HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

“I can see clearly now…”

Phyathai hospital zooms in on infertility

Pattaya Sports Club sponsors goods worth 200,000 baht

Three new aerobics clubs kick up their heels

Pop Music Awards to be presented at Bali Hai pier

“I can see clearly now…”

The regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club got underway at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean Restaurant on Sunday, June 21 when Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg welcomed everyone to the meeting. After the usual announcements, he introduced the first of our two speakers from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. Dr. Somchai Trakoolshokesatian, M.D. spoke to the club two years ago about Super Sight Surgery. His current topic would be about another type of eye surgery called Lasik, which is a procedure that uses a laser to improve eyesight.

Dr Somchai Trakoolshokesatian speaks about Lasik and advises the members of the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.
Dr. Somchai received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1988 from Chiang Mai University. He is also Board Certified in Ophthalmology since 1994. He has practiced Ophthalmology at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya since June 1996.
Dr. Somchai began by explaining that Lasik derives its name from “laser assisted in situ keratomileusis” and is a type of refractive eye surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The type of laser used is an excimer laser that reshapes the cornea. He said the laser is extremely accurate and can “cut” as fine as 0.25 micron (a micron is one millionth of a meter.
He then went on to define what the term 20/20 eyesight means, noting that the first number “20” is always used as it represents the standard distance of 20 feet. The term 20/20 means that at 20 feet a person with “normal” eyesight will see clearly the smallest letters on an eye chart.
Dr. Somchai noted that most people choose Lasik surgery to improve their eyesight because it is precise, simple, and easy to recover from. He presented a chart showing what complications might occur, the symptoms, and the treatment. He observed that only about 5% of people who undergo Lasik surgery will experience any complications, such as dry eye, haziness, or infection. He then noted the guidelines used for accepting someone for Lasik surgery including they must have a healthy eye and be an adult. Dr. Somchai presented some additional charts showing characteristics of various lasers as well as a comparison of costs for the surgery in Thailand.

Dr. Iain Corness speaks on the A H1N1 2009 situation, showing that although the virus is contagious, it is not a virulent organism, with there being many more deaths from other causes than from the Swine Flu.
After Dr. Somchai answered several questions from the audience, Emcee Richard then introduced the second speaker - also well known to the Club and to the expat community through his articles in the Pattaya Mail newspaper. Dr. Ian Corness, who is always an informative and entertaining speaker, said he wanted to provide some real facts about the so-called swine flu.
The first major outbreak was in 1918 and resulted in several million deaths. He pointed out that the flu did not get its name because it was caught from pigs - rather, it was the other way around - pigs caught it from humans. The second outbreak occurred in 1976, but was contained in the US. Further, then US President Gerald Ford called on the pharmaceutical community to quickly come up with a vaccine. This they did and that vaccine resulted in more deaths than the flu itself. He said it then reoccurred in 1978 in Russia and died out naturally.
The current outbreak has alarmed many because the World Health Organization, whose job it is to keep statistics and track such things, has reported on its spread, but not necessarily its death rate. Although there is no doubt it is highly infectious, it is rarely fatal. Dr. Ian said the chances of dying from the current outbreak of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus was about the same as having an object drop out of airplane and striking you on the head. Further, he noted that the normal flu virus, which occurs every year, has killed substantially more people than the H1N1 flu.
Dr. Ian said that currently, only 150 people have died from the outbreak and 103 of those were in Mexico, where the virus started. Last year in the USA alone, seasonal flu was contracted by over 200,000 people and there were 36,000 deaths.
Dr. Ian recommended that everyone should get the regular flu vaccine annually. Further, one should wash ones hands often with soap and water, cover ones mouth when they cough or sneeze, and use tissue - discarding it in the bin. He also pointed out that the gauze masks you see people wearing are useless. The topic was of keen interest to the audience based on the number of questions posed to Dr. Ian after his talk.
Emcee Richard then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Roger Fox to conduct the always informative and often humorous Open Forum.

Phyathai hospital zooms in on infertility

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Using Southeast Asia’s only 16,000-times magnification camera, Phyathai Hospital in Sriracha has achieved a 47 percent success rate in treating infertility after a six-month trial.

Phyathai Hospital managing director, Dr Tanakom Mantananon discusses the facility’s 47 percent success rate in treating infertility using its 16,000-times magnification camera.

At a June 12 press conference, Phyathai managing director, Dr. Tanakom Mantananon, said the camera has enabled the hospital’s team of specialists to better mix eggs and sperm then choose a viable embryo. The machine, which sounds an alarm if it detects an unviable embryo, has allowed women to conceive 47 percent of the time, he said.
The fertility treatments are but one way the Sriracha hospital has responded to the slow economy by focusing on specialized care. The hospital has also developed an umbilical cord stem cell storage service and enhanced its heart-treatment center to specialize in urgent treatment of Narrow Cardiovascular Disease.
For more details Phyathai Hospital at Tel. 038-770-200.

Pattaya Sports Club sponsors goods worth 200,000 baht

“Mr. Sports Club” Bernie Tuppin (left in front of the Sports Club banner) presents the mattresses and other material with his colleague Barry McNeely to Father Michael (4th from right) and Radchada (3rd from right) amongst children and employees of the orphanage.

Elfi Seitz
Bernie Tuppin’s last act as the chairman of the Pattaya Sports Club welfare-committee was on June 15 when he presided over the presentation of 50 mattresses, 50 blankets and the same amount of bed sheets and pillows to the Pattaya Orphanage. Father Michael and Radchada ‘Toy’ Chomjinda, along with the kids, were the happy recipients.
The funds came from the 2009 Charity Classic Golf tournament.
Now, all the kids who now can sleep on a brand new mattress will say a big thank you to their generous sponsors before they fall asleep.
Bernie Tuppin, who was also renowned as “Mr. Sports Club”, was always willing to help whenever and however he could. His successor will be William Macey.

Three new aerobics clubs kick up their heels

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Public aerobics programs already popular in downtown Pattaya kicked off this week in the Nong Yai and Pratamnak Hill neighborhoods and through Pattaya’s Tai Chi Club.

Wannaporn Jamjumrus, director of the Public Health and Environment Office, presides over a meeting on the “Exercise for Health” campaign.
The “Exercise for Health” campaign is funded by a new 100,000 baht budget from Pattaya’s Public Health Office. The dance classes will be held for 60 days at Lan Pho Public Park, Pratamnak Hill Public Park, Wat Nong Yai and Pattaya City School 8.
The workouts follow the pattern of other nightly classes on Pattaya’s beachfront and at a South Pattaya school.
“Exercise is important for good mental and physical health. It also leads to better digestive systems, reduces stress can prevent certain types of cancer,” Public Health Office Director Wannaporn Jamjumrus.

Aerobics clubs in Pattaya join the “Exercise for Health” campaign.

Pop Music Awards to be presented at Bali Hai pier

Saksiri Uraiworn
Top Thai music acts including Girly Berry, Forte, Circle22 and more will take the stage at Bali Hai Pier July 4 for the 3rd annual Plus Shopping Mall Pop Music Awards.
This year’s show, themed “No Music, No Life,” honors Thai and international music acts with winners in 11 categories voted on via SMS and online by fans of cable television’s Pop Music Channel. Also scheduled to appear are Dan Worawet, Ben Chalatis, Laolom, C-Quint, Stamp, Look Pong AF, Padcha AF, Slot Machine, Brand New, Knock The Knock, Cha-em, Rick Man Toys, Lomosonic, Artfloor, 25 Hours, Link Corner, and South Korean singers Nam Hyun Jun and 2PM.

Circle22 held a mini-concert at the press conference for this weekend’s Pop Music Awards at Bali Hai pier.

Kulapong Bunnak, managing director of co-sponsor Live TV Co., Ltd., said the annual show is one way to thank the Pop channel’s approximately 12 million viewers. Fans can vote for their favorite artists at the company’s Live.co.th website or via SMS using numbers shown on the Pop channel.
Wit Sutthitawin, representative for event organizer I Works Entertainment & S Two Organizer, said more than 100 artists in all will participate. Nam, South Korea’s top dance artist, is making his first-ever Thailand appearance. And, he added, 2PM will debut its new look and perform songs from its latest album.
At a June 23 press conference, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said the awards will give Pattaya another chance to enhance its strong international entertainment image. The city going all out for the event, not only taking care of traffic and facilities, but organizing special hotel rates for the upcoming weekend.
While the concert is free, Plus Shopping Mall and Tesco Lotus are selling tickets for fans who want to get close to the stage. Simply purchase a 350-baht Food Center card before July 3 at 11 Tesco Lotus branches in Bangkok and Chonburi or at the Plus Shopping Mall in Srinakarin. For more information call 02-759-8384.

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