Predictors of meningioma consistency: A study in 243 consecutive cases

Background  

Meningioma is a common neoplasm primarily arising in the central nervous system. Its consistency is considered to be one of the critical prognostic factors for determining surgical resectability. The present study endeavored to investigate predictive factors associated with the tumor consistency.     

The Reported Edmonton Frail Scale‐Thai version: Development and Validation of a Culturally‐Sensitive Instrument

Frailty may lead to increased vulnerability, disability, and adverse health outcomes in older adults. Early detection has been described as the best approach to manage frailty; however, frailty instruments are not widely available, particularly in the Thai language. The purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to develop a culturally adapted Thai version of the Reported Edmonton Frail Scale and to validate the psychometric properties of the new instrument in hospitalized older Thai adults. Reliability and validity were examined. Participants completed questionnaires that included demographic and health information, and the Reported Edmonton Frail Scale–Thai version. Results revealed that the new instrument was reliable and had good content validity. Inter‐rater reliability was strong. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a fair fit for the whole model, but most domains were strongly associated with frailty. On average, the instrument was completed under 7 minutes. The Thai version of the frailty instrument may be a practical tool for frailty evaluation, and could inform inpatient care, both locally and internationally; future research is needed to confirm predictability and feasibility in other clinical settings and populations.     

A review of the health and economic implications of patent protection, with a specific focus on Thailand

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although it has been two decades since the Thai Patent Act was amended to comply with theAgreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), there has beenlittle emphasis given to assessing the implications of this amendment. The purpose of thisreview is to summarize the health and economic impact of patent protection, with a focus onthe experience of Thailand. METHODS: A review of national and international empirical evidence on the health and economicimplications of patents from 1980 to 2009 was undertaken. RESULTS: The findings illustrate the role of patent protection in four areas: price, present access, futureaccess, and international trade and investment. Forty-four empirical studies were found, threeof which were from Thai databases. Patenting does increase price, although the size of effectdiffers according to the methodology and country. Although weakening patent rights couldincrease present access, evidence suggests that strengthening patenting may benefit futureaccess; although this is based on complex assumptions and estimations. Moreover, whilepatent protection appears to have a positive impact on trade flow, the implication for foreigndirect investment (FDI) is equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Empirical studies in Thailand, and other similar countries, are rare, compromising therobustness and generalizability of conclusions. However, evidence does suggest thatpatenting presents a significant inter-temporal challenge in balancing aspects of currentversus future access to technologies. This underlines the urgent need to prioritize healthresearch resources to assess the wider implications of patent protection.     

Path model of factors influencing health‐related quality of life among older people with knee osteoarthritis

Chronic illness has a significant effect on quality of life, and a critical measure of health outcomes. Correlations between pain, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and physical function and their direct and indirect effects on quality of life were determined among 200 Thai older population with knee osteoarthritis using the Numeric Rating Scale, the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue, and the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale‐15. Physical function was investigated by using the Timed Up and Go test. Path analysis revealed significant negative direct paths from pain, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and Timed Up and Go test results to quality of life. Pain, fatigue, and the Timed Up and Go test results had indirect effects on quality of life, while depressive symptoms had no indirect effect on quality of life. Increases in pain, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and Timed Up and Go test results were associated with reductions in quality of life. An understanding of the complex relationship among these variables is beneficial for designing an appropriate intervention for improving quality of life among older people with knee osteoarthritis.     

Characterization of recombinant malarial RecQ DNA helicase

RecQ DNA gene of multi-drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum K1 (PfRecQ1) was cloned, and the recombinant C-terminal-decahistidine-tagged PfRecQ1 was expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified enzyme could efficiently unwind partial duplex DNA substrate in a 3′ to 5′ direction. The malarial RecQ1 could not unwind substrates with both 5′ and 3′ overhangs, those with a 5′ overhang, or blunt-ended DNA duplexes. Unwinding of DNA helicase activity was driven by the hydrolysis of ATP. The drug inhibitory effects of six compounds indicated that only doxorubicin and daunorubicin could inhibit the unwinding activity.     

Immune responses of selected phagotopes from monoclonal antibodies of Burkholderia pseudomallei

Random peptide libraries displayed by bacteriophage T7 and M13 were employed to identify mimotopes from 4 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to Burkholderia pseudomallei. Insert DNA sequences of bound phages selected from four rounds of panning with each MAb revealed peptide sequences corresponding to B. pseudomallei K96243 hypothetical protein BPSL2046, hypothetical protein BpseP_02000035, B. pseudomallei K96243 hypothetical protein BPSS0784, B. pseudomallei 1710b hypothetical protein BURPS1710b_1104, and B. cenocepacia H12424 TonB-dependent siderophore receptor, all located at the outer membrane. The immune responses from all selected phagotopes were significantly higher than that of lipopolysaccharide. The study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying mimotopes through screening of phage-displayed random peptide libraries with B. pseudomallei MAbs.     

Government use licenses in Thailand: an assessment of the health and economic impacts

Medical tourism is a growing phenomenon with policy implications for health systems, particularly of destination countries. Private actors and governments in Southeast Asia are promoting the medical tourist industry, but the potential impact on health systems, particularly in terms of equity in access and availability for local consumers, is unclear. This article presents a conceptual framework that outlines the policy implications of medical tourism's growth for health systems, drawing on the cases of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, three regional hubs for medical tourism, via an extensive review of academic and grey literature. Variables for further analysis of the potential impact of medical tourism on health systems are also identified. The framework can provide a basis for empirical, in country studies weighing the benefits and disadvantages of medical tourism for health systems. The policy implications described are of particular relevance for policymakers and industry practitioners in other Southeast Asian countries with similar health systems where governments have expressed interest in facilitating the growth of the medical tourist industry. This article calls for a universal definition of medical tourism and medical tourists to be enunciated, as well as concerted data collection efforts, to be undertaken prior to any meaningful empirical analysis of medical tourism's impact on health systems.