Studies of the CETP TaqIB and ApoE Polymorphisms in Southern Thai Subjects with the Metabolic Syndrome.

Several genetic factors have been investigated responsible for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphisms and MetS in 378 subjects from Southern Thailand. Subjects were divided into MetS+ (n = 121) and MetS- (n = 257) groups according to the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII).

Combined PCSK9 and APOE polymorphisms are genetic risk factors associated with elevated plasma lipid levels in a Thai population.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) play a key role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. We aimed to investigate the effects of PCSK9 (R46L, I474V, and E670G) and APOE polymorphisms on lipid levels in a Southern Thai population. A total of 495 participants (307 urban, 188 rural) were recruited for the study.

Effects of malaria parasite density on blood cell parameters.

Changes in blood cell parameters are already a well-known feature of malarial infections. To add to this information, the objective of this study was to investigate the varying effects that different levels of parasite density have on blood cell parameters. Patients diagnosed with malaria at Phobphra Hospital, Tak Province, Thailand between January 1st 2009 and January 1st 2012 were recruited as subjects for data collection.

Detection of Babesia canis vogeli and Hepatozoon canis in canine blood by a single-tube real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer polymerase chain reaction assay and melting curve analysis.

A real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer polymerase chain reaction (qFRET PCR) coupled with melting curve analysis was developed for detection of Babesia canis vogeli and Hepatozoon canis infections in canine blood samples in a single tube assay. The target of the assay was a region within the 18S ribosomal RNA gene amplified in either species by a single pair of primers. Following amplification from the DNA of infected dog blood, a fluorescence melting curve analysis was done.

A new population and habitat for Neotricula aperta in the Mekong river of northeastern Thailand: a DNA sequence-based phylogenetic assessment confirms identifications and interpopulation relationships.

Neotricula aperta (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae), the snail intermediate host of Schistosoma mekongi, is found in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. We update information on the distribution of this species in the Mekong River and its tributary, the Mun River, in Thailand. DNA sequences of a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 were obtained from N.

Validation of the immunochromatographic strip for α-thalassemia screening: a multicenter study.

α(0)-Thalassemia occurs from a deletion of 2 linked α-globin genes and interaction of these defective genes leads to hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's hydrops fetalis, the most severe and lethal thalassemia syndrome. Identification of α(0)-thalassemia carriers is thus essential for the prevention and control program. An immunochromatographic (IC) strip test was developed for rapid screening of α(0)-thalassemia by testing for Hb Bart's in the blood samples using a specific monoclonal antibody against Hb Bart's.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast cancer screening among female personnel of Walailak University.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice of breast cancer screening for early detection of breast cancer among female personnel at a university. A cross-sectional descriptive study was administered to female personnel of Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.

A bibliometric analysis of diets and breast cancer research.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The primary aim of this work was to provide an in-depth evaluation of research publications in the field of diets and breast cancer. The impact of economic outcome on national academic productivity was also investigated.

Thalassemia and hemoglobin e in southern thai blood donors.

Thalassemia and hemoglobin E (Hb E) are common in Thailand. Individuals with thalassemia trait usually have a normal hemoglobin concentration or mild anemia. Therefore, thalassemic individuals who have minimum acceptable Hb level may be accepted as blood donors.

Rapid molecular identification of human taeniid cestodes by pyrosequencing approach.

Taenia saginata, T. solium, and T. asiatica are causative agents of taeniasis in humans.

Effect of malarial infection on haematological parameters in population near Thailand-Myanmar border.

Background: Malaria is a major mosquito-borne public health problem in Thailand with varied haematological consequences. The study sought to elucidate the haematological changes in people who suspected malaria infection and their possible predictive values of malaria infection.

Methods: Haematological parameters of 4,985 patients, including 703 malaria-infected and 4,282 non-malaria infected, who admitted at Phop Phra Hospital, Tak Province, an area of malaria endemic transmission in Thailand during 2009 were evaluated.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity against human oral cancer KB cells and structure-activity relationship studies of trienone analogues of curcuminoids.

A general method for the synthesis of substituted (1E,4E,6E)-1,7-diphenylhepta-1,4,6-trien-3-ones, based on the aldol condensations of substituted 4-phenylbut-3-en-2-ones and substituted 3-phenylacrylaldehydes, was achieved. The natural trienones 4 and 5 have been synthesized by this method, together with the trienone analogues 9-20. These analogues were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against human oral cancer KB cell line.

Neuroprotective effects of xanthone derivative of Garcinia mangostana against lead-induced acetylcholinesterase dysfunction and cognitive impairment.

Lead poisoning is a common environmental toxicity and low level of lead exposure is responsible for neurobehavioral or intelligence defects. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of a xanthone derivative of Garcinia mangostana against lead-induced acetycholinesterase (AChE) dysfunction and cognitive impairment in mice. ICR mice were exposed to lead acetate (Pb) in drinking water (1%) with or without xanthone co-administration (100 and 200mg/kgBW/day) for 38days.

Demethoxycurcumin from Curcuma longa rhizome suppresses iNOS induction in an in vitro inflamed human intestinal mucosa model.

It is known that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) plays an integral role during intestinal inflammation, an important factor for colon cancer development. Natural compounds from Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) have long been a potential source of bioactive materials with various beneficial biological functions.

Nuclear interaction between ADR-induced p65 and p53 mediates cardiac injury in iNOS (-/-) mice.

Adriamycin (ADR) treatment causes an imbalance in the levels of nitric oxide ((•)NO) and superoxide (O2(•-)) production leading to cardiac injury. Previously we demonstrated that mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) have increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury. The molecular events leading to increased mitochondrial injury in iNOS deficient mice is unknown.

Molecular detection of Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, and Necator americanus in humans in northeastern and southern Thailand.

The 2 principal species of hookworms infecting humans are Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Case studies on zoonotic hookworm infections with Ancylostoma ceylanicum and/or Ancylostoma caninum are known mainly from Asian countries. Of these 2 zoonotic species, only A.

Modified formalin-ether concentration technique for diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis.

We compared the efficacy and applicability of a modified formalin-ether concentration technique (M-FECT) to the conventional FECT (C-FECT) and the agar plate culture (APC) method for the detection of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae. For this purpose, we used 600 human fecal specimens collected in an endemic area of southern Thailand. In the M-FECT, we used 2 layers of wire meshes, instead of gauze, to avoid the loss by absorption/adhesion of larvae to the gauze during filtration, and we reduced the exposure time of S.

Study designs to investigate Nox1 acceleration of neoplastic progression in immortalized human epithelial cells by selection of differentiation resistant cells.

To investigate the role of NADPH oxidase homolog Nox1 at an early step of cell transformation, we utilized human gingival mucosal keratinocytes immortalized by E6/E7 of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 (GM16) to generate progenitor cell lines either by chronic ethanol exposure or overexpression with Nox1. Among several cobblestone epithelial cell lines obtained, two distinctive spindle cell lines - FIB and NuB1 cells were more progressively transformed exhibiting tubulogenesis and anchorage-independent growth associated with increased invasiveness. These spindle cells acquired molecular markers of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) including mesenchymal vimentin and simple cytokeratins (CK) 8 and 18 as well as myogenic alpha-smooth muscle actin and caldesmon.

Protective effect of Thunbergia laurifolia (Linn.) on lead induced acetylcholinesterase dysfunction and cognitive impairment in mice.

Thunbergia laurifolia (linn., TL), a natural phenolic compound, has been reported to have many benefits and medicinal properties. The current study ascertains the total phenolic content present in TL aqueous leaf extract and also examines the antioxidant ability of the extract in preserving acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of mice exposed to lead in vivo and in vitro model.

Detrimental effect of water submersion of stools on development of Strongyloides stercoralis.

Strongyloidiasis is prevalent in Thailand, yet its prevalence in the south is lower than in other parts of the country. This might be due to the long rainy season in the south resulting in stool submersion in water inhibiting worm development. In this study, the effect of water submersion of fecal samples on development of Strongyloides stercoralis was investigated.

A new biphasic test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.

The objective of this study was to create a biphasic cultural method for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. The biphasic systems were made by using a urea agar slant with overlaying broth in a single vessel. Initially, three different liquid media including brain-heart infusion broth, Brucella broth, and Bolton broth were tested for their ability to support the growth of H.

Age distribution of breast cancer from a Thailand population- based cancer registry.

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer worldwide. With the establishment of Thailand's population- based cancer registry and availability of complete data from 2002-2011, it is of interest to investigate the epidemiologic and clinic-pathological profiles of breast cancer based on the population-based registry data.

Methods: The data of all breast cancer patients in the registry for the period of 2002-2011 were included.

Histopathology analysis of benign colorectal diseases and colorectal cancer in Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world and also ranks as the fifth-leading malignancy and death in Thailand. This study aimed to provide a present outlook of colorectal diseases among Thai patients with special emphasis on CRC in Hatyai, Songkhla, southern Thailand.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study covered ten year data of CRC, benign colorectal tumors and non-colorectal tumors from the Department of Pathology in Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand, between years 2003-2012.

Doxorubicin-induced central nervous system toxicity and protection by xanthone derivative of Garcinia mangostana.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a potent, broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic drug used around the world. Despite its effectiveness, it has a wide range of toxic side effects, many of which most likely result from its inherent pro-oxidant activity. It has been reported that Dox has toxic effects on normal tissues, including brain tissue.

Albendazole stimulates the excretion of strongyloides stercoralis Larvae in stool specimens and enhances sensitivity for diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.

We succeeded in stimulation of excretion of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae in stool by oral administration of a single dose of 400 mg albendazole to strongyloidiasis patients. This result overcame the false-negative results of stool examination due to low larval numbers. Stool samples were collected from 152 asymptomatic strongyloidiasis patients in the morning, prior to eating.