Exploring the impact of occupational exposure: A study on cardiovascular autonomic functions of male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka.

Fuel dispensing at fuel stations is performed manually by unprotected male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka, who have long working hours. These workers are exposed to hydrocarbon fuels associated with multiple health effects by modulation of the autonomic nervous system. This study was performed to determine cardiovascular autonomic functions among fuel pump attendants in Sri Lanka.

Navigating through 65 years of insights: lessons learned on functional abdominal pain in children.

In 1958, Apley and Naish authored a groundbreaking paper in Archives of Disease in Childhood, elucidating the epidemiology and risk factors of recurrent abdominal pain in children-a subject that had confounded clinicians of their time. Surprisingly, even after 65 years, there are several unanswered questions regarding the etiology, pathophysiology, and management of pediatric abdominal pain. Contrary to the prevailing notion that children naturally outgrow functional abdominal pain, compelling evidence suggests it's possible these children develop a number of clinically significant psychological issues that could profoundly impact their quality of life and, consequently, future health and educational outcomes.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in Sri Lanka: An island-wide epidemiological survey assessing the prevalence and associated factors.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly encountered in clinical practice in Sri Lanka. However, its prevalence in Sri Lanka is unknown. Our objective was to study the island-wide prevalence of GERD symptoms in Sri Lanka and its associated factors.

Imaging in pediatric disorders of the gut-brain interactions: current best practice and future directions.

Introduction: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions (DGBI) are a common clinical problem in children and pose significant challenges to the attending pediatrician. Radiological investigations are commonly ordered to evaluate these children.

Area Covered: This review focuses on the current best practice of using radiological investigations in DGBIs and how novel radiological investigations could revolutionize the assessment and therapeutic approach of DGBI in children.

The association between symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and perceived stress: A countrywide study of Sri Lanka.

Background/aims: Stress is a known associated factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the dynamics between stress and GERD are not fully studied, especially in Sri Lanka. Our objective was to assess it.

Functional Diarrhea in Children.

Functional diarrhea in children is a disease that has been focused on by both general pediatricians as well as pediatric gastroenterologists across the world. Although it is seen across the pediatric age group from late infancy to adolescence, most still believe that functional diarrhea only occurs in younger children. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that functional diarrhea is prevalent in all subcontinents.

Myths and misconceptions about childhood constipation.

Many widely held beliefs and assumptions concerning childhood constipation continue to interfere with rational management of childhood constipation. Although many still believe that constipation is not a common disease, about 9.5% of the world's children suffer from chronic constipation.

Early life events in functional abdominal pain disorders in children.

Objectives: Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are common gastrointestinal problems in children, and the pathophysiology is thought to be multifactorial. Adverse early life events (ELE) induce alterations in the central nervous system, perhaps predisposing individuals to develop FAPDs. We aimed to study the potential adverse ELE that are associated with FAPDs.

Childhood constipation: Current status, challenges, and future perspectives.

Constipation in children is a major health issue around the world, with a global prevalence of 9.5%. They present to clinicians with a myriad of clinical signs.

Gastric motility and pulmonary function in children with functional abdominal pain disorders and asthma: A pathophysiological study.

Background: An association has been shown between functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and asthma. However, the exact reason for this association is obscured. The main objective of this study is to identify the possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms for the association between FAPDs and asthma using gastric motility and lung function tests.

Functional Fecal Incontinence in Children: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Management.

Functional fecal incontinence (FI) is a worldwide problem in children and comprises constipation-associated FI and nonretentive FI. Irrespective of pathophysiology, both disorders impact negatively on the psychological well-being and quality of life of affected children. A thorough clinical history and physical examination using the Rome IV criteria are usually sufficient to diagnose these conditions in most children.

Behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents with constipation and their association with quality of life.

Objectives: To assess behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents with functional constipation and their relationship with psychological maladjustment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Design: A school-based cross-sectional survey conducted in 8 randomly selected schools from 4 randomly selected districts in Sri Lanka. A previously validated questionnaire was used for data collection.

Functional abdominal pain disorders and asthma: two disorders, but similar pathophysiology?

Introduction: Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and asthma are common ailments affecting both children and adults worldwide. Multiple studies have demonstrated an association between these two disorders. However, the exact reason for this observed association is not apparent.

Assessment of exposure of gas station attendants in Sri Lanka to benzene, toluene and xylenes.

Exposure to benzene, toluene and p-, m-, o-xylene (BTX) was studied in 29 gas station attendants and 16 office workers in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure level and identify potential exposure mitigating measures. Pre- and post-shift samples of end-exhaled air were collected and analysed for BTX on a thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry system (TD-GC-MS).

Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) is a pediatric problem that is seen frequently. However, its prevalence in Asia remains undetermined. In this study we attempted to determine the prevalence, risk factors and therapeutic modalities of FC in infants and toddlers in Sri Lanka.

Autonomic functions and gastric motility in children with functional abdominal pain disorders.

Background: Abdominal pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) are the most common cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. Despite its high prevalence, the underlying pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood.

Aim: To assess the role of gastric dysmotility and autonomic nervous system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of AP-FGIDs.

Association between functional abdominal pain disorders and asthma in adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To find the association between asthma and different types of functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) among teenagers.METHODA cross-sectional study was conducted among 13 to 15-year-old children from six randomly selected schools in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. Data were collected using translated and validated self-administered questionnaires (Rome III questionnaire, International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.

Irritable bowel syndrome in children: Current knowledge, challenges and opportunities.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common and troublesome disorder in children with an increasing prevalence noted during the past two decades. It has a significant effect on the lives of affected children and their families and poses a significant burden on healthcare systems. Standard symptom-based criteria for diagnosis of pediatric IBS have changed several times during the past two decades and there are some differences in interpreting symptoms between different cultures.

Functional gastrointestinal diseases and psychological maladjustment, personality traits and quality of life.

Background: Chronic abdominal pain is a common worldwide problem and known to be associated with psychological problems. This study evaluated the association between abdominal pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs), psychological maladjustment and personality traits in adolescents.

Methods: Adolescents aged 13-18 years were recruited from 5 randomly selected schools in Ampara district of Sri Lanka.

Functional abdominal pain disorders in children.

Chronic abdominal pain is a common problem in pediatric practice. The majority of cases fulfill the Rome IV criteria for functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs). At times, these disorders may lead to rather serious repercussions.

Prevalence and risk factors for functional constipation in adolescent Nigerians.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for functional constipation (FC) in adolescent Nigerians.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of two states in the southern part of Nigeria. Adolescents aged 10-18 years were recruited from 11 secondary schools, using a stratified random sampling technique.

Childhood constipation as an emerging public health problem.

Functional constipation (FC) is a significant health problem in children and contrary to common belief, has serious ramifications on the lives of children and their families. It is defined by the Rome criteria which encourage the use of multiple clinical features for diagnosis. FC in children has a high prevalence (0.

Psychological maladjustment and quality of life in adolescents with constipation.

Objectives: To assess psychological maladjustment in adolescents with functional constipation.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in five schools. Adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years were included in the study.

Abdominal migraine in children: association between gastric motility parameters and clinical characteristics.

Background: Approximately 0.2-1 % of children suffers from abdominal migraine (AM). Pathophysiology of AM has not been adequately studied.

Fecal Incontinence in Adolescents Is Associated With Child Abuse, Somatization, and Poor Health-related Quality of Life.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fecal incontinence (FI), child abuse, somatization, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents.

Methods: Adolescents (ages 13-18 years) were selected from 4 semi-urban schools in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.