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Background: To evaluate the performance of Siriraj liquid-based cytology (LBC) for cervical neoplasia screening after increasing use of this technology., Materials and Methods: Cytological reports of 103,057 Siriraj-LBC specimens obtained in 2007-2009 were compared with those of 23,676 specimens obtained in 2006., Results: Comparing with the year 2006, the 2007-2009 patients were slightly older (43.4 ± 12.yr vs 42.7 ± 12.2 yr, p <0.001), and their specimens had much lower proportion of unsatisfactory slides (OR=0.06, 95%CI 0.04-0.09) with comparable detection rates (3.96% vs 3.70%, p=0.052) but different proportions of various cytological abnormalities (p<0.001). The 2007-2009 Siriraj-LBC had a negative predictive value (NPV) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN2+) of 97.6% and an overall positive predictive value (PPV) of 43.9%. The PPV for CIN2+ varied with types of abnormal cytology, from 13.7% to 93.8% in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), atypical squamous cells cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), atypical glandular cells (AGC), to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), respectively. The PPVs for CIN2+ in ASCUS and LSIL were comparable, but the PPV for CIN1 was higher for LSIL than for ASCUS (41.63% vs 16.32%)., Conclusions: Siriraj-LBC has demonstrated a stable detection rate and NPV for CIN2+ of >95% since the first year of use. The comparable PPVs for CIN2+ of ASCUS and LSIL suggests that these two conditions may undergo similar management; other cytological abnormalities need immediate evaluation.

Aim: To evaluate the agreement between colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology a retrospective chart review was performed., Materials and Methods: This study included 437 patients who underwent colposcopy and cervical biopsy or conization at Siriraj Hospital from October 2010 - December 2012. The patient clinical characteristics, cervical cytology results, colposcopic diagnoses, cervical pathology results were recorded and correlations between variables were analyzed., Results: Agreement of colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology was matched in 253 patients (57.9%). The strength of agreement with weighted Kappa statistic was 0.494 (p<0.001). Colposcopic diagnoses more often overestimated (31.1%) than underestimated (11%) the cervical pathology. Agreement of colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology within 1 grade was found in 411 patients (94.1%). Positive predictive value (PPV) of high grade colposcopy or more was 75.5%, whereas the negative predictive value (NPV) of insignificant and low grade colposcopy was 83.8%. False positives of high grade colposcopy or more were 21%. False negatives of insignificant or low grade colposcopy were 19.1%., Conclusions: Strength of agreement between colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology was found to be only moderate. A biopsy at colposcopy should be performed at a gold standard level to detect high grade lesions.

Aim: To report long term outcomes of laser conization for high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Thai women., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients undergoing laser conization due to abnormal cervical cytology suggesting neoplasia during 1989 to 1994 and having follow-up data until December 2010. Conization was performed under colposcopy using a 0.5-mm CO2 laser beam with power density of 18,000-20,000 watts/cm2, and the surgical base was vaporized using a low power defocused beam. The follow-up protocol included cervical cytology and colposcopy. Long term outcome measures were failure rate (persistence and recurrence), post-conization status of transformation zone, and obstetric outcomes., Results: Of 104 patients undergoing conization, 71 had therapeutic conization for high grade CIN and were followed up for a median time of 115 (range 12-260) months. There was one case of persistent and one of recurrent disease comprising a failure rate of 2.8%. The post treatment transformation zone was well visualized in 68.3% of 63 patients with an intact uterus. Sixteen patients achieved 25 pregnancies; none had second trimester miscarriage. The obstetric outcomes were unremarkable., Conclusions: Laser conization under colposcopic visualization for the treatment of high grade CIN in Thai women has a low failure rate of 2.8%. The post-conization transformation zone could not be evaluated completely in approximately 30% of cases; therefore the follow-up protocol should include both cytology and colposcopy. Obstetric outcomes are not adversely affected by this therapeutic procedure.

The clinical manifestations of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) consist of three successive stages: febrile, toxic and convalescent. The toxic stage is the critical period, which may manifestas circulatory disturbance or even profound shock in some patients. We attempted to determine predictors for the risk of dengue shock syndrome (DSS) during the febrile stage. One hundred one children with acute febrile illness were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 11 years old. The diagnosis included dengue fever (DF) 21 cases, DHF grade I 30 cases, DHF grade II 33 cases, DHF grades III and IV 10 cases; children with other febrile illnesses (OFI) 7 cases were used as controls. Complete blood counts, coagulation tests, von Willebrand factor antigens (VWF:Ag) and ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:Rcof) were determined daily during hospitalization and 2-4 weeks after discharge from the hospital. The results revealed any one of the following abnormal laboratory findings during the febrile stage served as a predictor for risk of DSS: increase in hematocrit > 25%, a platelet count < 40,000/microl, an activated partial thromboplastin time >44 seconds, a prothrombin time >14 seconds, a thrombin time >16 seconds or a VWF:Ag or VWF:Rcof > 210%. The relative risk ranged from 4.8 to 10.9. Simple laboratory investigations with complete blood count, coagulation test or the more sophisticated von Willebrand factor, are helpful in predicting the risk for DSS during the febrile stage.

Objective: To compare the cytological diagnoses, specimen adequacy, and cost of the Siriraj liquid-based cytology (LBC) with those of the conventional smear technique., Study Design: An observational study with historical comparison was conducted in a tertiary university hospital. Cytological reports of 23,676 Siriraj-LBC specimens obtained in 2006 were compared with those of 25,510 conventional smears obtained in 2004., Results: Overall prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology detected by conventional smear was 1.76% and by Siriraj-LBC was 3.70%. Compared with the conventional method, the Siriraj-LBC yielded a significantly higher overall detection rate of abnormal cervical cytology, with a 110.23% increase in the detection rate (P<0.001), mainly due to the increase in diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), both low and high grade, together with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, "atypical squamous cells cannot exclude HSIL", and malignancies, but not atypical glandular cells. The Siriraj-LBC had a smaller proportion of unsatisfactory slides (4.94% vs. 18.60%, P<0.001) and a higher negative predictive value (96.33% vs. 92.74%, P=0.001), but no difference in positive predictive value (83.03% vs. 86.83%, P=0.285). The cost of Siriraj-LBC was approximately 67% higher than that of the conventional cytology used in Siriraj Hospital and 50-70% lower than that of the commercially available LBC techniques in Thailand., Conclusion: The Siriraj-LBC increases the detection rate of abnormal cytology, improves specimen adequacy, and enhances the negative predictive value without compromising the positive predictive value. For centers where conventional Pap smear does not perform well, the introduction of a low cost Siriraj-LBC might help to improve performance and it may be an economical alternative to the commercially available liquid-based cytology.

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation and agreement between Siriraj liquid-based cervical cytology (Siriraj -LBC) and conventional cytology. A total of 479 women who attended the Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology Siriraj Hospital for cervical cancer screening were enrolled. For each woman collection of cervical cells was performed using VCE technique. After smearing cells on a glass slide for conventional cytology, both broken ends of wooden spatula and cotton swabs were then placed into a plastic vial containing a specific preservative solution for Siriraj-LBC. All specimens were prepared and interpreted by experienced cytotechnologists at the Gynecologic Cytology Unit. Interpretations of the results from one technique were made without knowledge of those from the other technique. The results from both techniques were compared for agreement and correlation. Colposcopy or histology was used as the gold standard. The overall detection rate of abnormal cervicovaginal cells was higher by Siriraj-LBC than by conventional cytology (11.1% vs. 1.67%, P <0.001). These two techniques had high diagnostic agreement of 89.77%, and minimal to fair correlation with a Kappa of 0.128 (P<0.001) and a Spearman rho correlation coefficient of 0.394 (P <0.001). There were 49 cases whose Siriraj-LBC revealed higher cytologic grading than did the conventional cytology; there were no cases of the opposite result. The gold standard was available in 45 cases with abnormal cytology by Siriraj-LBC, revealing a positive predictive value (PPV) of 71.1% for Siriraj-LBC and 97.8% for conventional cytology, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 42.2% for the conventional cytology. In conclusion, The results from Siriraj-LBC and conventional cytology have high diagnostic agreement and minimal to fair correlation. The Siriraj-LBC increases detection rate of abnormal cervicovaginal cells with probable decrease in false negatives but increase in false positives from the baseline values by conventional cytology. Therefore the screening performance of Siriraj-LBC is not inferior to the conventional cytology and this approach may be used as an alternative screening method for cervical cancer.

Background: External quality assessment (EQA) is an essential component of laboratory quality assurance. In Thailand, there is no EQA program for coagulation tests at the national level., Objective: To collect the necessary data in the first step to set up a National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) and to assess the status of coagulation laboratory practice in Thailand., Material and Method: Questionnaires were sent to hospitals to obtain information about the hospitals, their coagulation laboratory practice and EQA., Results: From a dispatch of 220 questionnaires, 124 (56.4%) were returned. Of the 112 hospitals that had coagulation tests, all of them performed prothrombin time (PT), and 110 laboratories performed activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) as well. Thirty eight percent of laboratories still used 3.8% sodium citrate as the anticoagulant for coagulation tests. The majority of laboratories (65%) reported normal control value with the patient results. Only 42% of coagulation laboratories established their own reference range. The denominators of PT ratio and APTT ratio calculations were derived from several sources apart from the mean of normal subjects. Seven of 112 (6%) laboratories participated in an EQA program., Conclusion: The present survey represents an overview of the current laboratory practice for coagulation tests in Thailand Improvement is necessary, and the survey results emphasize the need for establishing an EQA program in Thailand

A study to determine the utilization of calculated low density lipoprotein (c-LDL) cholesterol and measured low density lipoprotein (m-LDL) cholesterol was conducted. The test results of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and m-LDL-cholesterol from the same individuals aged > or = 18 years who had the tests done at the Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital during January to December 2004 were retrieved. The c-LDL-cholesterol level was computed using Friedewald formula. There were two data sets i.e. the m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off level derivation data set (784 subjects) and the m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off level validation data set (800 subjects). The study results revealed: 1) 2.6% of the subjects had blood triglyceride > 400 mg/dl hence c-LDL-cholesterol could not be computed, 2) the correlation between c-LDL-cholesterol levels and m-LDL-cholesterol levels from both data sets was very good (r > 0. 95, p < 0. 001), 3) the m-LDL-cholesterol levels were usually higher than c-LDL-cholesterol levels, 4) the m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off level derivation data set showed that m-LDL-cholesterol < 87, > 143, > 188, > 233 and > 254 mg/dl were highly correlated with c-LDL-cholesterol < 100, > or = 100, > or = 130, > or = 160 and > or = 190 mg/dl respectively, 5) an application of m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off levels derived from the m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off level derivation data set to the m-LDL-cholesterol cut-off level validation data set showed that m-LDL-cholesterol < 87, > 143, > 188, > 233 and > 254 mg/dl had accuracy in predicting c-LDL-cholesterol < 100, > or = 100, > or = 130, > or = 160 and > or = 190 mg/dl of 100%, 99. 7%, 100%, 100% and 100% respectively, 6) the use of m-LDL-cholesterol levels as a guide for initiating lipid-lowering agents based on cut-off values of c-LDL-cholesterol levels led to an overuse of lipid-lowering agents in 3.6% to 42.9% of the patients and 7) Nomogram for transforming m-LDL-cholesterol to c-LDL-cholesterol was developed as well as a formula for transforming m-LDL-cholesterol to c-LDL-cholesterol (c-LDL-cholesterol = 0.89 x m-LDL-cholesterol). Therefore, m-LDL-cholesterol assay has a very limited use in managing individuals with suspected or known dyslipidemia. The use of m-LDL-cholesterol level as a guide for management of abnormal LDL-cholesterol conditions leads to an overuse of lipid lowering medications and an enormous expense of m-LDL-cholesterol assay.

Indicators are tools that measure work performance and serve as a guide to improve the quality of laboratories. Seven Indicators for quality improvement have been established in our coagulation laboratory. They are :- 1). percentage of pre-analytical problems, 2). personnel competency scores, 3). results of external quality assessment, 4). % coefficient of variation (CV) of control materials, 5). unit cost, 6). percentage of reports within determined time, and 7). percentage of customers who were satisfied. The percentage of preanalytical error gradually decreased from 1.8% in April 2001 to 0.8% in June 2001 as a result of co-operation between the coagulation laboratory and the wards. Since there is no system to check personnel competency at a national level in Thailand, we set up a program for testing personnel competency in our department by asking every technician to take a written and practical laboratory examination. The scores achieved by our personnel ranged from 40 to 90%. For those who achieved scores of lower than 70%, we limited their responsibilities and organized a training program for them. In order to check our laboratory's accuracy, we are enrolled in the WHO International External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS) in Blood Coagulation and have been since 1987. The survey results indicated that most of our laboratory tests were within consensus including our homemade ELISA tests for protein C, protein S and vWF antigen. The percent CVs of control materials used for the internal daily control for every test were analyzed. They ranged from 2.3 for normal APTT to 11.4 for the low level of free protein S in plasma. The unit cost for each test was analyzed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the laboratory. We set the goal for the turn around time for emergency coagulation tests to be within an hour and the percentage of reports within this time was 91.6% in August 2001. The last indicator was the percentage of satisfied customers, which gave an indication of the quality of all Out Patient Department (OPD) services performed by our department. We sent 400 questionnaires to doctors, nurses and patients in OPD asking their opinion of both the technical services and the behavior of our technicians. The percentage satisfaction of our customers concerning services offered to OPD was lower than 50%. We plan to improve the last 2 indicators by expanding the space of the OPD/emergency laboratory and reorganizing the service system. All indicators mentioned above have helped to improve the quality of our laboratory greatly.

To search for evidence of coagulation activation ex vivo, the levels of human prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) were examined in 69 beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients. Levels of protein C inhibitor (PCI) and activated protein C - PCI (APC:PCI) complex were also determined in 9 of the above patients in conjunction with protein C (PC) antigen and activity, in an attempt to detect increased consumption of PC. In mean level of F1+2, there was a statistically significant difference between normal control and post-splenectomized patients (p < 0.05) but not between normal control and non-splenectomized patients (p > 0.05). The mean levels of PC activity and PC antigen in the patients were much lower than in normal controls. However, the mean levels of PCI and the mean level of APC:PCI complex in the patients were not significantly different from those in normal controls (p > 0.05). The high level of F1+2 in post-splenectomized patients found in this study agreed well with clinical and other laboratory findings. The normal level of PC inhibitor and APC:PCI complex found in this study provided no evidence of increased consumption of protein C in thalassemia patients.

With a technic that was developed by us, we found that normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in culture characteristically had very little tissue factor (TF) activity either on the surface or in the cells which had been disrupted. In the presence of endotoxin (E. coli O26:B6), a trigger for thrombosis in septicemic patients, we could not detect an increased TF activity of HUVEC on its surface. However, an increase in TF (total TF) was detected after disruption of the cells. The increase in total TF was dose-dependent. Endotoxin at the concentration of 10 micrograms/ml caused around 5 fold increase in total TF activity compared to that of HUVEC in the absence of endotoxin.