Validation and efficacy of the Varix Trainer model as a Training device for esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

The Varix Trainer model 1 (VTM1) was created for trainees to safely practice basic endoscope manipulation skills. The VTM1 was tested to see if it could distinguish levels of endoscope manipulation skills (construct validity) and whether training with it could improve these skills faster (content validity). We enrolled 23 novice endoscopists, 18 second-year trainees, and 13 expert endoscopists.

SPARKing New Insight Into Autism Across the Lifespan.

Autism is heterogeneous at many levels, including clinical symptoms and etiology. A key strategy in studying heterogeneous conditions is having large enough sample sizes to stratify into smaller groups that are more homogeneous. SPARK and Simons Searchlight are large and growing research cohorts of individuals with autism in the United States and individuals with genetically defined neurodevelopmental conditions around the world, respectively.

Clinical phenotypic spectrum of CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder.

Pathogenic heterozygous loss of function variants in CTNNB1 are associated with CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder. We report the clinical phenotype of individuals with CTNNB1 neurodevelopmental disorder using both caregiver-reported data (medical history, adaptive function, quality of life, and behavior issues) and in-person clinical assessments (neurological, motor, and cognitive function) in 32 individuals with likely pathogenic or pathogenic CTNNB1 variants. Most individuals had truncal hypotonia, muscle weakness, hypertonia, dystonia, microcephaly, and many had a history of tethered cord.

Clinical phenotypes of individuals with Chung-Jansen syndrome across age groups.

Pathogenic variants in pleckstrin homology domain interacting protein (PHIP) are associated with Chung-Jansen syndrome characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, behavioral challenges, hypotonia, obesity, and dysmorphic features. We report phenotypes and genotypes of 47 individuals with likely pathogenic/pathogenic PHIP variants. Variants were de novo in 61.

Validation of the Thai version of the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS).

Background: Female genital self-image is associated with sexual health, sexual behavior, and gynecologic health behavior. The Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS) is a simple, validated instrument that quantifies genital self-image in women. The study aim was to translate the original English FGSIS into Thai and test its psychometric properties among Thai-speaking women.

, , Genes as Feasible Markers for Premature Coronary Heart Disease Risk.

Beyond non-genetic risk factors, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) plays a major role in the development of CHD. FH is a genetic disorder characterized by heritable and severely elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can lead to premature cardiovascular disease, particularly familial coronary heart disease (FH-CHD). To explore genes indicating a risk of familial (premature) coronary heart disease (FH-CHD) development in FH, 30 Thai male volunteers were enrolled: 7 healthy controls (N), 6 patients with hypercholesterolemia (H), 4 with FH, 10 with CHD, and 3 with FH-CHD.

PPBP and DEFA1/DEFA3 genes in hyperlipidaemia as feasible synergistic inflammatory biomarkers for coronary heart disease.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is an important complication of atherosclerosis. Biomarkers, which associate with CHD development, are potential to predict CHD risk. To determine whether genes showing altered expression in hyperlipidaemia (H) and coronary heart disease (CHD) patients compared with controls could be CHD risk biomarkers.

Increased alpha-defensin expression is associated with risk of coronary heart disease: a feasible predictive inflammatory biomarker of coronary heart disease in hyperlipidemia patients.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder of the heart vessels that develops over decades, coupling inflammatory mechanisms and elevated total cholesterol levels under the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Without effective intervention, atherosclerosis consequently causes coronary heart disease (CHD), which leads to increased risk of sudden death. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils play a pivotal role in inflammation and atherogenesis.

Expression of cdk6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Cdk6 is a key regulator during the G1/S cell cycle transition. Aberrant expression of cdk6 protein has been observed in many cancer types. However, little is known about the expression of cdk6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its clinical significance.

Liver transplantation: current indications and patient selection for adult patients with chronic liver disease.

Liver transplantation is a life saving procedure for patients with a variety of irreversible acute and chronic liver diseases for which no other therapy is available. To date, success of transplantation has been significantly improved with 1-year graft and patient survival rates of approximately 90%. As new information becomes available the indications for individual diseases have been changed somewhat.

Adverse effects and other safety aspects of the hepatitis C antivirals.

The preferred treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C, either treatment-naive, relapsers or nonresponders to IFN monotherapy, is now IFN-ribavirin combination treatment. The adverse effects of IFN are well established and familiar to hepatologists all over the world. More than 25,000 patients worldwide have been treated with combination therapy.

Amifostine and hematologic effects.

Amifostine is a protective agent of normal tissue from adverse effects of radiochemotherapy. It is the prodrug that is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase on plasma membrane into the active form named WR-1065. More than 90 per cent of the drug is cleared from plasma in 6 minutes and the peak tissue concentration is 10-30 minutes after intravenous administration.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis, the first case reports in Thailand.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is an important cause of progressive obstructive lung or chronic suppurative lung disease in the Far East (Japan, China and Korea). It is a distinctive sinobronchial syndrome with typical radiological and histologic features. We have identified three patients who have typical clinical manifestation and pathological confirmation.

Transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) via a fiberoptic bronchoscope has been used for diagnosis of lung cancer by Wang since 1981. The technique uses a fiberoptic bronchoscope with a flexible needle that can penetrate the wall of the trachea and major bronchi. It is still underutilized and markedly depends on the physician's skill.

Epidemiology of rheumatic disease in rural Thailand: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study. Community Oriented Programme for the Control of Rheumatic Disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders in a rural population of Thailand.

Methods: Nurses applied the WHO-ILAR COPCORD Core Questionnaire to 2463 rural subjects 15 years of age and over. Respondents who had current musculoskeletal pain were examined by 2 rheumatologists within one week after the interview survey.

A comparison of the incidence of post operative bleeding between electric cauterization and suture ligation tonsillectomies.

Two-thousand one-hundred tonsillectomies performed from January 1980 to December 1995 by otolaryngologists at Pramongkutklao General Hospital were reviewed. The Dissection-Tyding snare technique was used and hemostasis completed by electric cautery in 690 cases, by suture ligature in 720 cases, by gauze packing alone as a control in 600 cases respectively. It can be concluded that the use of suture ligature offers an efficient and practical method to reduce the incidence of primary tonsillectomies bleeding.

Hearing impairment in Thais due to sport shooting: a preliminary report.

Ninety one sportshooters from several sportshooting clubs ranging in age from 20-49 and 85 control subjects were carefully examined for hearing ability. The male and female ratio was 10.37:1.

Phase II study: concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

This prospective clinical trial was conducted in previously untreated patients with stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma (TNM classification), who received concurrent chemo-radiotherapy regimen of cisplatin and radiation, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of 5FU and cisplatin. The aim was to improve both disease free survival and overall survival. From July 1991 to June 1993, 28 patients with stage IV (T1-4N2-3 M0) squamous cell carcinoma or undifferentiated cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx were treated at the Pramongkutklao Hospital with radical radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy using cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and 22 of radiotherapy.

Control cells for both electrical impedance and light scattering automated hematological analyzers: preparation from normal and thalassemic blood samples.

The study on quality control of automated blood cell analyzers, Technicon H*1 and Coulter MAXM by using three separately self-prepared control cells was extensively investigated. The three parts of control cells are pseudo-leukocyte and fixed platelets, which are fixed by glutaraldehyde, and control red cells from normal and thalassemic patients preserved and anticoagulated in CPD or CPDA-1. The Technicon H*1 system was based on the principle of light scattering but the Coulter MAXM was based on the principle of electrical impedance for cell counting and measurement.

Crossmatching technique facilitating kidney transplantation.

Accelerated acute cellular rejection (AR) continues to be a serious problem in kidney transplantation (KT), suggesting that undetected presensitization may be encountered. The purpose of this study was to determine the most sensitive crossmatching (XM) technique to detect the preformed antibody (Ab) which may cause AR. One hundred and twenty two sera from 98 patients, on the waiting list for KT at Ramathibodi Hospital were XMed with 23 cadaveric splenic lymphocytes including 2 living related KT (LR-KT).

Measles vaccination of Thai infants by intranasal and subcutaneous routes: possible interference from respiratory infections.

Reactogenicity and seroresponses were studied after standard doses of Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine were given intranasally (i.n.) and subcutaneously (s.

Computed tomographic study of parascalene block.

Parascalene block is a technique of blocking the brachial plexus at the lateral border of the anterior scalene muscle superior to the clavicle. The objective of this study was to define the position of the needle in parascalene block with relationship to the brachial plexus and the dome of the pleura, which is important in determining whether this technique minimizes the incidence of pneumothorax. In the first group, 10 patients scheduled for minor upper extremity surgery agreed to parascalene block, which was performed in the computed tomographic examination room.