess the cost utility and budget impact of using dasatinib or nilotinib, rather than high-dose (800-mg/d) imatinib, in patients with chronic phase (CP) CML who are resistant to standard-dose (400-mg/d) imatinib in Thailand.

Methods: A Markov simulation model was developed and used to estimate the lifetime costs and outcomes of treating patients aged ≥38 years with CP-CML.

Long-term effect of whole body vibration training on jump height: meta-analysis.

Whole body vibration (WBV) is widely promoted as a means of improving muscle strength, but the evidence of a performance benefit is unclear with some reporting improvements and others finding none. The objective of this study was to analyze the current evidence for the effectiveness of WBV on jump height. We included randomized controlled trials or matched design studies comparing the effect of WBV training on countermovement and squat jump (SJ) height, which were gathered from MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, Sciencedirect, Proquest, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SPORTDiscus databases.

Situational analysis of palliative care education in thai medical schools.

Objective: The Thai Medical School Palliative Care Network conducted this study to establish the current state of palliative care education in Thai medical schools.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was given to 2 groups that included final year medical students and instructors in 16 Thai medical schools. The questionnaire covered 4 areas related to palliative care education.

Efficacy of metal and plastic stents in unresectable complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic biliary stent drainage is effective in the palliative treatment of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCA). However, no randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of the self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) and the plastic stent (PS) in patients with unresectable complex HCA is available.

Objective: To compare the successful drainage rates of endoscopic SEMSs and PSs.

Postoperative pain in patients with cleft lip and palate in Srinagarind Hospital.

Background: Srinagarind Hospital has about 150-200 cases of patients with cleft lip and cleft palate each year. The operating process requires continuity of care involving a multidisciplinary team. When the patients go to hospital to undergo operation, pain is one of the most important symptoms to try and control effectively.

Anatomical study of arcade of Struthers.

The incidence and the anatomical location of the arcade of Struthers as related to the arm length were studied in 62 arms of adult fresh-frozen cadavers. The distance between the greater tuberosity and the lateral epicondyle was designated as the arm length. The arcades of Struthers were identified in 85.

Pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine following LPS administration to rats.

The function and expression of drug transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and organic-anion transporting polypeptides (Oatps), have been investigated but it is not well established how variables such as disease processes affect them. Fexofenadine is a substrate of these transporters and it was previously shown that its clearance is reduced in the rat isolated perfused liver following treatment with E.coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Meditation therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders experienced in childhood and can persist into adulthood. The disorder has early onset and is characterized by a combination of overactive, poorly modulated behavior with marked inattention. In the long term it can impair academic performance, vocational success and social-emotional development.

Growing Burkholderia pseudomallei in biofilm stimulating conditions significantly induces antimicrobial resistance.

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative bacterium that causes melioidosis, was reported to produce biofilm. As the disease causes high relapse rate when compared to other bacterial infections, it therefore might be due to the reactivation of the biofilm forming bacteria which also provided resistance to antimicrobial agents. However, the mechanism on how biofilm can provide tolerance to antimicrobials is still unclear.

Mimotope identification from monoclonal antibodies of Burkholderia pseudomallei using random peptide phage libraries.

This study used random peptide libraries, displayed by bacteriophage T7 and M13, to identify mimotopes from four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to Burkholderia pseudomallei. Bound phages, selected from fourth-round panning with each mAb, were tested for binding specificity with each mAb using ELISA, before being further amplified and checked for phage peptide sequence using PCR and DNA sequencing. Overall, 75 of 90 phages (83.

Intra-tendon sheath injection for trigger finger: the randomized controlled trial.

The most common technique used for non-surgical treatment of trigger fingers is the direct injection of steroids into the flexor tendon sheath over the metacarpal head. However, this method causes more pian to the patient and can result in tendon rupture due to insertion of needle into the tendon. Carlson and Curtis described the mid-axial injection technique which is simple and relatively painless.

Effects of dissolved polymer on the transport of colloidal particles through a microcapillary.

The effect of water-soluble polymer on the transport of latex particles through a microcapillary was investigated. Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation (CHDF) experiments were performed using polystyrene (PS) particles and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions as the eluant. Generally, the average particle velocities were greater than those corresponding to a polymer-free eluant.

A comparative biomechanical study of the looped square slip knot and the simple surgical knot.

The looped square slip knot was introduced as a technique for skin closure to avoid the use of sharp instruments in suture removal after hand surgery. We compared the biomechanical properties of this knot with the simple surgical square knot. The ultimate strength of the looped square slip knot was significantly (p = 0.

Meditation therapy for anxiety disorders.

Background: Anxiety disorders are characterised by long term worry, tension, nervousness, fidgeting and symptoms of autonomic system hyperactivity. Meditation is an age-old self regulatory strategy which is gaining more interest in mental health and psychiatry. Meditation can reduce arousal state and may ameliorate anxiety symptoms in various anxiety conditions.

Spinal versus epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery in severe preeclampsia: a prospective randomized, multicenter study.

In this randomized, multicenter study we compared the hemodynamic effects of spinal and epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery in severely preeclamptic patients. The epidural group (n = 47) received 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:400,000, 18-23 mL, followed by 3 mg of morphine after delivery. The spinal group (n = 53) received 2.

Congenital metacarpal synostosis treated by double bone blocks technique: a case report from Thailand.

Congenital metacarpal synostosis is a rare congenital anomaly in the hand, especially in our area. There were several reports of surgical techniques for correction deformities. We report this rare condition in our hospital and treatment with the metacarpal osteotomy and double bone blocks technique of grafting.

Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in workers from a fishnet factory in Thailand.

We determined the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) at a fishnet factory in order to discern the possible associated risk factors at this type of workplace. The 662 workers were interviewed then physically examined. The prevalence of CTS was 14.

Functional activity of superior head of human lateral pterygoid muscle during isometric force.

There is controversy as to the jaw tasks for which the superior head of the human lateral pterygoid muscle (SHLP) becomes active. The aim was to describe the functional activities of SHLP single motor units (SMUs) during horizontal isometric force tasks. In 11 subjects, 48 SMUs were recorded from computer-tomography-verified SHLP sites during generation of horizontal isometric force in the contralateral (CL), protrusive (P), and ipsilateral (IL) directions and intermediate directions (CL-P, IL-P).