A study on socioeconomic status of the Thai employee working abroad.

Descriptive epidemiology was applied to 1,000 Thai employee proposing to work abroad, during the period of February to April, 1987. 59.1% of the workers never traveled but another 40.9% experienced at least once. Mostly 92.5%, occupied within the age-group of 22-44, while the age-range was between 19-59. The male population was six times over the female, 72.4% married. Most of the worker (40.1%) lived in the North-east, rarely came from the South (0.6%). Agriculture (50.8%) was the common occupation. The previous average income was 8,794.66 Bahts per year. 92.3% of the destination was Saudi Arabia. Janpan, Iraq, Kuwait, Barhein and Singapore were respectively less popularity. Skilled labour (37.1%) was highly required for the male but house-wife (12%) for the females. The contract signed one year (28%) and two years (66%) for the period of employment. The monthly expected average income was 7,145.20 and 6,573.86 Bahts of the salary could be sent back home. Concerning the expense required from the agency, 30,000-40,000 Bahts was the sum (51.8%). Time spent for the arrangement (50.8%) was 1-4 months. 47.4% loaned from the bank, only 24.0% had their own financial support.

The experience of rabies prophylaxis in Siriraj Hospital 1980-1987.

Twenty two hundreds and thirty five records of patients receiving rabies vaccine prophylaxis between February 1980 and October 1987 were analyzed retrospectively in order to find out the epidemiological backgrounds of animals bite victims. These patients were 1,130 males and 1097 females with the ages raged from 9 months to 87 years. Most of the patients (1,486 case, 66.40%) were under the age of 25 while the most commonly found were between 5-9 years. The injuries occurred mostly around their residential areas. The rabies vaccine prophylaxis using the suckling mouse brain vaccine (SMV), Sample vaccine and human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV) were 1,626, 266 and 343 cases respectively. Primary suture of wounds and wound cleansing were carried out in 123 patients. No serious side effect was observed subsequent to the injection of rabies vaccine. However, skin rash was observed among patients receiving SMV and Sample vaccine in 14 and 7 cases respectively.

Painful index in osteoarthritis of the knee.

Clinical and roentgenographic assessments were carried out in 144 subjects, male and female equal in number. Thirty nine cases among both sexs were without symptom while thirty three cases among both sexs showed symptoms from osteoarthrosis. Ages ranged from 38-70 years. Body weight, the distance between the inner aspect of the knee, medial border of the patellae, the tibial tubercles, the angle formed by tibial axis and vertical line, AP view of roentgenogram of both knee joints were recorded and taken while subjects were standing. The tibiofemoral angle was then measured. It was found that this angle in symptomatic knee would exceed over 3 degrees, and this figure was used as a criterior or independent variables. The body weight, the age and the distance between the tibial tubercles were used as predictors or dependent variables. By means of multiple regression analysis two equations were formulated for each sex as pain index. If the yielded equation exceeded 3, it would indicate a high risk of developing painful knee or having pain. The advantage of this finding is that routine roentgenographic examination of the knee joints will then not be necessary in every patient with suspected osteoarthrosis, and can be a guide line for a preventive measure against its early symptomatic manifestation.

Manual and automatic leucocyte counts.

A total of 2012 venous blood samples of healthy individuals were determined for leucocyte counts. The samples were taken between 9.00 to 12.00 a.m. Samples of 503 males and 504 females were examined by manual method, while another 502 males and 503 females were counted by electronic or automatic machine. The results were evaluated by Student’s t-test. The mean + standard deviation of ages in the manual group was 30.9 + 8.6 years for males and 27.4 + 7.7 years for females. They had a mean + standard deviation of total leucocyte counts 7003.78 + 785.76 cells per cu.mm. for males and 7028.83 + 778.09 cells per cu.mm. for females. There was no significant statistical difference (p=0.98981). The mean + standard deviation of ages in the automatic group was 29.5 + 7.4 years for males and 29.3 + 7 years for females. The mean + standard deviation of total leucocyte counts was 6482.68 + 1267.98 and 6819.89 + 1252.55 cells per cu.mm. for males and females respectively. the difference was not significant (p=0.98194). There was no significant statisfical difference in total leucocyte counts 1. between manual and automatic method 2. between males and females The average + standard deviation of total leucocyte counts of 2012 healthy individuals was 6924 + 1053 cells per cu.mm. The small variation of leucocyte counts among subjects aged 10 to 50 years was also observed.