Synthesis of Chitosan-Coated Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ Nanoparticles for Contrast Enhancement in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that is widely used for the identification of internal organs, and for the medical diagnosis of tumors and cancer in the body. In general, gadolinium is used as a contrast agent to enhance image contrasting in MRI. In this study, chitosan-coated Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a co-precipitation method with a calcination temperature of 500 °C. The nanoparticles were then coated with chitosan and treated under an external magnetic field of 400 mT. X-ray diffractometer results showed that the chitosan-coated Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles had a pure phase of Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 at the (3 1 1) plane, with an average particle size of 26 nm. The presence of chitosan on the Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed the primary amine and secondary amine functional groups of chitosan. Here, coating the nanoparticle with chitosan not only prevented nanoparticle agglomeration, but also improved the particle surface charge and reduced the particle toxicity for in vivo testing. Vibrating sample magnetometer results showed that the maximum magnetization value of the magnetic field-assisted process was increased to 8.85 emu/g. Finally, chitosan-coated Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles with 400 mT of magnetic field assistance increased the average brightness in MRI of mouse liver by 21% compared to using gadolinium

Promoting Intercultural Competence of Thai University Students through Role-Play

The current situation of international communication in globalization context requires intercultural competence (IC) to achieve successful communication (Crystal, 2003). Concerning this intercultural competence, non-verbal communication (NVC) plays a key role to indicate the success of having intercultural competence. On the other hand, Thai Ministry of Education (MOE) has launched the CEFR for the country policy in English teaching and learning (Ministry of Education, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to present major results of an investigation of intercultural competence, that is, the NVC. An innovative program implemented in this study is the CEFR and project- based activities (the CEFR-PBA). The study also examines Thai university students’ attitude towards this innovative class. This paper discusses the IC students learned from role-plays. The participants of the study were 44 students of third year English Education at a Thai Rajabhat University. Research method applies action research (Burns, 1999) and case study (Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Method, 2003). Data collection gained was from 1) videotape recordings of students’ role-play, and 2) the questionnaire. Data analysis for video recordings employed a NVC rating scale evaluated by native-speaker raters; while means, percentage, and SD were used for the questionnaire. Grounded theory’s color coding (Strauss & Cobin, 1990) will be utilized in analyzing the qualitative data from raters’ additional comment. Findings revealed students’ NVC performance were both appropriate on body movement and position as well as vocalic communication. Moreover, their attitude towards the CEFR-PBA was positive

Enhancing Thai Students’ Oral Language Experience using the CEFR –PBA through the Technique of Oral Presentation

The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ experiences of communicating orally and non-verbally. The participants were forty-four students in their third year of English education at a Thai Rajabhat University. Nine students were purposively selected as the student-presenters. The research methods applied were action research and case study. Data collection gained was from two sets of video recordings of students’ oral presentations. The data analysis employed speaking strategies analysis from Charttrakul (2009) as a guideline, and grounded theory (Strauss & Cobin, 1990). Findings revealed that students employed five speaking strategies in their oral presentation, particularly speaking from memory (100%). Also, the results show that five NVC strategies were employed as a parallel communication tool in all student-presenters’ oral presentation; and the most commonly NVC used was hand gesture (100%). This paper recommends using an oral presentation technique to promote Thai students’ oral skill relating verbal and non-verbal communication

Perceptions regarding adolescent pregnancy among a group of Thai adolescents in Sweden

Overview: About 14% of Swedish adolescents are immigrants. This population is at higher risk of adolescent pregnancy. These adolescents have been socialized in two different societies and in two different cultures where views of sexuality greatly. In Thailand, sexual activity among adolescents is considered unacceptable and public discussion of such activity is discouraged. Sex education services are not widely provided to youth, and service providers are often uncomfortable to address sexual matters. On the other hand, acceptance of sexual behavior among young people is high in the Swedish society, characterized by comprehensive sex education, openness and a non - judgmental attitude. Therefore, these adolescents may encounter very different sexual health systems and community mores regarding sexual behavior, but little research explores the experiences or perspectives of Thai immigrant adolescents in Sweden. Therefore, we aimed to explain perceptions of adolescent pregnancy among a group of Thai adolescents in Sweden. Conclusions: Although Thai adolescents residing in Sweden live in a sexually open society with comprehensive sexual education and youth services, they perceived adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy as stigmatized and endorsed misperceptions and attitudes likely to lead to contraceptive non-use and adolescent pregnancy. They also described numerous peer, family, and community-level variables that could act to increase or decrease risk, suggesting culturally-specific interventions are needed for Thai immigrant youth in Sweden. Attention to peer, family and cultural variables may be particularly important in sexual health interventions with this population

Clinical outcomes of hypogastric artery occlusion for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Purpose: To determine the midterm outcomes of internal iliac artery (IIA) coverage by a stent-graft in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) under specific anatomic and technical circumstances.  Material and methods: From January 2003 until January 2014, 57 patients with aortoiliac aneurysms, including 20 with 24 IIA aneurysms (IIAAs), underwent EVAR with IIA coverage. IIAA diameter change or IIA thrombosis, buttock claudication, type II endoleak, and secondary interventions related to the IIA were studied.  Results: Twenty-five of the 37 patients without IIAA were embolized prior to stent-graft placement, all unilateral, and in 12, the IAA orifice was only overstented. Buttock claudication occurred in only nine (20%) of the embolization patients (9/49 IIA’s) (p = .14), while one IIA-related type II endoleak, occurred in the nonembolization group (p = .16). In patients with IIAA(s), the aneurysm diameter decreased in 16 cases (67%). Buttock claudication occurred in 75% of bilateral, and in 14.6% of unilateral embolizations (p = .046).  Conclusions: Carefully selected patients with aortoiliac aneurysm without IIAA may safely undergo hypogastric artery overstenting without preemptive embolization during EVAR. IIA embolization is associated with buttock claudication and should be avoided if possible. Otherwise, at least one IIA should be preserved

Clinical outcomes of hypogastric artery occlusion for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Purpose: To determine the midterm outcomes of internal iliac artery (IIA) coverage by a stent-graft in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) under specific anatomic and technical circumstances.  Material and methods: From January 2003 until January 2014, 57 patients with aortoiliac aneurysms, including 20 with 24 IIA aneurysms (IIAAs), underwent EVAR with IIA coverage. IIAA diameter change or IIA thrombosis, buttock claudication, type II endoleak, and secondary interventions related to the IIA were studied.  Results: Twenty-five of the 37 patients without IIAA were embolized prior to stent-graft placement, all unilateral, and in 12, the IAA orifice was only overstented. Buttock claudication occurred in only nine (20%) of the embolization patients (9/49 IIA’s) (p = .14), while one IIA-related type II endoleak, occurred in the nonembolization group (p = .16). In patients with IIAA(s), the aneurysm diameter decreased in 16 cases (67%). Buttock claudication occurred in 75% of bilateral, and in 14.6% of unilateral embolizations (p = .046).  Conclusions: Carefully selected patients with aortoiliac aneurysm without IIAA may safely undergo hypogastric artery overstenting without preemptive embolization during EVAR. IIA embolization is associated with buttock claudication and should be avoided if possible. Otherwise, at least one IIA should be preserved

Cost-utility analysis of sutureless and rapid deployment versus conventional aortic valve replacement in patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis in Thailand.

BackgroundSutureless and rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) has become an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) treatment due to its advantages in reducing surgery time and improving outcomes. This study aimed to assess the cost-utility of SUAVR vs. CAVR treatment for patients with moderate to severe AS in Thailand.MethodsA two-part constructed model was used to estimate the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from both societal and healthcare perspectives. Data on short-term mortality, complications, cost, and utility data were obtained from the Thai population. Long-term clinical data were derived from clinical studies. Costs and QALYs were discounted annually at 3% and presented as 2022 values. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to determine additional cost per QALY gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsSUAVR treatment incurred higher costs compared with CAVR treatment from both societal (THB 1,733,355 [USD 147,897] vs THB 1,220,643 [USD 104,150]) and healthcare provider perspectives (THB 1,594,174 [USD 136,022] vs THB 1,065,460 [USD 90,910]). In addition, SUAVR treatment resulted in lower health outcomes, with 6.20 life-years (LYs) and 4.95 QALYs, while CAVR treatment achieved 6.29 LYs and 5.08 QALYs. SUAVR treatment was considered as a dominated treatment strategy using both perspectives. Sensitivity analyses indicated the significant impact of changes in utilities and long-term mortality on the model.ConclusionSUAVR treatment is not a cost-effective treatment strategy compared with CAVR treatment for patients with moderate-severe AS in Thailand, as it leads to higher costs and inferior health outcomes. Other important issues related to specific patients such as those with minimally invasive surgery, those undergoing AVR with concomitant procedures, and those with calcified and small aortic root should be taken into account

Base-case results.

BackgroundSutureless and rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) has become an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) treatment due to its advantages in reducing surgery time and improving outcomes. This study aimed to assess the cost-utility of SUAVR vs. CAVR treatment for patients with moderate to severe AS in Thailand.MethodsA two-part constructed model was used to estimate the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from both societal and healthcare perspectives. Data on short-term mortality, complications, cost, and utility data were obtained from the Thai population. Long-term clinical data were derived from clinical studies. Costs and QALYs were discounted annually at 3% and presented as 2022 values. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to determine additional cost per QALY gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsSUAVR treatment incurred higher costs compared with CAVR treatment from both societal (THB 1,733,355 [USD 147,897] vs THB 1,220,643 [USD 104,150]) and healthcare provider perspectives (THB 1,594,174 [USD 136,022] vs THB 1,065,460 [USD 90,910]). In addition, SUAVR treatment resulted in lower health outcomes, with 6.20 life-years (LYs) and 4.95 QALYs, while CAVR treatment achieved 6.29 LYs and 5.08 QALYs. SUAVR treatment was considered as a dominated treatment strategy using both perspectives. Sensitivity analyses indicated the significant impact of changes in utilities and long-term mortality on the model.ConclusionSUAVR treatment is not a cost-effective treatment strategy compared with CAVR treatment for patients with moderate-severe AS in Thailand, as it leads to higher costs and inferior health outcomes. Other important issues related to specific patients such as those with minimally invasive surgery, those undergoing AVR with concomitant procedures, and those with calcified and small aortic root should be taken into account.</div

Results of scenario analysis.

BackgroundSutureless and rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) has become an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) treatment due to its advantages in reducing surgery time and improving outcomes. This study aimed to assess the cost-utility of SUAVR vs. CAVR treatment for patients with moderate to severe AS in Thailand.MethodsA two-part constructed model was used to estimate the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from both societal and healthcare perspectives. Data on short-term mortality, complications, cost, and utility data were obtained from the Thai population. Long-term clinical data were derived from clinical studies. Costs and QALYs were discounted annually at 3% and presented as 2022 values. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to determine additional cost per QALY gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsSUAVR treatment incurred higher costs compared with CAVR treatment from both societal (THB 1,733,355 [USD 147,897] vs THB 1,220,643 [USD 104,150]) and healthcare provider perspectives (THB 1,594,174 [USD 136,022] vs THB 1,065,460 [USD 90,910]). In addition, SUAVR treatment resulted in lower health outcomes, with 6.20 life-years (LYs) and 4.95 QALYs, while CAVR treatment achieved 6.29 LYs and 5.08 QALYs. SUAVR treatment was considered as a dominated treatment strategy using both perspectives. Sensitivity analyses indicated the significant impact of changes in utilities and long-term mortality on the model.ConclusionSUAVR treatment is not a cost-effective treatment strategy compared with CAVR treatment for patients with moderate-severe AS in Thailand, as it leads to higher costs and inferior health outcomes. Other important issues related to specific patients such as those with minimally invasive surgery, those undergoing AVR with concomitant procedures, and those with calcified and small aortic root should be taken into account.</div