Panic in the Pandemic: Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy and the Dilemma of Public Health Information Sharing during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka.

Vaccine hesitancy, a pressing global challenge in vaccination programs, was significantly amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proliferation of misinformation, including false claims and rumours, and the influence of anti-vaccine movements fuelled hesitancy. This study aims to explore the socio-economic determinants that influenced vaccine hesitancy and the impact of public health information sharing in Sri Lanka during the pandemic.

Metals and Metallothionein Expression in Relation to Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka.

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology was investigated for metal relations in an endemic area by a cross-sectional study with CKD stages G1, G2, G3a, G3b, G4, G5 (ESRD), and endemic and nonendemic controls (EC and NEC) as groups. Subjects with the medical diagnosis were classified into groups by eGFR (SCr, CKD-EPI) and UACR of the study. It determined 24 metals/metalloids in plasma (ICPMS) and metallothionein (MT) mRNA in blood (RT-PCR).

Predicting distant metastatic disease in differentiated thyroid cancer: a matched case-control study.

Background: The occurrence of distant metastasis (DM) is the most important prognostic factor influencing survival outcomes in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Identifying patients who are likely to develop DM and offering these cases more aggressive surgical approaches and I-131 therapy, is paramount to achieving the best possible outcomes. DM on presentation in DTC are uncommon, with an incidence of 1-9%.

Early postoperative stimulated serum thyroglobulin quantifies risk of recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Postoperative follow-up of papillary thyroid cancer includes serial serum thyroglobulin levels. This study aimed to determine whether stimulated thyroglobulin levels measured in the early postoperative period can accurately quantify the risk of recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer.

Methods: We undertook a cohort study of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer ≥10 mm in the period 2000 to 2016 with complete biochemical data.

Risk of needing completion thyroidectomy for low-risk papillary thyroid cancers treated by lobectomy.

Background: Low-risk differentiated thyroid cancers may, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA) 2015 guidelines, be managed initially with lobectomy. However, definitive risk categorization requires pathological assessment of the specimen, resulting in completion thyroidectomy being recommended when discordance between preoperative and postoperative staging occurs. This study sought to establish the expected rate of completion thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated by lobectomy.

Comparison of Serum Cystatin C and Creatinine Levels among Individuals with Persisting Proteinuria in Farming Communities of Rural Sri Lanka.

Background: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) is one of the major health concerns among agricultural communities in Sri Lanka. Individuals involved in severe agricultural works for their livelihood are highly vulnerable for this disease and patients have been detected with persisting proteinuria at community-level screening. The current study was designed to evaluate the diagnosis of two functional markers of kidney damage using individuals with persisting proteinuria as the baseline.

Structural violence and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Sri Lanka.

Research published on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka has been undertaken largely from biomedical and epidemiological perspectives. The main objective of these studies has been to identify the etiology of the disease, which affects as much as 15-21% of the population in some regions and is associated with kidney failure. Few studies have sought to address how CKDu is socially and behaviorally situated in the affected districts.

Paragangliomas: presentation and management by radiotherapy at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

Introduction: Paragangliomas are commonly treated with surgery, while radiotherapy is reserved for those that are inoperable or have relapsed. However, this retrospective study aims to determine whether radiotherapy is a viable initial treatment for paragangliomas.

Methods: Of 73 tumours researched, 44 were diagnosed and treated from January 1967 to December 2012 at the Radiation Oncology Department at the Prince of Wales Hospital and thus were eligible for analysis.

Geographical distribution of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin in North Central Region of Sri Lanka.

Objectives: In early nineties investigators noticed an alarmingly high incidence of an apparently new form of chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKD-U) in some parts of Sri Lanka. The aim of the study was to investigate the geographical distribution of CKD-U using GIS and GPS mapping.

Methods: Community based information was collected from 11,630 patients for GIS mapping using ARC 9.

Community nurses: an urgent need.

When families could not manage to care for the sick, they turned to people who could provide home nursing care. Gradually, however, the sick were moved to institutions and nursing became institution-based. This trend accelerated in almost all countries around the world.