Study protocol: an early intervention program to improve motor outcome in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial and a qualitative study of physiotherapy performance and parental experiences

Background Knowledge about early physiotherapy to preterm infants is sparse, given the risk of delayed motor development and cerebral palsy. Methods/Design A pragmatic randomized controlled study has been designed to assess the effect of a preventative physiotherapy program carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit. Moreover, a qualitative study is carried out to assess the physiotherapy performance and parents' experiences with the intervention. The aim of the physiotherapy program is to improve motor development i.e. postural control and selective movements in these infants. 150 infants will be included and randomized to either intervention or standard follow-up. The infants in the intervention group will be given specific stimulation to facilitate movements based on the individual infant's development, behavior and needs. The physiotherapist teaches the parents how to do the intervention and the parents receive a booklet with photos and descriptions of the intervention. Intervention is carried out twice a day for three weeks (week 34, 35, 36 postmenstrual age). Standardized tests are carried out at baseline, term age and at three, six, 12 and 24 months corrected age. In addition eight triads (infant, parent and physiotherapist) are observed and videotaped in four clinical encounters each to assess the process of physiotherapy performance. The parents are also interviewed on their experiences with the intervention and how it influences on the parent-child relationship. Eight parents from the follow up group are interviewed about their experience. The interviews are performed according to the same schedule as the standardized measurements. Primary outcome is at two years corrected age. Discussion The paper presents the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to study the effect of physiotherapy to preterm infants at neonatal intensive care units. It also studies physiotherapy performance and the parent's experiences with the intervention

Quantitation of anticancer drugs – Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in urine and water sewage samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Objectives: Cyclophosphamide (CP) and ifosfamide (IF) are effective anti-cancer drugs but their genotoxicity can harm everyone contacting them occupationally or environmentally. Therefore, a sensitive method for monitoring their amounts in biological and environmental samples is needed. This has aimed to develop a method for analyzing these drugs in urine and water sewage samples. Material and Methods: The drug spiked samples were extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and the analytical parameters were validated. Results: The method gave linear calibration curves at the concentrations of 0–190 nmol/l. It had the quantitation limit of 3.8 nmol/l and showed acceptable specificity, accuracy, recovery and precision. Conclusions: The developed method can be used reliably for monitoring CP and IF concentrations in urine and water sewage. The method will be applied for preventing health risk from occupational and environmental exposures to these drugs. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):815–82

Quantitation of anticancer drugs – Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in urine and water sewage samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Objectives: Cyclophosphamide (CP) and ifosfamide (IF) are effective anti-cancer drugs but their genotoxicity can harm everyone contacting them occupationally or environmentally. Therefore, a sensitive method for monitoring their amounts in biological and environmental samples is needed. This has aimed to develop a method for analyzing these drugs in urine and water sewage samples. Material and Methods: The drug spiked samples were extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and the analytical parameters were validated. Results: The method gave linear calibration curves at the concentrations of 0–190 nmol/l. It had the quantitation limit of 3.8 nmol/l and showed acceptable specificity, accuracy, recovery and precision. Conclusions: The developed method can be used reliably for monitoring CP and IF concentrations in urine and water sewage. The method will be applied for preventing health risk from occupational and environmental exposures to these drugs. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):815–82

Internal Quality Assurance of Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University: 2004-2008(การประกันคุณภาพการศึกษาภายใน คณะแพทยศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยศรีนครินทรวิโรฒปี 2547-2551)

Background: The internal quality assurance (IQA) of faculty of medicine, Srinakharinwirot University was first taken action in 2004. Since then, the faculty and its 17 departments are yearly quality assessed. Objective: The aim is to evaluate the trend of QA scores of faculty of medicine, SWU during 2004 to 2008. Methods and Materials: The QA scores of each department and of the faculty received in years 2004 to 2008 were collected and were divided into faculty, pre-clinic group and clinic group. QA scores of 9 QA items were analyzed, emphasizing the 2nd QA item “teaching”. Results: The data show that qualities of teaching in pre-clinic group were consistent during 2004 to 2007 and decreased in 2008. The qualities of teaching in clinic group have been dropped since 2006. The quality of teaching in the faculty level was similar to that found in clinical group. For the other 8 items, IQA scores received in 2007 and 2008 were significantly changed in the 3rd item “student activity improvement” and the 4th items “research”. Discussion: The IQA scores of the faculty of medicine, SWU during 2004 to 2008 in average were stable. However, the IQA scores in 2008 were lower than the IQA scores in 2007. We believe that a cause of decreasing is all new criterions that came out within the assessing year causing no enough time to collect data. The results from this study will be used to set proper plans for upcoming IQA