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Objective: To assess the impact of a text-messaging intervention on smoking cessation among patients with non-communicable diseases., Methods: A total of 200 participants were randomly assigned to either a text-messaging intervention group or a control group. The 7-day point prevalence of smoking cessation and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 18 weeks. Mixed linear regression was employed to examine the interaction effect of exhaled CO between the intervention group and follow-up time., Results: The 7-day point prevalence of smoking cessation increased by 16.16% (95% CI: 10.98, 21.33) at the 6-week follow-up and by 15.46% (95% CI: 10.68, 21.33) at the 18-week follow-up. In the intervention group, exhaled CO was significantly lower compared to the control group at 6 weeks (mean difference: -5.79; 95% CI: -7.26, -4.32) and at 18 weeks (mean difference: -4.19; 95% CI: -5.67, -2.71)., Conclusion: The text-messaging intervention proved effective in increasing the prevalence of smoking cessation and reducing carbon monoxide levels among non-communicable disease patients.

Objective: A creating smoke-free home is a way to protect a vulnerable group from being exposed to secondhand smoke in the home, such as children, infants, and non-smokers. Studies reported an intervention for promoting a smoke-free home by using secondhand smoke messages and smoking cessation messages. However, the thirdhand smoke (THS) message has rarely been found. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prevalence and correlations of smoking bans in homes., Methods: Secondary data from a community-based cross-sectional design survey was used for this study. Smoking ban status was defined as a smoking ban or no smoking ban. We used multiple logistic regression to test the association between factors and smoking ban status. An adjusted odd ratio and 95% confidence interval were reported., Results: Of the 882 participants included in this analysis, 38.66% (95%CI: 35.43, 41.97) had a smoking ban at home. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that participants who believe that secondhand or THS harms children had a greater correlation with developing a smoking ban in the home compared with those who did not believe (odd ratio: 3.94, 95% confidence interval: 2.35, 6.60 and odd ratio:4.22, 95% confidence interval:2.6, 6.86, respectively)., Conclusion: This study found that the belief that thirdhand smoke and secondhand smoke exposure harm children. The smoke-free home message's relevance to the harms of thirdhand smoke exposure should be adapted to be promoted, especially in homes.

Objective: To test the effects of text messages for promoting physical activities in people with prediabetes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in participants with prediabetes. Participants were recruited from a primary care unit. Allocation to the study groups used a stratified block randomization. All participants received physical activity education at baseline. The intervention group additionally received supportive text messages by using mobile phone text messages. Participants were assessed at baseline at 8 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was physical activity energy. Secondary outcomes included weight, body mass index, waist circumstance, and blood pressure. Results: All participants were included in the analyses ( n  = 324; control: n  = 162; intervention: n  = 162). Mean physical activity energy was significantly increased in those who received text messages at 8 weeks, increasing 1,590.73 Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (METs)/min/week (95% confidence interval [CI]: 837.72, 2343.75) in the intervention group and 407.39 METs/min/weeks (95% CI: -267.59, 1082.36) in the control group with an adjusted mean difference of -1,183 METs/min/weeks (95% CI: -2190.11, -176.58, p  = 0.02). Over the 12 weeks follow-up period, mean physical activity energy did not differ statistically by group. Mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of the total physical energy revealed no significant differences, with an adjusted mean difference 273.3 METs/min/week (95% CI: -530.64, 1077.21, p  = 0.513). However, moderate physical energy was significantly increased to 256.40 METs/min/week (95% CI: 17.20, 495.63, p  = 0.040). Conclusion: Text messaging significant in physical activity at the 8-week. But, text messaging no significant in physical activity at 12-week. Further research is needed to identify optimal times to send messages to people with prediabetes. Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR), number: TCTR20200624008.

Purpose: The household smoking ban is one potential strategy for reducing exposure to second-hand smoke at home. There is little information about whether concurrent alcohol and tobacco use are related to a smoking ban at home. This study aimed to examine the association between concurrent alcohol and tobacco use with the household smoking ban strategy as reported by the parents of schoolchildren., Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional study that surveyed schoolchildren at 9 schools (grades 6 to 8). A self-administered questionnaire was sent out to the parents of 1,335 schoolchildren. Household smoking ban status was reported by the parents. We used multiple logistics regression to investigate the association between the household smoking ban and alcohol and tobacco use adjusted for potential confounders., Results: The prevalence of a no-smoking ban in households was 51% (95% confidence interval: 48.4%, 53.8%). After adjusting for the number of smokers in a home and perceptions about the harm of exposure to second-hand smoke, the multiple logistics regression results showed that concurrent alcohol and tobacco use in the households (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.66, 3.20) had a higher risk of a no-smoking ban., Conclusions: Our findings showed that concurrent alcohol and tobacco use was associated with a smoking ban status in households. A no-alcohol-drinking-at-home campaign should be adopted and promoted for increasing the rate of smoke-free homes., .

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in non-smokers and children. This study tested the effectiveness of an intervention for reducing exposure to SHS in homes by creating smoke-free environment where 1 to 5-year old infants reside. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in a rural geographic area of Thailand, with 47 villages assigned to either an intervention or a comparison group. The intervention consisted of self-education and infographic material, together with 45 text messages delivered via short message service. The control group received the self-education after the intervention at 3 months. The primary outcome was assessed by parent´s self-reported in exposure to SHS in home. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: The effects of the intervention increased the likelihood of a reducing exposure to SHS at home by 1.8-fold (95%CI 1.04 to 3.11). The average number of days of SHS exposure at home (7 days) also decreased by -1.25-fold (95%CI -1.85 to -0.66) in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of the intervention in reducing SHS exposure at home by a creating a smoke-free environment was observed to be statistically significant.

Objective: To test the effect of a text-message and infographic to promote smokers quit smoking. , , Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted in two provinces of northeast Thailand. Three hundred and ninety-six participants were allocated to either a text-message and infographic group or a control group. We assessed the primary outcome by self-reported 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the effect of quitting smoking. , , Results: At 3-month follow-up, lost to follow-up 16 participants, 380 participants were included for analysis. The difference in the rate of quitting smoking between the intervention and control groups was not found a statistical significance (17.8% versus 11.6%). However, we found a statistically significant difference in the number of cigarettes smokes (the difference: -1.74; 95%CI: -2.63, -0.84)., , Conclusion: No effect of text message and infographic for help smokers to quit smoking. However, the intervention showed a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked.

Background: The prevalence of tobacco consumption in Thailand has gradually declined; however, the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is still high. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of SHS exposure and examine the association between exposure to SHS and depressive symptoms among schoolchildren, and test for moderation by the number of smokers in household. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1105 schoolchildren. Socioeconomics factors, depressive symptoms and exposure to SHS variables were collected. We used the chi-square test for testing the factors associated to SHS exposure. In addition, we used the Mantel Haenszel test for testing interaction effect of depression to SHS exposure by the number of smokers in home. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the factors related to SHS exposure adjusted for confounders. Results: The prevalence of exposure to SHS was 58.2% (95%CI: 55.2, 61.1). The schoolchildren with abnormal depression status were 1.8 times more likely to have been exposed to SHS (95%CI: 1.3, 2.5). In addition, the number of smokers in the home did not modify the association between exposure to SHS and depressive symptoms (P: 0.964). Conclusions: An association between exposure to SHS and depressive in schoolchildren was observed, but this relationship was not affected by the number of smokers in children's homes., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2020 Intarut N and Pukdeesamai P.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate secular trends of smoking among Thailand's youths., Methods: We combined 8 datasets from national representative surveys between 1996 and 2015. Multi-stage cluster sampling was applied in all studies. Overall, 231459 participants aged 11-26 yr were included and analyzed. Participants were classified as current smokers if they responded "yes" to the question "Do you currently smoke?", and former smoker if they reported no current smoking but had smoked previously. Age-period-cohort (APC) models were used to estimate age, period, and cohort effects on smoking for investigating secular trend of smoking., Results: The prevalence of smoking tended to decrease over time. Among those aged 11-14, the prevalence of current and former smoking was low but not negligible. Rates of underage smoking remained quite steady, around 3.8% in 1996 and 3.6% in 2015. The results of the APC model show that the prevalence of smoking among young male cohorts was lower than in older cohorts., Conclusion: Thailand's tobacco control program has been effective in deterring youths from smoking. The prevalence of smoking in this population needs to be reduced further though, something achieved by reorienting tobacco consumption prevention campaigns towards this age group., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Background: Whilst several studies have examined inequity of tobacco use and inequity of alcohol drinking individually, comparatively little is known about concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption. The present study therefore investigated inequity of concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption in Thailand. Methods: The 2015 Health and Welfare Survey was obtained from Thailand’s National Statistical Office and used as a source of national representative data. Concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption was defined as current and concurrent use of both tobacco and alcohol. The wealth assets index was used as an indicator of socioeconomic inequity. Socioeconomic status included 5 groups ranging from poorest (Q1) to richest (Q5). A total of 55,920 households and 113,705 participants aged 15 years or over were included and analyzed. A weighted multiple logistic regression was performed. Results: The prevalence of concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption only, and alcohol consumption only were 15.2% (95% CI: 14.9, 15.4), 4.7% (95% CI: 4.5, 4.8), and 18.9% (95% CI: 18.7, 19.1), respectively. Weighted multiple logistic regression showed that concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption was high in the poorest socioeconomic group (P for trend: <0.001), and tobacco consumption only was also high in the poorest group (P for trend: <0.001). A high prevalence of alcohol consumption was observed in the richest group (P for trend: <0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that tobacco and alcohol consumption prevention programs would be more effective if they considered socioeconomic inequities in concurrent tobacco and alcohol consumption rather than focusing on single drug use., (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Studies of the furious and paralytic forms of canine rabies at the early stage of disease have shown a more rapid viral colonization of the cerebral hemispheres in the furious form, as measured by viral antigen within neuronal cell bodies and viral RNA levels. Measurement of cellular processes separate from neuronal cell body provides a visual record of the spread of rabies virus which occurs across synapses. In this study, the amount of rabies viral antigen within cell processes was quantitatively assessed by image analysis in a cohort of naturally rabies infected non-vaccinated dogs (5 furious and 5 paralytic) that were sacrificed shortly after developing illness. Measurements were taken at different levels of the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebrum. Results were compared to the amount of rabies viral antigen in neuronal cell bodies. Generally, the amount of rabies viral antigen in cell processes decreased in a rostral direction, following the pattern for the amount of rabies viral antigen in neuronal cell bodies and the percentage of involved cell bodies. However, there was a delay in cell process involvement following cell body involvement, consistent with replication occurring in the cell body region and subsequent transport out to cell processes. Greater amounts of antigen were seen in cell processes in dogs with the furious compared to paralytic form, at all anatomic levels examined. This difference was even evident when comparing (1) neurons with similar amounts of antigen, (2) similar percentages of involved neurons, and (3) anatomic levels that showed 100% positive neurons. These findings suggest that intracellular transport of the virus may be slower in the paralytic form, resulting in slower viral propagation. Possible mechanisms might involve host-specific differences in intracellular virus transport. The latter could be cytokine-mediated, since previous studies have documented greater inflammation in the paralytic form.

Background: A school-based smoke free home (SFH) program is useful in empowering the mother and child to reduce secondhand smoke exposure but the effects of pretesting on knowledge and attitude has been largely ignored. We aimed to test whether such a program can be effective in Southern Thailand with an additional assessment of the net effect of the pretest., Materials and Methods: A Solomon four-group design was used. Twelve rural primary schools were assigned to one of the four conditions (each with 3 schools): intervention with and without a pretest, control with and without the same pretest. The intervention was performed in the classroom and home over a period of 1 month. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3 months after the intervention on whether the home was smoke free and related knowledge and attitude., Results: The intervention could lead to a smoke-free home without statistical significance. Attitude, knowledge and self-confidence on creating a smoke-free home, and self-confidence in avoidance of secondhand smoke exposure and persuading smokers to not smoke in their home were significantly improved. No pretest effect was observed., Conclusions: Gain in attitude, knowledge and self-confidence among family members from the brief school-based education should be enhanced by other measures.