This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of probiotics and synbiotics from traditional Thai fermented tea leaves (Miang) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, in comparison to sulfasalazine. C57BL/6 mice were treated with probiotics L. pentosus A14-6, CMY46 and synbiotics, L. pentosus A14-6 combined with XOS, and L. pentosus CMY46 combined with GOS for 21 days. Colitis was induced with 2% DSS administration for seven days during the last seven days of the experimental period. The positive group was treated with sulfasalazine. At the end of the experiment, clinical symptoms, pathohistological changes, intestinal barrier integrity, and inflammatory markers were analyzed. The probiotics and synbiotics from Miang ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by protecting body weight loss, decreasing disease activity index, restoring the colon length, and reducing pathohistological damages. Furthermore, treatment with probiotics and synbiotics improved intestinal barrier integrity, accompanied by lowing colonic and systemic inflammation. In addition, synbiotics CMY46 combined with GOS remarkedly elevated the expression of IL-10. These results suggested that synbiotics isolated from Miang had more effectiveness than sulfasalazine. Thereby, they could represent a novel potential natural agent against colonic inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a global concern. Proanthocyanidin-rich red rice extract (PRRE) has been shown to suppress the inflammatory response in cellular cultures. However, the anti-colitis effect of PRRE has never been investigated in animals. This study aimed to examine the protective effect of the PRRE against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Male mice were orally administrated with PRRE of 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days. Acute colitis was subsequently induced by administrated 2.5% DSS in drinking water for the final seven days. Sulfasalazine-treated mice were the positive group. All doses of PRRE and sulfasalazine significantly ameliorated DSS-induced severity of colitis, as indicated by decreasing daily activity index and restoring colon shortening. Treatments with PRRE, but not sulfasalazine, significantly reduced the histopathological index and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, the PRRE treatments effectively improved mucous in colonic goblet cells using PAS staining, and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by DSS, while sulfasalazine reduced only IL-1β and IL-6. This study suggested that PRRE had a greater anti-colitis effect than sulfasalazine. Thus, PRRE has a potential anti-colitis effect, and should be developed in a clinical trial as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient for IBD.

An appropriate treatment of older lung cancer patients has become an important issue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short and long-term surgical outcomes in lung cancer patients using 70 years as a cut-point, and to identify prognostic factors of cancer-specific mortality in patients older than 70 years. Medical records of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent pulmonary resection at Chiang Mai University Hospital from January 2002 through December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into age less than 70 years (control group) and 70 years or more (study group). Primary outcomes were major post-operative complications and in-hospital death (POM); secondary outcome was long-term survival. Multivariable regression analysis was used. This study included 583 patients, 167 for study group, and 416 for control group. There were no differences in POM, both at univariable and multivariable analyses, however, for long-term cancer-specific mortality, the study group was more likely to die (HRadj = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.03-1.89). Adverse prognostic factors for long-term mortality in study group were having universal coverage scheme (HRadj = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.03-2.79), the presence of intratumoral lymphatic invasion (HRadj = 2.83, 95%CI = 1.28-6.29), perineural invasion (HRadj = 2.80, 95%CI = 1.13-6.94), underwent lymph node sampling (HRadj = 2.23, 95%CI = 1.16-4.30) and higher stage of disease (HRadj = 2.02, 95%CI = 1.06-3.85 for stage III, HRadj = 3.40, 95%CI = 1.29-8.94 for stage IV). In-hospital mortality and composite post-operative complications are acceptable in pulmonary resection for NSCLC patients older than 70 years. However, these patients had shorter long-term survival, especially who have some adverse prognostic factors. Further studies with larger sample size are warranted.

Background/Objectives: The prolonged time to reach investigation and management decisions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients can negatively impact long-term outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aims to assess the impact of a multidisciplinary team conference (MDT) on NSCLC care quality and outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included resectable NSCLC patients who underwent pulmonary resection at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: non-MDT and MDT groups, based on the initiation of MDT on 1 March 2018. The study compared overall survival, disease-free survival, and waiting times for investigation and surgery between the two groups. The effect of MDT on these outcomes was analyzed using multivariable analysis with inverse-probability weighting propensity scores. Results: The study included 859 patients, with 583 in the non-MDT group and 276 in the MDT group. MDT groups had a higher proportion of stage I and II NSCLC patients undergoing pulmonary resection (78.6% vs. 59.69%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, patients in the MDT group had a significantly higher likelihood of longer survival compared to the non-MDT group (adjusted HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09–0.55). Median waiting times for bronchoscopy (3 days vs. 12 days, p = 0.012), pathologic report (7 days vs. 13 days, p < 0.001), and surgery scheduling (18 days vs. 25 days, p = 0.001) were significantly shorter in the MDT group. Conclusions: An MDT has a survival benefit in NSCLC care and improves waiting times for investigation and treatment steps. Further studies are needed to validate these results.