NATURE'S 'DOUBLE EDGED-SWORD': Fungi both deadly and life-saving - 22 Aug 2003.  As singer Big's case shows, they can cause serious infections - but they're also a source of powerful antibiotics The fungus that caused the infection in pop star Apichet Kittikorn-charoen, or "Big", kills brain cells with frightening efficiency, giving the micro-organism a justifiably bad rep. But that is not the whole picture. Collectively, fungi comprise one of nature's double-edged swords. On the one hand, they are capable of killing humans by destroying organs, tissue and the nervous system. On the other hand, they are an important source of crucial anti-bacterial drugs that save lives all around the world. There are about 1.5 million species of fungi throughout the world. However, only about 80,000 have been identified. Some 3,000 of these are found in Thailand. In an era of modern biotechnology, fungi are not simply another micro-organism, but a valuable commodity, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry. According to Somsak Sivichai, manager of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec)'s Mycology Laboratory, six of the top 20 drugs in use around the world are derived from fungi. The most popular is penicillin, which is derived from the soil fungus penicilliem, while the tyrlotidium fungus is the source of cycosporlin, an antibiotic. Cycosporlin is used in organ transplantation surgery to help prevent the patient's body rejecting the new organ. But drug companies are discovering that fungi can do much, much more. As a tropical country rich in biological resources, Thailand is listed as an important global source of fungi. Somsak said he believed that about 10 per cent of the world's fungi species, or about 150,000 species, may be lying undiscovered in Thailand's soil and waterways. This potential treasure-trove - Mother Nature's bequest to Thailand - places the Kingdom squarely in the sights of developed countries eager to identify and collect new strains of fungi. The 1998 custody battle between Thailand and Britain's Portsmouth University over more than 200 strains of harvested fungi illustrates the economic value attached to this natural resource. In 1993 a research team from the university came and collected strains of fungi in mangrove and coastal areas of southern Thailand under a "gentleman's agreement" that it would return all the material after five years. However, when the five years were up, the university refused to return the samples at Biotec's request. Nigel Hywel Jones, a mycologist at Biotec who helped Thailand win back the spores, has said it could be that the university may have discovered the pharmaceutical potential of some of the strains. But the benefits of fungi are not limited to medicine. Somsak said that fungi also have a useful role in the ecological system. He added that almost all species of fungi, including the pseudallescheria boydii that damaged Big's brain, are saprophyte fungi, not the pathogenic kind that are most dangerous to humans. "Many fungi are opportunistic organisms that harm their host when the host is in a weak condition, just as the pseudallescheria boydii was able to attack Big's brain after he had a car accident," said the mycologist. According to Somsak, scientists in many countries with advanced biotechnology sectors have been paying close attention to p boydii ever since it was shown to have potential to develop fat-cleaning cells. The fungus consumes fat as food, he explained. "The human brain is a cluster of fat. This is why it [the fungus] grew rapidly in Big's brain," said the mycologist. So is there any fungus that should be identified as a deadly species? "No," is the answer of Dr Assada Vipakul from Chulalongkorn Hospital. Assada, who is an expert in fungus and other micro-organisms that cause disease in humans, said that the immune system of the host is the key determinant of whether a fungus is active or not. Thiravat Hemachudha, a neurologist from the same hospital, agreed, saying that becoming a victim of fungus was purely a matter of "individual bad luck". "I want to ask the public not to panic about the fungi's habitats - sewage and street canals are examples - just because of the misfortune of one person," he said. As a scientist concentrating on harvesting the benefits of fungi, Somsak asked the public not to be irrationally fearful of fungus. "Fungus has many potential uses just waiting for us to discover. The thing we should do now is to study it more and more, not fear it," he said.

Doctor planning scholarly article on singer's treatment - 22 Aug 2003.  A doctor is planning to write an academic article about heartthrob singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen's life-threatening brain infection - the first case of its kind in Asia and the second in the world to be treated with drugs. "I believe the article will be useful in the medical arena," Dr Manoon Leechawengwong said yesterday. Manoon heads the medical team treating Apichet, 21, at Vichaiyut Hospital. The doctor described his mission as "very challenging". Apichet, a member of boy band D2B, has been in a coma since August 6, when a fungus identified as Pseudallescheria boydii (Shear) McGinnis caused lesions on his brain. It is believed that he contracted the infection when he crashed his car into a polluted canal on July 22. Manoon said Apichet would undergo another brain scan today to see if the fungus had stopped growing. The singer has been given voriconazole, the only medication known to treat such infections. "He has been on the medication since August 10," Manoon said. The medication, which was imported from Australia, is being studied to determine in detail how it affects the infection. "I have jotted down details of Apichet's treatments and his symptoms," Manoon said. He said the information was being used to plan treatment and would also be included in his article. Meanwhile, a representative of Deputy Education Minister Sirikorn Maneerin delivered books on Buddhism to both Manoon and to Apichet's parents. Celebrities such as singer Jintara Poonlarp also visited the hospital to wish Apichet a speedy recovery. An official at the hospital's intensive care unit said D2B songs were being played to Apichet around-the-clock. In a related development, the Press Council of Thailand called for co-operation from members of media to exercise discretion in covering Apichet's illness to ensure that the coverage did not unnecessarily distress his family or others close to him.

Not usually a killer - 22 Aug 2003.  Big D2B may be the first Thai who lost his central nervous system to the common Pseudallescheria boydii (P boydii) fungus, but he is not the first in the world. Somsak Sivichai, manager of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology's Mycology Laboratory, said that at least 25 people (18 of whom died) were affected by the fungus worldwide from 1953 to the late 1990s. He said that this is not significant since many common fungi could also cause death when a victim is in a weakened or injured state. Somsak said that P boydii is not usually harmful to humans, unless their immune system is compromised. He added that the human body is a suitable host environment for the fungus as it contains important food - fat and protein - and maintains a proper temperature range. According to Somsak, when the fungus enters a human it will search for food, fat and protein, then stick in place. The fungus will then produce mycelium throughout the area. "Once the mycelium pierces into the brain, it damages the brain and nervous system in the patient," he said. He added that in brain infections, fungi are much more dangerous than bacteria, which cannot produce mycelium. According to Somsak, many patients have died when doctors could not detect a fungus in time. "Most patients are not found to be infected with a fungus until the symptoms appear. That means it is too late because the fungus is then fully grown in the brain." (Credit : The Nation)

'Big' case sparks cleanup call - 21 Aug 2003.  The life-threatening fungal infection suffered by heartthrob singer Apichet "Big'' Kittikorncharoen highlighted the importance of having a clean environment, an academic said yesterday. "It's time we cleaned or wiped out places that host disease-causing micro-organisms," said Dr Somsak Siwichai of the Biodiversity Research and Training Programme. He said studies should be conducted to determine which micro-organisms were useful and which were harmful. "Proper research will protect us from health risks," Somsak said, adding that there were many unknown funguses in the country. Apichet, of boy band D2B, has been in a coma since undergoing brain surgery earlier this month after a fungus identified as Pseudallescheria boydii (Shear) McGinnis caused lesions on his brain. It is believed he contracted the infection when he crashed his car into a polluted canal on July 22. Somsak said the fungus was common in natural habitats, especially where garbage or carcasses existed. He said 18 people had died from the fungus since 1953 after it infected their central-nervous systems. Another six patients were known to have recovered from the fungal infection. "There are many factors which determine if patients [infected with the fungus] survive. One of them is whether we are able to identify the fungus in time," he said. Meanwhile, several celebrities, including singer Pamela Bauden, yesterday visited Vichaiyut Hospital to wish Apichet a speedy recovery. The hospital said Apichet's brain remained swollen and he was still in a coma. "I also pray for him," Pamela said. Bancha Chalermchaikij, representing a publishing house, yesterday handed out more than 200 books to fans of the singer who have been maintaining a vigil at the hospital. A set of books would also be given to Apichet's parents, Bancha said.(Credit : The Nation)

Japan paper tells Big's story - 20 Aug 2003.  A Japanese newspaper has been monitoring the progress of singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen through its Bangkok office. Takuwa Miyahara, the Nishi Nippon Shimbun's bureau chief in Bangkok, visited Vichaiyut Hospital and said he was preparing a story about the heartthrob singer. "Apichet and his boy band D2B are famous across Asia," said Miyahara, whose newspaper has a daily circulation of more than 1,000,000. The hospital has been treating the 21-year-old singer, popularly known as "Big", for a life-threatening brain injury. The hospital yesterday said Big remained in stable condition following his third brain operation on Sunday. The singer has a mild fever and his brain remains swollen. Fans and entertainment celebrities flocked to the hospital yesterday to wish the singer a speedy recovery. Among the visitors was a prison warden, who brought get-well messages and gifts from inmates. "Many inmates are concerned about Apichet's health," said chief warden Chaiyut Muangpetch. Meanwhile, a fungus like the one that caused lesions on Big's brain was on view at a science exhibition at the Prince of Songkla University. Four microscopes were available for visitors to view the fungus. "The fungus display has attracted a lot of attention," said Sarinda Sansernlak, a university student stationed at the display. Some of the students asked if they could destroy the fungus because they wanted to take revenge for Apichet's critical illness. "I understand their feelings but we can't allow them to do so," she said."I hope he recovers," said Ampaiporn Kaewbanjong, a fifth grade student.(Credit : The Nation)

'Big' remains stable after latest surgery - 19 Aug 2003.  Pop singer Apichet "Big" Kittikorncharoen remained in a stable condition yesterday following emergency brain surgery on Sunday. Apichet, 21, remains in a coma, has swelling to his brain and is suffering from a mild fever, said doctors at Vichaiyut Hospital. "But he blinks and is able to breathe partly on his own," Dr Manoon Leechawengwong said. Manoon heads both the hospital's intensive care unit and the team treating Apichet. The singer's condition has fluctuated considerably since he first underwent brain surgery on August 6. Fungal infections, which he caught from dirty canal water following a car accident, caused several lesions in his brain. "We will do our best as long as his brain stem is good [enough]," Manoon said yesterday. The doctor said the condition of Apichet's brain stem had improved and that he had suffered no further infections. He explained that the brain stem controlled important functions in the body such as respiration and the blood-pressure system. Manoon said doctors planned to remove puss from suppurating lesions to avoid the possibility of them causing bleeding in the singer's brain. Currently, there are two large and five small lesions. "We hope the anti-fungal medication we are giving him will take care of the small lesions because they are very close to the brain stem," Manoon said.(Credit : The Nation)

'Big' shows signs of recovery - 18 Aug 2003.  Boy band singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen underwent another emergency brain operation yesterday, ending a brief period of optimism that he was recovering. "We cannot say what his condition will be any more, because it keeps changing so rapidly," said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the medical team treating the singer at Vichaiyut Hospital. Just last Friday, Manoon announced that Apichet's condition had improved slightly. The singer's health fell back into a critical condition early yesterday with doctors finding that his brain was bleeding again, and that lesions on his brain had suppurated. "The left part of his brain has swollen," Manoon said, explaining that this part of the brain was responsible for hearing, speaking and singing functions. The doctor said his team would continue to give Apichet anti-fungal medication specially imported from Australia. He added that more surgery might be needed if more lesions grew and suppurated. Yesterday's operation was the third Apichet has undergone on his brain. Asked if Apichet's condition was more worrying than ever, Manoon nodded his head. Apichet, 21, developed the brain injuries and fell into a coma on August 6 following a road accident in which his car plunged into a canal. The pop idol, a member of the band "D2B", is popularly known as "Big". Hundreds of his fans have flocked to Vichaiyut Hospital since he was transferred there from another hospital in Samut Prakan. The announcement that his condition had deteriorated yesterday visibly upset his fans at the hospital. Meanwhile, the hospital's deputy director, Dr Kamthorn Pao-sawas, said he had received many complaints that the crowds of fans keeping vigil at the hospital were disrupting the movement of patients and had on some occasions knocked saline-drips out of place.(Credit : The Nation)

Apichet's chances now seen as 50-50 - 17 Aug 2003.  D2B singer Apichet "Big" Kittikornjaroen's chances of waking from his coma rose to 50 per cent yesterday, compared with the earlier prediction of just 0.01 per cent. Udom Kittikornjaroen said he was now 85-per-cent confident that his son would recover from the road accident that has kept him hospitalised. Arunee Suwanrak, spokesman of Vichaiyut Hospital, said the singer's condition was improving. Arunee said Udom and Apichet's mother Yupa were encouraged by their son's progress. The pop idol is undertaking physical therapy four times a day. He is now moving his eyes, arms and legs. He coughs and his muscular spasms are subsiding, the hospital added. Meals have been increased to four times a day in response to his healthier appetite. Udom said he talked to his son of visits, best wishes from his fans and a bouquet from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. He keeps telling his son to stop acting foolishly and to return home. Yupa went to Ayutthaya yesterday to make merit for her son's recuperation. Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, the lung specialist at the intensive care unit and the head of the medical team, said physicians were waiting for new medicine from Australia. The patient will be given a brain scan with an electroencephalograph tomorrow, he added. Since yesterday was the draw for the national lottery, Apichet's birth date was the subject of considerable attention from visitors seeking a winning number. Ticket vendors at the hospital enjoyed brisk sales. (Credit : The Nation)

'Big' shows signs of recovery - 16 Aug 2003.  Heartthrob singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen's condition was slightly improved yesterday, prompting doctors to say chances of his survival were better. "There are some little improvements. He shakes his head, moves his lips and limbs a little," said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, who heads the team treating the singer at Vichaiyut Hospital. Apichet, popularly known as "Big", has been in a coma since August 6 after developing serious brain injuries following a car accident. At yesterday's press conference, Manoon said Apichet remained unconscious and dependent on a life-support machine. But he quickly added that the singer's fever had eased and his brain was less swollen. "We will order more medication from Australia on Monday," the doctor said. The first such medication was ordered last week after it was identified as an effective treatment for the fungal infection afflicting Apichet's brain. Doctors also moved the respirator from Apichet's mouth to his neck to avoid damaging his voice box. "If he can breathe by himself, we will remove the respirator," Manoon said. Dr Kanin Chanakul, a neurologist at the hospital, said Apichet would undergo another brain scan on Monday to gauge the results of the anti-fungal medication. Manoon said he still could not confirm the state of Apichet's health if he was to survive such critical illness. "He may remain in a vegetative state or be better. But I personally look forward to him being better, since his condition has improved and miracles have repeatedly happened to him before." Manoon earlier said three miracles had saved the singer since his car accident on July 22. The doctor yesterday said Apichet's parents were themselves feeling better after seeing their son's improved condition. He said the singer's father, who was earlier resigned to losing him, had regained hope. Meanwhile, the singer's fans continued to flock to the hospital yesterday to give Apichet moral support, although fewer well-wishers were present than on previous days.(Credit :The Nation)

Doctors raise hope 'Big' will survive - 15 Aug 2003.  Doctors yesterday expressed hope that heartthrob singer Apichet "Big'' Kittikorncharoen could after all survive, despite being in a coma since brain surgery last week. A respirator will today be removed from Apichet's mouth and surgically placed through his neck so as to avoid damaging the voice box of the D2B boy-band member, doctors said. Dr Manoon Leechawengwong of Vichaiyut Hospital, where Apichet has been treated since crashing his car last month, said a respirator was not normally inserted through the mouth for more than 14 days because it pressed on the voice box and could cause lasting damage. Manoon said Apichet could survive if his brain did not suffer more bleeding and anti-fungal medication worked. Apichet had severe legions on his brain, probably caused by dirty water when the car he was driving plunged into a roadside canal on July 22. "This medication takes time to show results, and we have to wait for several days to see if it works,'' he said. Dr Kanin Chanakul, a neurologist at the hospital, said that although Apichet was still in a coma, his condition had not deteriorated. He has occasionally breathed by himself but still requires a respirator, Kanin said. Monoon said doctors now believed Apichet would exceed their original prognosis that he would only live for a few days, because he had begun to blink his eyes and cough. The doctors will import more anti-fungal medication to treat Apichet as they currently only have enough last a week, he added. He will also be given medication for a brain infection. Kanin said the singer would have a brain scan to gauge the results of the anti-fungal medication after one or two weeks.(Credit : The Nation)

SINGER'S TRADEGY: Grim mood as Apichet clings to life - 13 Aug 2003.  Singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen remained in a coma yesterday as hopes for his recovery continued to fade. "I cannot guarantee that he will still be alive tomorrow," said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of Vichaiyut Hospital's intensive care unit, and leader of the medical team treating the singer. Apichet, or "Big", of the popular boy band D2B suffered serious brain injuries brought on by a fungal infection after his car plunged into a heavily polluted khlong on July 22. The 21-year-old singer has been in a coma since August 6. Manoon said yesterday that Apichet remained dependent on a life-support machine. "We are doing our best. We will stop treatment and remove his respirator only after his brain no longer functions," the doctor said, adding that Apichet's father was resigned to his son's fate. Hundreds of people, mainly teenage fans of the heartthrob singer, have kept vigil at Vichaiyut Hospital for more than a week. Police, hospital security guards, education officials, teachers and student volunteers remain at the hospital to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. Only 30 well-wishers at one time are allowed into the hospital for 15 minutes to write get-well messages in condolence books. Devoted fan Prayoon Saensa-ard, 18, said he was disappointed the hospital did not allow him to stay outside Apichet's hospital room. "We have been forced out of the hospital. We have to sit and sleep on," Prayoon said. The teenager has been at Vichaiyut Hospital almost constantly since Apichet was transferred there from another hospital in Samut Prakan late last month. Arunee Suwannarak, the public relations chief at the hospital, said regulations must be laid down, otherwise patients would be disturbed. Arunee said that the hospital had set up information boards to help Apichet's young fans come to terms with his illness and likely death. "We hope that they will understand and accept the truth," she said, adding that some teenagers cried while reading the information. Education Ministry deputy spokeswoman Netpreeya Chumchaiyo visited the teenagers gathered in front of the hospital. She encouraged the young people to go home, or at least agree to be supervised by education officials at the hospital. "I am worried that the teenagers will not be able to cope with the sad news," Netpreeya said. Education Minister Pongpol Adireksarn asked parents and teachers to understand and console teenagers depressed about the singer's plight. "Comfort them and explain to them how tragedies occur," he said.(credit : The Nation)

STRICKEN D2B STAR: Hospital asks police for help - 12 Aug 2003.  Vichaiyut Hospital yesterday asked for Metropolitan Police reinforcements to increase security as hundreds of teenage fans of Apichet "Big" Kittikorncharoen continued their vigil there. The medical team treating Apichet, one of the three members of boy band D2B, has said there is no hope of reviving the singer, who is on a life-support machine and certain medications. But his condition yesterday was fairly stable and gave hope of a recovery to his young fans as more and more of them besieged the hospital. Because of rising emotions, the hospital management has asked student security officers and local police to guard against criminals and possible suicide attempts by distraught youngsters. Fans yesterday were barred from the hospital's intensive-care ward on the seventh floor, where Apichet is being cared for. Most of the fans are jammed on the ground floor and fire escapes. Some are praying and meditating in the hospital's Buddhist prayer room. A doctor from Udon Thani, Akaradet Nonthachot, arrived at the hospital yesterday morning and advised Apichet's medical team to inject the singer with a high dose of Penicillin G Sodium, a drug that has been in use in Thailand for more than five decades. The medication only costs a few hundred baht, the doctor said. He said he had successfully used it to treat his father, who suffered a similar brain complication. The medical team, however, did not accept Akaradet's recommendation. A psychiatrist from the Department of Mental Health, Thaweesin Wisnuyothin, yesterday advised parents and guardians not to rebuke teenagers who were distressed over Apichet's condition. "We shouldn't be angry with them for admiring a person who could be a good role model," he said. "This is a good opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about their feelings and get to understand them better," Thaweesin said. The psychiatrist said fans saddened by Apichet's fate should get over it in about six weeks, and if after that they continued to be depressed, they might need psychiatric help.

'I've tried my best to save him'12 Aug 2003.  With Apichet "Big" Kittikorn-charoen barely hanging on 12 days after slipping into a coma, his doctor faces a massive test to keep the popular singer alive. "I've tried my best to save him. I'm really sorry that I can't," said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the intensive care unit at Vichaiyut Hospital. "It's the best I have ever done during my entire professional life," he said, while realising that everyone wants the 21-year-old singer to survive and perform again, not just the hundreds of fans gathered at the hospital since the weekend. "I always tried to keep the fans and reporters informed. When we discovered lesions in his brain, our prognosis was 50-50. But when we found that the fungi had spread and internal haemorrhaging was continuing, all hope faded," he said. Much of Manoon's time is currently spent giving press conferences through the day on the singer's latest condition. He always manages to appear composed and calm in front of the sobbing fans. But his job is not finished even after he goes home. "My children are very concerned. My older daughter is about the same age as 'Big'. She's a medical student, so she wants to know about his symptoms," he said. "My younger one is 18. She's a high-school student at Triam Udom Suksa." Manoon has not had a chance to get a decent sleep. Even at home, he has to be on alert in case a phone call comes in about the pop idol's condition. He said his tireless efforts were sustained by the love and support of his family, especially his wife.

One last Mother's Day with Apichet - 12 Aug 2003.  The mother of heartthrob singer Apichet "Big" Kittikorncharoen from boy band D2B yesterday begged doctors not to remove the respirator keeping her son alive, so that she could be with him on Mother's Day. The team of doctors treating Apichet at Wichaiyut Hospital took the celebrity out of intensive care yesterday morning, saying he had fallen into a coma after failing to respond to treatment and would probably live for only a few more days. Apichat's mother Yupa Kittikorncharoen broke down in tears, saying she could not cope with the coming loss and still had not lost hope that the doctors would revive her son. "I would not let the doctors turn off the respirator. If the worst comes to the worst, I just pray he will live until Mother's Day [yesterday]. Every year we share a meal on Mother's Day. I will be by his side until the last minute, and if the next life is real, I pray we can be mother and son again," she said. Apichet's father Udom Kittikorncharoen also had tears in his eyes as he said he would prefer the doctors removed the respirator from his son as he did not want him to suffer any longer. Meanwhile about 500 fans of Apichet gathered in the hospital to console each other, including mothers who chaperoned their daughters to concerts of the boy band. One mother, Suthipa Yaembangyang, said she did not mind spending Mother's Day at the hospital with her daughter because she felt that Apichet was a nice boy and hoped that a miracle would help him recover. (credit : The Nation)

Singer's brain is 'slowly dying' - 12 Aug 2003.Heartthrob singer Apichet "Big'' Kittikorncharoen of boy band D2B has only a slim chance of recovering as his brain is slowly dying, his doctor said yesterday. Although his heart and blood pressure remained normal, a large portion of the singer's brain had been damaged and he remained unconscious, neurosurgeon Kanin Chanakul of Vichaiyut Hospital said. "He can breathe by himself from time to time but sometimes with difficulty. I can't tell how long he will survive," he said. "If his blood pressure goes down and he cannot breathe by himself, we can tell that he has only a day or two to live. "What I'm afraid of is that brain death is coming next." Kanin said it was against the law to disconnect a patient from life support while the brain was still functioning. More than 400 of the singer's fans, mostly young students, gathered at the hospital yesterday. Some of them prayed for his recovery while others wept. A notice was posted in the hospital lobby advising fans to accept the rules of nature concerning life and death. "Vichaiyut Hospital has a good understanding about the feelings of you young fans of Big of D2B. But you have to accept that nobody can escape death," the notice said. "It is part of the laws of nature. Big has done good things all his life, so let's hope that his spirit will live on in heaven," the notice continued. The notice urged fans to go home and make merit in the name of the singer. Many young fans who read the notice broke down and cried as they thought it meant he had died. A hospital executive said yesterday that the heavy fan presence had caused problems, such as slowing down the phone service and overcrowding lifts. Loitering fans had also caused a disturbance. The Education Ministry would dispatch Student Patrol Division officials to the hospital to keep away truants, a source said yesterday. However, Education permanent secretary Kasama Vorawan said officials should not be too strict with the distressed fans.

Hope fading for Apichet - 11 Aug 2003.  Doctors struggle to stem bleeding in D2B star's brain; fans in tears at news Doctors yesterday gave up all hope of reviving heart-throb singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen, whose condition worsened when he suffered a brain haemorrhage over the weekend. Hundreds of the D2B singer's teenage fans broke into tears when the setback was announced at Vichaiyut Hospital. Concern is now focusing on those fans, whose reactions to Apichet's condition was described as worrisome. Mental health authorities were preparing to deal with the possible psychological impact on the youngsters, who idolise the singer, better known as "Big". A new drug ordered from Australia was applied against fungi and bacterial infections in his brain over the weekend, but doctors admitted yesterday that the unexpected haemorrhage seemed unstoppable. "The drug is for infections, not haemorrhage, which will effectively kill the brain if it continues," said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the intensive care unit at the hospital. "We have discussed the situation with his relatives and a decision was made not to attempt another surgery. This means we will just apply medication until his brain stops responding." Hope was rekindled on Friday when the doctors raised his chances for survival from a "one digit situation" to 50-50, saying the infections might be cured by the new drug. "There's no miracle now," Manoon said. Many youngsters sobbed at the news and some of them fainted. The singer's father, Udom, said he was resigned to the possibility of losing his only son, whose brain infection was the result of a road accident in which the singer's car plunged into a polluted roadside pond. "Doctors have done their best and I think if Big is going to leave us, he will do so peacefully and happily," Udom said. Prat Boonyawongwirot, director general of the Mental Health Department, said his agency would call a news conference today to provide parents and schools with guidelines to help teenagers cope with this kind of situation. He called on the other two D2B members to be strong and set good examples for the fans. Apichai Mongkol, deputy director-general of the department, said many vulnerable teens tend to have more faith in young idols or stronger friends than their parents, therefore peer encouragement can help them get through tough times. Vichaiyut doctors and representatives from RS Promotion, Apichet's PR firm, will attend today's press conference at the Mental Health Department. Teenagers camping out at the hospital have been tearfully singing several of the band's songs. Teen websites have registered tens of thousands of posts about the singer. In the provinces, thousands have signed get-well messages for him. All over the country, D2B's two albums and posters are being grabbed up.(credit : The Nation)

'Big' remains in coma - 10 Aug 2003.  Injured singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen remained in coma with periodical seizures, but had started breathing on his own, doctors said yesterday. However, Apichet, better known as "Big" from the boy band D2B, was still dependent on a respirator, said Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the intensive care unit (ICU) at Vichaiyut Hospital. The singer also still had a low fever, he said. Doctors hope to be able to identify the fungi that caused the infection in the singer's brain by tomorrow, Manoon said. A new drug being sent from Australia today is now the singer's only hope, he said. However, the drug had cured only one patient so far, and that person was not suffering from a brain haemorrhage like Apichet, he said. The singer's relatives have approved use of the drug to treat Apichet. Manoon said doctors were most worried about the singer suffering more bleeding, and thus, did not take another X-ray of his brain to avoid moving him. The ICU in-charge, who acknowledged that he himself was suffering from stress and lack sleep, said that the wishes from the heart-throb's many fans had given the doctors great support. Some 200 members of D2B's fan club visited the hospital yesterday and tearfully sang several of the trio's songs together. Suthapha Jaima, 14, said she had come in the hope that doctors would announce that his condition had improved. "I believe in magic and will continue to pray for him," she said.

Singer's fans cause turmoil at hospital - 10 Aug 2003.  Vichaiyut Hospital has been plunged into chaos by teenage pop fans flocking to check on the condition of their idol, Apichet "Big" Kittikorncharoen. The singer, better known as D2B, has been on a respirator since Thursday, when he slipped into a coma. He suffered lung and brain infections when his car plunged into a water-filled ditch in Samut Prakan on July 22. The first floor of the hospital has been packed with teenage fans since Friday, when doctors announced that D2B's chances of recovery from an infection of the brain were improving. The hospital's public relations asked the fans to leave and follow up on the singer's condition through the media, but they insisted on staying and are now disrupting the hospital's work. Chanyuth Nunthasukkasem, a representative of the Thai Paper Association, visited the hospital yesterday to give the fans 6,000 pieces of paper to fold into sarus cranes, believed to help the sick. Politicians also visited the hospital to check up on the singer's condition. Thai Rak Thai party member Kannika Thammagasorn and former Democrat secretary-general Sanan Kachornprasart signed guest books to wish him well. Kannika said she had prayed for the singer and hoped the fans would soon have something to cheer about. "I'm worried about his condition, but it's good to know that there is medication to treat him," Sanan said. Deborah "Debbi" Zee, a singer from RS, also visited the pop star and his parents yesterday evening before flying off to the US to study. "I'm worried about his parents. They should take care of their health as well," Deborah said. Many flowers were sent to Apichet's room during the day by celebrities, including Pavena Hongsakula, chairwoman of a women's and children's foundation, and China Doll, singers with GMM Grammy. A group of Apichet's fans yesterday distributed copies of a chapter of a mantra in the hospital in fulfilment of a vow if Apichet's condition improved. Kruemas Rodbon, a Prince of Songkhla University student and a fan, said she would like to raise money for Apichet's medication since the doctors needed to buy medicine from Australia. (credit : The nation)

HOPE FOR TEENAGE FANS: Singer has a 50-50 chance - 09 Aug 2003.  Doctors say D2B's Apichet's chances of survival better; medication for brain infection ordered from Australia Doctors yesterday announced that heartthrob singer Apichet Kittikorn-charoen's chances of surviving an infection of the brain had risen to 50 per cent, as concern among his teenaged fans grew. Hundreds of teenagers have camped out at Vichaiyut Hospital, where Apichet, better known as "Big", has been on life support, while a "cyber vigil" has recorded tens of thousands of Internet posts on various forums. Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the intensive-care unit (ICU) at Vichaiyut Hospital, said on Thursday that the 21-year-old singer had a very slim chance of survival and "only a miracle" could help him fully recover. But at a press conference yesterday evening, Manoon drew reserved cheers from young fans when he announced that Apichet's chances of survival had risen to 50 per cent. Apichet, a member of the boy band D2B, underwent emergency surgery on Wednesday for a brain abscess and, until late last night, remained in critical condition. The singer suffered lung and brain infections after his car overturned and plunged into a roadside canal on Srinakharin Road in eastern Bangkok on July 22. "We found that the fungal infection in his brain is treatable," said Manoon. Medication has been ordered from a pharmaceutical giant in Australia, since the required medicines are not available in Asia, he said. And while it would take some time for the medication to arrive, the singer's condition was fairly stable and Apichet could survive if the medication worked well. "He hasn't yet regained consciousness, but other indications are normal, including his respiration rate and blood pressure. There has been no other complication," the doctor said. The relatively good news brought some relief to his fans and those worried about the possible impact his death could have on vulnerable youngsters. Many among the hundreds of fans staying at the Vichaiyut Hospital cried openly. Others grouped together and made paper sarus cranes, which some believe help people recover from illnesses. Calls from around the country jammed the hospital's switchboard. Vichaiyut Hospital's public relations chief Arunee Suwanpak yesterday appealed to Apichet's fans not to telephone the hospital to inquire about his condition, saying the inundation of calls had caused inconvenience to relatives of other patients at the hospital. At the same time, hundreds of teenage fans crammed into hospital common areas, disrupting staff routines, Arunee said. Productivity at many workplaces was reported to have dropped as young office workers monitored his condition through television and radio reports. More than 10,000 get-well messages have been posted on the website of the band's record label, RS Promotions. Some of the posters suggested Apichet's parents conduct rituals that they believed could create a miracle for the singer.

'BIG' RECOVERY: Singer's old school holds prayer sessions.  Assumption College in Samut Prakan, where teen idol Apichet Kittikorncharoen, or Big, of the pop group D2B studied, began holding daily prayers yesterday for his quick recovery, the headmaster said. Thongban Thamyotha said yesterday that the prayers would be held every morning before class. He said changes in the singer's condition were regular topics of discussion at the school since his car accident last month. The headmaster said that prior to the July 22 accident, the school was planning a reunion that would feature a concert by the singer. "Inspired by Big's success, many student bands have formed at the school to play D2B songs. You couldcall it 'Big fever'," he said. Apichet has been in intensive care since he underwent brain surgery on Thursday, which was carried out after his condition worsened. Kanchana Kawinthawesap, 16, a 10th-grader at the school, said yesterday that she and her friends had prayed for Apichet's recovery. Nanthawan Kuvachira, a Thai language instructor at the school, said that from yesterday onwards, the school's public address system would broadcast D2B songs and poems in his support. Students and teachers, including herself, wrote the poems, she added. She said Apichet was well loved by friends and schoolmates. "Although he was not very good at his classes, he was well behaved," she said. Rapipan Sangkarat, the singer's former class adviser, praised him yesterday for his success. At Vichaiyut Hospital, where Apichet is being treated, good wishes continued to flood in yesterday. Napaporn Klobsantia, 20, a student from Phetchabun, said that she had prayed for his recovery.

Bangkok canals 'full of sewage'.An examination of the quality of the water in Bangkok's canals by the city council has turned up very high levels of pathogens. However, a doctor said people should not to panic, because contact with dirty water under normal circumstances is not enough to cause serious health problems in humans. "The case of the singer ['Big', from D2B] is rare, maybe one in 1,000. For normal, healthy people, when polluted water enters the body, the immune system will kill any germs," said Thiravat Hemachudha, a neurologist from Chulalongkorn Hospital. Meanwhile, Pornpot Kannasoot, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's water quality management division, said most of the canals in the city were seriously polluted by sewage. He said his division takes water samples each year from 142 stations among all 64 of the city's canals. Last year's examination showed that all of the canals contained high volumes of total coliforms, bacteria that indicates the general water quality and likelihood of it being contaminated. The most polluted canals - those containing more than 10 million colonies of total coliforms per litre of water - included Klong Toey, Klong Samsen, Klong Prem Prachakorn, Klong Chong Nonsi, Klong Phai Singhto. "Ideally, no total coliforms should be present in natural waterways," Pornpot said. "The major source of total coliforms is sewage, especially excrement. The presence of coliforms in the city's waterways suggests that other kinds of pathogenic micro-organisms are also in the water, since sewage always contaminates with various pathogens." But it would be difficult to reduce the volume of total coliforms in the city's canals, he said, as many households directly release excrement into the canals. The BMA was able to treat one million cubic metres of wastewater daily, he explained, but more than 1.8 million cubic metres are released into canals.(credit : The Nation)

100s of fans keep vigil at hospital - 08 Aug 2003.Thousands more jam website with get-well wishes for 'Big D2B' Fans of heartthrob singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen yesterday continued to maintain a hospital vigil as the D2B member spent a third day in intensive care following complications arising from injuries he received in a traffic accident last month. Thousands of other fans jammed the website of RS Promotion, D2B's record label, with get-well messages. Apichet, better known as "Big'', underwent emergency brain surgery at Vichaiyut Hospital in Bangkok on Wednesday night, and is still to regain consciousness as of late last night. Doctors decided to perform the lengthy surgery after the singer complained of severe headaches. X-rays showed lesions on his brain had expanded. During the operation doctors discovered the singer's brain was seriously infected as a result of his car plunging into a canal on July 22. Hundreds of grief-stricken fans turned up at the hospital yesterday, with around 30 maintaining a vigil with the singer's family and the other D2B members, Kavi "Beam'' Tanjararak and Worachet "Daen'' Danuwong. One touching website message left for the singer read: "You'd better wake up to read our messages. "I don't know when my wish to see you sing on stage again will be fulfilled. May God bless you to recover." Another fan wrote: "I wish I could suffer everything for you. "I wish there was magic so you wouldn't have to be that ill. " I'll wait for your return, no matter how long it is. I'll wait for you forever." The fan referred to herself as "a little sister who will always love and care about you". Other messages included: "I wish you get better soon. I'm not your fan, but I'm worried about you as a person," and "I wish there is a miracle". The hospital's switchboard was also inundated with calls from concerned fans.

Only a miracle can save 'Big' - doctors. It will take a miracle for the full recovery of heartthrob singer "Big" of the boy band D2B, a doctor said yesterday. Apichet "Big" Kittikorncha-roen has remained in critical condition since his emergency surgery on Wednesday for a brain abscess. Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, head of the intensive-care unit (ICU) at Vichaiyut Hospital, said the 21-year-old singer had a very slim chance of survival. "If he survives, there's a high chance that he will be disabled or remain in a vegetative state," the doctor said yesterday. Throngs of reporters and fans of the singer flocked to the hospital yesterday, crowding the ICU's hallways. Apichet developed a serious fungal infection in his brain after his car plunged into a roadside ditch on July 22. Manoon yesterday described Apichet's condition as seriously critical. "He has not regained consciousness and is having seizures," the doctor said. Asked if the singer would die, Manoon did not respond verbally, but nodded his head. He said Apichet had not yet respond to two anti-fungal medications. "Most patients with similar illnesses have died," Manoon said. Dr Anusak Liang-udom, who performed the surgery on Apichet, said the patient's brain had swollen and bled. He said it took several hours to stop the bleeding in his brain during the surgery. At 9pm Thursday, a doctor at the hospital said three types of fungi have infected Apichet. He said that medications exist to treat two of them, but not the third. Apichet's parents visited their son often throughout the day and gave brief interviews to reporters. "He's sleeping. I have made merit wishing him a quick recovery," said Yupa Kittikorncharoen, his mother. Surachai Chetchotsak, an executive at D2B's music label RS Promotion Co, also visited the singer. Earlier, Surachai moved Apichet from Vachiraprakan Hospital in Samut Prakan province to Vichaiyut in central Bangkok. From the early morning, hundreds of the singer's fans prayed silently at the hospital for the recovery of their beloved star. "We bought tickets for the upcoming D2B concert and we won't return them. We are still hoping that Big will recover and are praying for him," Supaporn Hengcharoen, a 17-year-old girl wearing a student uniform, said in a quavering voice. Her friends standing nearby looked on in silence with tear-filled eyes. Dr Charoen Chuchotethavorn, a senior doctor at another distinguished institute, said the medical team at Vichaiyut Hospital had given appropriate treatment to Apichet. He concurred that fungal brain infections normally prove deadly.

Water in canals found to be 'filthy'.The quality of water in several canals in Bangkok and Samut Prakan is below the Pollution Control Department's standard, a scientist said yesterday. Dr Wijarn Simachaya, director of the department's Water Quality Control Division, said his division had examined water samples from eight canals - six in Bangkok and two in Samut Prakan. In all cases, bacteria levels were found to be much higher than the standards set by the department, while the overall condition of the water could only be described as "filthy", he said. The canals under scrutiny are Phra Khanong, Ladluang, Dao Khanong, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok Noi and Mon in Bangkok, and Bang Plakod and Samrong in Samut Prakan. Concern about the quality of canal water in Bangkok and nearby provinces has risen recently after an accident involving Apichet Kittikorncharoen - commonly known as Big - from the pop band D2B. The heartthrob singer overturned his car last month and careered into a roadside canal. He subsequently developed severe brain damage as a result of being infected by dirty water. Wijarn said that in normal circumstances, such an intake of polluted water would not be too serious, as the body is capable of filtering out impurities. Apichet, however, was more susceptible to infection as he had also suffered a serious road accident. The singer was driving along Srinakarin Rd in Samut Prakan just after midnight on July 22 when the car swerved suddenly and overturned. His friend Prasopchoke Chookrajang, 20, was sleeping at the time of the crash, but emerged uninjured. A passerby broke a window in the car to get the pair out. Police said later they believed the singer might have lost control while speeding.(credit : the Nation)

D2B's 'Big' undergoes brain surgery - 07 Aug 2003.  After being sent back into intensive care on Tuesday, heartthrob singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen yesterday underwent emergency brain surgery at Vichaiyut Hospital. His doctor at the hospital said the singer - better known as "Big" of the boy band D2B - had several lesions on his brain, which were probably caused by dirty water that got into his body when his car overturned and plunged into a roadside canal on July 22. More than 30 fans flocked to the hospital after hearing about the surgery. Surachai Chetchotsak and Sujira Chetchotsak, executives of D2B's music label RS Promotion Co, said the lesions had grown and caused Apichet to have breathing difficulties. "He became unconscious at about 4pm [yesterday] and was put on a respirator. The doctor, who anticipated the symptoms, then took him into surgery to remove the lesions," said Surachai. Surachai had moved Apichet from Vachiraprakan Hospital in Samut Prakan province to Vichaiyut in central Bangkok. On Tuesday he was sent to Vichaiyut's intensive care after complaining of severe headaches. One of his teenage fans told The Nation that even though she had not been able to visit the singer, being close to him made her happy enough. "I just want to suffer all his pains for him. I'm really worried about his condition," the girl said. (credit : the Nation)

Singer sent back to ICU following severe headache - 05 Aug 2003.  Teen idol Apichet Kittikorncharoen, who survived a serious car accident last month, was sent back into intensive care yesterday, just one day after he was discharged from the ICU, after complaining of severe headache, his doctors told a press conference last night. It appeared that Apichet, a member of the boy band D2B, might have developed lesions in his brain, Doctor Manu Leechawengwong told reporters at Vichaiyut Hospital. Dr Kanin Chanakul, who is also treating the singer, said yesterday that an operation might be needed to remove the lesions if medication did not work. Apichet, better known as "Big D2B", had an accident on July 22 and his car plunged into a roadside canal. (credit : the Nation)

Singer injured in car accident - 23 July 2003.  Heartthrob "Big" of boy band D2B was rushed to Vachiraprakan Hospital in Samut Prakan early yesterday after he crashed his car into a roadside gully. Apichet Kittikorncharoen, 21, was listed in stable condition |and was expected to remain hospitalised for a few days of treatment and observation. His |friend, Prasopchoke Chookrajang, 20, said he was sleeping in the |car as Apichet was driving home on Srinakarin Road at just |after midnight and was awoken when it abruptly swerved and flipped over. He and Apichet |were trying to get out of the |car when a passer-by rescued them. Chatchawal Chakatrijkul broke a window to get the two out. "He [Apichet] lost consciousness afterwards," Prasopchoke said. Lt-Colonel Thawatchai Jaemnuraj, an inspector at Muang Samut Prakan Police Station, said indications suggested that the singer might have lost control while speeding. (credit : the Nation)