Association of genetic variants in GABRA3 gene and thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in Thai population.

Background: Genetic predisposition has been suggested to play role in the pathogenesis of thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (THPP).

Objectives: In this study, we assessed the differences of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) allelic frequency between THPP patients and well-characterized controls in order to find the susceptibility genetic variants related to THPP using microarray-based assessments on pooled DNA.

Methods: Fifty cases of THPP and 50 male hyperthyroid patients without hypokalaemia as controls were recruited.

Childhood asthma in Thailand.

Asthma is common in Thai children with a prevalence of about 4%. A prospective study of 2,000 Thai asthmatic children showed boys to be more frequently affected than girls, and fifty percent of patients experienced their first attack within the first 2 years of life. Attacks usually occurred in winter and the rainy season.