Out-of-Distribution Detection and Radiological Data Monitoring Using Statistical Process Control.

Machine learning (ML) models often fail with data that deviates from their training distribution. This is a significant concern for ML-enabled devices as data drift may lead to unexpected performance. This work introduces a new framework for out of distribution (OOD) detection and data drift monitoring that combines ML and geometric methods with statistical process control (SPC).

Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the Sinhala Translation of the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI).

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) is impaired in patients with acne vulgaris. The Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) that assesses QoL of acne patients was initially developed in English and is being currently used widely after being validated in different languages. This study was conducted to validate the CADI in Sinhala, a language used by the majority of Sri Lanka.

Predictors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Sri Lankan Children: A School Based Community Study.

Objective: To evaluate potential risk-factors of ADHD among primary school-children (PSC) in state schools in Colombo district of Sri Lanka.

Method: A case-control study was conducted with 73 cases and 264 controls selected randomly among 6 to 10-year-old PSC from Sinhala medium state schools in Colombo district. Primary care givers completed the SNAP-IV P/T-S scale to screen for ADHD and an interviewer-administered questionnaire on risk-factors.

The effect of socioeconomic factors on quality of life of elderly in Jaffna district of Sri Lanka.

Globally, the proportion of the elderly is increasing. In comparison to other Southeast Asian countries, Sri Lanka's population is rapidly aging. The elderly are a vulnerable age group that requires special attention to live a long and healthy life.

Efficacy of rupatadine in reducing the incidence of dengue haemorrhagic fever in patients with acute dengue: A randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Rupatadine was previously shown to reduce endothelial dysfunction in vitro, reduced vascular leak in dengue mouse models and to reduce the extent of pleural effusions and thrombocytopenia in patients with acute dengue. Therefore, we sought to determine the efficacy of rupatadine in reducing the incidence of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) in patients with acute dengue.

Methods And Findings: A phase 2, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was carried out in patients with acute dengue in Sri Lanka in an outpatient setting.

Predictors and patterns of polypharmacy in chronic diseases in a middle-income country.

Low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are increasingly affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which overburden the health system. With the rising prevalence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy is inevitable. Sri Lanka too faces the burden of polypharmacy and multimorbidity, and it is a strain on the economy as Sri Lankan health care is free-of-charge to all citizens.

Impact of aerobic exercises on taste perception for sucrose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Regular exercise is a key element in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although the importance of regular exercises on glycemic control in people with diabetes is studied extensively, evidence is lacking on its impact on sweet taste perception. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of aerobic exercises on taste perception for sucrose in people with diabetes.

Prevalence of ADHD in Primary School Children, in Colombo District, Sri Lanka.

Objective: To determine prevalence of ADHD among primary school children in Colombo district, Sri Lanka.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,125 primary school children aged 6 to 10 years in Sinhala medium state schools in Colombo district. Prevalence was assessed with validated Sinhala version of Swanson, Nolan, Pelham-IV (SNAP-IV-S) scale where primary care givers and class teachers were the respondents and diagnosis was confirmed by a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Parathyroid hormone in Sri Lankan pregnant women: Vitamin D and other determinants.

Introduction: Determinants of parathyroid hormone level during pregnancy have been less frequently studied. We aimed to describe the serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its determinants in Sri Lankan pregnant women in a community setting.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, 390 pregnant mothers in their third trimester were enrolled from primary care centers of 15 health divisions in the Colombo District in Sri Lanka.

'Why are you not dead yet?' - dimensions and the main driving forces of stigma and discrimination among COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To explore the experiences, and main driving forces of stigma and discrimination among COVID-19 patients, following hospital discharge, in Sri Lanka.

Study Design: A qualitative study was used in order to gain insight and explore the depth and complexity of COVID-19 patients' experiences.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone in a purposively selected sample of 139 COVID-19 patients.

Sri Lanka's early success in the containment of COVID-19 through its rapid response: Clinical & epidemiological evidence from the initial case series.

Background: Despite the rising global burden, Sri Lanka reported a relatively low caseload and mortality (13 deaths as of 20 October 2020) for COVID-19. This warrants exploration of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the case series during the initial passive case detection phase in Sri Lanka, in order to understand the success in containment of the disease for more than nine months in the country through its initial early and rapid pandemic response.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using secondary data (hospital records and investigation reports) extracted from all laboratory-confirmed patients admitted to the three main state-sector hospitals in Sri Lanka from 11 March to 7 April 2020.

The association of health-related factors with quality of life among the elderly population in the Jaffna district of Sri Lanka.

Background: The proportion of elderly individuals is increasing globally. They should be well cared for to enable them to enjoy their full lifespans. Good health is a vital component of one's overall quality of life.

The rising complexity and burden of multimorbidity in a middle-income country.

Background: The limited knowledge on aetiology, epidemiology and risk factors for multimorbidity especially evident from low and middle-income countries curtail the development and implementation of sustainable healthcare models. Sri Lanka, boasting for one of South Asia's most efficient public health systems that is accessible free-of-charge by the citizens is presently transitioning from lower-middle to upper-middle-income tier. Faced with the triple burden of disease, it is imperative for Sri Lanka to incorporate an integrated model to manage multimorbidity.

Dynamic interventions to control COVID-19 pandemic: a multivariate prediction modelling study comparing 16 worldwide countries.

To date, non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) have been the mainstay for controlling the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While NPIs are effective in preventing health systems overload, these long-term measures are likely to have significant adverse economic consequences. Therefore, many countries are currently considering to lift the NPIs-increasing the likelihood of disease resurgence.

The knowledge of Public Health Midwives on Autism Spectrum Disorder in two selected districts of the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

Background: Early interventions are important for improving outcome in autism. However, the diagnosis of autism is often delayed for 3-4 years, which leads to missed opportunities to initiate early intensive behavioural interventions, thus jeopardizing its prognosis. The lack of knowledge among healthcare workers about the features of autism is postulated to be the main reason for this delay.

Maternal Vitamin D Status and Its Effect on Vitamin D Levels in Early Infancy in a Tertiary Care Centre in Sri Lanka.

Epidemiologic studies from South Asian countries have reported vitamin D deficiency among all age groups. However, there is very little information on vitamin D levels, especially in the vulnerable populations (pregnant/breast feeding mother and infants) in Sri Lanka. More data on vitamin D status of such populations will be important for policy decisions to be made at a national level.

What do young doctors know of palliative care; how do they expect the concept to work? : A 'palliative care' knowledge and opinion survey among young doctors.

Objectives: Discipline of palliative care is still evolving in developed parts of the world while it remains at an infantile stage in Sri Lanka which has not been formally assessed as of today. We aimed at evaluating the level of palliative care knowledge and opinions among young medical graduates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pre-residency medical graduates of Sri Lanka through a social media based online survey.

Psychological Problems and Socioemotional Wellbeing among Children of Mothers with Depression and Their Association with Sociodemographic Factors in a Sri Lankan Setting.

Background: Maternal depression is known to be associated with anxiety, depression, oppositional and conduct disorders, neurocognitive deficits, ADHD, substance abuse, and personality disorder in the offspring. We aimed to describe the proportion of psychological problems among children of mothers with depression in Sri Lanka and to describe the associated sociodemographic factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 children and adolescents between 4 and 16 years, whose mothers have a diagnosis of depression and are currently in remission.

Characteristics of mothers' depressive illness as predictors for emotional and behavioural problems in children in a Sri Lankan setting.

Introduction: Maternal depression has been shown to be associated with neurodevelopmental, emotional and behavioural disorders in offspring. We aimed to describe the proportion of psychological problems among children of mothers with depression in Sri Lanka and to describe the association with the characteristics of the mothers' illness.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 children and adolescents between 4-16 years whose mother has a diagnosis of depression and currently in remission.

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.

Urinary Incontinence of Women in a Nationwide Study in Sri Lanka: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Purpose: Urinary incontinence, be stress incontinence or urge incontinence or a mixed type incontinence affects women of all ages. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Sri Lanka.

Materials And Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was performed in Sri Lanka.

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.

Content Analysis of Food and Beverages Advertisements Targeting Children and Adults on Television in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Food marketing is one of the main factors in the increase in childhood obesity. The objective is to compare the strategies used for promotion of food and beverages advertisements on Sri Lankan television for children and adults.

Method: Among 16 analog television channels in Sri Lanka, 50% of the channels were selected randomly after stratifying according to language.