Food access and diet quality are associated with quality of life outcomes among HIV-infected individuals in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is associated with poor nutritional and clinical outcomes among people living with HIV/AIDS. Few studies investigate the link between food insecurity, dietary diversity and health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether household food access and individual dietary diversity are associated with health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. METHODS: We surveyed 902 people living with HIV/AIDS and their households from two clinics in Northern Uganda. Health-related quality of life outcomes were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS)-HIV Survey. We performed multivariate regressions to investigate the relationship between health-related quality of life, household food insecurity and individual dietary diversity. RESULTS: People living with HIV/AIDS from severe food insecurity households have mean mental health status scores that are 1.7 points lower (p<.001) and physical health status scores that are 1.5 points lower (p<.01). Individuals with high dietary diversity have mean mental health status scores that were 3.6 points higher (p<.001) and physical health status scores that were 2.8 points higher (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Food access and diet quality are associated with health-related quality of life and may be considered as part of comprehensive interventions designed to mitigate psychosocial consequences of HIV

Prevalence of and factors associated with depression in patients with schizophrenia in Thailand: a post-hoc analysis

Abstract Objectives This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and identify factors associated with depression in patients with schizophrenia in a university hospital. Methods This was a post-hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted in 75 patients with schizophrenia. Major depressive episodes were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR. The six social support defi cits (SSDs) scale was used to identify social support defi cits. Chisquare and logistic regression were used to determine factors associated with depression. Results The prevalence of depression was 16.0%, with only 25.0% of them previously being recognized and treated with antidepressants. Age, sex, marital status, income, duration of illness, type of antipsychotic drugs and number of side effects were not signifi cantly associated with depression. Three out of six social support defi cits were associated signifi cantly with depression, including living alone, reciprocity in the family, and dissatisfaction with family support, with odds ratios of 10.0, 4.9 and 8.6, respectively. Those with at least one social support defi cit were 9.3 times more likely to be depressed than those without one (p=0.002). Conclusion This study suggested that depression in patients with schizophrenia was still under recognized by Thai psychiatrists. The fi ndings do not support the hypothesis that depression is more common in patients receiving typical antipsychotic drugs. Psychosocial factors such as social support defi cits were found to have a higher impact on depression than biological ones in Thai patients with schizophrenia. Chiang Mai Medical Journal 2011;50(4):115-121

Enhancing the oxidative stability of rice crackers by addition of the ethanolic extract of phytochemicals from Cratoxylum formosum Dyer

Craloxylum formosum Dyer is consumed throughout the year as food and medicine in Thailand. It contains large amounts of chlorogenic acid and quinic acid derivatives. The antioxidative activity of the extract was studied in refined soybean oil coating on rice crackers without any seasoning. They were stored in accelerated oxidation conditions at 40 degrees C, 80% relative humidity (RH) in the dark for 18 days. The oxidative state of each sample was monitored by analyzing of the peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as well as by odor analysis by quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). The C formosum extract was more effective than alpha-tocopherol due to metal ions present in the crackers, which resulted in alpha-tocopherol being less effective as an antioxidant. Sensory odor attributes of rice crackers were related more closely to TBARS than to PV values by linear regression analysis. The present study indicated that C. formosum extract was a promising source of a natural food antioxidant and was effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation in rice crackers

Correlates of current suicide risk among Thai patients with bipolar I disorder: findings from the Thai Bipolar Disorder Registry

Sirijit Suttajit,1 Suchat Paholpak,2 Somrak Choovanicvong,3 Khanogwan Kittiwattanagul,4 Wetid Pratoomsri,5 Manit Srisurapanont1On behalf of the Thai Bipolar Registry Group1Department of Psychiatry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 2Department of Psychiatry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 3Srithanya Hospital, Nonthaburi, 4Khon Kaen Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital, Khon Kaen, 5Chachoengsao Hospital, Chachoengsao, ThailandBackground: The Thai Bipolar Disorder Registry was a prospective, multisite, naturalistic study conducted in 24 hospitals across Thailand. This study aimed to examine the correlates of current suicide risk in Thai patients with bipolar I disorder.Methods: Participants were adult inpatients or outpatients with bipolar disorder, based on the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. All were assessed by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), version 5. The severity of current suicide risk was determined by using the total score of the MINI suicidality module. Mood symptoms were assessed by using the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale.Results: The data of 383 bipolar I disorder patients were included in the analyses. Of these, 363 (94.8%) were outpatients. The mean (standard deviation) of the MINI suicide risk score was 1.88 (5.0). The demographic/clinical variables significantly associated with the MINI suicide risk scores included age, number of overall previous episodes, the Young Mania Rating Scale score, the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores, and the Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness Scale for Bipolar Disorder mania score, depression score, and overall score. The variables affecting the differences of suicide risk scores between or among groups were type of first mood episode, a history of rapid cycling, anxiety disorders, and alcohol use disorders. The stepwise multiple linear regression model revealed that the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale score (&beta;=0.10), a history of rapid cycling (&beta;=6.63), anxiety disorders (&beta;=2.16), and alcohol use disorders (&beta;=2.65) were significantly correlated with the suicide risk score (all P<0.01).Conclusion: A history of rapid cycling, severity of depressive episode, current anxiety disorders, and current alcohol use disorders correlate with current suicide risk among Thai bipolar I disorder patients. Further studies in larger sample sizes are warranted.Keywords: Asian, bipolar disorder, correlates, risk, suicide, Tha