 The Department of Tropical Radioisotopes was established in 1963, and was then named the Department of Radioisotopes Study and Research. The purpose was to conduct research into tropical diseases using radioisotopes as investigative tools. Twenty-eight M.Sc. & Ph.D. students majoring in Tropical Radioisotopes have successfully earned their higher degrees since 1974. The results of 344 experimental works have been published; 297 individual papers and another 47 in collaboration with other departments, and local and overseas universities.
Research
Since 1963, the department has placed considerable focus on malaria and helminthic infections in humans and animals. Most investigations have been carried out on blood volume and blood loss in hookworm anemia, while others related to iron reserves and iron deficiency; falciparum malaria and G6PD deficiency, and red-blood-cell destruction; human malaria and animal malaria--metabolism of fibrinogen, protein loss, red blood cell loss--plasma hemoglobin and the effects of hemolysis, changes in blood volume, and haptoglobin levels related to antimalarial drugs.
Since 1973, studies have been conducted on the liver in malarial infections (liver blood flow with erythrophagocytosis, blood volume, erythrocyte destruction and phagocytic activity). Other studies involved vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels in fish sauce; blood and iron loss in hookworm infection. About 26 studies (1966-1979) of hookworm anemia have been published, related to Necator americanus in humans, Ancylostoma caninum in dogs, Ancylostoma ceylanicum in dogs and cats, and Ancylostoma braziliense in dogs, cats, and monkeys. In addition, hemolysis, ATP levels in monkey and mouse malaria, anemia in pregnant women, anemia in Thai soldiers, vitamin B 12 and folic acid binding proteins in iron-deficiency anemia and some helminthic diseases, amebic liver disease, thalassemia, acetylcholinesterase activity in malaria and hookworm infections, liver disease, and diagnosis of Gnathostoma infection by RIA, were investigated. Djenkol bean poisoning (djenkolism), a cause of urolithiasis (1976-1979), was examined in niang bean extracts. |
Since 1983, more research has focused on malaria, vitamin B12 and folic acid, acetylcholinesterase activity in patients with congenital heart disease (1984), cerebral malaria and trapped red cells in the brain of rhesus monkeys (Plasmodium knowlesi) (1983) and viscosity with deformability of red blood cell and glomerular filtration rate (1984), and vitamin B12 in the tempehs (an Asian soy food) and “miang” (a traditional Thai food: ginger, peanuts, fresh lime, dried shrimp, coconut flakes, and chili peppers placed together on a wild-tea leaf with sauce, then rolled up and eaten).