Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet
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Aloe vera has been used as a popular herbal medicine since ancient times for many conditions including burns. Much evidence has reported the efficacy of topical Aloe vera gel in the treatment of thermal burns through its different pharmacological actions. This review article consists of pathophysiology of the thermal burns, the botany and chemical constituents of Aloe vera, and therapeutic properties of Aloe vera on thermal burns. The mechanisms that may underlie its action include: anti-inflammation, antimicrobials, wound healing promotion, and biological/immunological modulation.
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A retrospective study was performed on 38 patients (23 males and 15 females) in whom the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) was used for airway management at Srinagarind and Siriraj Hospital in 2003. The patients 'age and weight ranged between 12 and 75 years and 40 and 94 kg, respectively. Difficult tracheal intubation was suspected before starting general anesthesia in 17 patients, whereas it was found difficult after induction of general anesthesia in 21. ⋯ In the four patients with failed tracheal intubation through the ILMA, three were successfully intubated with conventional laryngoscopy and one with gum elastic bougie. There were no serious complications following the use of the ILMA in these patients. The ILMA proved a safe, very useful and easy to use device with a high success rate for difficult airway management.
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On March 11, 2003, a World Health Organization (WHO) physician was admitted to Bamrasnaradura Institute, after alerting the world to the dangers of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Vietnam and developing a fever himself. Specimens from the first day of his admission were among the first to demonstrate the novel coronavirus, by culture, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and rising of specific antibody, but proper protective measures remained unknown. The authors instituted airborne, droplet and contact precautions from the time of admission, and reviewed the efficacy of these measures. ⋯ Hospitalization of one of the earliest SARS patients with documented coronavirus shedding provided multiple opportunities for spread to the hospital staff, but strict enforcement of conservative infection control recommendations throughout the hospitalization was associated with no transmission.
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Pain in normal labour can be relieved using many non-pharmacological methods including:- Techniques that reduce painful stimuli: Assuming various upright positions to ease the pain, encourage labour progress and increase the diameter of the pelvis. Techniques that activate peripheral sensory receptors: Of the various techniques used, intradermal injection of sterile water (ISW) results in over 50% of pain relief compared to 18% in the 'dry needling' group, Dahl V., Aarmes T. One RCT concluded that ISW is more effective than TENS for relieving low back pain in labour. Two trials, Erkkola et al and Bundsen et al found that mothers using TENS received good to moderate pain relief 48%: 37% and 31%: 55%. There were no ill effects produced in the newborn infant. The use of essential oils, lavender, frankincense and rose for relief of anxiety and fear were favourably reported by E. Burn et al. Also for the effectiveness rating of pain by parity and labour onset more women recorded a positive or equivocal score than a negative one. The use of Active Birth embraces many methods of non-pharmacological pain relief including using a humane approach and providing continuous emotional support by a companion or caregiver throughout labour. Two Bangkok hospitals, using Active Birth, showed a marked reduction in the use of pharmacological pain relief. ⋯ Pharmacological methods to help alleviate the pain of labour should only be used as a last resort.
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Many women would like to avoid pharmacological or invasive methods of pain management in labour and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management. This review examined currently available evidence supporting the use of alternative and complementary therapies for pain management in labour. To examine the effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour on maternal and perinatal morbidity. ⋯ No differences were seen for women recieving, music or audio analgesia. Hypnosis may be beneficial for the management of pain during labour. However, few complementary therapies have been subjected to proper scientific study.