Aneruptive fever associated with antibodies to Rickettsia helvetica in Europe and Thailand

We report that eight patients from France, Italy, and Thailand had serological evidence of Rickettsia helvetica infection. The infection presented as a mild disease in the warm season and was associated with fever, headache, and myalgia but not with a cutaneous rash. R. helvetica should be suspected in patients with unexplained fever, especially following a bite from an Ixodes sp. tick.     

Increased Risks of Preterm Birth and a Low‐Birth‐Weight Baby in Thai Human Immunodeficiency Virus‐Positive Pregnant Women With Periodontitis

Background: Many studies have investigated the risks of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with the presence of periodontitis in non‐human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected pregnant women. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study to investigate the risk of neonatal outcomes associated with periodontitis in HIV‐infected pregnant women. The aim of this study is to measure the risk of having adverse neonatal outcomes: preterm delivery (<37 weeks of gestation), low birth weight (<2,500 g at birth), and preterm and low‐birth‐weight baby (<37 weeks of gestation and <2,500 g at birth) associated with the presence of periodontitis in HIV‐infected women. Methods: A total of 292 HIV‐infected pregnant women were interviewed for demographic information and medical history and were examined for their periodontal status during weeks 16 to 34 of gestation. Follow‐up sessions were done after the delivery to record the baby's data. Periodontitis defined by various criteria were evaluated as exposures. Binomial regression (generalized linear model) was used to examine the risk ratios (RRs). Logistic regression, t tests, and χ² test were used to examine the associations of periodontitis with adverse neonatal outcomes. Results: Forty women had preterm delivery, 39 women delivered a low‐birth‐weight baby, and 22 women gave birth to a baby that was preterm and low birth weight. We found significant elevated risks of having preterm delivery as RR = 3.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.29 to 7.38, low birth weight RR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.04 to 2.65, and preterm and low birth weight as RR = 4.08, 95% CI = 1.55 to 10.76 in women who had at ≥1 5‐mm periodontal pocket. Conclusion: This study found a positive risk of adverse neonatal outcomes in HIV‐infected pregnant women who had moderate periodontitis.     

甲亢患者131I治疗后周围剂量当量率的变化及其影响因素的研究

目的 探讨甲状腺功能亢进症（甲亢）患者131I治疗后周围剂量当量率的变化及其影响因素,为辐射防护提供理论依据。 方法 回顾性分析2018年10月至2019年11月于重庆医科大学附属第一医院行131I治疗的42例甲亢患者的临床资料,其中男性12例、女性30例,年龄14~68（38.7±11.9）岁。测量131I治疗后2、4周距离患者颈部正前方0、0.3、1.0、2.0、4.0 m处的周围剂量当量率,分析其变化规律,并探讨患者的性别、年龄、甲状腺摄碘率、131I的有效半衰期及服药剂量与周围剂量当量率的相关性。2组间计量资料的比较采用独立样本t检验,周围剂量当量率与各指标之间的相关性采用Pearson相关性分析。 结果 所有甲亢患者131I治疗后2、4周的周围剂量当量率随测量距离的增加逐渐降低。131I治疗后2周,距离患者≥2.0 m处,周围剂量当量率均<25 μSv/h;131I治疗后4周,距离患者≥0.3 m处,周围剂量当量率均<25 μSv/h。不同性别患者不同测量距离处的周围剂量当量率间的差异均无统计学意义（t=?0.467~1.766,均P>0.05）。131I治疗后2周,测量距离为0、0.3、4.0 m处的周围剂量当量率均与131I的有效半衰期呈正相关（r=0.318~0.487,均P<0.05）;测量距离为2.0、4.0 m处的周围剂量当量率均与服药剂量呈正相关（r=0.546、0.491,均P<0.01）;不同测量距离处的周围剂量当量率与患者的年龄和甲状腺摄碘率均无相关性（r=?1.158~0.162,均P>0.05）。131I治疗后4周,测量距离为0、0.3、1.0、2.0 m处的周围剂量当量率均与131I的有效半衰期呈正相关（r=0.319~0.380,均P<0.05）;测量距离为0 m处的周围剂量当量率与患者的年龄呈正相关（r=0.429,P<0.01）;测量距离为2.0 m处的周围剂量当量率与甲状腺摄碘率呈正相关（r=0.353,P<0.05）;不同测量距离处的周围剂量当量率与服药剂量均无相关性（r=0.020~0.157,均P>0.05）。 结论 甲亢患者131I治疗后4周内应尽量避免与家属亲密接触,临床医师应根据周围剂量当量率的测量结果及131I在患者体内的有效半衰期对甲亢患者的居家隔离进行辐射防护指导。     

健康体检者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成相关危险因素的研究

目的分析颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成相关危险因素,以采取早期预防措施。方法对1256例体检者经超声检查颈动脉,测量颈动脉内-中膜厚度,分析体质量指数、高血压、血脂异常、糖尿病等与颈动脉硬化之间的关系。结果 1256例体检者,共检出颈动脉粥样硬化442例,其中高体质量指数组18例,血脂异常组41例,高血压组38例,高血压合并血脂异常组48例,糖尿病组23例,吸烟组29例,对照组8例。各危险组与对照组差异有统计学意义(P0.05),且高血压合并血脂异常、与单纯性高血压、血脂异常比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论血脂异常是颈动脉硬化的主要危险因素之一,血脂异常及高血压两者同时存在可加重动脉粥样硬化。     

Hantavirus infection in Thailand: first clinical case report

This study involved 115 cases of Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) in patients who were admitted to the Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital from May 1999 to November 2000. Among the patient sera screened by ELISA for IgG Hantavirus, five were positive for IgG Hantavirus-reacting antibodies and eight tested positive for IgM Hantavirus-reacting antibodies. One serum had both IgG and IgM antibodies. The patient exhibited acute encephalitic febrile illness, thrombocytopenia, high AST and ALT levels, and prolonged coagulation time. It appears that a form of the Hantaan virus is circulating in Thailand, which can infect humans and be pathogenic in some instances.     

Improvement of vascular function by chronic administration of a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor in cholesterol-fed rabbits

1. Atherosclerotic cardio- and cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in Western countries. Aspirin-like drugs are widely used to prevent and treat these occlusive cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. The beneficial effects of these drugs have been largely attributed to inhibition of platelet cyclo-oxygenase activity and thromboxane (TX) A2 production. We investigated the effect of an aspirin-like drug, namely indomethacin, on endothelial function, plaque and platelet aggregation and the formation of vasoactive substances during the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. 2. Rabbits were fed 1% cholesterol (n = 8), 1% cholesterol plus 25 mg/day indomethacin (n = 8) or normal rabbit chow (control group; n = 8) for 12 weeks. Urinary excretion rates of 2,3-dinor-TXB2, 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG) F1alpha, 8-iso-PGF2alpha and nitrate were analysed at the beginning of dietary intervention and at 4 weekly intervals thereafter. At the end of the study period, platelet aggregation, aortic plaque formation and endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular functions of isolated aortic rings ex vivo were assessed. 3. Compared with control, in the cholesterol-fed group, urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha and 8-iso-PGF2alpha excretion and platelet aggregation were significantly increased (P < 0.05), but urinary excretion of nitrate was decreased (P < 0.05). Treatment with indomethacin significantly reduced platelet aggregation, urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha and 8-iso-PGF2alpha excretion (P < 0.05 vs the cholesterol-fed group) and attenuated the reduction in urinary nitrate excretion. 4. Cholesterol feeding progressively increased aortic intimal thickening and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator function (P < 0.05 vs control), whereas indomethacin partially prevented aortic plaque formation and restored endothelium-dependent vasodilation (P < 0.05 vs the cholesterol-fed group). 5. The present study demonstrates that indomethacin reduces the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and improves endothelium-mediated vascular responses ex vivo in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The beneficial effects of indomethacin may be due to its ability to prevent the elevation of platelet aggregation, TXA2 (measured as urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2 excretion) and 8-iso-PGF2alpha formation and to retard the decrease in endogenous nitric oxide synthesis (assessed as urinary excretion of nitrate). Despite indomethacin treatment leading to the suppression of prostacyclin biosynthesis (assessed as urinary 6-keto-PGF1alpha excretion), according to our data, indomethacin appears to preserve endothelial function.     

Signs and symptoms predictive of respiratory failure in patients with foodborne botulism in Thailand

We conducted a clinical study of 137 patients with home-canned bamboo shoot botulism at Nan Hospital, northern Thailand. The median age of the patients was 44 years (range = 14-74 years) and 36.2% were male. The median incubation period was 2 days (range = 1-8 days). Forty-three patients (31.4%) developed respiratory failure, but there were no deaths. Patients who did not have either nausea or vomiting and did not have urinary retention that required Foley catheterization was less likely to develop respiratory failure. This clinical predictor rule had a sensitivity of 75.5% and a specificity of 90.7%. The clinical syndrome most predictive of respiratory failure was nausea or vomiting and any cranial neuropathy with urinary retention or difficulty swallowing. This clinical syndrome had a sensitivity of 69.8% and a specificity of 93.6%. These clinical characteristics could help triage large numbers of patient in the event of a future outbreak.     

Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART): a Three-year Community Field Trial in Thailand—Survival of One-surface Restorations in the Permanent Dentition

This study compares the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) technique to conventional amalgam restorations in the management of dental caries. The present report is limited to the results for one-surface restorations in the permanent dentition over a three-year period. A community field trial was carried out in rural villages in northeastern Thailand. Dental caries was treated using the ART technique in one village where 144 persons were treated with 241 restorations. In a second village, 205 conventional amalgam restorations were provided to 138 persons using mobile dental equipment. Both ART and amalgam restorations were performed by one dentist and two dental nurses without administering local anesthesia. Clinical evaluation was carried out one, two, and three years after placement. The longevity of the restorations was determined by computing the estimated cumulative survival rates according to the life table method. The survival rates of ART restorations (93%, 83%, 71% in years one, two, and three, respectively) were close to those for amalgam restorations (98%, 94%, 85%); however, differences were statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were observed between ART restorations in children and adults, or between those placed by the dentist and dental nurses. Survival rates were lower for occlusal surface restorations compared to those in other surfaces. ART is a feasible approach for the management of dental caries, especially for one-surface lesions in the permanent dentition. Because of its simplicity as a minimal intervention technique, ART can make the control of dental caries available to all people irrespective of their economic and living conditions.     

Mechanism of catecholamine antagonism in rat heart produced by pilocarpine and related drugs

1 High concentrations of pilocarpine and methacholine consistently lowered the potencies of a series of adrenoceptor agonists as shown by displacement of complete cumulative dose-effect curves for their positive chronotropic action on rat isolated atria. The order of potency of the agonists was characteristic of beta-adrenoceptor activation and this was converted to the type which characterizes alpha-adrenoceptor activation when pilocarpine was present.2 Propranolol effectively blocked the adrenoceptor agonists in the presence of pilocarpine and phentolamine abolished the antagonistic actions of pilocarpine. Atropine, which by itself did not affect the action of the adrenoceptor agonists, abolished both the bradycardia and antagonism produced by pilocarpine.3 It is concluded that pilocarpine antagonizes adrenoceptor agonists by muscarinic cholinoceptor activation without involving classical adrenoceptors.