Medical students’online network abuse.

Background: Nowadays, social networks play an important role in medical students’ life. Despite their benefits, unprofessional posting could harm medical society. This study aims to assess the prevalence and patterns of social network abuse and its association with gender, academic year, and GPAX. Method: A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaire was conducted among medical students in the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in 2009. Results: Of 1,002 participants, 83.7% actively used social networks, most of which were Facebook, MSN, and Hi5. Up to 16.3% made unprofessional posting. Females reported better attitude and lower prevalence than males. Students’ attitude and behavior improved across the year. There was no association between attitude/behavior and GPAX. Regarding the faculty’s involvement, students prefer distinct recommendation to strict regulation. Conclusion: Few medical students made unprofessional posting. They seemed unconcerned with ramifications of their posting. The faculty should establish a clear guideline to enhance students’ professional responsibility.

Academic misconduct among medical students.

Objectives: To explore attitudes and behaviour in medical students to scenarios involving academic misconduct and to determine the association between attitudes and behaviour. Methods: In August 2008, a cross-sectional survey using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. All first year medical students were subjects. Completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Results: Of the 291 medical students, 247 (84.9%) completed the questionnaire. The majority of medical students felt that most scenarios were wrong but admitted to engaging in at least one of the scenarios. In all, 139 (56.7%) students responded that cheating should be reported. Only 22 (9.1%) of the students stated that they had or would consider cheating or had witnessed such events. Fourteen out of 22 items showed significant association between attitudes and behaviours. No scenario demonstrated a negative relationship between attitudes and behaviour. Conclusion: The proportion of first year medical students engaging in academic misconduct was high, although they considered it wrong. There were associations between students’ attitudes and behaviour in most of the scenarios.

Perinatal outcomes in severe preeclamptic women between 24-33(+6) weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to determine perinatal and maternal outcomes in severe preeclamptic women between 24-33-week gestation and compare the outcomes between expectant and aggressive management. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective descriptive study of 99 women with severe preeclampsia between 24-33(+6)-week gestation who delivered at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from January 2002 to December 2005 was included. The outcomes were analyzed according to the gestational age at the time of admission (< 28 weeks' and > or = 28 weeks' gestation) according to expectant compared with aggressive management. Statistical analysis was performed by student t-test and chi2-test. RESULTS: The perinatal morbidity and mortality were significantly high in the gestational age < 28 weeks group. There were 11 perinatal deaths, 8 in those managed at < 28 weeks and 3 in those managed at 28-29 weeks' gestation (p < 0.05). Maternal morbidities were similar among both groups. There was no maternal death. CONCLUSION: Delivery at remote from term, especially < 2-week gestation, increases neonatal morbidity and mortality in severe preeclamptic women. Expectant management should be done in the tertiary care center with close maternal and fetal monitering.

Excursion index of the septum primum as a parameter for diastolic function assessment of Thai fetuses: at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normal value of fetal diastolic function by the measurement of the excursion index of the septum primum (EISP) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation in Thai fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fetuses of normal Thai pregnant women were recruited for 2-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the EISP (the ratio between the linear displacement of the flap valve and the left atrial diameter) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation. All had a confirmed gestational age, normal structural scanning, and negative diabetic screening at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation. The 5th, 50th and 95th percentile of the EISP were demonstrated The relationship between the EISP and gestational age were determined RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-seven measurements were obtained The normal values of the EISP according to gestational age were presented as 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile ranks. The correlation coefficients (r) between the EISP and gestational age were 0.03. The EISP were not statistically different with advancing gestation. The 5th, 50th, and 95th of the EISP were 0.32, 0.45, and 0.59 respectively. The intra-observer variability was 5.5%. CONCLUSION: The normal values of fetal EISP in the Thai population from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation were established This could serve as a baseline data in detection of the alteration of left ventricular diastolic function during fetal life.

Nasal bone hypoplasia in trisomy 21 at 15 to 24 weeks' gestation in A high risk Thai population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of nasal bone hypoplasia in the detection of fetuses with trisomy 21 in the second trimester in a high risk Thai population. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study involving pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis due to increased risk of aneuploidy from January 2005 to December 2005. Fetal biometry and nasal bone measurements were obtained at the time of amniocentesis. Linear regression model and diagnostic tests were analyzed using the SPSS computer program. RESULTS: A total of 407 fetuses were evaluated. In euploid fetuses, the Nasal Bone Length (NBL) increased linearly with advancing gestational age. Fetuses with Down syndrome had a significantly higher proportion of NBL below the 5th centile when compared with normal fetuses (p < 0.05). The optimal nasal bone threshold associated with trisomy 21 is a BiParietal Diameter/Nasal Bone Length (BPD/NBL) ratio of 10 or greater, yielded a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 86% for detection of trisomy 21. CONCLUSION: Nasal bone hypoplasia is associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome in the presented population.

Interventricular septal thickness of Thai fetuses: at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normal value of fetal InterVentricular Septal Thickness (IVST) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation in Thai fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thai pregnant women with normal fetuses were recruited for prenatal 2-dimensional M-mode echocardiographic measurements of fetal IVST at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation. All had a confirmed gestational age, normal structural scanning and negative diabetic screening at 24 to 28 weeks 'gestation. The IVST was measured from the 4-chamber view during diastole and systole. The 5th, 50th and 95th percentile of the IVST during Diastole (IVSD) and the IVST during Systole (IVSS) were demonstrated The relationship between the IVSD and IVSS and gestational age were determined RESULTS: A total of 410 measurements were obtained. The normal values of the IVSD and IVSS according to gestational age were presented as 5th, 50th and 95th percentile ranks. The correlation coefficients (r) between the IVSD and IVSS and gestational age were 0.11 and 0.12, respectively. The IVSD and IVSS were not statistically different with advancing gestation. The 95th, percentile of the IVSD was 4.51 millimeters (mm) (range = 4.26 to 4.74 mm) and IVSS was 6.23 mm (range = 5.96 to 6.68 mm). The intraobserver variability was 7.6%. CONCLUSION: The normal values of fetal IVSD and IVSS in a Thai population from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation were established. This could be used as a baseline data in detecting the asymmetrical septal hypertrophy during fetal life.

The management of acardiac twins at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital: case series.

Acardiac twin is a rare event with high perinatal mortality rate and the management strategies remain controversial. The authors report 4 cases of twin pregnancies associated with one acardiac twin diagnosed at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during the period 1993 to 2002. Two cases were expectantly managed and intrauterine interventions were performed in order to occlude umbilical artery of the acardiac twin in 2 cases, by using Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) embolization and absolute alcohol injection. Overall, the perinatal mortality rate for the pump twin was 50% and the survival rate of expectant management in the present series was 100%. GDC embolization was judged to be technically successful since it completely occluded the circulation to the acardiac twin. However, the pump twin was dead which might have resulted from the compromised state due to cardiac failure. At present, it seems that conservative management with close antenatal surveillance is the treatment of choice when the twin-weight ratios are substantially less than 70%. Invasive techniques should be considered when there is ultrasound evidence of hydramnios or congestive heart failure of the pump twin at a previable gestational age.