Clinical Pilot Study of Rectal Suppository Containing Combined Extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn. and Acmella paniculata (Wall ex. DC.) R. K. Jansen in Acute Hemorrhoids.

BACKGROUND: Cissus quadrangularis Linn. (CQ) is a medicinal plant with good evidence for the treatment of hemorrhoids, listed in the Thai National List of Herbal Products in the oral dosage form. Acmella paniculata (Wall ex. DC.) R. K. Jansen. (AP) is a medicinal plant with a local anesthetic effect. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of rectal suppositories containing CQ and AP extracts to alleviate symptoms of hemorrhoids compared with the commercialized rectal suppository containing hydrocortisone and cinchocaine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hemorrhoid outpatients (n = 105) with different severity grades (I, II, or III) from eight hospitals in northern Thailand were included in this study. Hemorrhoid severity was graded by proctoscopy associated with either anal pain or bleeding related to hemorrhoids or both. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: CQ-AP group (n = 52) or the commercialized rectal suppository group (n = 53). One suppository was rectally administered twice daily in the morning and at bedtime for seven days. Evaluations were performed by physicians on days 1, 4, and 8 of the study. The primary endpoints were bleeding and prolapse size, while the secondary endpoint was anal pain. RESULTS: Baseline demographics, lifestyle, constipation, number of prolapses, grade of hemorrhoid severity, and duration of experiencing hemorrhoids were comparable in both groups of patients. The effects of CQ-AP and the commercialized rectal suppository on bleeding, prolapse size, and anal pain were comparable. The patients in both groups were satisfied with both products at comparable levels and stated a preference for further use in the case of hemorrhoids recurrence. In terms of safety, the patients in the commercialized rectal suppository group experienced a higher incidence of adverse events, including anal pain and bleeding. CONCLUSION: Rectal suppositories containing a combined extract of CQ and AP show potential in alleviating hemorrhoidal symptoms with a good safety profile.

A risk-scoring scheme for suicide attempts among patients with bipolar disorder in a Thai patient cohort.

BACKGROUND: In Thailand, risk factors associated with suicide attempts in bipolar disorder (BD) are rarely investigated, nor has a specific risk-scoring scheme to assist in the identification of BD patients at risk for attempting suicide been proposed. OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple risk-scoring scheme to identify patients with BD who may be at risk for attempting suicide. METHODS: Medical files of 489 patients diagnosed with BD at Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital between October 2006 and May 2009 were reviewed. Cases included BD patients hospitalized due to attempted suicide (n = 58), and seven controls were selected (per suicide case) among BD in- and out-patients who did not attempt suicide, with patients being visited the same day or within 1 week of case study (n = 431). Broad sociodemographic and clinical factors were gathered and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression, to obtain a set of risk factors. Scores for each indicator were weighted, assigned, and summed to create a total risk score, which was divided into low, moderate, and high-risk suicide attempt groups. RESULTS: Six statistically significant indicators associated with suicide attempts were included in the risk-scoring scheme: depression, psychotic symptom(s), number of previous suicide attempts, stressful life event(s), medication adherence, and BD treatment years. A total risk score (possible range -1.5 to 11.5) explained an 88.6% probability of suicide attempts based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Likelihood ratios of suicide attempts with low risk scores (below 2.5), moderate risk scores (2.5-8.0), and high risk scores (above 8.0) were 0.11 (95% CI 0.04-0.32), 1.72 (95% CI 1.41-2.10), and 19.0 (95% CI 6.17-58.16), respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed risk-scoring scheme is BD-specific, comprising six key indicators for simple, routine assessment and classification of patients to three risk groups. Further validation is required before adopting this scheme in other clinical settings.

Factors related to suicide attempts among individuals with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of suicidal behaviors. Risk related to suicide attempts among individuals with MDD remains uninvestigated in upper northern Thailand, where the completed suicide rate is the highest in the nation. OBJECTIVE: To examine risk related to suicide attempts among individuals with MDD. METHODS: Individuals diagnosed with MDD using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10), codes F32.x and F33.x, seeking care at Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital between October 2006 and May 2009 were eligible. All individuals with MDD admitted due to suicide attempts were defined as cases (n = 186), and four controls per case were selected from those who did not attempt suicide on the same day or within a week of case selection (n = 914). Their medical charts were reviewed for sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing suicide attempts using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Factors related to suicide attempts were stressful life events (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-4.24), alcohol use (adjusted OR, 2.08; 95% CI: 1.29-3.34), intermittent or poor psychiatric medications adherence (adjusted OR, 2.25; 95% CI: 1.44-3.51), up to two previous suicide attempts (adjusted OR, 3.64; 95% CI: 2.32-5.71), more than two previous suicide attempts (adjusted OR, 11.47; 95% CI: 5.73-22.95), and prescribed antipsychotics (adjusted OR, 3.84; 95% CI: 2.48-5.95). Risk factors that were inversely related to suicide attempts were increasing years of MDD treatment; one to five years (adjusted OR, 0.22; 95% CI: 0.11-0.44), over five years (adjusted OR, 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23-0.86), and antidepressant prescribed (norepinephrine [NE] and/or serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SRIs], adjusted OR, 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.78). The final model explained 85.8% probability of suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: Seven key factors suggested from this study may facilitate clinicians to identify individuals with MDD at risk of suicide attempt and provide them close monitoring, timely assessment, and intensive treatments.

Incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients remain uninvestigated in Thailand. OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing medical charts at Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Mood disorder patients, diagnosed with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes F31.x, F32.x, and F33.x, who were admitted owing to suicide attempts between October 2006 and May 2009 were eligible. The influence of sociodemographic and clinical risk factors on suicide reattempts was investigated using Cox's proportional-hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 235 eligible mood disorder patients, 36 (15.3%) reattempted suicide (median 109.5 days, range 1-322), seven (3.0%) completed suicide (median 90 days, range 5-185), and 192 (84.2%) neither reattempted nor completed suicide during follow-up. Of all nonfatal suicide reattempts, 14 patients (38.9%) did so within 90 days. Among suicide completers, one (14.3%) did so 5 days after discharge, and four (57.1%) did so within 90 days. The following three risk factors explained 73.3% of the probability of suicide reattempts: over two previous suicide attempts before the index admission (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-5.76), being concomitantly prescribed typical and atypical antipsychotics (adjusted HR 4.79; 95% CI 1.39-16.52) and antidepressants, and taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor alone (adjusted HR 5.08; 95% CI 1.14-22.75) or concomitantly with norepinephrine and/or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (adjusted HR 6.18; 95% CI 1.13-33.65). CONCLUSION: Approximately 40% of suicide reattempts in mood disorder patients occurred within 90 days after psychiatric hospital discharge. For mood disorders and when there have been over two previous suicide attempts, prescribed antipsychotics or antidepressants may help predict suicide reattempts.

Bioequivalence study of the two 1.5 g cefoperazone and sulbactam IM injections in Thai healthy male volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a bioequivalence study of the two 1.5 g cefoperazone (1.0 g) and sulbactam (0.5 g) between Cefper and Sulperazon injections. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was performed in 24 Thai healthy male volunteers who were intramuscularly injected a single dose of 1.5 g cefoperazone and sulbactam. A single dose, two periods, two sequences, double blind randomized crossover with a one-week washout period was used. Blood samples were collected before and at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after intramuscular injection and determined for cefoperazone and sulbactam plasma concentration by validated HPLC-UV methods. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by noncompartmental analysis and the ANOVA was carried out. RESULTS: Tax of both cefoperazone and sulbactam for volunteers who were injected with either Cefper or Sulperazon injection were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The 90% confidence intervals of the log of ratio of either C(max) or AUC(last) or AUC(inf) of both cefoperazone and sulbactam between 1.5 g Cefper and Sulperazon injections were within the bioequivalence range of 0.80-1.25. CONCLUSION: The 1.5 g cefoperazone and sulbactam injection of Cefper and Sulperazone used in the present study are bioequivalent.