Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 143 in total

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  1. Paxton A, Maine D, Freedman L, Fry D, Lobis S
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2005 Feb;88(2):181-93.
    PMID: 15694106
    We searched for evidence for the effectiveness of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) interventions in reducing maternal mortality primarily in developing countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka/epidemiology
  2. Arumanayagam P, San SJ
    Int J Epidemiol, 1972;1(2):101-9.
    PMID: 4204766
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  3. Ekanayaka J, Geok CK, Matthews B, Dharmaratne SD
    PMID: 34769944 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111428
    Drowning among young adults is high in Sri Lanka. Water safety education is a recommended strategy for drowning prevention but is often overlooked for young adults. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an adapted educational intervention, "Swim for Safety" on improving water safety knowledge, attitudes and survival swimming skills among undergraduates (19-28 years) in Sri Lanka. This study employed a parallel-group, two-arm randomized controlled trial design. The intervention group (n = 78) received a face-to-face, 12-lesson education programme, and the control group (n = 78) received a brochure and weekly mobile phone messages for six consecutive weeks. Baseline, post-intervention and three-month follow-up knowledge, attitudes and skills were evaluated. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire and skills were evaluated following a skills assessment protocol. In total 116 participants, 60 intervention group and 56 control group, completed the study. At baseline there were no differences between groups in median scores of water safety knowledge, attitudes and survival swimming skills. The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant increases in median water safety knowledge, attitudes and survival swimming skill scores compared with the control group, following the intervention and maintained at three-month follow-up (p < 0.05). The adapted Swim for Safety programme significantly improved water safety knowledge, attitudes, and survival swimming skills among young adults in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is recommended that the SfS programme be implemented widely to prevent drowning in young adults.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  4. Marikkar, J.M.N., Banu, M.K.I., Yalegama, C.
    MyJurnal
    This study attempted to investigate the effect of kiln drying on the rate of formation of ball copra. Three samples containing fifty partially dried-coconuts were placed as a single layer in three compartmentalized blocks namely, Front: Blok-1, Middle: Block-2, and Rear: Block-3 in the copra bed of the modified-Ceylon copra kiln. From each of the three blocks, thirty coconuts were selected randomly for labeling and their fresh weights were recorded. The samples were subjected to intermittent drying in the kiln by thirty five firing cycles using charcoal dust as the fuel source. The temperature distribution pattern of the three blocks during the first six firing was monitored at three hourly intervals. The weight losses of individual coconuts in each block were measured after the completion of each firing. The results showed that, there was a significant (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  5. Chang, S.K., Nagendra Prasad, K., Amin, I.
    MyJurnal
    Green leafy vegetables are good sources of carotenoids. Generally, food composition databases related to raw foods are available, but data on cooked foods in Malaysia are still lacking. Since carotenoids are prone to degradation during cooking processes, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the extent of nutrient loss in vegetables subjected to two conventional cooking methods, which were boiling and stir-frying with cooking durations of 4 and 8 minutes. The vegetables selected were Chinese cabbage (Brassica Pekinensis var. cephalata), swamp cabbage (Ipomoea aquatica), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra), red spinach (Amaranthus gangeticus), white spinach (Amaranthus viridis) and tapioca shoots (Manihot utilissima). Percentage losses of nutrients after cooking treatment were calculated based on retention factors. Results obtained showed that stir-frying had reduced lutein content for all vegetables ranging from 8-89% while the effect of boiling for lutein varied (0-428%) with different vegetables at both cooking durations of 4 and 8 min. Boiling for 8 min increased retention of β carotene in all vegetables ranging from 18-380% except for Chinese cabbage and spinach compared with 4 min, while stir-frying generally increased the retention of β-carotene for all vegetables 2-3 times except for spinach. Cooked vegetables have variations in carotenoids composition brought by varying cooking conditions (time and temperature), type of vegetables and the interaction between cooking methods and type of vegetables.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  6. Yahiro T, Takaki M, Chandrasena TGAN, Rajindrajith S, Iha H, Ahmed K
    Infect Genet Evol, 2018 11;65:170-186.
    PMID: 30055329 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.07.014
    A human-porcine reassortant rotavirus, strain R1207, was identified from 74 group A rotaviruses detected in 197 (37.6%) stool samples collected from patients who attended a tertiary care hospital in Ragama, Sri Lanka. This is the first report of a human-porcine reassortant rotavirus in Sri Lanka. The patient was a 12-month-old boy who had been hospitalized with fever and acute diarrhea with a duration of 6 days. The family had pigs at home before the birth of this boy. However, the neighbors still practice pig farming. The genotype constellation of R1207 was G4-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. This is based on the assignment of all the eleven gene segments a full genome-based genotyping system. R1207 showed a 4-2-3-2 genomic electrophoretic migration pattern, which is characteristic of group A rotaviruses. Our analyses revealed that five (NSP2, NSP4, VP1, VP2, and VP7) of the 11 genes were closely related to the respective genes of porcine strains. Although the remaining six genes (NSP1, NSP3, NSP5, VP3, VP4, and VP6) were related to human strains, with the exception of the gene sequence of NSP1, all of these human strains were human-porcine reassortants. With a genogroup 1 genetic backbone, this strain was possibly formed via multiple genetic reassortments. We do not know whether this strain is circulating in pigs, as no data are available on porcine rotaviruses in Sri Lanka. Surveillance should be strengthened to determine the epidemiology of this genotype of rotavirus in Sri Lanka and to assess whether the infection was limited or sustained by ongoing human-to-human transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  7. Madhwani KP, Nag PK
    Indian J Occup Environ Med, 2017 Jan-Apr;21(1):18-22.
    PMID: 29391743 DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_145_17
    Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate web-based Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) intervention on office ergonomics - a unique method for prevention of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) - in corporate offices that influences behavior modification.

    Background: With the increasing use of computers, laptops and hand-held communication devices globally among office employees, creating awareness on office ergonomics has become a top priority. Emphasis needs to be given on maintaining ideal work postures, ergonomic arrangement of workstations, optimizing chair functions, as well as performing desk stretches to reduce MSD arising from the use of these equipment, thereby promoting safe work practices at offices and home, as in the current scenario many employees work from home with flexible work hours. Hence, this justifies the importance of our study.

    Objective: To promote safe working by exploring cost-effective communication methods to achieve behavior change at distant sites when an on-site visit may not be feasible.

    Materials and Methods: An invitation was sent by the Medical and Occupational Health Team of a multinational corporation to all employees at their offices in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia to take up an online Nordic questionnaire, a screening tool for musculoskeletal symptoms, shared in local languages on two occasions - baseline evaluation (n = 240) and a follow-up evaluation after 3 months (n = 203). After completing the baseline questionnaire, employees were immediately trained on correct postures and office ergonomics with animation graphics. The same questionnaire was sent again after a 12-week gap only to those employees who responded to the baseline questionnaire on initial assessment.

    Statistical Analysis Used: Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software and variables were compared using odds ratio as well as Chi-square test.

    Results: Of the 203 employees who responded, 47.35% had some musculoskeletal symptoms. Among them 58.7% had lower back pain, 46.9% had upper back pain, 44.1% had wrist pain, 39.5% had shoulder pain, and 37% had knee pain. The percentages are high as some participants had multiple complaints i.e. 2 or 3 complaints. However, only 40% of these employees had ongoing symptoms at the time of evaluation (past 7 days). A subsequent 3-month evaluation after web-based intervention showed a significant 41-50% decline in ongoing symptoms.

    Conclusions: We conclude that newer technology using web-based animation graphics is a highly efficient technique to create office ergonomics awareness and has the potential to become a best practice in countries where language is a communication barrier and an on-site visit may not be feasible due to meagre resources.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  8. Madhwani KP, Nag PK
    Indian J Occup Environ Med, 2017 May-Aug;21(2):77-83.
    PMID: 29540968 DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_151_17
    Background: Use of laptops and hand-held devices increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). More time spent on this activity adopting faulty postures, higher the risk of developing such injuries. This study addresses training on office ergonomics with emphasis on sustainable behavior change among employees to work in safe postures, as this is a top priority in the corporate environment, today.

    Aim: To explore training intervention methods that ensure wider coverage of awareness on office ergonomics, thereby promoting safer working and suggesting sustainable programs for behavior change and job enrichment.

    Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted (2012 - 2017), encompassing corporate office employees of multinational corporations selected from India, Dubai (U.A.E), Nairobi (East Africa), Durban (South Africa), South East Asian countries (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka).Participant employees (n= 3503) were divided into two groups to study the effect of interventions'; i.e., (a) deep training: 40 minute lecture by the investigator with a power point presentation (n= 1765) using a mock workstation and (b) quick training: live demonstrations of 10 minutes (n= 1738) using a live workstation.

    Results: While deep training enhanced awareness in 95.51% and quick training in 96.59% globally, the latterwas much appreciated and educated maximum employees. From statistical analysis, quick training was found superior in providing comprehensive training and influencing behavior modification in India, but all over the world it was found highly superior in knowledge enlargement, skills enrichment in addition to providing comprehensive training (P< 0.05). In countries, located to West of India, it significantly influenced behavior modification.

    Conclusion: As because few employees attend deep training lectures, the quick 10-minute program is highly promising as it is practical, replicable, yields increased awareness with wider employee coverage in a much shorter time, instilling a feeling of caring and confidence amongst them towards a robust office ergonomics program. This could lead to propose as a best practice for corporate offices globally.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  9. De Silva WD, Sinha DN, Kahandawaliyanag A
    Indian J Cancer, 2012 Oct-Dec;49(4):438-42.
    PMID: 23442410 DOI: 10.4103/0019-509X.107753
    Sri Lanka became a signatory to the WHO Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control in September 2003, and this was ratified in November 2003. With a view to reduce the use of tobacco in Sri Lanka, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act (NATA) No. 27 of 2006 was implemented.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  10. de Silva DD, Groenewald JZ, Crous PW, Ades PK, Nasruddin A, Mongkolporn O, et al.
    IMA Fungus, 2019;10:8.
    PMID: 32355609 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-019-0001-y
    Anthracnose of chili (Capsicum spp.) causes major production losses throughout Asia where chili plants are grown. A total of 260 Colletotrichum isolates, associated with necrotic lesions of chili leaves and fruit were collected from chili producing areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Taiwan. Colletotrichum truncatum was the most commonly isolated species from infected chili fruit and was readily identified by its falcate spores and abundant setae in the necrotic lesions. The other isolates consisted of straight conidia (cylindrical and fusiform) which were difficult to differentiate to species based on morphological characters. Taxonomic analysis of these straight conidia isolates based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, gapdh, chs-1, act, tub2, his3, ApMat, gs) revealed a further seven known Colletotrichum species, C. endophyticum, C. fructicola, C. karsti, C. plurivorum, C. scovillei, C. siamense and C. tropicale. In addition, three novel species are also described as C. javanense, C. makassarense and C. tainanense, associated with anthracnose of chili fruit in West Java (Indonesia); Makassar, South Sulawesi (Indonesia); and Tainan (Taiwan), respectively. Colletotrichum siamense is reported for the first time causing anthracnose of Capsicum annuum in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This is also the first report of C. fructicola causing anthracnose of chili in Taiwan and Thailand and C. plurivorum in Malaysia and Thailand. Of the species with straight conidia, C. scovillei (acutatum complex), was the most prevalent throughout the surveyed countries, except for Sri Lanka from where this species was not isolated. Colletotrichum siamense (gloeosporioides complex) was also common in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Pathogenicity tests on chili fruit showed that C. javanense and C. scovillei were highly aggressive, especially when inoculated on non-wounded fruit, compared to all other species. The existence of new, highly aggressive exotic species, such as C. javanense, poses a biosecurity risk to production in countries which do not have adequate quarantine regulations to restrict the entry of exotic pathogens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  11. Paxman JM
    IGCC News, 1979 Apr;4(4):1-3.
    PMID: 12179400
    PIP: A great deal of attention is being devoted to the use of nonphysicians to provide such fertility control services as contraception, sterilization, and abortion. Legal obstacles exist, however, which must be overcome before the role of nonphysicians can be expanded. Such obstacles include medical practice statutes, nursing and midwifery legislation, and laws and regulations directly related to such fertility control measures as the provision of contraceptions and the performance of sterilizations. On the other hand, the following 3 main approaches have been used to permit increased participation of nonphysicians: delegation of tasks by physicians, liberal interpretation of existing laws, and authorization. Thus, the important elements in expanding the roles of nonphysicians are 1) authorization; 2) training; 3) qualification; 4) supervision; and 5) opportunities for referrals to physicians. The ultimate role of paramedicals will depend upon the continued simplification of technology, the results of research on the quality of care which they can provide, the attitudes of the medical profession, and the elimination of the legal ambiguities and obstacles which exist.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  12. Galagoda GCS, Perera J, de Silva R, Wickramasinghe HT, Dasanayake D, Bravo L, et al.
    Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2023 Dec 31;19(1):2165360.
    PMID: 36655357 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2165360
    Aiming to further the Immunization Partners in Asia Pacific (IPAP)'s vision of a world where no one suffers from a vaccine preventable disease, the 8th Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC 2022) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka and virtually from 15 to 18, September 2022 (www.asianvaccine.com). This conference followed those held in Siem Reap, Cambodia (2009), Manila, Philippines (2010), Jakarta, Indonesia (2011), Cebu, Philippines (2013), Hanoi, Vietnam (2015), Singapore (2017) and Naypyidaw and Yangon, Myanmar (2019). The ASVAC2022 themed "Immunization: in Era of Pandemics," commenced with the EPI Managers' Workshop, followed by pre-conference workshops and Vaccinology Masterclass, followed by the main conference featuring 5 plenary lectures, 6 partner-led symposia, free paper and poster presentations, and industry-supported lunch and evening sessions. There were over 1830 registered participants, with 112 attending in person and 998 virtually from 63 countries. The conference was organized by IPAP and hosted by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Forum of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians, Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists and College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, with the support of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. The 9th ASVAC is scheduled to be held in Davao City, Philippines in late 2023.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  13. Tan JA, Tay JS, Aziz NB, Saha N
    Hum. Hered., 1996 Jul-Aug;46(4):236-8.
    PMID: 8807327
    Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the gene encoding the beta chain of the human T cell receptor (TcR) was studied in three ethnic groups in Singapore by Southern blotting. Polymorphism in the beta chain gene was identified in BglII-digested DNA samples using a 770-bp TcR beta cDNA clone containing the joining and constant region segments. The TcR beta/BglII polymorphism was studied in 136 Chinese, 93 Indian and 88 Malay samples. The frequency of the less frequent allele (TcR beta*2) in all the ethnic groups was significantly lower (0.15-0.29, p < 0.01) than that in the Caucasians (0.46). Indians had a significantly lower frequency of this allele (0.15) than the Chinese (0.29) and Malays (0.26).
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka/ethnology
  14. Daveau M, Rivat L, Lalouel JM, Langaney A, Roberts DF, Simons MJ
    Hum. Hered., 1980;30(4):237-44.
    PMID: 7390516
    Serum samples from Sinhalese subjects, from Punjab and from Singapore have been studied. The Gm phenotypes found are very numerous and we can observe some similarities concerning the Gm gene frequencies between the Singapore Indians with the Indians of North India, and with the Sinhalese. In contrast, Gm gene frequencies found among Chinese and Malays from Singapore are quite different from those found among Indians of Singapore. Our results here are very similar to those obtained in Malaya studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  15. Yiengprugsawan V, Healy J, Kendig H, Neelamegam M, Karunapema P, Kasemsup V
    Health Syst Reform, 2017 Jul 03;3(3):171-181.
    PMID: 31157585 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2017.1356428
    This paper explores whether middle-income Asian countries are reorienting their health services in response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand were selected as case studies of Asian societies experiencing rapid increases both in NCDs and an aging population. While NCD programs, especially those related to diabetes and stroke, are well-established in Thailand, health services struggle to respond to increasing numbers of people with chronic health problems. Health services at all levels must plan ahead for more patients with chronic and often multiple conditions who require better integrated health care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  16. Wilder-Smith A, Tissera H, AbuBakar S, Kittayapong P, Logan J, Neumayr A, et al.
    Glob Health Action, 2018;11(1):1549930.
    PMID: 30560735 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2018.1549930
    BACKGROUND: Dengue fever persists as a major global disease burden, and may increase as a consequence of climate change. Along with other measures, research actions to improve diagnosis, surveillance, prevention, and predictive models are highly relevant. The European Commission funded the DengueTools consortium to lead a major initiative in these areas, and this review synthesises the outputs and findings of this work conducted from 2011 to 2016. Research areas: DengueTools organised its work into three research areas, namely [1] Early warning and surveillance systems; [2] Strategies to prevent dengue in children; and [3] Predictive models for the global spread of dengue. Research area 1 focused on case-studies undertaken in Sri Lanka, including developing laboratory-based sentinel surveillance, evaluating economic impact, identifying drivers of transmission intensity, evaluating outbreak prediction capacity and developing diagnostic capacity. Research area 2 addressed preventing dengue transmission in school children, with case-studies undertaken in Thailand. Insecticide-treated school uniforms represented an intriguing potential approach, with some encouraging results, but which were overshadowed by a lack of persistence of insecticide on the uniforms with repeated washing. Research area 3 evaluated potential global spread of dengue, particularly into dengue-naïve areas such as Europe. The role of international travel, changing boundaries of vectors, developing models of vectorial capacity under different climate change scenarios and strategies for vector control in outbreaks was all evaluated.

    CONCLUDING REMARKS: DengueTools was able to make significant advances in methods for understanding and controlling dengue transmission in a range of settings. These will have implications for public health agendas to counteract dengue, including vaccination programmes.

    OUTLOOK: Towards the end of the DengueTools project, Zika virus emerged as an unexpected epidemic in the central and southern America. Given the similarities between the dengue and Zika viruses, with vectors in common, some of the DengueTools thinking translated readily into the Zika situation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  17. Chakravorty S
    GeoJournal, 1993 Feb;29(2):115-24.
    PMID: 12318386
    "Urban concentration (or primacy) and inequality (in size distribution of income) are expected to follow bell shaped curves through the development process. Spatial convergence (through investments in transportation etc.) is expected to precede income convergence. Using longitudinal data from six Asian countries (Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India) this paper shows that (i) the bell shapes for urban concentration and income inequality generally hold, and (ii) the temporal relationship between the curve peaks is determined by geographical factors (for urban concentration); income inequality is seen to be more policy amenable."
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  18. Rastogi S, Kulshreshtha DK, Rawat AK
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2006 Jun;3(2):217-22.
    PMID: 16786051
    Streblus asper Lour is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using different in vitro and in vivo techniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka
  19. Shrestha AD, Vedsted P, Kallestrup P, Neupane D
    Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2020 Mar;29(2):e13207.
    PMID: 31820851 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13207
    INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is common cancer in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a low five-year survival rate. It is among the four most common types of cancer in South East Asia region. In South-Central Asia, lip and oral cavity cancer is the second most common cancer according to the specific cancer types.

    METHODS: This scoping review intended to investigate published studies on the current prevalence and incidence of oral cancer in LMICs. The review was conducted applying the search words "Oral Cancer" and "Mouth neoplasm" as the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) major topic and "Epidemiology" and ("prevalence" OR "incidence") as the MeSH subheading; the search was supplemented by cross-references. Included studies met the following criteria: original studies, reporting of prevalence or incidence rates, population-based studies, studies in English language and studies involving humans.

    RESULTS: The sample sizes ranged from 486 to 101,761 with 213,572 persons included. Buccal mucosa is one of the most common sites of oral cancer, associated with the widespread exposure to chewing tobacco. The incidence is likely to rise in the region where gutkha, pan masala, pan-tobacco and various other forms of chewing tobacco are popular.

    CONCLUSION: This review contributes to useful information on prevalence and incidence estimates of oral cancer in LMICs.

    Matched MeSH terms: Sri Lanka/epidemiology
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