The Role of Higher Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Experiences from Mahidol University, Thailand

Higher education is one of the significant stakeholder to play an important role in fostering sustainable development goals. Mahidol University is a comprehensive university in Thailand, which strives to be a leader on sustainability in responding to the United Nation 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals. Therefore, Mahidol University sustainability strategy, which consists of 4 key areas as a framework including 1) research and innovation for sustainability 2) education for sustainability 3) community and social engagement for sustainability 4) operations for sustainability was established. The implementation of Mahidol University sustainability strategy demonstrates many successful activity programs, which can be a robust model to other university

Risk Factor of Proximal Lag Screw Cut-Out After Cephalomedullary Nail Fixation in Trochanteric Femoral Fractures: A Retrospective Analytic Study

Objective: A cephalomedullary nail is the treatment of choice for trochanteric fractures; however, a lag screw cutout is one of the most devastating complications. The lag screw cut-out rate was reported to be around 2.5%–8.3%. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lag screw cut-outs and identify the associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 267 trochanteric fracture patients treated with cephalomedullary nail fixation from January 2007 to December 2017 was conducted. The demographic variables were documented, comprising age, gender, fracture pattern, and AO/OTA classification. Immediate postoperative radiographs were assessed for quality of reduction and implant position. Lag screw cut-outs or radiographic union were determined using the final follow-up radiograph. Prognostic factors associated with lag screw cut-out were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 175 patients, 154 were successfully treated, and 21 had a lag screw cut-out. There were no significant differences in mean ages or genders of the union and cut-out groups. No lag screw cut-outs were observed in patients with AO/OTA 31-A1. Patients with AO/OTA 31-B2.1 had a higher rate of screw cut-out (OR 10.5, [3.22, 34.25] p < .001). The disintegration of basicervical fragments was significantly associated with lag screw cut-out (OR 5.51, [2.01, 15.12] p = .001). The highest cut-out rate was found in the superoanterior and superoposterior positions of the lag screw. However, the screw position did not reach the significance level in a multivariate analysis (p = .094). Conclusion: The prevalence of lag screw cut-out after cephalomedullary nail fixation for trochanteric fractures was 12%. A simple, two-part, basicervical trochanteric fracture hads a significantly higher risk of lag screw cut-out

Detection of Non-Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genomic DNA Using Piezoelectric DNA-Based Biosensors

Piezoelectric DNA-based biosensor technology was developed as a new method for detection of M. tuberculosis. This method consists of immobilizing a thiol-modified oligonucleotide probe on the gold electrode surface of a quartz crystal, using a self-assembled monolayer method. The advantage of this study is that a non-amplified genomic bacterial DNA target was used. Instead, the genomic DNA was digested by restriction enzyme to obtain DNA fragments containing the target sequence. The fabricated biosensor was evaluated through an examination of 200 samples. No cross hybridization were observed against M. avium complex and other microorganisms. This target DNA preparation, without PCR amplification, will reduce time, costs, and the tedious step of amplification

A Systematic Review of Immunological Studies of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a painful inflammatory complication of leprosy occurring in 50% of lepromatous leprosy patients and 5-10% of borderline lepromatous patients. It is a significant cause of economic hardship, morbidity and mortality in leprosy patients. Our understanding of the causes of ENL is limited. We performed a systematic review of the published literature and critically evaluated the evidence for the role of neutrophils, immune complexes (ICs), T-cells, cytokines, and other immunological factors that could contribute to the development of ENL. Searches of the literature were performed in PubMed. Studies, independent of published date, using samples from patients with ENL were included. The search revealed more than 20,000 articles of which 146 eligible studies were included in this systematic review. The studies demonstrate that ENL may be associated with a neutrophilic infiltrate, but it is not clear whether it is an IC-mediated process or that the presence of ICs is an epiphenomenon. Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and other pro-inflammatory cytokines support the role of this cytokine in the inflammatory phase of ENL but not necessarily the initiation. T-cell subsets appear to be important in ENL since multiple studies report an increased CD4+/CD8+ ratio in both skin and peripheral blood of patients with ENL. Microarray data have identified new molecules and whole pathophysiological pathways associated with ENL and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of ENL. Studies of ENL are often difficult to compare due to a lack of case definitions, treatment status, and timing of sampling as well as the use of different laboratory techniques. A standardized approach to some of these issues would be useful. ENL appears to be a complex interaction of various aspects of the immune system. Rigorous clinical descriptions of well-defined cohorts of patients and a systems biology approach using available technologies such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics could yield greater understanding of the condition

Musculoskeletal Trauma Service in Thailand

Trauma is becoming a leading cause of death in most of the low-income and middle-income countries worldwide. The growing number of motor vehicles far surpasses the development and upkeep of the road and highway networks, traffic laws, and driver training and licensing. In Thailand, road traffic injuries have become the second leading cause of death and morbidity overall since 1990. The lack of improvement to existing roadways, implementation of traffic safety and ridership laws including seatbelt regulations, and poor emergency medical assistance support systems all contribute to these statistics. An insufficient number and inequitable distribution of healthcare professionals is also a national problem, especially at the district level. Prehospital care of trauma patients remains insufficient and improvements at the national level are suggested

Removal of a Broken Cannulated Femoral Nail: A Novel Retrograde Impaction Technique

This report presents a surgical technique to remove a broken cannulated nail from the femur. A Harrington rod was modified for retrograde impaction of the retained fragment. The broken implant was finally removed without complication. This particular procedure was safe, simple, and promising