Thai school-age children's perception of fear.

Information about how Thai school-age children perceive fear is necessary for the development of culturally appropriate anxiety or fear measures. The purpose of this study was to describe Thai school-age children's perceptions of fear from their own perspective. Qualitative data from 13 Thai students in Grades 3 to 6 in three schools in Bangkok were obtained by semistructured, formal interviews, combined with drawings. The data were analyzed using content analysis within the frame of category development in the grounded theory method. Several culturally specific aspects of fear were revealed. This information is useful for health care providers caring for Thai children. The results of this study also illustrate the importance of carefully assessing children from culturally diverse backgrounds related to manifestations of anxiety or fear.     

Effects of intradialytic cycling exercise on daily physical activity,physical fitness,body composition,and clinical parameters in high-volume online hemodiafiltration patients: a pilot randomized-controlled trial

Purpose

The mortality of dialysis patients treated with high-volume online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) is better than hemodialysis, but is still higher than healthy population. Low daily physical activity increases cardiovascular mortality. Addition of intradialytic exercise (IDX) program might improve physical activity and health status in OL-HDF patients. This pilot open-labeled randomized-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of IDX on physical activity and other clinical parameters in OL-HDF patients.

Methods

Twelve OL-HDF patients were randomized into control (n?=?6) or IDX (n?=?6) groups. The subjects in IDX group were trained to exercise using a cycle ergometer for 60 min during each OL-HDF session. Physical activity measured as daily step count using a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer, physical fitness, or cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by VO₂max and other physical performance tests, lean body mass determined by the Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quality of life (QOL), and various parameters were compared between baseline and 6 months.

Results

The baseline physical activity status was comparable. Following 6-month IDX, the physical activity was significantly improved in IDX group [+?1048.79 (+?741.50,?+?2792.54) vs. ? 362.06 (? 1626.82, ? 167.47) steps/day, p?=?0.01], while physical fitness and QOL were unchanged. The lean body mass parameters were preserved in the IDX group while seemed to decrease in the control group. Serum albumin was significantly increased in the IDX group (p?=?0.01). The hemoglobin changes were significantly better (p?=?0.01) and the erythropoietin resistance index was significantly lower in the IDX group (p?=?0.03). Phosphate reduction was significantly greater in the IDX group (p?=?0.04).

Conclusions

IDX could improve physical activity and other metabolic parameters in OL-HDF patients and these might contribute to further improvement in clinical and survival outcomes.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT03353844.

     

Estimation of glucosamine in biomass of Trichoderma reesei cultivated on lignocellulosic substrates

Effects of the compositions of lignocellulosic substrate including hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and protein on the glucosamine content in biomass of Trichoderma reesei TISTR3080 were studied. A synthetic solid surface media containing different ratios of xylan (hemicellulose), carboxymethyl cellulose (cellulose), lignin, and various concentrations of yeast extract (source of protein) were used to cultivated T. reesei. Regression analysis identified significant individual and interaction factors that affected glucosamine quantity in T. reesei biomass. A regression model was developed to estimate the glucosamine content in biomass of T. reesei from the compositions of the lignocellulosic substrate. An acceptable error (not more than 10%) of the regression model was obtained from validation with the experimental results of glucosamine content in biomass of T. reesei cultivated on lignocellulosic solid surface media made from copra waste and banana peel.     

Epidemiology and molecular genotyping of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina snails in Lamphun Province,Thailand

Objective:To analyze the prevalence of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina dorliaris(F.dorliaris)and Filopaludina martensi martensi(F.martensi martensi)and genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae by using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)analysis.Methods:Filopaludina sp.snails were collected from eight localities of Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand and examined for echinostome metacercariae.RAPD-PCR was used lo analyze genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae.Results:A total of 3 226 F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi snails were collected from eight localities.The overall prevalences of echinostome metacercariae in F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi were 40.89%and 36.27%,while the intensity of infection was 20.37 and 12.04,respectively.The dendrogram constructed base on RAPD profiles,4 well supported domains were generated;(i)group of metacercariae from Ban Hong,Mae Ta,Meaung,Pa Sang,Toong Hua Chang,and Weang Nong that were clustered in the group of E.revolutum,(ii)Ban Thi,(iii)Lee,and(iv)3 adults of an out group.Condusioiis:This research demonstrated RAPD profiling has been a useful tool to detect DNA polymorphisms to determine genetic relationship between echinostome metacercariae in Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand.     

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for total potent estrogenic miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pueraria candollei</Emphasis>, a Thai herb for menopause remedy

Miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol are the most potent phytoestrogens of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica, having been proved as an effective herb for menopausal symptoms in folk medicines and clinical trials. To ensure efficacy and safety of P. candollei var. mirifica involved in nutraceutical products being available worldwide, the content of potent phytoestrogens as active ingredients should be specified. Therefore, in this study, we produced a monoclonal antibody for total analysis of potent estrogenic miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, for which an analytical method was developed using a procedure for an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antibody exhibited equal reactivity against miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol. The sensitivity of determination was in the range of 31.3–500 ng/ml with high precision. The analytical parameters, such as accuracy (99.6–106% recovery) and high correlation with a HPLC–UV method, indicated the reliability of analysis. This method is of high performance, and it is cheap to control optimal miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol doses of P. candollei var. mirifica nutraceutical products.     

Phenylketonuria detected by the neonatal screening program in Thailand

Neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) was introduced as a pilot project in Thailand from 1992--1995, and mass screening was started in 1996 by the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health. Blood samples were collected by heelprick on filter paper either at 48 hours of life or before discharge from the hospital. Elevated blood phenylalanine was identified by screening with the Guthrie method, then followed by the fluorometric method: All infants with a phenylalanine level equal to or greater than 4 mg/dl were recalled and retested using the fluorometric method and confirmed by plasma amino acid analysis and urinary pterins for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. A total of 1,062,676 newborns were screened from October 1992--March 2001, with 5 cases confirmed with PKU. The incidence was 1 in 212,535. All patients have been treated with low phenylalanine diet. The results of this study confirm the benefit of early detection and treatment of PKU through the screening program.     

Cyclospora cayetanensis: oocyst characteristics and excystation

In Thailand in 1999-2000, Cyclospora oocysts from two HIV-infected patients and one patient with prolonged diarrhea were detected by formalin-ether concentration technique. Sporulation was performed by mixing stool samples in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution, sporulated oocysts were then treated with various solutions before mechanical rupturing in order to establish excystation, fewer than 10% of the sporulated oocysts could be excysted. Our techniques provided more details of the characteristic appearance of sporocysts and sporozoites within the oocysts (DMSO-modified acid-fast technique with our modification).     

A rare association of alphaO-thalassemia (--SEA) and an initiation codon mutation (ATG-->A-G) of the alpha2 gene causes Hb H disease in Thailand

Several rare and hitherto unidentified non deletional alpha-thalassemias (alphaTalpha or alphaalphaT) have been reported from Thailand within the past few years. Interactions of these determinants with alphaO-thalassemia (thal) (--/), which is highly prevalent in this region, give rise to various genotypes (--/ alphaTalpha or --/alphaalphaT) underlying Hb H disease. We report herein the interaction of a rare initiation codon mutation of the alpha2 gene and alphaO-thal in a Thai boy with Hb H disease. This finding highlights a wide variety of molecular pathology of the alpha-globin genes underlying alpha-thal syndrome in Southeast Asia.     

Erythema nodosum as a manifestation of HIV infection

Various musculoskeletal syndromes have been well described in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Surprisingly, erythema nodosum, an inflammation of the adipose tissue of the skin, has rarely been described. We report a 24-year-old known case of HIV infection, who developed fever and multiple tender subcutaneous nodules that were proven to be erythema nodosum. The patient also had polymyositis. She responded well to a high dose of corticosteroids. Erythema nodosum should be listed as possible the rheumatic manifestation of HIV infection.