Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dosage: Geographical Variations and Real-Life Modules in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: The Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dosage (LEDD) calculation algorithms help in capturing and harmonization of Parkinson's Disease (PD) therapies. Analyzing these updates is essential for validating their effectiveness.

Objective: To assess updated LEDD conversion factors in capturing the newer therapies in PD and therapy modules in different geographical cohorts.

Low-dose melatonin for sleep disturbances in early-stage cirrhosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial.

Background And Aim: Melatonin is used to treat sleep disturbances (SDs). The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of low-dose melatonin for SDs in early-stage cirrhosis.

Methods: In a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial, patients with early-stage (Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] class A or B) cirrhosis with SDs, without hepatic encephalopathy, were randomized to placebo or 3 mg of melatonin for 2 weeks.

Fetal Doppler reference values in women with a normal body mass index.

Objectives: To construct gestation specific reference limits for fetal umbilical (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility indices (PI) and the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in singleton pregnancies with normal BMI between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation.

Methods: We ultrasonographically examined 596 fetuses from women with normal nutritional and health status and minimal environmental constraints on fetal growth. Each mother was considered only once for measurement of fetal Doppler indices, at gestations between 16 and 40 weeks in a prospective cross-sectional study.

Headache: an important symptom possibly linked to white matter lesions in thalassaemia.

Neurological manifestations are reported only occasionally in patients with thalassaemia and are given much less prominence than the complications related to anaemia and iron overload. White matter changes (WMCs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with thalassaemia were first reported two decades ago but the significance of these lesions remains unclear. We studied the neurological and cognitive manifestations in 82 older patients with thalssaemia [25 Thalassaemia major (TM), 24 thalassaemia intermedia (TI) and 33 haemaglobin E β thalassaemia (EBT)] and 80 controls, and found that headaches were more common in thalassaemia patients (50/82, 61%) than in controls (18/80, 22·5%: P < 0·001).

Gloriosa superba poisoning mimicking an acute infection- a case report.

Background: Gloriosa superba (GSb) is a highly poisonous plant and its toxicity is due to anti-mitotic effects of constituents such as colchicine and gloriosine on rapidly proliferating cells. Poisoning is known to cause very rapid and severe clinical manifestations due gastro intestinal, neurological, cardiac and bone marrow toxicity.

Case Presentation: A young male presented with an acute onset febrile illness associated with diarrhoea, confusion, haematuria and aggressive behavior of 4 days duration.

Validation of the Sinhala version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) for assessment of health related quality of life among Sri Lankan cirrhotics.

Objectives: The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is a validated tool measuring Health Related Quality of Life among patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to validate a Sinhala version of the CLDQ (sCLDQ) and to test its correlation with the degree of liver dysfunction in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: A standard translation method was used.

Feeding practices among children attending child welfare clinics in Ragama MOH area: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: Feeding during early childhood is important for normal physical and mental growth as well as for health in later life. Currently, Sri Lanka has adopted the WHO recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by addition of complementary feeds thereafter, with continuation of breastfeeding up to or beyond two years. This study was conducted to evaluate the current feeding practices among Sri Lankan children during early childhood.

Laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic option in evaluating chronic unexplained right iliac fossa pain.

Background: Management of chronic right iliac fossa (CRIF) pain is poorly documented in literature. No guidelines are available on the best therapeutic approach.

Method: Patients presenting from October 2007 to August 2009 with pain persisting or recurring in right lower abdomen over a period of 6 weeks or more were assessed.