Clinical Manifestations of Eosinophilic Meningitis Due to Infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Children

Eosinophilic meningitis, caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is prevalent in northeastern Thailand, most commonly in adults. Data regarding clinical manifestations of this condition in children is limited and may be different those in adults. A chart review was done on 19 eosinophilic meningitis patients aged less than 15 years in Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Clinical manifestations and outcomes were reported using descriptive statistics. All patients had presented with severe headache. Most patients were males, had fever, nausea or vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and a history of snail ingestion. Six patients had papilledema or cranial nerve palsies. It was shown that the clinical manifestations of eosinophilic meningitis due to A. cantonensis in children are different from those in adult patients. Fever, nausea, vomiting, hepatomegaly, neck stiffness, and cranial nerve palsies were all more common in children than in adults.

Effectiveness of Green tea on Weight Reduction in Obese Thais

Background: The increasing incidence of obesity is a recognized medical problem world wide including Thailand. Obesity raises the risk for developing diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Green tea, containing caffeine and catechin polyphenols, has effects on decreasing body weight, in Caucasian, possibly through stimulation of energy expenditure and fat oxidation.  Perpose: To investigate the effects of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais.Study design: Randomized control trialSubject: 60 obese subjects (BMI \> 25  kg/m2)Method: Subjects were randomized and divided into green tea  and placebo group. Duration of treatment is 12 weeks. Body weight, BMI, body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), substrate oxidation were measure  at baseline in 4, 8 and 12 weeks. All data of two groups at the same week were compared and analyzed by using Student’s t test..Results: Comparing between two groups, differences of  weight loss were 2.70, 5.10 and 3.73  kg in 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. At 8th week body weight loss was significantly different (P

Duchenne muscular dystrophy in northeastern Thai children: a retrospective study

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common hereditary neuromuscular disease. No curative treatment for DMD is known. Prednisone therapy is the first medical treatment that alters the course of DMD. Several studies about the doses and administrations of prednisone or prednisolone had been reported. Objectives: To review clinical features, laboratory findings, and the result of treatment of DMD. Methods: DMD patients who came to Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand from January, 1995 to January, 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Sixty-two patients fulfilled the study criteria. All patients were male (100 %). Mean age at onset was 4.9 years. Family history was found in 10 families (16 %). The most common symptoms were weakness, standing difficulty, and gait abnormality (100, 97, and 93 % respectively). The most common clinical signs were calf hypertrophy, weakness, and Gower sign (100, 100, and 94 % respectively). Serum creatine kinase (CK) was raised in all of the patients with mean serum CK 13,026 IU/L. Fifty patients received prednisolone. Twelve received only supportive treatments. The overall outcomes of prednisolone treatment were better, same, and worse in 37, 51, and 12 % respectively. Mean age at wheel chair was 10.8 years. Three patients with associate diseases; adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Sturge Weber syndrome, and autism were presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about DMD concomitant with ARDS and DMD with Sturge-Weber syndrome. DMD with autism, a very rare occurrence, is presented. Conclusion: Clinical features, laboratory findings, and the outcomes of treatments of 62 DMD patients were presented. Prednisolone treatment had some beneficial effects and had significant side effects. Starting with a low dose, and then increasing to high dose in the no response patient is recommended.