Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and costs of COVID-19 patients in Thai hospitels: a comparative analysis based on chest X-ray findings.

Background: "Hospitels" are hotels that have been specially converted to healthcare facilities. Their utilization emerged as a resource-optimization strategy during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and admission costs of asymptomatic and mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients treated in these facilities.

Evaluation of external and radiological landmark methods for optimizing ultrasound-guided right internal jugular venous catheterization depth in cardiac surgery.

The formula-based estimation of the right internal jugular venous (IJV) catheterization depth can be inaccurate when using ultrasound guidance. External landmark-based and radiological landmark-based methods have been proposed as alternatives to estimate the insertion depth. This study aimed to evaluate these methods using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided insertion depth as the reference.

Uncovering genetic determinants of antioxidant properties in Thai landrace rice through genome-wide association analysis.

Pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.) is recognized as a source of natural antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids, oryzanol, tocopherol, and anthocyanin. Because of their nutritional benefits, anthocyanin-enriched or pigmented rice varieties are feasible alternatives for promoting human health.

Modeling suction of unsaturated granular soil treated with biochar in plant microbial fuel cell bioelectricity system.

There is an initiative driven by the carbon-neutrality nature of biochar in recent times, where various countries across Europe and North America have introduced perks to encourage the production of biochar for construction purposes. This objective aligns with the zero greenhouse emission targets set by COP27 for 2050. This research work seeks to assess the effectiveness of biochar in soils with varying grain size distributions in enhancing the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC).

Neutralization of omicron subvariants and antigenic cartography following multiple COVID 19 vaccinations and repeated omicron non JN.1 or JN.1 infections.

The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, combined with antigen exposures from different waves and vaccinations, poses challenges in updating COVID-19 vaccine antigens. We collected 206 sera from individuals with vaccination-only, hybrid immunity, and single or repeated omicron post-vaccination infections (PVIs), including non-JN.1 and JN.

Evaluating Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) infection dynamics in rice for distribution routes and environmental reservoirs by molecular approaches.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for bacterial leaf blight (BLB) in rice, which can result in significant yield losses of up to 70%. A study evaluated the spread of Xoo in rice fields using environmental samples and employed colorimetric loop-mediated amplification (cLAMP) and PCR for detection.

Using the appropriate modulus of elasticity of periodontal ligament matters in stress analysis of human first premolar tooth and periodontium structures.

Although the modulus of elasticity of the human periodontal ligament (E) values used in dentistry widely ranged from 0.01 to 175 MPa, the exact E value has not been determined. This study aimed to verify whether and how E values affect the stress distribution over the tooth and periodontium structures, and to determine the appropriate E range.

Reliability of sitting posture between physical therapist video-based evaluation and SMART IMU system using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA).

This study investigates the ergonomic assessment of sitting postures and the potential for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in office environments by comparing traditional physical therapist evaluations with Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) technology by determining the reliability and accuracy of sitting posture assessment using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method. In this experiment, neck and body angle data is collected from twenty participants while sitting and working. The study aims to capture and compare the neck and trunk posture score based RULA protocol system to evaluate ergonomic risks.

Serological insights from SARS-CoV-2 heterologous prime and boost responses in Thailand.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, heterologous vaccination strategies were employed to alleviate the strain on vaccine supplies. The Thailand Ministry of Health adopted these strategies using vector, inactivated, and mRNA vaccines. However, this approach has introduced challenges for SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology studies.

The effects of mandibular setback surgery on the upper airway and sleep quality in skeletal Class III patients and comparison with control subjects: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mandibular setback surgery exceeding 5 mm on upper airway and sleep quality in skeletal Class III patients, with comparisons to Class I controls. Sixteen individuals per group were selected based on their ANB angle and surgical need. 2D and 3D airway analyses were conducted.

Onabotulinum toxin a treatment for posttraumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain: case series and literature review.

This case series aimed to assess the treatment outcomes of onabotulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in patients with refractory posttraumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain (PTNP) and to conduct a narrative review of the evidence for BTX-A in PTNP. Thirteen patients were treated with BTX-A infiltrations. Patient demographic and pain characteristics, BTX-A administration, and treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Association between Clot Waveform Analysis Parameters and the Severity of Liver Cirrhosis.

Background:  Clot waveform analysis (CWA) provides a global assessment of hemostasis and may be useful for patients with cirrhosis with complex hemostatic abnormalities. This study aimed to assess the association between prothrombin time (PT-) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT-) based CWA parameters and cirrhosis severity and prospectively evaluate the role of CWA in predicting mortality and acute decompensation (AD) over 1 year.

Methods:  This prospective study included adult patients with cirrhosis between June 2021 and December 2023 at Chulalongkorn University Hospital.

Severe local and systemic haematotoxic envenoming caused by a Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) in a pregnant woman in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Snakebite envenoming in pregnant women is rare, accounting for approximately 0.5-1.8% of all snakebite cases.

Global Epidemiology of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease, Liver Cancer, and Alcohol Use Disorder, 2000-2021.

Background/aims: Alcohol represents a leading burden of disease worldwide, including alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). We aim to assess the global burden of AUD, ALD, and alcohol-attributable primary liver cancer between 2000-2021.

Methods: We registered the global and regional trends of AUD, ALD, and alcohol-related liver cancer using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study, the largest and most up-to-date global epidemiology database.

Rapid metabolic fingerprinting meets machine learning models to identify authenticity and detect adulteration of essential oils with vegetable oils: Mentha and Ocimum study.

Essential oils (EOs) are gaining popularity due to their potent antibacterial properties, as well as their applications in food preservation and flavor enhancement, offering growth opportunities for the food industry. However, their widespread use as food preservatives is limited by authenticity challenges, primarily stemming from adulteration with cheaper oils. This study investigated a rapid, cost-effective, and non-destructive method for assessing the authenticity of widely used Mentha and Ocimum EOs.

How wide of a distal metaphyseal femoral fracture gap is a high risk of varus collapse and fixation failure? A finite element study.

Background: Severe metaphyseal comminution and sizable bone defect of the distal femur are high risks of fixation failure. To date, no exact magnitude of comminution and bone loss is determined as an indication for augmentation of fixation construct. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of metaphyseal gap width, working length, and screw distribution on the stability of the fixation construct.

Right Ventricular Injury Definition and Management in Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Right ventricular injury (RVI) in respiratory failure receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is associated with significant mortality. A scoping review is necessary to map the current literature and guide future research regarding the definition and management of RVI in patients receiving VV ECMO. We searched for relevant publications on RVI in patients receiving VV ECMO in Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science.

Serial Procalcitonin Measurements for Determining Bacterial Infection and Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.

Introduction: The utility of serial procalcitonin (PCT) measurements in cirrhotic patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is not well understood. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of serial PCT measurements for diagnosing bacterial infections and predicting 30-day mortality in this population.

Methods: We prospectively studied 120 cirrhotic patients with SIRS, 64.

Leisure activity and subjective well-being of older adults in Australia and Thailand: The impact of affiliation, restoration and meaning.

Objectives: To explore leisure activity types among older adults in Australia and Thailand and how psychological mechanisms of restoration, affiliation and meaning in leisure activities impact subjective well-being (SWB).

Methods: A survey was administered to 125 older adults aged 60 and above (65 from Australia and 60 from Thailand). The survey collected demographic information, self-rated health and SWB.

Insights into Heterocycle Biosynthesis in the Cytotoxic Polyketide Alkaloid Janustatin A from a Plant-Associated Bacterium.

Janustatin A is a potently cytotoxic polyketide alkaloid produced at trace amounts by the marine bacterial plant symbiont . Its biosynthetic terminus features an unusual pyridine-containing bicyclic system of unclear origin, in which polyketide and amino acid extension units appear reversed compared to the order of enzymatic modules in the polyketide synthase (PKS)-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) assembly line. To elucidate unknown steps in heterocycle formation, we first established robust genome engineering tools in .

Prediction of cccDNA dynamics in hepatitis B patients by a combination of serum surrogate markers.

Quantification of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a key for evaluating an elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in infected patients. However, quantifying cccDNA requires invasive methods such as a liver biopsy, which makes it impractical to access the dynamics of cccDNA in patients. Although HBV RNA and HBV core-related antigens (HBcrAg) have been proposed as surrogate markers for evaluating cccDNA activity, they do not necessarily estimate the amount of cccDNA.

Comprehensive multi-metric analysis of user experience and performance in adaptive and non-adaptive lower-limb exoskeletons.

Among control methods for robotic exoskeletons, biologically inspired control based on central pattern generators (CPGs) offer a promising approach to generate natural and robust walking patterns. Compared to other approaches, like model-based and machine learning-based control, the biologically inspired control provides robustness to perturbations, requires less computational power, and does not need system models or large learning datasets. While it has shown effectiveness, a comprehensive evaluation of its user experience is lacking.

Efficacy of pulmonary surfactant with budesonide in premature infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) is one of the main treatment for neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Budesonide has recently been studied as an additional treatment in such cases, but there is limited evidence supporting this. This study was implemented to determine the efficacy of PS combined with budesonide in premature infants.

Leg Ulcer and Venous Symptoms Related to Lower Extremity Arteriovenous Access for Hemodialysis: A Retrospective Review with Emphasis on Wound Complications.

Lower extremity arteriovenous (AV) access serves as a crucial alternative for hemodialysis when upper extremity options are no longer viable. While there are numerous reports on functional patency, limited information exists regarding complications related to venous insufficiency and postoperative quality of life. This study aims to assess the actual incidence of such complications and provide evidence-based insights for clinical decision-making.