Interprofessional Journal of Health Sciences

Effectiveness of Teams Games Tournament Technique in Basic Drug Education among Grade 5 and 6 Students in a Primary School in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Satapat Racha — 2026-04-01

This study evaluated the feasibility and student satisfaction of the Teams Games Tournament (TGT) cooperative learning technique for delivering medicines and illicit drugs education to primary school students. A one-group pretest–posttest study was conducted with 33 Grade 5 and 30 Grade 6 students at Banthakwian School, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The 90-minute intervention included an educational video followed by a structured competitive tournament with oral quizzes and immediate feedback. Knowledge was assessed using an 8-item quiz, and satisfaction was measured using a 9-item Likert-scale questionnaire. Immediate post-lesson knowledge gains were not statistically significant: Grade 5 scores increased slightly from 5.94 ± 1.80 to 6.18 ± 2.24 (p = 0.309), whereas Grade 6 scores decreased marginally from 6.93 ± 1.17 to 6.73 ± 1.17 (p = 0.264). Grade 6 students demonstrated high baseline knowledge (86.6%), suggesting a potential ceiling effect. Despite modest and statistically non-significant short-term cognitive gains, satisfaction was high in both grades (overall mean ± SD 3.99 ± 0.60), with students reporting high interest, enjoyment, and perceived engagement/participation. Although statistically significant improvements in knowledge were not observed, the TGT activity demonstrated feasibility and high student satisfaction in primary school medicines and illicit drugs education. Future implementations may benefit from multi-session delivery and differentiated content complexity tailored to students’ prior knowledge to support knowledge retention.

Development and Optimization of HPLC Conditions for Quantitative Determination of Methadone in Hospital-Prepared Syrup Formulation

Natthapong Boonmee — 2026-06-24

Reliable and practical analytical methods are essential for confirming the quality and safety of locally compounded methadone syrup in clinical settings. This study aimed to develop and optimize high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) conditions for the quantitative determination of methadone in hospital-compounded formulations. Five distinct mobile phase compositions, varying in buffer systems and organic solvent ratios, were systematically evaluated using a reversed-phase C18 column. Chromatographic consistency was assessed based on retention time, peak area, signal reproducibility, and peak symmetry. Among the evaluated conditions, a mobile phase consisting of 20 mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile (13:87, v/v) demonstrated the most favorable chromatographic performance. The optimized condition yielded an ideal retention time of approximately 6.0 minutes, symmetrical peak profiles (As₁₀ ≈ 1.25-1.45), and very low variability (%RSD < 3%), indicating consistent chromatographic response under the tested conditions. Additionally, the method provided a stable signal intensity with no major observable interfering peaks. This optimized framework was successfully applied to quantify methadone in hospital- prepared syrup samples. The developed methodology is streamlined, cost-effective, and highly suitable for routine implementation into hospital laboratory workflows. Overall, this study establishes a practical analytical framework for the quality control of methadone formulations in clinical environments.

Influence of Solvent Type, Extraction Time, and Fruit Fraction on Phenolic Yield and Antibacterial Activity of Momordica cochinchinensis (Gac) Extracts

Patamaporn Sukplang — 2026-02-02

Plant-derived phenolic compounds have attracted increasing attention as natural antimicrobial agents due to growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and consumer demand for safer, naturally sourced alternatives. This study investigated how solvent polarity and extraction duration influence the phenolic content and antibacterial activity of Momordica cochinchinensis (gac) extracts obtained from aril, pulp, and seeds. Three solvents (ethyl acetate, 95% ethanol, and water) and three extraction times (24, 48, and 72 h) were evaluated. Total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays. The ethyl acetate seed extract yielded the highest TPC (565 ± 1.15 µg GAE/mL at 72 h) and produced the most bioactive fractions across all sample types. Notably, antibacterial activity peaked at 48 h even though the TPC continued to increase up to 72 h, suggesting that prolonged extraction may reduce the stability or functional availability of certain phenolic constituents. The 48-hour ethyl acetate extracts exhibited broad-spectrum inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including strains typically more tolerant to plant-derived antimicrobials. Although the phytochemical composition of the aril, pulp, and seeds differs, they all provide meaningful antibacterial effects. The recovery of bioactive compounds from the seed, a commonly discarded byproduct, underscores the potential for valorizing underutilized biomass. These findings highlight the importance of solvent–time optimization and support the development of gac-derived natural antimicrobial agents for future food, cosmetic, and biomedical applications.

Gut Microbiota and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Current Evidence, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potential

Natnakran Thupthong — 2026-06-24

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition frequently associated with gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and altered gut microbiota. Increasing evidence suggests that the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis may contribute to ASD through interactions involving neural, immune, endocrine, and metabolic pathways. This narrative review aimed to summarize current evidence regarding gut microbiota alterations in ASD, proposed MGB mechanisms, and the therapeutic potential of microbiome-based interventions. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2019 and 2025, and 14 core articles were selected for thematic synthesis. Current evidence indicates that individuals with ASD commonly exhibit gut dysbiosis, including altered abundance of taxa such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Sutterella, Clostridium, and Bifidobacterium. However, findings remain heterogeneous, and no consistent ASD-specific microbial signature has been identified. Proposed mechanisms linking dysbiosis to ASD include altered intestinal permeability, inflammatory cytokine signaling, short-chain fatty acid imbalance, and microbial metabolite dysregulation. Nevertheless, much of the mechanistic evidence derives from animal and experimental studies, while human evidence remains largely associative. Microbiome-based interventions, including probiotics, dietary modification, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), show potential benefits, particularly for GI symptoms. However, current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and insufficient long-term safety data. Overall, the gut microbiome appears to function as a biologically relevant modifier of ASD phenotype and symptom severity rather than a definitive causal factor. Future research should prioritize longitudinal human studies, patient stratification, multi-omics integration, and rigorous randomized controlled trials to improve mechanistic understanding and therapeutic translation.

Advisory Board and Editorial Team

Editor — 2026-06-24

Editorial Note

Editor — 2026-06-24

Scientific research is a dynamic and evolving endeavor driven by collaboration, critical inquiry, and the open exchange of knowledge. While rigorous methodological standards are essential for generating reliable findings, the effective dissemination of research is equally important for advancing science. In today’s interconnected research environment, scientific progress depends on the broad and equitable sharing of knowledge beyond institutional, regional, and disciplinary boundaries. This responsibility is particularly important for publicly funded research, whose benefits should be accessible to society as a whole.

The Interprofessional Journal of Health Sciences (Interprof. J. Health Sci.) is committed to advancing this principle through open-access publishing. By publishing exclusively in English, the primary language of international scientific communication, the journal promotes the global accessibility and dissemination of scholarly work. To accommodate the growing diversity of scientific outputs, the journal welcomes a wide range of manuscript types, including original research articles, reviews, case reports, short communications, and editorial correspondence.

The journal aims to disseminate high-quality scholarship across health sciences, biomedical research, technological innovation, and socio-medical studies. Each issue features interdisciplinary contributions that provide valuable insights for researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. As a member of the global scientific community, Interprof. J. Health Sci. recognizes that major scientific advances are often achieved through the cumulative impact of incremental discoveries.

To support this mission, the journal provides an accessible and reliable platform for researchers from Thailand and around the world. Manuscript submissions are managed through a streamlined online system (https://li05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJHS) designed to ensure efficiency and ease of use. The Editorial Board sincerely thanks all authors who contributed to this volume and expresses its deep appreciation to the peer reviewers whose expertise and constructive evaluations help maintain the journal’s academic rigor and publication quality. We also welcome feedback from our readers as we continue to enhance the journal’s quality, expand its reach, and strengthen its international impact.

Table of Content

Editor — 2026-06-24