Currently available tools for early diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer lack sufficient accuracy. There is a need to identify novel biomarkers for this common malignancy. SOX family genes play an important role in embryogenesis and are also implicated in various cancers. SOX11 has been recently recognized as a potential tumour suppressor that is downregulated in prostate cancer. We hypothesized that hypermethylation may be responsible for SOX11 silencing in human prostate cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate SOX11 promoter methylation in prostate adenocarcinoma by comparing it with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 143 human prostate tissue samples, 62 from patients with prostate cancer and 81 from patients with BPH were examined by methylation-specific PCR. Associations between SOX11 promoter methylation and clinicopathological parameters were assessed by univariate statistics. Detection rates of SOX11 promoter methylation were 80.6% and 35.8% in prostate cancer and BPH respectively (P < 0.001). SOX11 hypermethylation was associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer, including higher PSA level (P < 0.01), Gleason score ≥ 7 (P = 0.03) and perineural invasion (P = 0.03). SOX11 methylation was positively correlated with the PSA level (P = 0.001). Our data indicated that SOX11 can be a promising methylation marker candidate for differential diagnosis and risk stratification for prostate cancer.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is simple and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. However, the CPAP prediction equation in each country is different. This study aimed to predict CPAP in Thai patients with OSA. A retrospective study was conducted in Thai patients, who OSA was confirmed by polysomnography and CPAP titration from January 2015 to December 2018. Demographics, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), Epworth sleepiness scale, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), mean and lowest pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), and optimal pressure were recorded. A total of 180 subjects were included: 72.8% men, age 48.7 ± 12.7 years, BMI 31.0 ± 6.3 kg/m2, NC 40.7 ± 4.1 cm, AHI 42.5 ± 33.0 per hour, RDI 47.1 ± 32.8 per hour, and lowest SpO2 77.1 ± 11.0%. Multiple linear regression analysis identified NC, BMI, RDI, and lowest SpO2. A final CPAP predictive equation was: optimal CPAP (cmH2O) = 4.614 + (0.173 × NC) + (0.067 × BMI) + (0.030 × RDI) − (0.076 × lowest SpO2). This model accounted for 50.0% of the variance in the optimal pressure (R2 = 0.50). In conclusion, a CPAP prediction equation can be used to explain a moderate proportion of the titrated CPAP in Thai patients with OSA. However, the CPAP predictive equation in each country may be different due to differences of ethnicity and physiology.Trial registration: TCTR20200108003.

Background A 30-m walkway length for the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is the standard recommendation established by the American Thoracic Society to assess patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to compare between the distances of 20 and 30 m long corridor affecting 6MWT in COPD patients. Methods A randomized crossover study was conducted with patients. COPD patients were randomized 1:1 to either a 20-m or a 30-m walkway in the first test, then switched to the other in the second test. Physiologic parameters and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were recorded. Results Fifty subjects (92% men) were included: age 69.1±7.4 years, body mass index 22.9±5.5 kg/m2, FEV1 63.0±21.3%, and 50% having cardiovascular disease. The 6MWD in a 20-m and a 30-m walkway were 337.82±71.80 m and 359.85±77.25 m, respectively (P<0.001). Mean distance difference was 22.03 m (95% CI -28.29 to -15.76, P<0.001). Patients with a 20-m walkway had more turns than those with a 30-m walkway (mean difference of 4.88 turns, 95% CI 4.48 to 5.28, P<0.001). Also, higher systolic blood pressure was found in patients with a 20-m walkway after 6MWT (4.62 mmHg, P = 0.019). Other parameters and Borg dyspnea scale did not differ. Conclusions The walkway length had significant effect on walking distance in COPD patients. A 30-m walkway length should still be recommended in 6MWT for COPD assessment. Clinical trial registration Clinicaltrials.in.th number: TCTR20200206003.

A 30-m walkway length of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is the standard recommendation established by the American Thoracic Society for assessing COPD patients. A 20-m course has not been validated in this group. Objective: To compare between the distances of 20 and 30 m long corridor affecting 6MWT in COPD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2018 -January 2019 in Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand. COPD patients with ≥10 pack-year smoking history and post-bronchodilator FEV 1 /FVC<70% were recruited. The first test in a 20-m walkway and the second in a 30-m walkway were performed. Demographics, spirometric data, physiologic variables (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation), Borg dyspnea scale, number of turns, and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were recorded. Results: Fifty subjects (92% men) were included: age 69.1±7.4 years, BMI 22.9±5.5 kg/m 2 , FEV 1 63.0±21.3%, and 50% having cardiovascular disease. The 6MWD in a 20-m and a 30-m walkway were 337.82±71.80 m and 359.85±77.25 m, respectively (P<0.001). Mean distance difference was 22.03 m (95% CI -28.29 to -15.76, P<0.001). Patients with a 20-m walkway had higher turns than a 30-m walkway (mean difference of 4.88 turns, 95% CI 4.48 to 5.28, P<0.001), as well as higher systolic blood pressure was found in patients with a 20-m walkway after 6MWT (4.62 mmHg, 95% CI 0.77 to 8.46, P=0.019). There were no differences in other physiologic variables and Borg dyspnea scale. Conclusions: The walkway length had significant effect on walking distance in COPD patients. A 30-m walkway length should still be recommended in 6MWT for COPD assessment.

Background: Air pollution has become a serious environmental and health issue in several countries. This condition leads to respiratory diseases, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to determine pulmonary functions and prevalence of respiratory diseases among rural residents in an area in northern Thailand with a high concentration of air pollution. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in people aged 18 years or older, living in Lamphun, Thailand in December 2021. Demographics, pre-existing diseases, respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary functions by spirometry including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), peak expiration flow (PEF), forced expiration flow rate at 25-75% of FVC ( FEF 25-75 ), and bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR; FEV 1 improvement after BDR test >12% and 200 mL) were collected. Results: A total of 127 people (78.7%male) were included. Mean age was 43.76±11.32 years. Smoking was 52.0% and 4.44±5.45 pack-years. Self-reported respiratory diseases were allergic rhinitis (7.1%), asthma (0.8%), and COPD (0.8%). Respiratory symptoms were presented in 33.1% (14.2% runny nose, 10.2% nasal obstruction, 9.4% cough, 7.9% sputum production, and 6.3% breathlessness). Lung functions showed FVC in 96.74±12.91%, FEV 1 in 97.52±12.99%, PEF in 102.46±19.18%, and FEF 25-75 in 96.77±29.88%. Abnormal lung functions were found in 15.7%. Small airway disease (FEF 25-75 <65%) was 7.1%. Restrictive defect (FVC<80%) was 6.3%. Airway obstruction (FEV 1 /FVC<70%) was 2.4%. There was no BDR. Compared to people with normal lung functions, the abnormal lung function group was older (48.00±8.68 years vs 42.96±11.61 years, P=0.036), and had a higher proportion of breathlessness (20.0% vs 3.7%, P=0.021). Conclusions: Abnormal pulmonary functions, especially small airway disease , were relatively common in rural residents in a polluted air area in northern Thailand. These abnormal pulmonary functions were associated with more respiratory symptoms.