Prevalence of Paternal Postpartum Depression in Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka and Its Association With Maternal Postpartum Depression as a Risk Factor.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPPD in Anuradhapura district, its association with maternal PPD, and relevant risk factors.

Materials And Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted among fathers in Anuradhapura district having infants 1-5 months by giving questionnaire specifically developed for the study with Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and self-constructed questions. Out of 6324 fathers, 435 fathers and their partners were randomly selected and proportionately allocated to 5 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas.

Psychological morbidity among children with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia and their parents in Sri Lanka.

Background: Thalassaemia is a chronic disease which requires lifelong treatment in a majority. Despite recent advances in the medical care, minimal attempts are made to improve psychological health in these patients. In this study, we aim to describe the psychological morbidity in patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia and their mothers in Sri Lanka.

Health related quality of life among children with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia major and haemoglobin E β-thalassaemia in Sri Lanka: a case control study.

Background: Thalassaemia is a chronic disease without an effective cure in a majority. The clinical management has improved considerably during recent years; however, minimal attempts are made to up lift the quality of life among patients, especially in developing countries. Here we aim to describe and compare and to determine factors associated with health related quality of life among patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia major and haemoglobin E β-thalassemia in Sri Lanka.

Genomic and Epidemiological Evidence of a Dominant Panton-Valentine Leucocidin-Positive Methicillin Resistant Lineage in Sri Lanka and Presence Among Isolates From the United Kingdom and Australia.

To undertake the first detailed genomic analysis of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) isolated in Sri Lanka. A prospective observational study was performed on 94 MRSA isolates collected over a 4 months period from the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. Screening for A, C, and the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL)-associated genes and molecular characterization by typing was undertaken.

Blood transfusion therapy for β-thalassemia major and hemoglobin E β-thalassemia: Adequacy, trends, and determinants in Sri Lanka.

Background: Regular blood transfusion therapy still remains the cornerstone in the management of β-thalassemia. Although recommendations are clear for patients with β-thalassemia major, uniform transfusion guidelines are lacking for patients with hemoglobin E β-thalassemia. In this study, we aim to describe the adequacy, trends, and determinants of blood transfusion therapy in a large cohort of pediatric patients with β-thalassemia major and hemoglobin E β-thalassemia.

Assessment of intralesional cytokine profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka.

Background: Cytokines play a vital role in the host immune response to infection by initiating the healing process and/or accelerating the progression of the disease in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Very little evidence is available on cytokine profiles and their regulatory function in CL patients in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to determine the cytokine expression pattern of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-11 and IL-12p40 in CL patients and in healthy volunteers.

Measuring disease progression and disability in orthostatic tremor.

Objective: To develop a questionnaire quantifying the impact of orthostatic tremor (OT) on patients' function and quality of life to enable longitudinal measurement of disease severity.

Methods: Patients with OT were interviewed in order to identify domains for a new disease-specific impact profile. The OT impact profile (OTIP) included forty-seven items across activities of daily living (9), mobility (9), social participation (2), assistance (8) and emotional effects (19) scored from 0 to 4 (total range 0-188).

Factors associated with clinic escorts in peer-led HIV prevention interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Sri Lanka.

Background: Sri Lanka has recently completed an HIV prevention project for most-at-risk populations (MARP) under the Global Fund. The intervention includes delivery of a HIV prevention package (HPP) to men who have sex with men (MSM) that includes provision of: (1) knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STI); (2) HIV knowledge; (3) MSM-tailored leaflets; (4) condom/dildo demonstration; (5) provision of condoms; and (6) clinic escorts. MSM who received services 1-5 in the HPP are defined as 'reached'.

Angelman syndrome presenting with a rare seizure type in a patient with 15q11.2 deletion: a case report.

Introduction: Angelman syndrome, a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder associated with abnormalities in chromosome15q11-q13, is inherited from the mother. Epilepsy is seen in 85 % of children with Angelman syndrome within the first 3 years of life and is often severe and difficult to control.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a baby boy who presented at 13 months of age with a history of acute gastroenteritis and marked gross motor and speech developmental delay.

Randomized, double-blind, controlled, comparative study on intralesional 10% and 15% hypertonic saline versus intralesional sodium stibogluconate in Leishmania donovani cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: Intralesional 7% hypertonic saline (HS) has been shown to be effective and safe against Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), with cure rates of 92% and 96%, respectively. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of 10% and 15% HS in CL.

Methods: A total of 444 patients (643 lesions) were randomly allocated to sodium stibogluconate (SSG), 10% HS and 15% HS at a ratio of 2 : 2 : 1, taking into consideration any unwanted side effects that might arise with 15% HS.

Victims' response to snakebite and socio-epidemiological factors of 1018 snakebites in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.

Background: Although snake bite remains a major health problem in Sri Lanka, there is a dearth of baseline information that would be useful in education about and prevention of snakebite.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral responses, treatment seeking, and prehospital interventions of snakebite victims in an area with high snakebite burden.

Methods: This prospective study was based on a cohort of snakebite victims presented to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital over a 1-year period from January 2010.

Randomized, double-blind, comparative clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of intralesional sodium stibogluconate and intralesional 7% hypertonic sodium chloride against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani.

Introduction: Since cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a self healing disease, an ideal therapy should be rapidly effective, easily administered, cheap, available at all times at all centers and should have no side effects.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of intralesional 7% hypertonic saline in comparison to intralesional sodium stibogluconate against L. donovani CL.