Phytochemical Screening on Phenolic, Flavonoid Contents, and Antioxidant Activities of Six Indigenous Plants Used in Traditional Thai Medicine.

The antioxidant activity of a traditional Thai formula has been studied and compared to each plant. The formula comprised the roots of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler, Huberantha cerasoides (Roxb.) Benth), Oxyceros horridus Lour, Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaerth, Combretum quadrangulare Kurz, and Ziziphus cambodiana Pierre. The stem was also studied in comparison. The ethanolic extract from each plant part and the mixed plants mimicking the traditional formula were prepared and investigated for antioxidant capability in vitro via DPPH radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The phytochemical constituents were determined by chemical screening, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), and high-performance liquid chromatography. The relationship between antioxidant activity and the contributed phytochemicals was determined using correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Results showed that extracts from both parts of the plant formula showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to a single plant extract. Among the six plants, C. digyna exhibited the highest TPC and antioxidant activity. TPC had a strong positive correlation with antioxidant activity. PCA revealed that gallic acid contributed to the antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the ethanolic extracts of the traditional formula and C. digyna have the potential for further chemical characterization and study related to antioxidant activity.

Unhealthy Dietary Patterns and Their Associations with Sociodemographic Factors as Predictors among Underweight and Overweight Adolescents in Southern Thailand.

(1) Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase; dietary intake and nutritional status significantly impact health outcomes. (2) Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated dietary patterns (DPs) and the association between sociodemographic factors and unhealthy DPs among adolescents in Thailand. (3) Methods: A multi-stage sampling selected 1480 participants from three public high schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. A food frequency questionnaire assessed dietary habits, and principal component analysis was used to identify DPs. Multinomial logistic regression examined the association between sociodemographic factors and DPs. (4) Results: The findings show that 25.9% of adolescents were underweight, 14.7% were overweight, and 5.8% were obese. Three DPs were identified: a healthy 'protein and vegetables' pattern and two unhealthy patterns: 'snacks' and 'processed foods', which explained 12.49%, 10.37%, and 7.07% of the dietary variance, respectively. Among underweight adolescents, higher snack consumption was associated with being younger (odds ratio (OR) = 3.24) and receiving a higher daily allowance (OR = 3.43). Additionally, female adolescents who engaged in frequent exercise had a 2.15 times higher intake of processed foods. Among overweight adolescents, higher snack intake was linked to being younger (OR = 8.65) and having larger families (OR = 6.37). Moreover, an increased daily allowance was associated with higher consumption of processed foods (OR = 11.47). (5) Conclusion: This study underscores the socio-demographic influence on unhealthy DPs. Insights can guide targeted interventions to foster healthier dietary habits during adolescence.

Exploring diversity rock-inhabiting fungi from northern Thailand: a new genus and three new species belonged to the family Herpotrichiellaceae.

Members of the family Herpotrichiellaceae are distributed worldwide and can be found in various habitats including on insects, plants, rocks, and in the soil. They are also known to be opportunistic human pathogens. In this study, 12 strains of rock-inhabiting fungi that belong to Herpotrichiellaceae were isolated from rock samples collected from forests located in Lamphun and Sukhothai provinces of northern Thailand during the period from 2021 to 2022. On the basis of the morphological characteristics, growth temperature, and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combination of the internal transcribed spacer, the large subunit, and the small subunit of ribosomal RNA, beta tubulin and the translation elongation factor 1-a genes, the new genus, Petriomyces gen. nov., has been established to accommodate the single species, Pe. obovoidisporus sp. nov. In addition, three new species of Cladophialophora have also been introduced, namely, Cl. rupestricola, Cl. sribuabanensis, and Cl. thailandensis. Descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic trees indicating the placement of these new taxa are provided. Here, we provide updates and discussions on the phylogenetic placement of other fungal genera within Herpotrichiellaceae.

Vitamin D status in non-pregnant women of reproductive age: a study in Southern Thailand.

Vitamin D inadequacy is a global problem in all age groups. Although there are various studies of vitamin D status in pregnant women in Southeast Asia, to date there are few studies from Southeast Asia examining vitamin D status in non-pregnant women of reproductive age. To examine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) in healthy non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Southern Thailand, 120 healthy non-pregnant women aged 18-42 years were enrolled. Demographic and lifestyle data relevant to vitamin D assessment (sunlight exposure, nutritional intake, type of dress, sunscreen use) and biochemical studies (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25OHD, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate) were obtained. VDI was classified as serum 25OHD < 20 ng/mL. The average serum 25OHD level was 23.1 ± 6.0 ng/mL. The overall prevalence of VDI was 34.1%. The average dietary intake of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D and the average duration of sunlight exposure per week were not significantly different between the VDI women and the vitamin D sufficient (VDS) women. Logistic regression analysis found that the significant risk factors for VDI were greater body mass index and higher family income (p-values 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of VDI in non-pregnant women was high at 34%. As the dietary sources of vitamin D are limited and cutaneous vitamin D synthesis is limited by avoidance of sunlight exposure, vitamin D fortification in common daily foods would be an alternative option to reach the recommended vitamin D intake generally of at least 800 IU/day.

Psychometric assessment of the 10-item, revised experience of close relationship (ECR-R-10) in nonclinical and clinical populations of adults and older adults in Thailand.

The experiences of close relationships-revised (ECR-R) is a widely used 36-item self-report measurement for measuring adult attachment. However, various short versions of the ECR-R have been developed and tested psychometrically. Given the cultural impact, a short version of the Thai ECR-R should be derived from the existing Thai version of the ECR-R. This study aimed to develop a 10-item version of the ECR-R that demonstrates comparable psychometric properties to the previous Thai version and the 18-item ECR-R. This study included four studies with a total of 1,322 participants. In study 1, 434 adults in a nonclinical setting were used for the development of the 10-item Thai ECR-R and tested in an independent sample. Studies 2, 3, and 4 were conducted on 312 adults in the clinical setting, 227 older adults in the nonclinical, and 123 older adults in clinical settings. The Cronbach alphas and corrected correlations between the ECR-R-18 and the ECR-R-10 in each study were calculated. Confirmatory factor analysis of the first-order two-factor solution model with fit statistics was examined with each sample. Correlations of the ECR-R-18 and the ECR-R-10 with other measurements were presented and compared. Known-group validity and measurement invariance test were also examined. The Cronbach alphas of the ECR-R-10 among all samples were acceptable, ranging between .77 and .85 for avoidance subscales and between .82 and .86 for anxiety subscales. The corrected correlation between the ECR-R-18 and ECR-R-10 was between .61 (p < .001) and .82 (p < .001). The values of the comparative fit index and Tucker-Lewis index for the model of ECR-R-10 were between .903 and .985, whereas the root-mean-square error of approximation was between .082 and .036, indicating that the model fits were acceptable. The ECR-R-10 was related to the measurements with a similar construct; however, no difference in the magnitude of correlation was observed between ECR-R-18 and ECR-R-10. Known group validity was established. Measurement invariance was successfully established across different age and gender groups, although it was only partially achieved with respect to clinical status. The ECR-R-10 provided equal or superior psychometric properties to the ECR-R-18 across age groups and settings. As it is a briefer scale, the ECR-R-10 can be practically used in general and clinical samples to reduce the burden of assessment, especially with older adults. Further investigation is needed to test the scale's temporal stability.

The impact of a preanesthesia assessment clinic on scheduled elective case cancelations at a Thai university hospital.

Elective surgical case cancelations negatively impact healthcare systems and patient dissatisfaction. Preanesthesia assessment clinics (PACs) have been established in many countries to facilitate preoperative medical optimization. However, their benefits for elective procedure cancelations in Thailand have not been formally assessed. This study evaluated the impact of a PAC on scheduled elective surgical case cancelations at a Thai university hospital. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted for the period covering from May 2016 to April 2017. We included all scheduled elective surgical cases at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand, canceled on the day of surgery. The cancelation incidences of patients attending and not attending the PAC were compared. Cancellation reasons were categorized as "patient issue," "hospital-facility issue," "surgeon issue," "anesthesiologist issue," "medical condition," and "miscellaneous." The PAC patients' reasons were rigorously explored to determine their preventability. There were 30,351 scheduled elective procedures during the study period. The case-cancelation incidences were 0.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-1.2%) for patients visiting the PAC and 5.9% (95% CI, 5.6-6.3%) for those who did not. Medical conditions were the most common reason for cancelation for non-PAC patients (27.3%), whereas hospital-facility issues were the most frequent for PAC patients (43.8%). The cancelation rate for patient issues was significantly lower in the PAC group (4.2% vs 20.7%; P < .05). Thirty-one (64.6%) of the PAC patients' cancelations were potentially preventable. Of the 15 PAC patient cancelations related to medical conditions, 12 were for patients with a history of acute illness and were determined to be nonpreventable. Visiting the PAC was significantly associated with a decreased elective-case cancelation rate. Cancellations were most frequently related to hospital-facility issues for patients visiting the PAC and medical conditions for those who did not. Some PAC patient cancelations for medical conditions involved unpreventable acute patient illnesses. Clinical Trials.gov (NCT02816281).

An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Although exposure to chemical pesticides is known to cause negative effects on human health, farmers in Ban Luang, Nan, Thailand, continue to use them regularly to protect crops. This study focused on mothers who were engaged in farm tasks and had children between the ages of 0 to 72 months, with the objective of reducing pesticide exposure. METHODS: This study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2020 in the Ban Fa and Ban Phi sub-districts in Ban Luang due to the high use of pesticides in these areas. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 78 mothers exposed to pesticides. Thirty-nine mothers from Ban Fa district were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 39 from Ban Phi to the control group over a 3-month period. This study applied a pesticide behavioral change training program for the intervention group. To assess the effectiveness of the program, the study compared the results of a questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and health beliefs related to pesticide exposure as well as the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, biomarkers of exposure to pesticides, before and after the intervention using ANCOVA statistical test. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program, a paired t-test was used to investigate the in-home pesticide safety assessment. RESULTS: After the intervention, we observed no significant change in AChE; however, a significant improvement in BChE (p < 0.05), a marker of short-term recovery, was observed. Pesticides can cause a reduction in AChE and BChE, however, after eliminating pesticides, BChE takes a shorter time (about 30-50 days) to recover than AChE (around 90-120 days). Therefore, increases in the measured concentrations of AChE and/or BChE suggest the presence of less chemicals from pesticides in the human body. The study also found a significant improvement in KAP and beliefs about chemical pesticide exposure after the intervention (p < 0.05). Furthermore, using a paired t-test, we found a significant increase in pesticide safety practices (p < 0.05) in the intervention group and a borderline significant increase regarding in-home safety (p = 0.051) in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, the constructs of the intervention program were effective and could be applied in other agricultural areas in less developed countries. However, due to time limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, further studies should be conducted to enable data collection over a longer time, with a larger number of subjects providing the ChE levels for the non-agricultural season.

Environmental factors influencing indoor airborne fungi in students dormitory - a case study in Nakhon Sithammarat, Thailand.

Background: Indoor airborne fungi are a significant health concern that can cause respiratory symptoms and other health problems. Indoor fungi are influenced by various factors such as meteorological conditions and dwelling characteristics. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between indoor airborne fungi and environmental factors in a student dormitory in southern Thailand. Material and methods: The study was conducted at Walailak University in southern Thailand from September toDecember 2020. Air samples were collected from rooms in thirteen dormitories, and the fungal load was determined using the passive air sampling method. The study also measured meteorological parameters and gathered data on occupant behaviors and exposure-related symptoms through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In a total of 135 student rooms, the average concentration (mean ± SD) of indoor airborne fungi was 409.72±176.22 CFU/m3, which showed the highest concentration on the first floor. For meteorological parameters, the averages of RH (%), temperature (°C), and CO2 (ppm) were 70.99±2.37, 31.11±0.56 and 413.29±76.72, respectively. The abundance of indoor airborne fungi was positively associated with an increase in RH (ß=0.267, 95% CI: 5.288, 34.401) and building height (ß=0.269, 95% CI: 16.283, 105.873), with values of 19.845 and 61.078, respectively. Conversely, temperature exhibited a negative effect on indoor airborne fungi (-92.224, ß=-0.292, 95% CI: -150.052, -34.396). Conclusion: The findings highlight the influence of RH, temperature and building height on indoor airborne fungi in the student dormitory. Therefore, effective management strategies are necessary to improve indoor air quality and reduce associated health risks in student dormitories.

Effect of Health Literacy Intervention on Glycemic Control and Renal Function Among Thai Older Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: Diabetes patients with low health literacy often have poor health and clinical outcomes. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health literacy intervention on glycemic control and renal function among Thai older adults at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out in rural areas of Phayao Province in northern Thailand. The participants were older adults with T2DM who recorded blood glucose levels ranging from 140 to 180 mg/dL and who were not receiving prescribed medication. The intervention lasted 12 weeks, and data were collected at three points: baseline, post-intervention, and at 3 months' follow-up. The study outcomes included the measurement of fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels after the intervention. A linear mixed model and generalized estimating equations model were used to assess the intervention effect for continuous and binary outcomes, respectively. Results: From baseline to post-intervention, FBS and HbA1c decreased more in the intervention group than in the control group by 8.2 mg/dL (p < 0.001) and 0.1% (p = 0.029), respectively, whereas eGFR increased by 8.0 mL/min/1.73m2 (p < 0.001). The absolute effect of the intervention at follow-up was -9.8 units for FBS, -0.4 units for HbA1c, and 14.0 units for eGFR. Abnormal HbA1c level (≥6.5%) of the intervention group was reported as 70.3% at baseline, 31.3% at post-intervention, and 9.4% at follow-up. Compared to baseline levels, the T2DM patients who received the intervention were 0.31 times less likely to have abnormal HbA1c levels than the control subjects at follow-up (p = 0.003) who received no intervention. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that this intervention may potentially improve diabetes self-management and prevention behaviors, thereby reducing the diabetes burden in rural communities in northern Thailand.

Spatial association between socio-economic health service factors and sepsis mortality in Thailand.

Sepsis is a significant global health issue causing organ failure and high mortality. The number of sepsis cases has recently increased in Thailand making it crucial to comprehend the factors behind these infections. This study focuses on exploring the spatial autocorrelation between socio-economic factors and health service factors on the one hand and sepsis mortality on the other. We applied global Moran's I, local indicators of spatial association (LISA) and spatial regression to examine the relationship between these variables. Based on univariate Moran's I scatter plots, sepsis mortality in all 77 provinces in Thailand were shown to exhibit a positive spatial autocorrelation that reached a significant value (0.311). The hotspots/ high-high (HH) clusters of sepsis mortality were mostly located in the central region of the country, while the coldspots/low-low (LL) clusters were observed in the north-eastern region. Bivariate Moran's I indicated a spatial autocorrelation between various factors and sepsis mortality, while the LISA analysis revealed 7 HH clusters and 5 LL clusters associated with population density. Additionally, there were 6 HH and 4 LL clusters in areas with the lowest average temperature, 4 HH and 2 LL clusters in areas with the highest average temperature, 8 HH and 5 LL clusters associated with night-time light and 6 HH and 5 LL clusters associated with pharmacy density. The spatial regression models conducted in this study determined that the spatial error model (SEM) provided the best fit, while the parameter estimation results revealed that several factors, including population density, average lowest and highest temperature, night-time light and pharmacy density, were positively correlated with sepsis mortality. The coefficient of determination (R2) indicated that the SEM model explained 56.4% of the variation in sepsis mortality. Furthermore, based on the Akaike Information Index (AIC), the SEM model slightly outperformed the spatial lag model (SLM) with an AIC value of 518.1 compared to 520.

Gender Expression, Weight Status, and Risk of Experiencing Eating Disorders among Gender-Diverse Adults Assigned Male at Birth in Bangkok, Thailand.

This study examines the association between gender expression, weight status, and the risk of experiencing eating disorders among gender-diverse adults assigned male at birth living in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires to provide demographic data and anthropometric measures, and an Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) to determine the risk of experiencing eating disorders. The associations between gender expression, weight status, and the risk of experiencing eating disorders were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. No significant differences were observed in weight-related variables based on gender expression. Participants self-described as feminine/androgynous had lower odds of experiencing a high risk of eating disorders compared to those self-described as masculine (odds ratio (OR) = 0.49; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.27, 0.88). A higher body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.14) and BMI discrepancy (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.24) were associated with higher odds of engaging in extreme weight-control behaviors. The risk of experiencing eating disorders among Thai gender-diverse adults assigned male at birth could differ across gender expression and weight status. Further research is needed to expand the understanding of these relationships and develop tailored intervention programs to mitigate the risk.

Estimation of premature death attributed to short- and long-term PM2.5 exposure in Thailand.

Particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has been identified as a global health concern in recent decades. Indeed, PM2.5 exposure causes detrimental health problems in the general population. Estimating the short- and long-term health impacts of PM2.5 exposure should help to shape public health policy concerning air pollution. Hence, this study sought to estimate the rate of premature death attributable to PM2.5 exposure among the Thai population if the PM2.5 concentration met the applied counterfactual factor. The PM2.5 concentration, population numbers, and numbers of health incidences were collected from secondary data sources in 2019. A health impact analysis was performed using AirQ+ software to estimate the incidences of premature deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure. More specifically, the analysis provided the estimated proportion of attributable cases and the rate of premature death per 100,000 population aged ≥ 30 years. The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Thailand was found to be 24.15 µg per cubic meter (µg/m3) in 2019, while the natural mortality rate was around 1,107 per 100,000 population nationwide. With regard to short-term PM2.5 exposure, it was determined that 8 premature deaths per 100,000 population could be prevented if the PM2.5 concentration met the World Health Organization (WHO) short-term gold standard of 15 µg/m3. Moreover, 159 premature deaths per 100,000 population could be avoided if the PM2.5 concentration met the WHO's long-term gold standard of 5 µg/m3. This estimation of premature deaths due to the short- and long-term impacts of PM2.5 exposure can support policymakers and stakeholders in creating a roadmap to combating the adverse impacts of PM2.5 exposure and protect the health of the Thai population.

Scale development to measure the patient perception of patient-centered care of dentists in primary care settings of Thailand: a measurement invariance test.

BACKGROUND: Patient-centered care is essential for providing quality services thoroughly at the primary care level, but it is unclear and lacks measurement. This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure patient perception of patient-centered care in primary dental care in Thailand and test the measurement invariance between large and small community hospitals. METHODS: The initial set of 45 items for the patient perception of Patient-Centered Care of Dentist Scale (PCCDS-P version) was developed using a mixed-method approach, which included a literature review, a content validity test, cognitive interviews, and a pre-test. A multistage sampling strategy was used to recruit dental patients or their parents or caregivers from community hospitals across Thailand. Validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis was conducted to compare the responses of patients from large and small community hospitals. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-six and One thousand one hundred sixty-seven samples were randomized for EFA and CFA, respectively. The final PCCDS-P version consists of 7 factors with satisfactory reliability and validity and is composed of 42 items: dentist-patient relationship, disease-illness, integrated care, communication, shared information and decision-making, holistic, and empathy and anxiety management. The CFA showed the model fit was consistent with the entire sample. The metric invariance analysis showed that the factor loadings were invariant across patient groups. Overall, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed PCCDS-P version is composed of seven domains with 42 items with good reliability and validity, and it indicated measurement invariance across patients in large and small community hospitals.

Posterior urethral valve in thai boys.

BACKGROUND: Posterior urethral valve (PUV) is the most common congenital bladder outlet obstruction in boys, causing renal damage beginning in utero. There are scarce data from Thailand regarding the long-term outcomes of PUV in boys, thus the aim of this study was to examine the presentation, clinical course, complications, outcomes and renal survival in PUV boys. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of PUV boys treated at the Pediatric Nephrology Clinic, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, over a 30-year-period. RESULTS: Seventy-seven PUV boys were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 4.8 months. The most common presentations were urinary tract infection (UTI), poor urine stream and urinary dribbling in 26 (33.8%), 19 (24.7%) and 11 (14.3%) boys, respectively. Renal ultrasound results in 70 boys showed 8 (11.4%) unilateral and 56 (80%) bilateral hydronephroses. Of 72 voiding cystourethrograms, 18 (25.0%) showed unilateral and 22 (30.6%) bilateral vesicoureteral refluxes. 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scans in 30 boys showed 12 (40%) unilateral and 8 (26.7%) bilateral renal damage. Fifty-nine (76.6%) boys had 149 UTIs; 42 (54.4%) had recurrent UTI. Forty-eight boys had valve ablation at the median age of 30.3 months. 22 boys (28.6%) developed chronic kidney disease (CKD) at a median age of 15.0 years. CONCLUSION: Of 77 PUV Thai boys, UTI was the most common presentation. Recurrence of UTI and CKD was the most common consequence. Lifelong follow-up for renal and bladder functions is essential for all PUV patients.

Optimism bias regarding COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of lower-income older adults in Thailand.

Objective: Understanding the discernment of individuals about their health is crucial during public health situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this theme of study is how older adults perceive their vulnerabilities because it can relate to subsequent disease preventing behaviour.Materials and methods: The analysis explored optimism bias, or the perception of infection avoidance, regarding COVID-19 among lower-income Thais aged 60 and over. The study utilized an analytic sample of 2,139 individuals from the 2021 Survey on Housing and Support Services for Poor Older Adults. Logit regression model analysis was conducted, using optimistic bias as the outcome variable.Results: Increasing age and residing in urban areas were associated with a higher likelihood of bias. On the other hand, higher educational attainment was found to decrease the association with optimistic bias, indicating higher perception of risks. Adherence of older individuals to the residence-in-place policy might have contributed to perception of lower infection risks. Urban residents had better access to welfare benefits and medical facilities, which led to reduced worry and greater optimistic bias.Conclusion: Greater understanding of the disease and preventive strategies offer insights on how higher education levels lead to perceiving possible risks surrounding COVID-19.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid total Ig, anti-RBD IgG antibodies, and infection in Thailand: a cross-sectional survey from October 2022 to January 2023.

Seroprevalence studies on SARS-CoV-2 are essential for estimating actual prevalence rates of infection and vaccination in communities. This study evaluated infection rates based on total anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin (N) and/or infection history. We determined the seroprevalence of anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies across age groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chonburi province, Thailand, between October 2022 and January 2023. Participants included newborns to adults aged up to 80 years. All serum samples were tested for anti-N total Ig and anti-RBD IgG. The interviewer-administered questionnaires queried information on infection history and vaccination records. Of 1459 participants enrolled from the Chonburi population, ~ 72.4% were infected. The number of infections was higher in children aged < 5 years, with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection decreasing significantly with increasing age. There were no significant differences based on sex or occupation. Overall, ~ 97.4% of participants had an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The anti-RBD IgG seroprevalence rate was lower in younger vaccinated individuals and was slightly increased to 100% seropositivity at ages > 60 years. Our findings will help predict the exact number of infections and the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Thai population. Furthermore, this information is essential for public health decision-making and the development of vaccination strategies.

Projecting the future incidence and burden of dengue in Southeast Asia.

The recent global expansion of dengue has been facilitated by changes in urbanisation, mobility, and climate. In this work, we project future changes in dengue incidence and case burden to 2099 under the latest climate change scenarios. We fit a statistical model to province-level monthly dengue case counts from eight countries across Southeast Asia, one of the worst affected regions. We project that dengue incidence will peak this century before declining to lower levels with large variations between and within countries. Our findings reveal that northern Thailand and Cambodia will show the biggest decreases and equatorial areas will show the biggest increases. The impact of climate change will be counterbalanced by income growth, with population growth having the biggest influence on increasing burden. These findings can be used for formulating mitigation and adaptation interventions to reduce the immediate growing impact of dengue virus in the region.

Comparative physiology of canopy tree leaves in evergreen and deciduous forests in lowland Thailand.

The typical seasonally dry forests in Southeast Asia are the mixed deciduous forest (MDF), dry dipterocarp (deciduous) forest (DDF), and dry evergreen forest (DEF). We obtained 21 physiological traits in the top/sunlit leaves of 107, 65 and 51 tree species in MDF, DEF and DDF, respectively. Approximately 70%, 95% and 95% of canopy tree species which consist of MDF, DEF and DDF are sampled, respectively. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Asat) exhibit a positive correlation with foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on leaf mass and area bases across tree species. Decreased leaf mass-based P reduces the positive slope of the mass-based N and Asat relationship across species and habitats. The differences in nutrient and water use and leaf habits are well matched to the variation in soil properties among the forest types, highlighting the reliability of this comprehensive database for revealing the mechanism of niche segregation based on edaphic factors.

Simplified Test-to-Treat Strategy for Hepatitis C in Thailand: The Phetchabun Model.

The complexity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnostic workflow and stringent criteria for universal health coverage are significant barriers to achieving HCV elimination in Thailand. A test-to-treat strategy using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for screening at point of care, followed by a qualitative nucleic acid testing, is a promising strategy to facilitate population-wide screening for HCV infection and expedite time to treatment. This strategy was evaluated in Phetchabun province, Thailand, where the HCV burden is relatively high. This simplified HCV test-to-treat strategy showed strong potential to be implemented at a national level. Several obstacles to implementation included the stringent criteria for universal health coverage, which prioritizes patients with advanced disease, the continuous policy revision for HCV treatment and care, the relatively low public awareness of HCV infection, and the lagging of government policy prioritization. All of these contribute to the delayed progress in hepatitis elimination.

Roaming behavior of the owned domestic cats (Felis catus) with possible roles in the transmission of Opisthorchis viverrini in the endemic area in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

In the endemic area of the liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) infection, effective control of opisthorchiasis using One Health approaches requires transmission interruption in all hosts in the parasite life cycle. Owned domestic cats (Felis catus) are considered an important species among mammalian reservoirs. Similar to humans, household cats become infected by eating raw, contaminated fish and spread the O. viverrini eggs to the environment by defecation. In rural areas, cat owners usually feed their cats with human food or food waste, especially fish dishes. There is a high risk for cats to become infected and deposit eggs in the peri-household environment. The lack of research on domestic cats led us to study their roaming behavior, roaming range, habitat preference and risk of disease transmission. GPS loggers were harnessed to 28 domestic cats in 7 villages around Lawa Lake, the endemic area of human opisthorchiasis. All cats were examined for the O. viverrini infection status using modified formalin-ether concentration technique (MFECT) before application of the GPS device used to observe and record their roaming distance and range area. Then, composition analysis for habitat selection was performed using the location data. Additionally, cat owners were interviewed using participatory epidemiologic methods for their perceptions and knowledge about the reservoir hosts of this trematode. Our study suggested that the prevalence of O. viverrini in cats in this area has not declined appreciably in comparison with our previous study four years ago, although the treatment and control has been applied intensively in humans. The longest distance that individual cats roamed ranged from 51 to 363 meters (mean±SD = 154.48±90.71). The cats traveled tracks around their home. There was no significant difference in the average distance that cats ranged between O. viverrini infected group (154.13±72.80 meters) and the non-infected group (154.67±101.39 meters) was found. Compositional analysis suggested that the domestic cats preferred urban habitats where food and safety were probably more available. It appears that the main transmission route for infection of cats was contaminated fish fed to cats or fish that remained in their houses. Therefore, owners should refrain from feeding their cats potentially contaminated foods, food scraps and raw fish remains and prevent their cats from accessing them. Moreover, the participatory epidemiology results suggest that awareness of villagers is not enough for the effective and sustainable control of the disease.