Se Asian J Trop Med
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Sep 2004
Case ReportsDisseminated strongyloidiasis successfully treated with extended duration ivermectin combined with albendazole: a case report of intractable strongyloidiasis.
We describe a patient with an overlapping syndrome disseminated strongyloidiasis and gram-negative sepsis. She was previously treated with albendazole 400 mg/day 14 days before admission without success. ⋯ Strongyloides larvae disappeared from the stool by day 4 and from the sputum by day 10. No side effects were encountered during hospitalization or at the 1-month follow-up visit.
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A prospective observational study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit to identify factors associated with the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in 170 infants aged less than 30 days who required mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 hours. VAP occurred in 85 infants (50 cases per 100 mechanically-ventilated infants) or 70.3 cases per 1,000 ventilator days. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified 3 factors independently associated with VAP: umbilical catheterization [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3 to 4.7; p=0.007]; respiratory distress syndrome (AOR=2.0; 95% CI=1.0 to 3.9; p=0.03); and insertion of orogastric tube (AOR=3.0; 95% CI=1.3 to 7.2; p=0.01). ⋯ Leukocytosis and blood gas values could not predict the presence of VAP. The mortality of infants with VAP (29.4%) did not differ significantly from that of infants without VAP (30.6%) (p=0.87). Certain clinical interventions might potentially affect the incidence of VAP and outcome associated with VAP.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Sep 2004
Economic burden of varicella in Singapore--a cost benefit estimate of implementation of a routine varicella vaccination.
Varicella is a common childhood illness that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. As early as 1995, recommendations for routine varicella vaccination have been published, but have not been universally implemented, with cost of vaccination as a major reason. Though available from 1996, the vaccine has yet to be routinely implemented in Singapore. ⋯ In comparison, the cost of a vaccination program was found to be US$3.3 million per annum. The cost per case averted was US$104. From a societal point of view, for every dollar invested in a vaccination program, we would save about US$2 dollars.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Jun 2004
Etiology and outcome of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction in adults.
Between 1997 and 2002, 107 patients with symptoms of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction presented at a university hospital in Northeast Thailand. Age averaged 50.7 years (range, 1 to 84). The male to female ratio was 5.7:1. ⋯ Benign SVC thrombosis was found in four patients with Behcet's disease or some other idiopathy. Mediastinal fibrosis from melioidosis occurred in three patients, which is rare, has not been previouly reported. Most patients (63.6%) received a combination of radiotherapy and corticosteroid and this helped 55.2% improve.
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Se Asian J Trop Med · Mar 2004
Comparative StudyPrimary verification: is the TRISS appropriate for Thailand?
The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) is a well-accepted model used to evaluate the quality of trauma care in the US. This research aims to study whether TRISS can be applied to evaluate trauma care and classify outcomes of road traffic injury patients in Thailand. A retrospective study was used to review the Thailand's Injury Surveillance System database from the 1st January to the 31st of December 1996. ⋯ The MTOS and Thai road traffic injuries had different distributions for various factors such as the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and ages which effect injury survival. Due to these factors the distribution of survival probability between MTOS and Thai road traffic injuries was also significantly different. By applying TRISS, the survival prediction of Thai road traffic injuries resulted in a high number of false positives.