• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4665-4667
• /
• 2012

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Laos women and a screening programme, even with the PAP smear test (PAP test), has yet to be established for routine use. The Pap test is accepted as the most appropriate for cervical cancer screening in some settings but it is not commonly available in Laos hospitals, because there are few cytopathologists and gynecologists have little experience. As a pilot program, seminars for the PAP test were given in 2007 and 2008, and then PAP tests were carried out using self-sampling instrument (Kato's device) with 200 healthy volunteers in Setthathirath hospital, Laos, in 2008. The actual examination number was 196, divided into class I 104 (53.1%), class II 85 (43.3%), class IIIa 4 (2.0%), class IIIb 1 (0.5%), and class V 1 (0.5%) by modified Papanicolau classification. Four cases had menstruation. There were 6 cases with epithelial cell abnormalities including malignancy. There were 7 cases with fungus and 2 cases with trichomonas in Class II. More than 70% volunteers felt comfortable with the Kato's device and wanted to use it next time, because of the avoidance of the embarrassment and a low cost as compared with pelvic examination by gynecologists. This first trial for PAP test for healthy Laos women related to a hospital found three percent to have abnormal cervical epithelial cells. Therefore, this appraoch using a self-sampling device suggests that it should be planned for cervical cancer prevention in Laos.

• Polymer Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2013

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2002

To understand the large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) behavior of complex fluids, we have investigated the flow behavior of a network model in the LAOS environment. We applied the LAOS flow to the model proposed by Vaccaro and Marrucci (2000), which was originally developed to describe the system of associating telechelic polymers. The model was found to predict at least three different types of LAOS behavior; strain thinning (G' and G" decreasing), strong strain overshoot (G' and G" increasing followed by decreasing), and weak strain overshoot (G' decreasing, G" increasing followed by decreasing). The overshoot behavior in the strain sweep test, which il often observed in some complex fluid systems with little explanation, could be explained in terms of the model parameters, or in terms of the overall balance between the creation and loss rates of the network junctions, which are continually created and destroyed due to thermal and flow energy. This model does not predict strain hardening behavior because of the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) type nonlinear effect of loss rate. However, the model predicts the LAOS behavior of most of the complex fluids observed in the experiments.he experiments.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.179-182
• /
• 2008

As a part of a broader effort to determine the status of Paragonimus species infection in Lao PDR, an epidemiological survey was conducted on villagers and schoolchildren in Namback District between 2003 and 2005. Among 308 villagers and 633 primary and secondary schoolchildren, 156 villagers and 92 children evidenced a positive reaction on a Paragonimus skin test. Only 4 schoolchildren out of 128 skin test-positive cases had Paragonimus sp. eggs in their sputum, all of which was collected on 1 day. Several types of crabs, which were identified as the second intermediate host of the Paragonimus species, were collected from markets and streams in a paragonimiasis endemic area for the inspection of metacercariae. Among the examined crabs, only "rock crabs" (Indochinamon au) harbored Paragonimus sp. metacercariae, and it is speculated that the life cycle of Paragonimus sp. was maintained via rock crabs in Namback District, Lao PDR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.9027-9031
• /
• 2014

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is an established cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to identify H. pylori genotypes and to examine their associations with geographical regions and gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer in Laos. Materials and Methods: A total of 329 Lao dyspeptic patients who underwent gastroscopy at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos during December 2010 - March 2012 were enrolled. Two biopsy specimens (one each from the antrum and corpus) were obtained for CLO testing and only CLO test-positive gastric tissue were used to extract DNA. PCR and sequencing were identified for variants of the cagA and vacA genotypes. Results: Some 119 Laos patients (36.2%) were found to be infected with H. pylori including 83 with gastritis, 13 with gastric ulcers (GU), 20 with duodenal ulcers (DU) and 3 with gastric cancer. cagA was detected in 99.2%. East-Asian-type cagA (62%) and vacA s1c (64.7%) were predominant genotypes in Laos. vacA s1c-m1b was significantly higher in GU than gastritis (53.8% vs. 24.1%; P-value=0.04) whereas vacA s1a-m2 was significantly higher in DU than gastritis (40.0% vs. 16.9%; P-value=0.03). East-Asian-type cagA and vacA s1c were significantly higher in highland than lowland Lao (100% vs. 55.8%; P-value=0.001 and 88.2% vs. 61.5%, P-value=0.03 respectively). Conclusions: H. pylori is a common infection in Laos, as in other countries in Southeast Asia. The cagA gene was demonstrated in nearly all Laos patients, cagA and vacA genotypes being possible important factors in explaining H. pylori infection and disease outcomes in Laos.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.285-287
• /
• 2016

Background: The efficacy of standard treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is declining because of antibiotic resistance. Clarithromycin resistance is also increasing in many Asian countries. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of H. pylori infection and clinical association in Laos. Materials and Methods: A total of 329 Lao dyspeptic patients who underwent gastroscopy at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos during December 2010-March 2012 were enrolled in this study. During gastroscopy, 4 biopsies were collected (2 each from the antrum and body) for CLO-test and histopathology. Only the positive CLO-test gastric tissues was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ in a freezer until DNA was extracted and a GenoType$^{(R)}$HelicoDR test was conducted for detecting mutations in the rrl gene encoding 23S rRNA (clarithromycin resistance) and mutations in gyrA gene (fluoroquinolone resistance). Results: Of the total, 119 Lao patients (36.2%) were infected with H. pylori including 59 males (49.6%) and 60 females (50.4%) with a mean age of 46 years. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance of H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 15 (12.6%) and 16 strains (13.4%) respectively. In clarithromycin resistance, the number of patients who had education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ were significantly higher than those who had education below primary school and BMI<$25kg/m^2$ (23.1% vs 7.5%, P-value= 0.036 and 20.5% vs 8%, P-value= 0.048, respectively). In fluoroquinolone resistance, the number of lowland Lao was significantly higher than those of non-lowland (highland and midland) Lao ethnic groups (16.7% vs 0%, P-value= 0.039). Conclusions: H. pylori infections remain common in Laos. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection are growing problems. Education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ might be predictors for clarithromycin resistance and lowland Lao ethnicity might be predictors for fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection in Laos.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.323-329
• /
• 2014

In order to select polymer matrix for MIF (Molded-In Foaming) process, in this study, we investigated rheological properties of commercial polymers, SBC (Styrene-Butadiene Copolymers, K-resin KK38) and SBS (Styrene- Butadiene-Styrene, KTR 101 and KTR 301). In time sweep test, the rheological properties ($G^{\prime}$, $G^{{\prime}{\prime}}$, ${\eta}^*$) of SBS at 155 and $170^{\circ}C$ display almost constant value as a function of time from 0 s to 1800 s. On contrast, the rheological properties of SBS at 185 and $200^{\circ}C$ exponentially increase as a function of time. It could be due to gelation of SBS at high temperature conditions. These increment of rheological properties are not observed in SBC. From LAOS (large amplitude oscillatory shear) test, the nonlinear rheological properties of SBS at 155 and $200^{\circ}C$ after 1800 s are compared. The nonlinear rheological properties at $155^{\circ}C$ show simple strain thinning behavior such as linear homopolymer, however, the nonlinear rheological properties at $200^{\circ}C$ show 2 times strain thinning behavior (Payne effect). It well match with the gelation of SBS at $200^{\circ}C$. From rheological studies, it is confirmed that the proper polymer matrix for MIF process (low rheological properties at initial time and high rheological properties after process) is SBS KTR 301.

• 보존과학연구
• /
• s.36
• /
• pp.86-96
• /
• 2015

From the Asia Cooperation Program on Conservation Science(ACPCS) of National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage(NRICH), I gained conservation and management experience and knowledges which are highly applicable at the Vat Phou World Heritage site. Firstly, Check list, Mapping, Tape Test and Digital Image Analysis are simple and useful methods which can be introduced to the site directly. If we can get chance to learn more about GIS program, GIS based Database Management System would also be very liable to put into practical use since the site office has been already using the program for general purpose. Lastly, there are more other methods which can diversify the studies on cultural heritage conservation in Laos; Rebound Hardness Test, Ultrasonic Test, Infrared Thermography, XRF Analysis and Hyperspectral Image Analysis etc. To realize those research however, new equipments are needed along with proper education so more cooperation between Korea and Lao would be essential.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.73-85
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to develop a short-term ICT training course that helps teachers from non-computing disciplines in developing countries acquire flipped-learning content creation skills. A field application is performed by applying the developed ICT training course to secondary school teachers of non-ICT subject specialisms in Laos. In the field study, participating teachers' teaching efficacy on ICT and satisfaction toward the training course are measured. The result of t-test on ICT teaching efficacy showed statistically significant increases in teachers' self-efficacy related to ICT use, both personal efficacy and outcome expectancy. The satisfaction survey performed after training showed that trainees were highly satisfied with the training course. The results of this field study could be used to propose a short-term teacher education model that could be applicable to teachers in other developing countries.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2019

The Dr. LEE Jong-wook-Seoul Project (DLSP) in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) is a long-term development cooperation initiative aimed at upgrading the medical education capacity at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in the Lao PDR. Under the project, eight faculty members from UHS were trained at the Seoul National University College of Medicine for a 12-month period during 2010-2011. Using a training-of-trainers model, we estimated the effect of DLSP on the learning outcomes of students, which was measured using the standard test scores of the students. The questionnaire developed by the Medical Education Assessment Consortium in Korea was given to the students and both the percent-correct and standardized scores were examined. The evaluation strategy was to compare the learning outcomes of the students taught by the trainees with those that were not and to compare the medical topics taught by the trainees with other topics. It was found that the first group of trainees in the DLSP was associated with an increase of 1.5 in the percent-correct test scores for basic medicine. While the interpretation requires caution, it is consistent with the view that a training program for faculty members could be effective in improving the teaching capacity of medical schools in developing countries.