A Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Study of Root and Canal Morphology of Maxillary First and Second Permanent Molars in a Thai Population

Introduction

Understanding tooth anatomy is crucial for effective endodontic treatment. This study investigated the roots and root canal morphology of maxillary first and second permanent molars in a Thai population using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging.

Screening for phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity of Thai medicinal plants

INTRODUCTION: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a group of enzymes that have powerful effects on cellular signaling because they regulate the second messenger, cAMP or cGMP. PDE inhibitors have been used for treatment of many indications such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to search for sources of PDE inhibitors from Thai biodiversity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Some Thai medicinal plants used as aphrodisiac and neurotonic agents together with plants from Leguminosae collected from the North of Thailand were screened for PDE inhibitory activity using a radioassay. RESULTS: Seven from nineteen aphrodisiac and neurotonic plants as well as three from twelve Leguminosae plants showed potent PDEs inhibitory activity. The concentrations that could inhibit 50% PDE activity (IC(50)) of the active extracts were determined in comparison to the standard inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Betula alnoides, Hiptage benghalensis, Leea indica and Senna surrattensis showed IC(50) values in the range of microgram per milliliter while IBMX standard showed an IC(50) value of 0.68+/-0.13 microg/ml. CONCLUSION: Thai biodiversity was the great sources of PDE inhibitors.     

Evaluation of AgNORs in pulmonary lesions: a cyto-histopathological correlation

Silver nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were studied in one hundred specimens of endobronchial brushings. Bronchial biopsies were also obtained from these one hundred cases and subjected to AgNOR staining. These included twenty histologically normal cases, ten cases of inflammatory pathology and seventy cases of pulmonary neoplasms. Fixed cytologic smears and three micron thick sections of paraffin embedded tissue were subjected to AgNOR staining. The mean AgNOR counts in bronchial tissue showed a progressive and statistically significant increase from normal, through inflammatory to neoplastic lesions in both cytologic smears and histopathologic specimens. The AgNOR technique is simple, inexpensive and a useful adjunct to routine histopathology, to evaluate pulmonary lesions. The counts, however, cannot be standardized for a particular lesion as there are inter-laboratory variations.     

Hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) impression materials: dimensional accuracy, wettability, and effect on gypsum hardness.

Three hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) impression materials, containing an intrinsic surfactant, were compared with a hydrophobic poly(vinyl siloxane) and a polyether impression material. The hydrophobic poly(vinyl siloxane) material was dimensionally more accurate than the hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) in two of three measured dimensions, but the difference was small. The polyether material was the most wettable, and the hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) were more wettable than the hydrophobic poly(vinyl siloxane). However, when a topical surfactant was used, no difference in wettability was noted between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic poly(vinyl siloxane), and their wettability was comparable to the polyether material, indicating that the topical surfactant was more effective than the intrinsic surfactants. Stone dies made from the hydrophobic poly(vinyl siloxane) material were harder than those obtained from the other materials.     

The effects of medical tourism: Thailand's experience

Objective

To explore the positive and negative effects of medical tourism on the economy, health staff and medical costs in Thailand.

Methods

The financial repercussions of medical tourism were estimated from commerce ministry data, with modifications and extrapolations. Survey data on 4755 foreign and Thai outpatients in two private hospitals were used to explore how medical tourism affects human resources. Trends in the relative prices of caesarean section, appendectomy, hernia repair, cholecystectomy and knee replacement in five private hospitals were examined. Focus groups and in-depth interviews with hospital managers and key informants from the public and private sectors were conducted to better understand stakeholders’ motivations and practices in connection with these procedures and learn more about medical tourism.

Findings

Medical tourism generates the equivalent of 0.4% of Thailand’s gross domestic product but has exacerbated the shortage of medical staff by luring more workers away from the private and public sectors towards hospitals catering to foreigners. This has raised costs in private hospitals substantially and is likely to raise them in public hospitals and in the universal health-care insurance covering most Thais as well. The “brain drain” may also undermine medical training in future.

Conclusion

Medical tourism in Thailand, despite some benefits, has negative effects that could be mitigated by lifting the restrictions on the importation of qualified foreign physicians and by taxing tourists who visit the country solely for the purpose of seeking medical treatment. The revenue thus generated could then be used to train physicians and retain medical school professors.