Post-fire recovery of soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, soil nutrients, and soil erodibility in rotational shifting cultivation in Northern Thailand

The hill tribes in Thailand traditionally depend on rotational shifting cultivation (RSC). However, insufficient understanding remains on post-fire soil properties and soil erodibility (k-values) with fallow years. To address this gap, the levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN), soil nutrients, and soil erodibility after fire in RSC were investigated. Topsoil (0–10 cm) samples from sites with 4 (RSC-4Y), 5 (RSC-5Y), and 7 (RSC-7Y) fallow years in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, were taken at four time points: before burning, 5 min after burning, 9 months after burning, and 2 years after burning. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, and soil nutrient (available P, K, and Ca) levels were increased after burning and remained higher than the pre-burning levels for at least 2 years. The SOC stock decreased after burning in all fallow fields. At 2 years after burning, the SOC stock in RSC-4Y was higher than before burning, whereas in RSC-5Y and RSC-7Y, the levels had not reached the pre-fire levels. The STN stocks of all studied fields significantly decreased after burning and had not reached the pre-burning levels after 2 years. After burning, the topsoil of RSC-4Y was most susceptible to erosion. However, only in RSC-4Y, the k-value was unchanged at 2 years after burning. Three different approaches are recommended for post-fire land management: 1) farmers should not cut and remove the weeds and grasses at the soil surface, 2) burning should be performed around late winter or early summer (November–February) to inhibit complete combustion, and 3) contour-felled log erosion barriers should be made by using the trunks remaining after the fire to trap the sediment and slow down surface runoff

Bacterial Contamination and Decontamination of Cryopreserved Freshwater Fish Milt in Thailand: Case Study of Silver Barb (Barbodes gonionotus) Milt

บทคัดย่อการปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียเป็นสาเหตุสำคัญที่ทำให้คุณภาพน้ำเชื้อลดลงและสร้างความกังวลต่อความปลอดภัยทางชีวภาพของน้ำเชื้อแช่แข็ง การปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียในการแช่แข็งน้ำเชื้อเกิดขึ้นได้ในทุกขั้นตอน  โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งขั้นตอนการเก็บรวบรวมน้ำเชื้อ การปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียส่วนใหญ่มักปนเปื้อนจากน้ำที่ใช้เลี้ยงปลา ครีบก้น และอุจจาระและปัสสาวะของปลา การปฏิบัติตามแนวทางของการปฏิบัติงานที่ถูกสุขอนามัยสำหรับห้องปฏิบัติการสามารถลดการปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียได้ นอกจากนี้การเก็บรวบรวมน้ำเชื้อโดยการใช้สายสวนร่วมกับการล้างช่องเพศปลาด้วยน้ำปราศจากเชื้อและเช็ดบริเวณช่องเพศให้แห้ง และการไม่นำน้ำเชื้อที่ปนเปื้อนอุจจาระและปัสสาวะมาใช้ในการแช่แข็งยังช่วยลดปริมาณและชนิดของแบคทีเรียในน้ำเชื้อได้อย่างมาก การประยุกต์ใช้ยาปฏิชีวนะผสม 0.25% Penicillin-Streptomycin ในน้ำเชื้อเป็นอีกทางเลือกหนึ่งในการลดการปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียในน้ำเชื้อแช่แข็งโดยไม่ส่งผลกระทบต่อคุณภาพสเปิร์มและการปฏิสนธิ อย่างไรก็ตามแบคทีเรียก่อโรคบางชนิด ได้แก่ Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. hydrophila และ Pseudomonas fluorescens ยังคงพบได้และดื้อต่อยาปฏิชีวนะผสมทั้งสองชนิดนี้ รวมทั้งสามารถถ่ายทอดจากน้ำเชื้อแช่แข็งไปยังตัวอ่อนของปลาตะเพียนขาวที่เกิดจากการผสมเทียม ดังนั้นควรทำการศึกษาวิจัยเพื่อพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีใหม่ๆ ที่มีประสิทธิภาพในการลดการปนเปื้อนแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในน้ำเชื้อแช่แข็งโดยไม่ส่งผลกระทบต่อคุณภาพน้ำเชื้อต่อไปคำสำคัญ: ปลาตะเพียนขาว แบคทีเรีย การปนเปื้อน น้ำเชื้อแช่แข็ง ABSTRACTBacteria contamination is an important factor of decline in milt quality and creates a concern in biological safety of cryopreserved sperm. Bacterial contamination can occur in every step of cryopreservation processes, particularly, during milt collection. Most contaminated bacteria usually originate from culture water, anal fins, and fecal and urine mixtures. Implementation of a standard sanitation protocol required for minimal bacterial contamination in laboratory is capable of decreasing degree of contamination. Moreover, rinsing urogenital aperture with sterile water and drying urogenital opening prior to milt collection using a catheter, and no use of milt with fecal and urine mixture can dramatically reduce the number and type of bacterial contaminants in cryostored milt. Application of 0.25% penicillin-streptomycin mixture is also an alternative technique for minimizing bacteria contaminants in cryopreserved milt without negative effect on sperm quality and fertilization success. However, some pathogenic bacteria e.g. Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens still remain due to their resistance to these mixed antibiotics and they can be transferred from cryostored milt to artificially inseminated embryos of silver barb. Therefore, development of effective novel technology for decontamination of pathogenic bacteria in cryostored milt without detrimental effect on fish sperm should be further established.Keywords: silver barb, bacteria, contamination, cryopreserved milt

Acute Pancreatitis in Childhood A 10-Year Experience From A Thai University Surgical Center

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe etiology, management, and health outcomes of children developing acute pancreatitis at a tertiary Thailand pediatric surgery center.MethodsMedical case records of all index cases during 2006-2016 were analyzed and reported.ResultsThere were 42 male and 37 female patients, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 10.4 (4.5) years, included in the study. Medications were the commonest etiology for 39.3% of acute pancreatitis attacks, 11.4% for biliary tract disease cases, and 8% for postinterventional studies. In 30% of cases, no cause(s) was defined. Sixty-two patients (78.5%) had elevated serum lipase on hospital admission, whereas only 30.4% showed a raised amylase. Hospital stay was 15 days (interquartile range, 6-27 days). Two major complications in the series were pseudocysts (8.8%) and necrotizing pancreatitis (7.6%). Etiological factors and/or antibiotics were not directly linked to any specific complications. Seventeen children (22.8%) had 1 recurrent episode of acute pancreatitis documented. Mortality rate in index cases was 28%, with a higher percentage harboring a preexisting illness (34.4% vs 5.6%; P = 0.01) and in male than in female patients (41% vs 14%; P = 0.01).ConclusionsDeaths from pediatric acute pancreatitis are more prevalent in male individuals and those with a preexisting illness. Targeted strategies aimed at "highest-risk" patients may potentially offset mortality

Cause-specific mortality patterns among hospital deaths in Thailand: validating routine death certification

Background: In Thailand, 35% of all deaths occur in hospitals, and the cause of death is medically certified by attending physicians. About 15% of hospital deaths are registered with nonspecific diagnoses, despite the potential for greater accuracy using information available from medical records. Further, issues arising from transcription of diagnoses from Thai to English at registration create uncertainty about the accuracy of registration data even for specified causes of death. This paper reports findings from a study to measure validity of registered diagnoses in a sample of deaths that occurred in hospitals in Thailand during 2005.Methods: A sample of 4,644 hospital deaths was selected, and for each case, medical records were reviewed. A process of medical record abstraction, expert physician review, and independent adjudication for the selection and coding of underlying causes of death was used to derive reference diagnoses. Validation characteristics were computed for leading causes of hospital deaths from registration data, and misclassification patterns were identified for registration diagnoses. Study findings were used to estimate cause-specific mortality patterns for hospital deaths in Thailand.Results: Adequate medical records were available for 3,316 deaths in the study sample. Losses to follow up were nondifferential by age, sex, and cause. Medical records review identified specific underlying causes for the majority of deaths that were originally assigned ill-defined causes as well as for those originally assigned to residual categories for specific cause groups. In comparison with registration data for the sample, we found an increase in the relative proportion of deaths in hospitals due to stroke, ischemic heart disease, transport accidents, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, liver diseases, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Conclusions: Registration data on causes for deaths occurring in hospitals require periodic validation prior to their use for epidemiological research or public health policy. Procedures for death certification and coding of underlying causes of death need to be streamlined to improve reliability of registration data. Estimates of cause-specific mortality from this research will inform burden of disease estimation and guide interventions to reduce avoidable mortality in hospitals in Thailand

Verifying causes of death in Thailand: rationale and methods for empirical investigation

Background: Cause-specific mortality statistics by age and sex are primary evidence for epidemiological research and health policy. Annual mortality statistics from vital registration systems in Thailand are of limited utility because about 40% of deaths are registered with unknown or nonspecific causes. This paper reports the rationale, methods, and broad results from a comprehensive study to verify registered causes in Thailand.Methods: A nationally representative sample of 11,984 deaths was selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling approach, distributed across 28 districts located in nine provinces of Thailand. Registered causes were verified through medical record review for deaths in hospitals and standard verbal autopsy procedures for deaths outside hospitals, the results of which were used to measure validity and reliability of registration data. Study findings were used to develop descriptive estimates of cause-specific mortality by age and sex in Thailand.Results: Causes of death were verified for a total of 9,644 deaths in the study sample, comprised of 3,316 deaths in hospitals and 6,328 deaths outside hospitals. Field studies yielded specific diagnoses in almost all deaths in the sample originally assigned an ill-defined cause of death at registration. Study findings suggest that the leading causes of death in Thailand among males are stroke (9.4%); transport accidents (8.1%); HIV/AIDS (7.9%); ischemic heart diseases (6.4%); and chronic obstructive lung diseases (5.7%). Among females, the leading causes are stroke (11.3%); diabetes (8%); ischemic heart disease (7.5%); HIV/AIDS (5.7%); and renal diseases (4%).Conclusions: Empirical investigation of registered causes of death in the study sample yielded adequate information to enable estimation of cause-specific mortality patterns in Thailand. These findings will inform burden of disease estimation and economic evaluation of health policy choices in the country. The development and implementation of research methods in this study will contribute to improvements in the quality of annual mortality statistics in Thailand. Similar research is recommended for other countries where the quality of mortality statistics is poor

Rice Straw Vermicompost Enriched With Cellulolytic Microbes Ameliorate the Negative Effect of Drought in Wheat Through Modulating the Morpho-Physiological Attributes

Wheat growth and productivity are unfavorably pretentious by a lack of sufficient water (drought or water deficit) worldwide. Drought stress significantly affects all the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics and the agronomical yield of wheat. Different management approaches have been adopted to cope with the negative effects of water deficit. Soil-applied vermicompost is helpful in improving the growth and developmental processes of wheat under water deficit conditions. Therefore, a trial was carried out to optimize the best amount of vermicompost and to assess its role in ameliorating the negative effects of drought for sustainable crop production. The treatments consisted of 1) two contrasting wheat cultivars Faisalabad-08 (drought-tolerant) and Galaxy-13 (drought-sensitive), 2) drought with three levels [D0 = 70% of field capacity (no drought), D1 = 45% of field capacity (mild drought), and D2 = 30% of field capacity (severe drought)] and 3) cellulolytic microbe-enriched vermicompost prepared from rice straw with four levels (VT0 = Control, VT1 = 4 t ha−1, VT2 = 6 t ha−1 , and VT3 = 8 t ha−1). Data on various morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters were recorded from sowing to crop harvesting. In this study, it was demonstrated that all these parameters were negatively affected by moisture deficit conditions. The application of vermi-fertilizer significantly increased (p < 0.05) the aforementioned parameters of wheat in both the absence and presence of drought. Under severe drought, VT2 treatment increased the seedling length by 14.02–26.14%, fresh weight by 15.16–22.91%, and dry weight by 0.37–28.20% in both cultivars compared with control. In addition, VT2 treatment reduced the leaf water potential by 6.36 and 3.36%, leaf osmotic potential by 1.74 and 1.68%, and increased the turgor potential by 4.83 and 3.36%, and photosynthetic rate by 18.59 and 26.42% in Faislabad-08 and Galaxy-13, respectively, over control. We concluded that the application of vermicompost is a valuable approach to alleviate the adverse impacts of water stress on wheat

Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality : Priority Research Questions for Asia

Environmental and human health challenges are pronounced in Asia, an exceptionally diverse and complex region where influences of global megatrends are extensive and numerous stresses to environmental quality exist. Identifying priorities necessary to engage grand challenges can be facilitated through horizon scanning exercises, and to this end we identified and examined 23 priority research questions needed to advance toward more sustainable environmental quality in Asia, as part of the Global Horizon Scanning Project. Advances in environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, biological monitoring, and risk-assessment methodologies are necessary to address the adverse impacts of environmental stressors on ecosystem services and biodiversity, with Asia being home to numerous biodiversity hotspots. Intersections of the food–energy–water nexus are profound in Asia; innovative and aggressive technologies are necessary to provide clean water, ensure food safety, and stimulate energy efficiency, while improving ecological integrity and addressing legacy and emerging threats to public health and the environment, particularly with increased aquaculture production. Asia is the largest chemical-producing continent globally. Accordingly, sustainable and green chemistry and engineering present decided opportunities to stimulate innovation and realize a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Engaging the priority research questions identified herein will require transdisciplinary coordination through existing and nontraditional partnerships within and among countries and sectors. Answering these questions will not be easy but is necessary to achieve more sustainable environmental quality in Asia. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1485–1505

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030