Archives of Allied Health Sciences

Determination of serum IgG level for Strongyloides stercoralis in cholangiocarcinoma

2024-04-10T15:28:54+07:00

Strongyloides stercoralis is a helminth parasite that is predominantly endemic to the northeastern region of Thailand. Infection in people typically does not result in any noticeable symptoms. However, immunocompromised or immunodeficient patients, such as those with cancer, AIDS, or undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk of developing severe and potentially life-threatening forms of this parasite infection. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing IgG antibodies in serum are highly sensitive for diagnosing S. stercoralis infection. The objective of this study was to assess the serum IgG levels of S. stercoralis in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients and to analyze the correlation between IgG levels and clinical pathology, chemotherapy treatment status, and laboratory findings. The study found that among the 107 individuals with CCA, 34 (31.78%) tested positive for S. stercoralis, while 73 (68.22%) tested negative based on their serum IgG levels. Nevertheless, no statistically significant correlation was found between any of the analyzed factors, including the status of receiving chemotherapy treatment. This study indicated no significant impact of IgG antibody levels of S. stercoralis on the survival time of CCA patients. Additionally, no link was observed between IgG antibody levels and the severity of CCA in patients. It implies that there is no requirement for further testing on the past presence of S. stercoralis infection before starting chemotherapy in CCA patients. Nevertheless, this study focuses on measuring the concentration of antibodies rather than antigens. Further investigation of the antigen levels is necessary to validate the entirety of the data.

Association of musculoskeletal pain patterns of college students due to the usage of mobile phone

2024-11-21T16:22:48+07:00

Mobile phones have become widely used as online learning platforms, which provide students with flexibility to access content at a time and in a place that is convenient for them. Due to the ubiquity of mobile phones, they may be used in a variety of positions that could expose their musculoskeletal system. This study aimed to investigate if there is an association between musculoskeletal pain patterns due to the usage of mobile phones. Cross-sectional study was conducted on 778 students with individual mobile phones through self-made questionnaire that consisted of general information and a standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The study revealed that the predominant site of pain patterns was the neck (64.27%), lower back (66.2%), and upper back area (54.37%). Duration of 19- 24 hours (93.57%) and sitting position (58.87%) was associated with a higher frequency of mobile phone use. Regarding patterns of pain, fatigue (26.74%) type was predominant. There was statistically significant difference found between specific mobile phone usage behaviors and patterns of musculoskeletal pain. More specifically, study sessions were linked to upper back pain (p-value = 0.049), hips/thigh (p-value = 0.021), and neck pain (p-value = 0.021). Social media streaming was linked to neck pain (p-value = 0.041) and ankle pain (p-value= 0.035). Leisure activities and video games were linked to lower back pain (p-value = 0.048), whereas how a mobile phone is held related to wrist pain (p-value = 0.005). The posture adopted and duration of usage are strong determinants of musculoskeletal pain patterns. The study's findings indicate a strong link between musculoskeletal pain in the neck, upper back, and hips and mobile phone usage, particularly in terms of duration and posture. Understanding this relationship can help raise awareness among students, guide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

Thai version of Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Adaptive Seating (FIATS-AS-Th): Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary reliability in children with cerebral palsy

2024-11-05T23:02:39+07:00

Adaptive seating devices provide postural support to children with cerebral palsy who have difficulty sitting independently due to neurological impairments. They help enhance sitting stability and are useful for both children with cerebral palsy and their families. Little evidence exists on the effectiveness of adaptive seating devices from the perspective of parents or other family members who are crucial in caring for their children. The Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Adaptive Seating (FIATS-AS) is a parent-reported measure of adaptive seating interventions for children. While the English version of the FIATS-AS is useful, the cross-cultural adaptation is needed to improve its utility in other cultural settings. Thus, the aims of this study were to develop a Thai version of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale (FIATS-AS-Th) and estimates its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the FIATS-AS into Thai version were conducted using standardized process. Thirty primary caregivers of the children with cerebral palsy (aged 2-11 years) and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels 4-5 completed Thai version of the FIATS-AS twice at 2-week intervals to estimate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. For the internal consistency, the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.84 for total scale and ranged from 0.63-0.85 for its subscales. For test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 3,1) for the total scores was 0.97 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.91 - 0.99). The ICC point estimates for subscales between 0.86-0.96 (95% CI = 0.44 - 0.99). The FIATS-AS-Th is an emerging a reliable measure of the functional impact of adaptive seating device on children with CP and their families.

Lateral Flow Assay for NGAL Detection Using CysteamineModified Gold Nanoparticles

2024-09-23T22:09:27+07:00

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a promising biomarker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A rapid and cost-effective method is required for CKD detection. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance characteristics of an antibody (Ab) and a method for NGAL detection in clinical samples and assess its potential as a point-ofcare test. The developed assay was highly specific for NGAL and showed no cross-reactivity with other endogenous substances. The developed lateral flow immunoassay based on cysteamine-modified gold nanoparticles exhibited a sensitivity of 12.5 ng/mL. The results showed that the dual monoclonal Ab-based sandwich is ideal for screening patients with CKD and has the potential to provide rapid and cost-effective detection of NGAL as a point-of-care testing system.

Effectiveness of iron supplementation and education in preventing iron deficiency anemia among frequent blood donors with low hemoglobin levels

2024-10-11T18:12:08+07:00

Frequent blood donation can lead to iron deficiency anemia (IDA), especially in donors with low baseline hemoglobin (Hb) levels. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of iron supplementation (ferrous fumarate) and donor education in preventing and managing IDA in frequent blood donors with low Hb levels, with particular attention to age and gender-specific responses. Frequent blood donors (more than two donations in the same 12-month period) with Hb levels below 13.00 g/dL (male) or 12.50 g/dL (female) received ferrous fumarate supplementation (200 mg twice daily) along with education on iron deficiency and compliance. Hb levels were measured pre-and post-intervention at 2-3 weeks. The study included 47 donors (76.60% female, 23.40% male), aged 20-64 years. After excluding donors with ferritin >100 ng/mL to focus on iron-deficient donors, 31 donors were analyzed. The median pre-intervention Hb was 12.10 g/dL, which increased to 13.20 g/dL post-intervention. In iron-deficient donors, younger donors (20-39 years, n=18) showed significantly higher median Hb increment compared to older donors (40-65 years, n=13) (2.00 vs 1.20 g/dL, p-value = 0.02). While not reaching statistical significance, younger donors demonstrated a trend toward higher overall response rates (94.44% vs 84.62%, p-value = 0.36) and significant response rates (83.33% vs 53.85%, p-value = 0.07). Female donors (n=26) showed higher response rates (92.31% vs 80.00% in males, p-value = 0.58) and greater Hb improvement (1.50 vs 1.20 g/dL, p-value = 0.81). Baseline ferritin levels were comparable between age groups (28.50 vs 39.00 ng/mL, p-value = 0.81), suggesting age-related differences in treatment response were independent of initial iron status. Iron supplementation with ferrous fumarate, combined with donor education, effectively improved Hb levels in frequent blood donors with iron deficiency, with younger donors showing particularly favorable responses. These findings suggest the benefit of age-specific approaches in managing iron deficiency among blood donors.