Development of the Sterile Insect Technique to control the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) in Sri Lanka.

Background: The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is presently being tested to control dengue in several countries. SIT aims to cause the decline of the target insect population through the release of a sufficient number of sterilized male insects. This induces sterility in the female population, as females that mate with sterilized males produce no offspring.

Entomological surveillance with viral tracking demonstrates a migrated viral strain caused dengue epidemic in July, 2017 in Sri Lanka.

Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral infection disease in Sri Lanka triggering extensive economic and social burden in the country. Even after numerous source reduction programmes, more than 30,000 incidences are reporting in the country every year. The last and greatest dengue epidemic in the country was reported in July, 2017 with more than 300 dengue related deaths and the highest number of dengue incidences were reported from the District of Gampaha.

Modified mismatch polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism detected mutations in codon 12 and 13 of exon 2 of K- gene in colorectal cancer patients and its association with liver metastases: Data from a South Asian country.

Aim: Mutations in K-ras codon 12 and 13 of exon 2 are known to affect prognosis and impart resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody therapy in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Our aim was to investigate the utility value of modified mismatch polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay to detect mutation in K-ras codons of CRC patients and to relate the mutational status to liver metastasis.

Methodology: Mismatch PCR-RFLP was developed to detect K-ras mutations in DNA isolated from paraffinized tumor tissue of thirty CRC patients.

Gender differences in undergraduate medical examination results in Sri Lanka.

Objective: To identify possible gender related differences in performance at undergraduate medical examinations in Sri Lanka.

Study Design And Methods: Results of examinations conducted by the faculty of medicine, University of Kelaniya in 1997 and 1998, and data published by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on final examinations conducted by 4 other Sri Lankan medical faculties (in the Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, Ruhuna and Jaffna) in 1996 and 1997, were analysed for sex related differences.

Results: The proportion of women in each batch of students who sat for 8 examinations conducted at the faculty of medicine, University of Kelaniya in 1997 and 1998, ranged from 40.