Tolerability and effectiveness of every-other-day atorvastatin compared to daily atorvastatin in patients with muscle symptoms: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Despite limited evidence, non-daily dosing of statins is recommended for managing muscle symptoms associated with statin therapy. We assessed the tolerability and effectiveness of every-other-day atorvastatin compared to daily atorvastatin in patients having muscle symptoms associated with atorvastatin therapy. A parallel-group, outcome-assessment-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka.

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal band, and skin (POEMS) changes syndrome presenting with a pseudosensory level: a case report.

Introduction: Polyneuropathy is a key feature of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal band, and skin changes syndrome, which is a paraneoplastic manifestation of an underlying lymphoproliferative neoplasm. We report the first case of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal band, and skin changes syndrome presenting with a pseudosensory level.

Case Presentation: A 59-year-old Tamil woman with long-standing diabetes mellitus and hypertension developed painless, progressive inguinal lymphadenopathy.

Thymoma complicated with myasthenia gravis and Good syndrome - a therapeutic conundrum: a case report.

Background: Thymomas are known to be associated with myasthenia gravis and Good syndrome. Good syndrome is the association of thymoma with combined B cell and T cell immunodeficiency. The combination of all three diseases has not been reported.

A preliminary study on efficacy of rupatadine for the treatment of acute dengue infection.

Currently there are no specific treatments available for acute dengue infection. We considered that rupatadine, a platelet-activating factor receptor inhibitor, might modulate dengue-associated vascular leak. The effects of rupatadine were assessed in vitro, and in a dengue model, which showed that rupatadine significantly reduced endothelial permeability by dengue sera in vitro, and significantly inhibited the increased haematocrit in dengue-infected mice with dose-dependency.

Secretory phospholipase A2 in the pathogenesis of acute dengue infection.

Introduction: Platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important mediator of vascular leak in acute dengue. Phospholipase A2s (PLA2) are inflammatory lipid enzymes that generate and regulate PAF and other mediators associated with mast cells. We sought to investigate if mast cell activation and increases in secretory sPLA2s are associated with an increase in PAF and occurrence of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Perceived Risk of Dengue in Ones' Living Environment as a Determinant of Behavior Change through Social Mobilization and Communication: Evidence from a High Risk Area in Sri Lanka.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess community knowledge and behavioral impact of the social mobilization and communication strategy applied in a dengue high-risk area in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A group of adults visiting selected primary care facilities in Colombo district were interviewed to collect socio-demographic data, attributes of knowledge regarding dengue and the responsive behaviors adopted by them following the dengue control program though the media and social marketing campaigns. These attributes were classified as 'good', 'fair,' or 'poor' by developing a composite scale for analysis and interpretation of data.

Change in Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis Seroprevalence Rates in Sri Lanka.

Background: Sri Lanka has been affected by epidemics of dengue infections for many decades and the incidence and severity of dengue infections have been rising each year. Therefore, we investigated the age stratified seroprevalence of dengue infections in order to facilitate future dengue vaccine strategies. In addition, since the symptomatic dengue infections have increased during the past few decades, we also investigated the possible association with Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) antibody seropositivity with symptomatic dengue in a community cohort in Sri Lanka.

Platelet activating factor contributes to vascular leak in acute dengue infection.

Background: Although plasma leakage is the hallmark of severe dengue infections, the factors that cause increased vascular permeability have not been identified. As platelet activating factor (PAF) is associated with an increase in vascular permeability in other diseases, we set out to investigate its role in acute dengue infection.

Materials And Methods: PAF levels were initially assessed in 25 patients with acute dengue infection to determine if they were increased in acute dengue.

Dengue NS1 antigen as a marker of severe clinical disease.

Background: Early detection of complications significantly reduces dengue associated mortality and morbidity. We set out to determine if the NS1 rapid antigen detection test could be used as a point of care test to predict severe disease.

Methods: 186 adult patients with confirmed dengue were enrolled during day 3-8 of illness.

Malaria is an important differential diagnosis in visitors returning from Sri Lankan National Safari Parks.

Diagnostic confusion may occur between dengue and malaria when febrile patients with thrombocytopenia return from travel to previous malaria endemic areas. Laboratory tests should include blood smear examination for malaria parasites even though current malaria endemicity in Sri Lanka is low.

Anthelmintic prescribing patterns of a sample of general practitioners from selected areas in the colombo district of sri lanka.

General Practitioners (GPs) provide first contact care of children and pregnant mothers in the community. This study ascertained the prescribing pattern of anthelmintics to children and pregnant women by a sample of GPs from the district of Colombo. Two hundred medical practitioners engaged in full-time General Practice (100 urban and 100 rural), were selected randomly.

The health and nutritional status of school children in two rural communities in Sri Lanka.

There is growing evidence of considerable burden of morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases and undernutrition in school children. This study describes the nutritional status and parasitic infections of school children in two areas of rural Sri Lanka. All children in four primary schools in the Moneragala district of Sri Lanka were included in the study.