The Role of Serum NT-proBNP for Predicting Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Hospitalized Patients in Sri Lanka.

Background/aims: Only a few studies have addressed the role of NT-proBNP in identifying Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) in South Asian populations. Therefore, the current study was aimed at assessing the use of serum NT-proBNP in predicting LVSD in a hospitalized population in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A random sample of 278 individuals referred for echocardiography at a major Teaching Hospital consented for venous blood samples to be collected for serum NT-proBNP assay by sandwich ELISA.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as a rare complication of dengue haemorrhagic fever: a case report.

Background: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon systemic inflammatory syndrome that can happen secondary to numerous conditions. It rarely occurs due to dengue infection causing significant mortality and morbidity even with appropriate treatment. The outcome is further poor if the diagnosis of HLH is delayed or left untreated.

Blood transfusion in severe dengue infection: a case series.

Background: Dengue is still a recurrent challenge to the global population, without specific antiviral therapy. Clinical management strategies are aimed to mitigate the deaths. The use of blood products in dengue is recommended mainly in cases of bleeding.

Pure red cell aplasia secondary to rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease with many extra-articular manifestations. Pure red cell aplasia is a rare manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis and is sparsely documented in the literature, with a variable clinical outcome following immunosuppressive therapy.

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old Sinhalese female presented with transfusion-dependent anemia associated with deforming inflammatory arthritis.

Kounis Syndrome Secondary to Medicine-Induced Hypersensitivity.

Introduction: Kounis syndrome is the concurrence of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by coronary vasospasms, acute myocardial infarctions, or stent thromboses in case of allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. Kounis syndrome is mediated by mast cells that interact with macrophages and T-lymphocytes, causing degranulation and inflammation with cytokine release. It is a life-threatening condition that has many trigger factors and is most commonly caused by medicines.

Too Aggressive Drop in Blood Pressure in a Hypertensive Male Leading to "Man-in-the-Barrel Syndrome".

Introduction: "Man-in-the-barrel syndrome" is a neurological phenotype with brachial diplegia, normal sensation, and preserved motor function of the lower limb. It has been described in various neuropathological conditions affecting the cerebral hemispheres, pons, upper spinal cord, and peripheral neurons. Severe hypotension leading to watershed infarctions leading to this phenotype has been reported.

Young Male Presenting with an Acute Diarrheal Illness with Unexplained Transudative Ascites: An Atypical Presentation of Appendicular Tuberculosis.

Introduction: Appendicular tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis involving the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosis of appendicular tuberculosis is difficult due to its atypical presentation. Histological confirmation remains the gold standard in diagnosis.

Infective myositis, an uncommon presentation of melioidosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Melioidosis is considered endemic in certain areas of the world. Musculoskeletal and soft tissue involvement are relatively uncommon presentations in melioidosis. We present a case of infective myositis in a patient with melioidosis in Sri Lanka, which is not considered an endemic country.

Guillain-Barré syndrome with associated unilateral ptosis without ophthalmoplegia - a rare presentation: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy. Nearly half of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome have cranial nerve involvement. However, isolated bilateral ptosis without ophthalmoplegia is a rare manifestation, and isolated unilateral ptosis without ophthalmoplegia in Guillain-Barré syndrome has not previously been reported in the literature.

Unilateral pulmonary edema: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Unilateral pulmonary edema is an uncommon condition and is a rare clinical entity that is often misdiagnosed at the initial stages. In a majority of patients it occurs in the upper lobe of the right lung. There are many causes of unilateral pulmonary edema, but the commonest is the presence of a grade 3 mitral regurgitation.

Value of peripheral blood count for dengue severity prediction.

Objective: This retrospective study was conducted in 2017 with the objective of evaluating the value of acute phase peripheral blood parameters in predicting dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Patients, who were admitted to Teaching Hospital Peradeniya between January and August 2017 due to dengue illness, were recruited into this study.

Results: A total of 515 patients participated in the study.

A case of acute necrotizing pancreatitis complicated with non ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition with varying severity and a range of local and systemic complications. Here we report a patient with acute necrotizing pancreatitis complicated with a true non ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Case Presentation: A 58 year old lady was admitted to our unit with acute onset epigastric pain and vomiting for 4 h duration.

Translation and validation of patient-practitioner orientation scale in Sri Lanka.

Background: Practice of family medicine and patient centeredness does not get the deserved attention in clinical practice and teaching in Sri Lanka. Non-availability of tools for assessment of patient centeredness deters the process of curricular development and research. The Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) is a self-administered tool that assesses patient-centeredness in both health care professionals and patients.

Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and long-term outcomes of a major outbreak of chikungunya in a hamlet in sri lanka, in 2007: a longitudinal cohort study.

Chikungunya outbreaks occurred in the central province, Sri Lanka in 2006. This community-based study reports the epidemiology and the natural history of the infection from an affected village. Of the 199 families and 1001 individuals in the village, 159 (80%) and 513 (51%) were affected, respectively, comprising 237 (46%) males with peak incidence at 40-50 years.

Spot urine osmolality/creatinine ratio in healthy humans.

Background: Spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio is a reliable estimate of 24-hour urine albumin excretion. In a pilot study, we observed that the spot urine osmolality/creatinine ratio (U(osm)/U(cr)) in healthy adults is reproducible. Therefore, we postulated that U(osm)/U(cr) of a spot urine sample may give an overall estimate of urinary excretion of solutes, renal concentrating ability and body hydration status.