Introduction: Increased interest in phenolic compounds is largely due to findings of their association with antioxidant, antimutagenic, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities with reduced risk of free radicals related diseases. Local vegetables of Thailand were examined for antioxidant activity, total phenolics and isoflavone contents. Methods: Thirty edible leaf and 13 other-parts of vegetable plants were collected from the markets in Northern Thailand for analysis of antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays), total phenolics, and isoflavones. Results: The antioxidant activity for DPPH assay and total phenolics of edible leaf vegetables (EC50 = 541.2+498.9 jug/ mL and 2438.7+3342.7 pg GAE/g dry extract respectively) were significantly higher than those of the other edible plant parts (EC50 =1315.5±1303.4 pg/mL and 1263.3+3281.7 pg GAE/ g dry extract respectively). Ten types of edible leaf vegetables and only one example of plant part, namely ginger, exhibited high antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activities for DPPH and ABTS assays were associated with total phenolics concentration. Conclusion: Antioxidant activity and total phenolics of Thai edible leaf vegetables were higher than those of other edible plant parts. The Thai copper pod showed the highest levels of total phenolics and isoflavones, and strong antioxidant activity. Further investigation should be undertaken to examine the active mechanisms of these properties in relations to health benefits.

Background: Herbicides such as glyphosate, paraquat, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been reported to cause adverse side effects through production of reactive oxygen species. However, there were no data representing the adverse effects of a mixture herbicide usage in farmers, especially the changes in oxidative marker and antioxidant defense. This study aimed to determine the urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) level in farmers using mixed herbicides. Methods: Ninety-three farmers were recruited, and two spot urine samples (before and after work) were collected. The urinary MDA level was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, and the urinary GSH level was determined using the enzymatic recycling method. Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants were men, and 59% of the participants worked in a farm for 20–40 years. The common combinations of herbicide usage were glyphosate with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (36.5%). There was no significant difference between pre- and post-work urinary MDA and GSH levels among the 3 groups of herbicides. However, the urinary MDA levels in farmers using the combination of glyphosate and paraquat were significantly higher than those found in farmers using glyphosate alone. The associated factors with changes in MDA levels found that the exposure intensity index (B = 0.154), the cumulative exposure intensity index (B = 0.023), and wearing gloves while working (B = −2.347) were found to be significantly associated with MDA level. Conclusion The results suggest that the combined use of glyphosate and paraquat caused a significant increase in urinary MDA levels. Moreover, intensity of exposure to herbicide and wearing gloves were associated with the level of MDA.

Objectives: This study compared the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of patients hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized data from all cases of laboratory-confirmed RSV infection at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. Differences in the clinical presentation of RSV infection before (2016 to 2019) and during (2020 to 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed and compared. Results: In total, 358 patients hospitalized with RSV infections were reported from January 2016 to December 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only 74 cases of hospitalized RSV infection were reported. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, the clinical presentations of RSV infection showed statistically significant decreases in fever on admission (p=0.004), productive cough (p=0.004), sputum (p=0.003), nausea (p=0.03), cyanosis (p=0.004), pallor (p<0.001), diarrhea (p<0.001), and chest pain (p<0.001). Furthermore, vigilant measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including lockdowns, also interrupted the RSV season in Thailand from 2020 to 2021. Conclusions The incidence of RSV infection was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, which also changed the clinical presentation and seasonal pattern of RSV infection in children.

Background: Herbicides such as glyphosate, paraquat, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been reported to cause adverse side effects through production of reactive oxygen species. However, there were no data representing the adverse effects of a mixture herbicide usage in farmers, especially the changes in oxidative marker and antioxidant defense. This study aimed to determine the urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) level in farmers using mixed herbicides. Methods: Ninety-three farmers were recruited, and two spot urine samples (before and after work) were collected. The urinary MDA level was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, and the urinary GSH level was determined using the enzymatic recycling method. Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants were men, and 59% of the participants worked in a farm for 20–40 years. The common combinations of herbicide usage were glyphosate with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (36.5%). There was no significant difference between pre- and post-work urinary MDA and GSH levels among the 3 groups of herbicides. However, the urinary MDA levels in farmers using the combination of glyphosate and paraquat were significantly higher than those found in farmers using glyphosate alone. The associated factors with changes in MDA levels found that the exposure intensity index (B = 0.154), the cumulative exposure intensity index (B = 0.023), and wearing gloves while working (B = −2.347) were found to be significantly associated with MDA level. Conclusion The results suggest that the combined use of glyphosate and paraquat caused a significant increase in urinary MDA levels. Moreover, intensity of exposure to herbicide and wearing gloves were associated with the level of MDA.

This review paper aimed to analyze scientific evidence and provide an overview of the relationship of pesticide exposure with respiratory outcomes among farmers and farmworkers. It also synthesized the association of exposure to specific pesticides and other factors with respiratory outcomes. Articles published in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases from 1991 to 2018 were reviewed and the scientific evidence was evaluated. Forty-five articles were selected for synthesis. Twenty-nine pesticides revealed an association with respiratory diseases and 49 pesticides with respiratory symptoms. In addition, 14 pesticides had an association with both respiratory diseases and symptoms (seven for herbicides, six for insecticides, and one for fungicide). Although the evidence from these reviewed studies suggested an association between pesticide exposure and respiratory outcomes among farmers and farmworkers, several limitations from the studies were found. Toward a better quality for further research, prospective study, standardized tools for exposure and outcome assessment, appropriate sample size and sampling method, and controlled confounding factors, should be thoroughly considered.