Epidemic profile of COVID-19 child deaths in Sri Lanka: a retrospective nationwide analysis.

Introduction: Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child survival is crucial. Analysing COVID-19-related child deaths, even years after the pandemic, is critical for informing future pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of all "SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 positive deaths" among children and adolescents (aged < 18 years) recorded through a purposefully designed Child Death Surveillance and Response System (CDSRS) from October 2020 to September 2022.

SARC-F: an effective screening tool for detecting sarcopenia and predicting health-related quality of life in older women in Sri Lanka.

Objective: The "Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls" (SARC-F) is a simple, five-item tool used to identify individuals with suggestive signs of sarcopenia. This study assessed the validity of the Sinhala version of the SARC-F, evaluating its ability to detect sarcopenia in older women and its potential to predict health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: The culturally adapted Sinhala version of the SARC-F, along with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) survey, was administered among 350 older women (aged ≥ 65) attending medical clinics at National Hospital Galle, Sri Lanka.

Availability and accessibility of cytotoxic medicines in the WHO model list of essential medicines for childhood cancer in low and lower-middle- income countries: a systematic review.

Background: Socio-economic inequalities significantly impact paediatric cancer survival. The review aims to elucidate the facilitators and barriers influencing the availability and accessibility of essential medicines for childhood cancer (EMCC) in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs).

Methods: This systematic review was conducted adhering to the PRISMA guidelines.

Penicillin Allergy Management in India and Sri Lanka: Current Challenges.

Data regarding Penicillin allergy labels (PALs) from India and Sri Lanka are sparse. Emerging data suggests that the proportion of patients declaring an unverified PAL in secondary care in India and Sri Lanka (1%-4%) is lesser than that reported in High Income Countries (15%-20%). However, even this relatively small percentage translates into a large absolute number, as this part of the world accounts for approximately 25% of the global population.

Psychological burden and its correlates in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis attending three tertiary care centers in Sri Lanka.

Psoriasis is associated with psychological distress among the affected due to unsightly skin lesions, chronicity and the cultural and social stigma linked with the disease. The pathophysiological link between psoriasis and depression creates a vicious cycle in the skin and brain axis. This study evaluates the psychological comorbidity of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP).

Food security and its impact on growth among Sri Lankan children under five during the economic crisis in 2022.

The recent economic recession has reportedly worsened food insecurity in Sri Lanka. We assessed food insecurity and its impact on the growth of children aged 6-59 months through a community-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in 2022. Food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, and anthropometric measurements (weight, length/height) were taken using standard techniques.

[Acetazolamide and uveal effusion: report of two cases].

We report two cases of uveal effusion following oral acetazolamide administration: one case after a standard cataract surgery and a second following a preventive treatment for altitude sickness. The outcome in both cases was favorable. This rare complication requires appropriate management, including ruling out other pathologies.

Sri Lanka Child Growth Cohort (SLCGC): a population-based study on growth faltering of children.

Purpose: This paper aims to describe the study design and baseline characteristics of the Sri Lanka Child Growth Cohort (SLCGC), which was established to assess the timing, pattern and determinants of growth faltering in infants and young children in Sri Lanka.

Participants: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among term-born babies (≥37-week gestation), currently aged between 12 and 24 months. A sample of 1875 mother-child pairs were recruited using two-stage stratified cluster sampling method.

Psychological distress and sleep quality among Sri Lankan medical students during an economic crisis.

Objectives: This study examined the evidence of the prevalence of psychological distress and poor sleep among medical students and its associations during an economic crisis.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire. It included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

The MOG antibody non-P42 epitope is predictive of a relapsing course in MOG antibody-associated disease.

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) IgG seropositivity is a prerequisite for MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) diagnosis. While a significant proportion of patients experience a relapsing disease, there is currently no biomarker predictive of disease course. We aim to determine whether MOG-IgG epitopes can predict a relapsing course in MOGAD patients.

Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of a commercial molecular assay for the screening of suspected monkeypox cases in Sri Lanka.

Background: The main objective of the present study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the commercial LightMix Modular Monkeypox Virus (MPXV) qPCR (TIB Molbiol, Germany) assay with the in-house nonvariola orthopox/monkeypox generic real-time PCR assay (ICMR-NIV, Pune) for the screening of (MPXV) cases at Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, clinical and sociodemographic data of suspected /confirmed cases received at MRI for the MPXV screening were also analyzed.

Methods: The diagnostic performance of the commercial LightMix Modular MPXV qPCR assay with the in-house nonvariola orthopox/monkeypox generic real-time PCR assay for the screening of suspected MXPV cases was evaluated using standard methods with minor modifications.

Vitamin D level and bone profile among 1- to 5-year-old children in Galle municipality and Bope-Poddala areas in Sri Lanka.

Objective: Identify the incidence and risk factors of vitamin D deficiency/vitamin D insufficiency in children aged 1-5 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among children between the ages of 1 and 5 in the Bope-Poddala and Galle municipality areas. The sample was obtained by cluster sampling method.

Availability of cytotoxic medicines in the WHO essential medicine list used in treating childhood malignancies in low-income and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally with childhood cancers accounting for around 5% of the total incidence. Almost 90% of childhood cancers are recorded from low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), where survival rates are comparatively low. The unavailability of essential medicines for childhood cancers is identified as a reason for this observed health inequity.

Vitamin D knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates.

Introduction: Although overexposure to ultraviolet radiation may lead to skin cancer, inadequate exposure results in vitamin D deficiency (VDD). We explored vitamin D-related knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates.

Methods: The sampling frame consisted of medical and allied health undergraduates in a single centre.

Targeting B cell dysregulation with emerging therapies in autoimmune demyelinating disorders.

The depletion of B cells has proven to be beneficial in the treatment of autoimmune demyelinating disorders. The high efficacy of these therapies has highlighted the importance of B cells in autoimmunity and prompted investigations into specific B cell subsets that may be aberrant. Recently, a rise in the trialling of alternative B cell-targeting therapies that inhibit targets such as Bruton's tyrosine kinase, interleukin-6 receptor and fragment crystallisable neonatal receptor has also been observed.

Child emotional and behavioral difficulties and parent stress during COVID-19 lockdown in Sri Lankan families.

Introduction: Understanding parents' and children's mental health issues would help design population-specific intervention programs. The present study explored parents' perceived stress and child emotions and behavior during the COVID-19 lockdown among Sri Lankan families.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Sri Lankan parents of children aged 11 to 17 years.

Thinness negatively affects lung function among Sri Lankan children.

Background: There have been conflicting findings on the effect of body mass index (BMI) on lung functions in children. Therefore, we studied the relationship between spirometry parameters and BMI among healthy Sri Lankan school children aged 5-7 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 296 school children (5-7-year-old) without apparent lung disease.

Healthcare provider perspectives on delivering next generation rotavirus vaccines in five low-to-middle-income countries.

Background: Live oral rotavirus vaccines (LORVs) have significantly reduced rotavirus hospitalizations and deaths worldwide. However, LORVs are less effective in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Next-generation rotavirus vaccines (NGRVs) may be more effective but require administration by injection or a neonatal oral dose, adding operational complexity.

Body image dissatisfaction and its determinants in urban Sri Lankan adolescents.

Background: Body image dissatisfaction is a significant public health issue, particularly among adolescents. We investigated the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction in urban Sri Lankan adolescents and its determinants.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study examined the body image dissatisfaction among urban adolescents of 15-16 years old in one educational zone in the Colombo district.

Age-dependent assessment thresholds to optimize patient care in a resource-limited setting: an analysis based on the Sri Lankan FRAX model.

Unlabelled: Age-dependent upper and lower assessment thresholds help categorizing women aged 40 years or more according to their fracture risk, independent of BMD information.

Introduction: Age-dependent assessment thresholds of the FRAX algorithm help stratifying men and women aged 40 years or more according to their fracture risk. This allows clinicians to decide on those who require interventions without BMD assessment and those who require BMD input for further assessment.

Comparative Study on Depigmenting Agents in Skin of Color.

Objective: Skin lightening agents are popular in southern Asia, but there is dearth of evidence on their effectiveness on Fitzpatrick IV/V skin types. This study was designed to assess the depigmenting efficacy of commercially available and specifically formulated ointments using the Mexameter (MX 18).

Methods: This single center prospective study was performed to test five commercially available preparations (Eldopaque, Aziderm, Garnier Dark Spot Corrector, Ban a Tan Cream and Neostrata Pigment Lightening Gel) on 28 healthy female volunteers in Phase 1, while five single active ingredients in lipophilic dispersion (hydroquinone 4%, ascorbyl palmitate 1%, resveratrol 1% arbutin 5% and azelaic acid 20%) were tested on a different group of 26 healthy female volunteers in Phase 2.

Acceptability of home fortification with multiple micro-nutrients among Sri Lankan children.

Micronutrient deficiencies are mostly hidden; clinically less visible compared to macronutrient deficiencies. Food fortification with multiple micronutrients (MMN) is provided for children between 6-23 months, daily for two months at three-time points. We assessed the acceptance and adherence of this nutritional intervention in an urban community setting in Sri Lanka.