Clinical characteristics, residual beta-cell function and pancreatic auto-antibodies in Thai people with long-standing type 1 diabetes mellitus / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#Objectives. To describe the characteristics of long-standing T1DM in Thai patients and assess residual beta-cell function with status of pancreatic autoantibodies. Methodology. This is a cross-sectional study of Thai subjects with T1DM and disease duration ≥ 25 years seen at the Theptarin Hospital. Random plasma C-peptide and pancreatic auto-antibodies (Anti-GAD, Anti-IA2, and Anti-ZnT8) were measured. Patients who developed complications were compared with those who remained free of complications. Results. A total of 20 patients (males 65%, mean age 49.4±12.0 years, BMI 22.5±3.1 kg/m2, A1C 7.9±1.6%) with diabetes duration of 31.9±5.1 years were studied. Half of the participants remained free from any diabetic complications while the proportions reporting retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy were 40%, 30%, and 15%, respectively. HDL cholesterol was significantly higher and triglyceride concentration significantly lower in patients who were free from diabetic nephropathy but not in those who were free from other complications. The prevalence rates of anti-GAD, anti- IA2, and anti-ZnT8 were 65%, 20%, and 10%, respectively. None of the patients who tested negative for both anti-GAD and anti-IA2 was positive for anti-ZnT8. Residual beta-cell function based on detectable random plasma C-peptide (≥ 0.1 ng/mL) and MMTT was found in only 3 patients (15%). There was no relationship between residual beta-cell function and protective effects of diabetic complications. Conclusion. Endogenous insulin secretion persists in some patients with long-standing T1DM and half of longstanding T1DM in Thai patients showed no diabetic complications. HDL cholesterol was significantly higher and triglyceride concentration significantly lower in patients who were free from diabetic nephropathy

A study of pavlov ratio in Thai people.

A study of lateral cervical spine x-rays in 50 normal Thai volunteers was carried out to find the Pavlov ratio in Thai people. The results were compared with the standard values commonly used as reference values. These values are derived from published figures obtained in Westerners whose build and bone structure are quite different from Thais. The results of this study showed that the corresponding values of the Pavlov ratio at spinal levels C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 were 0.96, 0.96, 0.98, 0.95 and 0.91. The average Pavlov ratio for all levels was found to be 0.95. There is no different from the foreign results. Hence, the use of published reference of the narrow status of the cervical canal can be confidently compared to reference values now known to be appropriate to Thais.

The study of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) in Thai people.

Depression is commonly found in the chronic disable patients and it can effect to rehabilitation process. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) is one of the psychiatric battery of depression measures. It is a 20-item questionnaire investigating perceived mood and level of functioning within the past seven days. Scores are range from 0.06, with higher scores indicating the increased severity of depression. The objective of this study was to establish the optimal cut off point for Thai people. It was performed among 69 medical personals Siriraj Hospital and 30 psychiatric patients from the department of Psychiatry. Everyone was evaluated by CES-D and DSM-IV method. The finding was that the average score for normal, minor and major depression groups were 10.57 + 4.96, 28.29 + 8.36 and 37.15 + 10.65 with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Scores of 19 or higher was considered indicative of depression with 93.33 per cent sensitivity, 94.2 per cent specificity and 0.9154 reliability. The CES-D could be one of the most useful test for screening of depression.