ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a global health burden. However, there are heterogeneities among countries or regions in the risk factors and clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic diseases as well as management patterns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected data from 25 centres in Thailand. Patients with documented coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease or peripheral arterial disease, or with at least three atherosclerosis risk factors were enrolled between April 2011 and March 2014. Data on demographics, atherosclerosis risk factors and the management pattern of risk factors, including laboratory findings, were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In total, 9,390 patients, including 4,861 patients with established atherosclerotic disease and 4,529 patients with multiple risk factors, were enrolled. The modifiable risk factors, other than current smoking habit (5.3%), were common: hypertension (83.8%), dyslipidaemia (85.9%) and diabetes mellitus (57.4%). A majority of patients with hypertension (96.3%), dyslipidaemia (93.8%) and diabetes mellitus (78.5%) received medications for their conditions. Antiplatelet agents were given to 73.9% of patients. The undertreatment rate of cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, haemoglobin A1c and smoking status, was 35.8%, 59.0%, 45.3% and 5.3%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Conventional atherosclerosis risk factors were common among Thai patients with established atherosclerotic disease. Even though most of the patients received recommended treatments according to established guidelines, a significant proportion of them were undertreated for atherosclerosis risk factors.</p>
ABSTRACT
A 61-year-old woman was referred to Srinagarind Hospital Khon Kaen University because of SVC obstruction. Echocardiography revealed a sizable tumor in RA, RV. outflow tract, main pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery. All parts of the tumor were successfully excised and the patient was recovered uneventfully. The histological examination of the tumor revealed liposarcoma. This report emphasizes that intracardiac tumor, liposarcoma, should be included in differential diagnosis of SVC obstruction syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Background: The Faculty of Medicine annually allocates its own budget for research grant but the numbers of research publication each year in the previous study was only 21.5%Objective: To study and improve the supportive system for research publication within the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.Setting: The Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.Design: Descriptive studyMethods: The sequences of the study included; phase 1) reviewed proposals granted by the Faculty of Medicine between the years 2002- 2004 and then a structured questionnaire was sent to all principal investigators; phase 2) problems related to research publication were analyzed after discussed with a focus group who were involved in research activities; phase 3) reported the problems to the Faculty’s administrative board; and phase 4) Post-evaluation after supportive system changed. Outcome measures: Numbers of proposal granted, total amount of the budget funded, numbers and factors related to research publication were recorded.Results: During the studied period there were 204 proposals granted with amounted to 11,567,715 Baht. Only 71 proposals (34.8%) of the researcher could finish their work within 1- 3 years after granting and made the final report to the Faculty. Thirty –six out of 71 proposals (17.6% of granted proposal) were submitted for publication, where 32 have not prepared the manuscript. Most of non-publication (75%) grants were done by postgraduate students. The existing supportive system for publication within the faculty includes; institutional journal (in Thai), English consultant, page charge fee, and reward prize for index journal publication. The administrative board of the Faculty responded to the reported problems by improving the supportive system, however, changing for research publication may take times.Conclusion: The Faculty of Medicine has a completed supportive system for publication but only 17.6% of granted proposals were submitted for publication. Most of non-publication was postgraduate students. The Faculty now is doing some changes of supportive system that might raise the number of publication.Keyword: research funding system, research utilization, publication