International Relations Office Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
“Teikyo University Hospital has a good reputation for interventional radiology, which makes me want to observe and see new technologies, as well as the work of doctors in Japan.”
On March 5, 2024, MDKKU welcomed two public health master’s students, Elvira and Kaia, from Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway to the Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC). Both are involved in the multi-country project named “Pandemic Literacy and Viral Zoonotic Spillover Risk at the Frontline of Disease Emergence in Southeast Asia to Improve Pandemic Preparedness (PANDASIA).” Their research is under the supervision of Dr. Hans Overgaard, the Project leader who holds a joint appointment with MDKKU and NMBU.
They met with Professor Dr. Banchob Sripa, Director of KKU-TDRC, along with Dr. Overgaard, Assoc. Prof. Sirikachorn Tangkawattana, KKU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and TDRC staff, and discussed research and plans for field work in hi-risk communities.
PANDASIA is investigating potential pandemic drivers along nature-rural-urban gradients through a comprehensive collection of social and biological data and predictive modelling of zoonotic spillover rates and disease emergence in high-risk settings in Thailand and Lao PDR.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
They have been doing collaborative research with Prof. Somchai Pinlaor, Department of Parasitology, and Assoc.Prof. Ranoo Thanan, Department of Biochemistry, on Cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis via chronic Opisthorchis viverrini infection since 2003. Recently, they have extended this work to include Clonorchis sinensis. During this visit, they updated results of their research, and discussed future directions to further strengthen their scientific research cooperation.
Professor Pinlaor and Department members and Prof. Arima’s team also met with Assist. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, to discuss strategies for strengthening exchanges and collaboration of young researchers between the two universities.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
“I feel very fortunate to have this chance to be able to have great friends across the globe”
“My experience involved a combination of hands-on clinical practice and theoretical learning, aiming to understand and implement effective strategies for addressing the needs of an aging population in Thailand.”
On February 22, 2024, KKU Srinagarind Hospital held a press conference to announce the first Isan Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for scleroderma. The press conference was led by Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of KKU Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Songsak Kiatchoosakun, MD, Srinagarind Hospital Director, Prof. Chingching Fucharoen, MD, Rheumatology (Muscle and Joint) specialist, Department of Medicine, Asst. Prof. Chinadol Wanitpongpun, Hematology specialist, Department of Medicine, and Ms. TophuKhieo, a scleroderma patient at Srinagarind Hospital.
Assoc. Prof. Jiravuttipong said, “Our faculty of Medicine has been developing advanced medical technology for more efficient patient treatment, and HSCT is regarded as an example of a highly effective treatment.”
Prof. Fucharoen stated, “Scleroderma is a disease in which the immune system does not work properly, and it stimulates not only somatic cells to continuously produce collagen fibers but also fibrosis formation binding to various parts of our body. As a result, it causes tight and hard skin on the human face, fingers, toes, arms, legs, chest, and abdomen. It also affects internal organs including pulmonary and myocardial fibrosis that can lead to disability and mortality.”
She also added, “The scleroderma is mostly found in middle–aged to older people (about 40–50 years of age) and is hardly found in younger people. The global rate of scleroderma is 24:100,000 people while Isan regional rate is 40:100,000 people. According to the Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, the number of scleroderma patients in northeastern and northern Thailand is higher than other regions.”
Ms. TophuKhieo, an 18-year-old patient, started her treatment on January 2022 after initial referral to a rheumatologist. She presented with pulmonary fibrosis and HSCT treatment was started. After 14-days of treatment, her skin had softened, her skin color returned to normal and joints were more flexible. After 3 months of treatment, she could stretch out her fingers, elbows, and arms smoothly. Finally, her pulmonary fibrosis resolved and she returned to normal daily activities.
She said, “Scleroderma is a rare disease. Many people don’t know about it and how to deal with it. If you have any skin disorders or suspect you have scleroderma, you’d better see a doctor— the faster, the better.”
Asst. Prof. Wanitpongpun spoke about the HSCT procedure; “Currently, the HSCT innovation is an effective treatment alternative to help patients return to normal function. Technically, the HSCT procedure has 4 main steps. First, a thorough physical examination is performed. Second, physicians stimulate and collects stem cells. Third, high–dose chemotherapy is used to kill patients’ abnormal cells and reset the immune system. Fourth, stem cells are injected into the patients for their physical recovery.”
He also added, “HSCT is normally used in patients who are not too old and their body parts are still working well. Patients who are most affected by the disease are selected for HSCT while those who are older and have low severity don’t need HSCT.”
Prof. Kiatchoosakun’s closing speech “We would like to express our gratitude to all Srinagarind Day Fund donors. Your donations have supported us a lot in caring for low–income patients with complications and in the development of this medical technology and innovation. This case is one example of those supported by the Fund. All hopes can be supported by the power of giving. Come and be part of our Srinagarind Day Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.”
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
Five medical exchange students from Nagoya City University and Wakayama Medical University recently completed electives at MDKKU during February 2024. They were based in different departments including Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics, and Surgery.
“KKU Staff took very good care of us with excellent clinical internships,” said a Nagoya City University student. “Professors and Thai medical students immediately translated what patients said in Thai to English and then they explained it to me and they also took us to the cafeteria after class and introduce us to Thai food,” he added.
They were also excited with many new clinical experiences and systems and enjoyed their clinical class with some rare cases they have never experienced before.
“I was really surprised to see that the medical school system is completely different from Japan,” said a Wakayama Medical University student. “I was able to see the difference between the tests conducted on pregnant women in Thailand and Japan, and I was glad to be able to study a rare disease in Japan like Thalassemia,” she added.
Overall, they considered they had very impressive medical exchange experiences and enjoyed learning about the people, activities, cultures, food, and places in Khon Kaen. Although they initially met language barriers, they met a lot of kindness with people helping them to communicate in many situations both inside and outside of the classroom.
We are very delighted to welcome and congratulate all of them.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
MDKKU recently welcomed Dr. Naoya Wada and Dr. Hiroto Tanaka from the Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan to our Department of Parasitology between February 20 and 21, 2024.
NICT aims to unite various research fields and promote research collaboration with industry, academia, and government related to basic research on international information communication. NICT made a Cooperative Research Agreement (CRA) with KKU before the COVID-19 pandemic and have been working since then with Professor Somchai Pinlaor, Department of Parasitology, to develop biomarker sensors based on micro-optical circuit technologies.
During the visit, Professor Pinlaor and Department members and Dr. Wada and Dr. Tanaka met with Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jiravuttipong, MDKKU Dean, and our International Relations Affairs administrators to discuss their collaborative projects and future developments.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
MDKKU recently welcomed Professor Joe Iwanaga, as an overseas visiting professor from Tulane University School of Medicine, USA to our Department of Anatomy. He visited between February 5 and 8, 2024 and delivered lectures and workshops to faculty and postgraduate students.
Professor Iwanaga is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, dentist and anatomist and a board member of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA). His research career has been devoted to clinical anatomy and has resulted in over 250 peer-reviewed publications in the medical and scientific literature.
During his visit, he had a meeting with Assist. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Assistant Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Jariya Umka Welbat, head of Anatomy Department, and other department staff to discuss collaborative opportunities for research and academic development between the two institutions.
He delivered a workshop on latex techniques for fresh cadaver embalming and a lecture on clinical anatomy research and its applications. Both activities were very helpful for practice and exchange of experiences on how to preserve the human body for cardiovascular system research, and for stimulating discussion on collaborative research and using high technology and innovation in anatomical research.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith
MDKKU congratulates Thannathon Nameephol, a fourth-year Medical Illustration student, on receiving a Spring 2024 Young Southeast Asian leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship scholarship. The scholarship will allow him to explore the role that environmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the United States at University of Montana, USA between April 17 and May 22, 2024. The scholarship is granted by the U.S. Department of State and YSEALI.
The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term academic program whose purpose is to provide groups of young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States and a particular theme, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.
Reporting by Sathaphorn Onlamun
Editing by Prof. John F Smith