Impact of environmental factors on Apis dorsata (giant Asian honeybee) venom in Bandarawela, Sri Lanka.

Apis dorsata stings are amongst the most frequent insect-stings in Sri Lanka. A. dorsata venom consists of a mixture of components including PLA, melittin, hyaluronidase and apamin.

Development and Evaluation of In-House ELISAs for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients in Sri Lanka.

COVID-19 serological tests complement the molecular diagnostics and can be used as important tool for serosurveillance and vaccine efficiency evaluation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the diagnostic performance of an in-house ELISA for retrospective serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Total IgG and IgM levels in sera of PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 patients ( = 50) from North Colombo Teaching Hospital were evaluated and compared with sera ( = 50) collected from prepandemic healthy individuals as controls.

Humoral immune response and changes in peritoneal cell populations in rats immunized against two Leptospira serovars; serovar patoc and serovar pyrogenes.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira species. Variations in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure in Leptospira are known to be associated with the serovar diversity and antigenicity. Development of immunodiagnostics for early detection of leptospirosis based on immune responses against different pathogenic antigens as well as development of vaccines are important.

Identification of allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus, Moringa oleifera, Trianthema portulacastrum and Syzygium samarangense.

Background: It is clinically important to identify allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit), Moringa oleifera (moringa), Trianthema portulacastrum (horse purslane) and Syzygium samarangense (rose apple). This study included 7 patients who developed anaphylaxis to jackfruit (1), moringa (2), horse purslane (3) and rose apple (1). We sought to determine allergens in the edible ripening stages of jackfruit (tender, mature, and ripened jackfruit) and seeds, edible parts of moringa (seeds, seedpod, flesh inside seedpod, and leaves), horse purslane leaves and ripened rose apple fruit.

Cardioprotective Effects of : A Review of Bioactive Extracts and Compounds.

There has been accumulating interest in the application of medicinal plants as alternative medicine to treat various diseases and/or to develop modern medicines. is one of such medicinal plants that has been of interest to many researchers and has been of use in traditional medicine is found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Malaysia, India, China, The Philippines and East Africa. Therapeutic properties of have previously been reviewed.

ASVAC2022 : 8 Asian Vaccine Conference.

Aiming to further the Immunization Partners in Asia Pacific (IPAP)'s vision of a world where no one suffers from a vaccine preventable disease, the 8 Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC 2022) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka and virtually from 15 to 18, September 2022 (www.asianvaccine.com).

Identification of allergens in coconut milk and oil with patients sensitized to coconut milk in Sri Lanka.

Background: Despite the low prevalence of IgE sensitivity to fresh or boiled coconut milk and coconut oil, those may contain allergens of which the clinical significance remains undetermined. This study aimed to identify and compare allergens in fresh coconut milk (FCM), boiled coconut milk (BCM), unrefined wet-processed coconut oil (WPCO), and dry-processed coconut oil (DPCO) using sera from patients with allergy to coconut milk.

Methods: The study included 18 patients with immediate hypersensitivity to coconut milk, including five who developed anaphylaxis.

Food allergy in Sri Lanka - A comparative study.

Background: The incidence of IgE mediated food allergy (FA) is increasing in the west. Cow's milk (CM), hen's egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish are responsible for 90% of food allergy in the west; however, local dietary habits may result in specific allergies. Data on food allergies in South Asia is scarce.

Diagnosis of Apis dorsata venom allergy: use of recombinant allergens of Apis mellifera and a passive basophil activation test.

Background: Allergy to Apis dorsata (Giant Asian Honeybee) venom is the commonest insect allergy in Sri Lanka and South East Asia. However, laboratory diagnosis is difficult as the pure venom and diagnostic reagents are not commercially available.

Objective: This study assessed the use of four recombinant allergens of A.

Targeted Gene Sanger Sequencing Should Remain the First-Tier Genetic Test for Children Suspected to Have the Five Common X-Linked Inborn Errors of Immunity.

To address inborn errors of immunity (IEI) which were underdiagnosed in resource-limited regions, our centre developed and offered free genetic testing for the most common IEI by Sanger sequencing (SS) since 2001. With the establishment of The Asian Primary Immunodeficiency (APID) Network in 2009, the awareness and definitive diagnosis of IEI were further improved with collaboration among centres caring for IEI patients from East and Southeast Asia. We also started to use whole exome sequencing (WES) for undiagnosed cases and further extended our collaboration with centres from South Asia and Africa.

Autoimmune encephalitis in a South Asian population.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is now considered a main, potentially curable cause of encephalitis, but remains conspicuously underreported from South Asia. We studied the clinical characteristics in relation to their antibody status and outcomes of patients presenting with AE in Sri Lanka.

Methods: Patients admitting to government hospitals who were clinically suspected of AE by an on-site neurologist were prospectively recruited over a period of 12 months.

Diagnosis of venom allergy: use of immunochemical methods and a passive basophil activation test.

Background: Allergy to venom is common in the Asia Pacific region. Venom preparations for diagnosis are not commercially available for this species.

Methods: The prominent allergens in venom were identifiedusing immunochemical methods.

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.

Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome in South Asia: is there a different outcome?

Background: Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome (HIES) is a rare immune deficiency, characterized by recurrent staphylococcal skin and lung abscesses, pneumonia and increased IgE levels. The majority of autosomal dominant HIES (AD HIGE) is due to hypomorphic mutations in the signal transducer and the activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene.

Case Presentation: Five patients were diagnosed with HIES, based on the clinical criteria and scoring system developed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.

Effect of Antimicrobial Agents on Inflammatory Cytokines in Acute Leptospirosis.

The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory cytokine response and possible association with antimicrobial treatment with penicillin, ceftriaxone, and doxycycline in acute leptospirosis. In the early acute stage, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were higher in mild cases than in severe cases ( = 0.01).

Leflunomide is equally efficacious and safe compared to low dose rituximab in refractory rheumatoid arthritis given in combination with methotrexate: results from a randomized double blind controlled clinical trial.

Background: The standard dose of rituximab used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is 1000 mg but recent studies have shown that low dose (500 mg) is also effective. Efficacy of low dose rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to first-line non-biologic Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), compared to leflunomide is unknown. In a tertiary care referral setting, we conducted a randomized, double blind controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of low-dose rituximab-methotrexate combination with leflunomide-methotrexate combination.

IgE cross-reactivity of phospholipase A and hyaluronidase of Apis dorsata (Giant Asian Honeybee) and Apis mellifera (Western Honeybee) venom: Possible use of A. mellifera venom for diagnosis of patients allergic to A. dorsata venom.

Diagnostic and therapeutic reagents are unavailable for anaphylaxis arising from stings by Apis dorsata. Venom profiles and cross-reactivity of A. dorsata and Apis mellifera were compared, to ascertain whether venom of A.

Sensitization to bovine serum albumin as a possible cause of allergic reactions to vaccines.

Background: Immediate type hypersensitivity to vaccines containing bovine/porcine excipients, such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is probably due to sensitization to bovine/porcine gelatin. Most patients with such reactions in Sri Lanka have cow's milk (CM) or beef allergy.

Objectives: We investigated whether those who had beef and CM allergy had a higher incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to vaccines and the possible trigger of such reactions.

Prevalence of prolonged and chronic poliovirus excretion among persons with primary immune deficiency disorders in Sri Lanka.

Background: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, established in 1988, has made substantial progress toward achieving this target, with only 3 countries never having eliminated wild poliovirus. Persons with primary immune deficiency disorders (PIDD) exposed to OPV are at increased risk of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) and of prolonged excretion of Sabin polioviruses. However, the risk for prolonged excretion is not known.

Primary immune deficiency among patients with recurrent infections.

Objectives: Primary immune deficiency is relatively rare. Patients present with recurrent or persistent infections or infections with opportunistic pathogens. We investigated patients who presented during the years 2005-7 with recurrent or persistent infections or infections with opportunistic organisms, for underlying immune deficiency.

A case of hyper-IgE syndrome.

Hyper-IgE syndrome, a multi-system disorder affecting dentition, skeletal and immune systems and connective tissues, presents with recurrent infections and dermatitis. We report here the first case in Sri Lanka.

PCR detection and typing of human papilloma virus DNA in squamous carcinoma of the cervix in a cohort of Sri Lankan women.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in squamous carcinomas of the cervix in Sri Lanka.

Design: Case control study.

Setting: One gynaecological unit at the Cancer Institute, Maharagama, Sri Lanka.

Global environmental pollutant substance vanadium activates mast cells and basophils at the late phase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Vanadium is contained in fossil fuel such as coal, oil and sand oil and released in the air through the combustion. We studied the allergic and inflammatory potentials of vanadium as the factor of a recent increase of allergic disease. Vanadium oxide (V(2)O(5)) and orthovanadate (Na(3)VO(4)) released histamine from human basophils, rat mast cells and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)).

Effect of an ectokinase inhibitor, K252b, on degranulation and Ca2+ signals of RBL-2H3 cells and human basophils.

We examined the effects of K252b, an ectoprotein kinase inhibitor of microbial origin, on the activation process of RBL-2H3 cells by cross-linking of IgE receptors by the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone or by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Analysis of phosphorylation of ectoproteins following IgE receptor cross-linking revealed that K252b mainly inhibited the phosphorylation of a 130-kDa protein. The inhibitor simultaneously inhibited degranulation and the sustained increase in the cytosolic calcium ion concentration even after addition of Ag.