Benign Adult Familial Myoclonic Epilepsy (BAFME) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by adult-onset cortical tremor or action myoclonus predominantly in the upper limbs, and generalized seizures. We investigated a Thai BAFME family. Clinical and electrophysiological studies revealed that 13 were affected with BAFME. There were a total of 24 individuals studied. Genetic analysis by genome-wide linkage study (GWLS) was performed using 400 microsatellite markers and excluded linkage of the previous BAFME loci, 8q23.3-q24.1, and 2p11.1-q12.2. GWLS showed that the disease-associated region in our Thai family was linked to a newly identified locus on chromosome 3q26.32-3q28. This locus represents the fourth chromosomal region for BAFME.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to access whether there were any therapeutic effects of Thai Traditional Massage (TTM) on major behavioral and emotional disturbances in Thai autistic children. Design: This was a randomized controlled trial study. Settings/location: The study was conducted at the Rehabilitation Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society. Subjects: A total of 60 autistic children between the ages of 3 and 10 completed this study. Interventions: Standard sensory integration therapy (SI) was compared to the SI with TTM treatments. Outcome measures: Parents and teachers assessed major behavior disturbances using the Conners' Rating Scales at 0 and 8 weeks. Sleep Diary (SD), recorded by the parents, assessed the patient's sleeping patterns every week. Results: Sixty (60) autistic children, mean age 4.67 ± 1.82, were recruited. No statistical differences were seen in the demographic and baseline data among both groups. From both the Conners' Teacher Questionnaire and SD, statistical improvement was detected for conduct problem, hyperactivity, inattention-passivity, hyperactivity index, and sleeping behavior. However, results from the Conners' Parent Questionnaire revealed an improvement only for anxiety (p = 0.04) in the massage group, whereas when both groups were compared, a significant improvement in conduct problem (p = 0.03) and anxiety (p = 0.01) was found. Results indicated that TTM may have a positive effect in improving stereotypical behaviors in autistic children. Conclusions: Over a period of 8 weeks, our findings suggested that TTM could be used as a complementary therapy for autistic children in Thailand.

The aim of the study was to study the combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and physical therapy on the walking ability of patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The study used an experimental, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. After intervention, group 1 (only tDCS) demonstrated a significant increase in gait speed by 0.13 to 0.14 m/sec (17.8%-19.2%) and an increase in step length by 5.9 to 6.1 cm (14.0%-14.5%), whereas group 2 (tDCS and physical therapy) revealed a significant increase in gait speed by 0.10 to 0.13 m/sec (14.9%-19.4%) and step length by 4.5 to 5.4 cm (10.6%-12.8%) and group 3 (sham tDCS and physical therapy) showed a significant increase in gait speed by 0.09 to 0.14 m/sec (13.0%-20.3%) and step length by 3.0 to 5.4 cm (6.8%-12.3%). All these results lasted for at least 8 wks after intervention. Upon comparing the parameters of gait among the three groups at every follow-up visit, no significant difference was observed. Anodal tDCS or physical therapy could be used alone or together as a combination treatment to improve the walking speed of patients with Parkinson disease. The effects lasted for approximately 8 wks. The combination treatment was not superior to the use of tDCS or physical therapy alone.

To estimate the efficiency of inpatient rehabilitation for patients after stroke in Thailand. Multi-centre, prospective study. Patients after stroke, aged >or= 18 years, with stable medical signs, able to follow 1-step commands and to sit for at least 30 min. Main outcomes included Barthel Index (BI) scores, BI effectiveness, BI efficiency, length of stay, Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, and quality of life. Of a total of 327 patients, 285 completed the programmes, with a mean length of stay of 27.3 days. Mean age was 62.1 (standard deviation (SD) 12.1) years and 59% of patients were male. Mean BI scores on admission and at discharge were 7.48 (SD 3.96; range 0-19) and 13.27 (SD 4.86; range 0-20), respectively. The change score was 5.79 (SD 3.89) and the efficiency of functional score was 0.28 points/day. Using multivariate analysis, factors associated with change in BI score were age, previous stroke and length of stay. Sixty-four patients (25.5%) had anxiety and 95 (37.8%) had depression on admission. At discharge, the numbers of patients with anxiety and depression decreased to 17 (6.8%) and 41 (16.3%), respectively. The quality of life scores at discharge were significantly higher than those on admission. Inpatient rehabilitation enabled stroke patients to reach optimal functional ability, and improved psychological status and quality of life.

Stroke affects the long-term quality of life and the well-being of patients and families. Stroke patients gain benefits from rehabilitation. Authors reported 1-year outcomes of stroke rehabilitation in 327 patients registered to the Thai Stroke Rehabilitation Registry. The outcomes included death rate, readmission rate, functional ability score (Barthel Index, BI), and factors affecting BI score. Of 327 patients, 214 (65.4%) had adequate follow-up data for analysis. The average age was 62.1 ± 12.5 years, and 57.9% were male. The mortality rate was 2.5% and the readmission rate was 11.2%. The number of the patients who could function independently increased from 5.5% at discharge to 22.9% and 25.5% at month 6 and month 12, respectively. The change in functional ability level of 214 patients included improvement (51.5%), deterioration (12.8%), and equivocal (35.7%). The low functional score at month 12 was significantly correlated with longer length of stay (LOS), longer onset to admission interval, and higher depression score at month-12. In conclusion, approximately half of the patients had an improvement in the disability level for at least one grade at 1-year follow-up. The low functional score by the end of the first year is associated with longer LOS during the first admission, delay in rehabilitation program, and psychological depression.