Spa, springs and safety.

Natural mineral water has long been used worldwide for bathing and health purposes. At present, Thailand is famous for health spas and natural hot springs among local people and tourists. Due to possible risks of exposure to harmful agents, we studied hazardous pollutants at 57 natural hot springs from 11 provinces in northern, central, eastern and southern Thailand. Pathogenic, free-living amebae of the genera Naegleria and Acanthamoeba, which can cause central nervous system infection, were found in 26.3% (15/57) and 15.8% (9/ 57), respectively. Dissolved radon, a soil gas with carcinogenic properties, was present in nearly all hot springs sites, with concentration ranging from 0.87-76,527 Becquerels/m3. There were 5 water samples in which radon concentration exceeded the safety limit for drinking. Legionella pneumoniphila (serogroups 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 10 and 13) were found in samples from 71.9% (41/57) of studied sites. Because spas and natural springs are popular tourist attractions, health authorities should be aware of possible hazards and provide tactful measures and guidelines to ensure safety without causing undue alarm to foreign and Thai tourists.

Free-living ameba contamination in natural hot springs in Thailand.

Thermo tolerant free-living ameba, Naegleria spp and Acanthamoeba spp contamination in natural hot springs in Thailand were carried out from 13 provinces. The temperature of hot springs water varied from 28 degrees-65 degrees C and pH from 6-8. We found that 38.2 % (26/68) of water samples were positive, Acanthamoeba was 13.2% (9/68) whilst Naegleria was 35.3% (24/68). Contamination by free-living ameba in natural hot springs may pose a significant health risk to people who use such water for recreation activities.

Pulmonary diseases and drivers' medical certification.

Among the several causes of motor vehicle accidents are various medical conditions that play an important role in incapacitating a driverûs ability. Although pulmonary diseases have never been a major contributing cause, they occasionally present problems in the process of decision-making for issuing medical certification. This article includes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as a potential risk factor in road accidents.

Indoor radon in nakornpathom province, Thailand.

During the months of July and August 1997, a survey to determine the existence of indoor radon was carried out, using an activated charcoal technique, in 474 different buildings in Nakornpathom Province. The presence of radon gas was encountered inside all the buildings investigated, varying in concentration from 4.00 to 86.40 Bq.m-3 (13.45 + 9.23 Bq.m-3). With regard to the type, age and ventilation status of the buildings, and the practice of smoking indoors, the findings do not conclusively support the notion of their contributing to, or mutually associated with, indoor gaseous concentrations of radon.

A survey of indoor radon in kanchanaburi province.

A study of indoor radon was carried out on 287 different buildings in four districts (Amphur Muang, A. Tha Muang, A. Tha Maka and A. Phanomthuan) of Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, using an activated charcoal canister for sample collection and a gamma spectrometer for analysis of the samples. The survey revealed the presence of radon gas inside all the buildings investigated, with overall concentrations being 125.38 + 145.43 Bq.m-3 and the prevalence rate of elevated values being 31.70 percent. Concentrations of 131.14 + 116.36 Bq.m-3 with a 32.39 percent prevalence rate were obtained in Amphur Muang (71 buildings) ; 98.31 + 91.36 Bq.m-3 with a 22.41 percent prevalence rate in Amphur Tha Muang (58 buildings) ; 160.35 + 95.30 Bq.m-3 with a 56.66 percent prevalence rate in Amphur Tha Maka (60 buildings) ; 115.82 + 202.10 Bq.m-3 with a 21.24 percent prevalence rate in Amphur Phanomthuan (98 buildings). The higher prevalence at Amphur Tha Maka differs statistically from the prevalence encountered in the three other districts. In considering buildings constructed less than five years previously and those five or more years old, there were no statistically significant differences with regard to both the radon concentrations and the prevalence rate of elevated concentrations. There was evidence suggesting that sources of indoor radon are both the soil and construction materials. Buildings with good ventilation (e.g., houses built on high posts, and those with doors and windows frequently opened) showed somewhat less accumulation of indoor gas, without statistically significant difference (P>0.05).

Morgagni hernia: Report of a case.

A case of Morgagni hernia was encountered in a female patient aged 72 years, who was suffering from abdominal discomfort and shortness of breath. A preliminary diagnosis of mediastinal lipoma was suggested by computed tomography findings. However, during right-sided thoracotomy, a large Moregagni hernia containing a cluster of omentum completely enveloped in a peritoneal sac, was removed.

Respiratory centre sensitivity and exercise tolerance in healthy Thais and in Thai COPD patients.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the range of normal value of respiratory centre sensitivity and exercise tolerance in healthy Thais and any divergence from the normal range in those with COPD. Findings in healthy subjects disclosed that the end-tidal PCO2 and tidal volume response to CO2 were higher and exercise tolerance was lower among the elderly compared with younger subjects; only in young males was the ventilatory response to CO2 higher than in females. In the group of Thai COPD patients, all data were comparable to those of the match healthy subjects, with the exception that one-third of the patients experienced stronger ventilatory drive while breathing room air and a lower musculo-ventilation transfer index during room-air breathing as well as CO2 rebreathing.

Adenosis Deaminase (ADA) activity in tuberculous and in carcinomatous lungs.

Determination of ADA activity in BALF was carried out in 12 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, 12 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and 11 healthy volunteers. Pertinent findings were: (1) ADA activity increased significantly only in tuberculous lungs; and (2) ADA activity in diseased lungs was significantly higher than in apparently non-diseased lungs. The latter findings may reflect the difference in local cellular activity and proliferation rate between the diseased and non-diseased lungs.

Subpleural lipoma: A case report.

Our first experience with a solitary subpleural lipoma was reported with emphasis on the reliability of computed tomography as a non-invasive means for establishing diagnosis of parietal intrathoracic lipomas.

Microbial florac in sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study was conducted to determine the variety of micro-organisms in the sputum of COPD patients, comparing those found in the stable quiescent stage with those appearing during acute exacerbation. The results showed no clear-cut differences in the distribution of either normal florae or potential pathogens in both of the diseased states. Haemophilus influenzae and pneumoniac seemed to no role in the occurence of acute exacerbation of COPD. Findings of Gram-negative bacilli in high rates, during the acute exacerbation and the quiescent states, possibly accounted for the presence of acute infection pneumonia but not the perpetuation of acute exacerbation in COPD patients.