A clinical study on the efficacy and tolerability of the ultrasonic therapy by using ultrasonic machines of the Thailand institute of scientific and technological research.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and tolerability of the ultrasonic (US) therapy by using the US equivalent machines produced by the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR). Methods: Patients diagnosed with chronic musculo-tendinous pain were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Siriraj Hospital. Data from group 1 patients treated with the 4 TISTR-US equivalent machines were examined and compared with those from group 2 patients treated with a standardized and imported US machine. The self-reported levels of pain which are sought through use of visual analog scales (VAS) with pressure algometry before and after an 8-week course of treatment were obtained. Comparison was made between the groups, by using analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA, pre-and post-therapeutically as covariates). Results: A total of 49 patients, aged 45.4+ 15.8 years, participated. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the proportions of females, the proportion of muscular lesions, the proportion of elderly, the proportion of cases presenting with severe pain, the mean age, and the mean VAS. However, there were significantly lesser amounts of treatments (8.7 + 4.0 vs. 11.3 + 2.5 times, p = 0.002) in group 2 than group 1. After treatment, there were significant decreases of the mean VAS in both groups (4.4 + 1.5 vs. 3.4 + 1.5 for group 1 and 4.7 + 1.8 vs. 3.3 + 1.8 for group 2, respectively) (p < 0.001 for both groups). No significant differences were observed between the groups in the post-therapeutic VAS (3.4 + 1.5 vs. 3.3 + 1.8, p = 0.90). No side effects were reported. Conclusion: Using of the TISTR-US equivalent machines in relieving patients’ pain is clinically effective and tolerable.

La investigación en tecnología médica: apoyo a la cooperación entre países / Research in medical technology: support to the cooperation between nations

El presente documento expone los trabajos y acciones de investigación sobre tecnología médica realizados por diferentes países, instituciones y grupos académicos para favorecer e instrumentar la cooperación e intercambio de información. Se pone especial énfasis en las acciones llevadas a cabo por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud que, con este fin, ha apoyado la ejecución de 45 protocolos de investigación sobre el tema, y ha promovido el trabajo conjunto de grupos académicos, instituciones nacionales y agencias internacionales. Se hace referencia particular a las investigaciones y resultados obtenidos por el grupo de investigación sobre tecnología del Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública de México, que trabaja en este tema desde 1988 y ha ejecutado dos protocolos de investigación sobre equipamientos médicos. Los resultados de estas investigaciones han servido de base para realizar propuestas de intercambios con países de la Región.

This paper discusses the results of the research work on medical technology in several countries by research teams whose goals are to prompt the exchange of information and support practical cooperation. Emphasis is placed on the work developed by the Pan American Health Organization, which has supported 45 research proposals on medical technology and stimulated the association of academic groups, national institutions and international agencies. The authors also describe the research activities of the team devoted to medical technology research at the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico.