Community-based snakebite risk mapping for resource prioritisation in Eastern Province, Rwanda.

Background: Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency that requires rapid access to essential medicines and well-trained personnel. In resource-poor countries, mapping snakebite incidence can help policymakers to make evidence-based decisions for resource prioritisation. This study aimed to characterise the spatial variation in snakebite risk, and in particular to identify areas of relatively high and low risk, in Eastern Province, Rwanda.

How do we define normal bowel frequency from newborn to teens?: A Bayesian meta-analysis.

Objectives: Defecation disorders are a common pediatric problem and bowel frequency is crucial in identifying them. The aim of this analysis is to define normal bowel frequencies in healthy children ranging from newborns to adolescents.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception to February 2024, aiming to identify studies reporting bowel habits of healthy children (0-18 years).

Acute hemolytic crisis complicated with ischemic cardiac injury and methemoglobinaemia following ingestion of naphthalene: a case report.

Background: Naphthalene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that potentially produces methemoglobinaemia but rarely causes hemolysis, especially in children with underlying glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Although ingestion of a single moth ball by an older child may not be life threatening, it can be fatal if ingested by a toddler.

Case Presentation: A 2-year-old Singhalese boy developed acute severe hemolysis and methemoglobinaemia following ingestion of a mothball.

Phytochemistry and nutraceutical potential of Ceylon Cinnamomum species native to Sri Lanka.

Cinnamon is a spice that is renowned for its several medicinal and cosmetic benefits. The research study examined the essential oil content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of seven species native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon bark and leaf samples were used to extract essential oils, methanol, and hexane.

Epidemiological patterns and trends of paediatric snakebites in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the epidemiological patterns of paediatric snake bites in Sri Lanka over a 4-year period (2020-2024).

Methods: A multi-centre, retrospective observational study was conducted from June 2020 to June 2024 across nine governmental hospitals in seven provinces of Sri Lanka. Data were collected based on 757 children presenting with snake bites.

Implementation of a goal-directed Care Bundle for intracerebral hemorrhage: Results of embedded process evaluation in the INTERACT3 trial.

The third, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized, Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3), has shown that a goal-directed multi-faceted Care Bundle incorporating protocols for the management of physiological variables was safe and effective for improving functional recovery in a broad range of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The INTERACT3 Care Bundle included time- and target-based protocols for the management of early intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP, target <140mmHg), glucose control (target 6.1-7.

The effectiveness of digital physical activity interventions in older adults: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis.

Background: Physical activity is important for healthy ageing, however most older adults are inactive. Numerous reviews with a range of inclusion criteria have been conducted on digital interventions to promote physical activity in older adults, and a synthesis of these is needed. Therefore, the objective of this study is to conduct an umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis on the effectiveness of digital interventions to promote physical activity in older adults.

Stomach content analysis of Euthynnus affinis, Auxis thazard and Auxis rochei of the coastal waters of Sri Lanka by DNA barcoding.

Background: Analysis of the content of the gut of fish helps in the understanding of their inter- and intra-specific interactions, fish behaviour, condition and energy intake. The stomach contents of the commercially important neritic tuna species of Sri Lanka, kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis), frigate tuna (Auxis thazard) and bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) were analysed to determine their feeding habits and to identify prey species.

Methods And Results: The weighed stomachs of fish were dissected to reveal the types of prey found within.

Innovative transgenic zebrafish biosensor for heavy metal detection.

Heavy metal contamination is an urgent environmental issue that poses a significant threat to human health and the ecosystem. To mitigate the adverse impacts of heavy metal pollution, the aim of this research was to develop genetically engineered zebrafish as biosensors, which offer a promising alternative for detecting heavy metal exposure, specifically Cd⁺ and Zn⁺. A novel heavy metal-sensitive gene construct metallothionine 2 promoter with DsRed reporter gene (mt2-DsRed2) was synthesized and integrated into zebrafish embryos using a Tol2 transposon transposase system with the transgenic zebrafish line subjected to biosensing applications for Cd and Zn.

Burden of rotavirus and adenovirus gastroenteritis in children and adults hospitalized in two geo-climatically different provinces of Sri Lanka.

Acute gastroenteritis is common in infants and children of Sri Lanka. There is limited information on the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and children in Sri Lanka but none in adults. Adenovirus gastroenteritis is not previously reported in Sri Lanka.

Colonic diverticular disease revisited.

Introduction: Diverticular disease, including diverticulosis and diverticulitis, presents a significant health concern globally, with increasing prevalence in Western societies and emerging trends in Asia. The incidence of diverticulitis, is on the rise, leading to significant morbidity and healthcare costs.

Areas Covered: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database, and studies published between 1995 and 2024 were selected based on their relevance to the overall understanding of disease.

Human intestinal nematode infections in Sri Lanka: A scoping review.

Background: Sri Lanka, an island located in South Asia, once experienced a notable prevalence of human intestinal nematode infections (HINIs). With the implementation of control programs, infection prevalence was reduced. Detailed information on prevalence, distribution and temporal trends of HINIs is limited.

Evaluation of BBIBP-CorV Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in Sri Lanka: a test-negative case control study.

Objectives: There is limited research on real-world effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. This study evaluated real-world effectiveness of Sinopharm vaccine in Sri Lanka by assessing absolute vaccine efficacy.

Design And Setting: A retrospective test-negative case-control study was conducted at ten large government hospitals across the country.

Psychometric Validation of the In-Hand Manipulation Assessment.

Objective: To determine the inter-rater reliability, and criterion and discriminant validity of the In-Hand Manipulation Assessment (IHMA) with patients after stroke.

Design: Participants were videotaped, completing the IHMA and scored by 2 blinded assessors to determine the inter-rater reliability. Stroke participants also completed the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and healthy participants completed the Nine-Hole Peg Test to determine the validity of the IHMA.

Mechanical circulatory support reduces renal sympathetic nerve activity in an ovine model of acute myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The use of circulatory assist devices has been shown to improve glomerular filtration rate and reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury in patients following acute cardiac pathology. However, the mechanisms of improvement in kidney function are not clear. We tested the hypothesis that mechanical circulatory support would result in a decrease in directly recorded renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mediate the improvement in renal blood flow (RBF) in a setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-induced left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Rising trends of diabetes in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: South Asians are known for their increased predisposition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). We describe the most recent prevalence and trends of diabetes, prediabetes, and undiagnosed diabetes in South Asia based on surveys conducted from 2000 to 2024.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases for population-based studies describing diabetes/prediabetes prevalence.

Larger size of Conn's adenoma is associated with lower cure rates post adrenalectomy.

Background: The cure for patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) secondary to solitary adrenal adenoma is adrenalectomy. We investigated the impact of size of Conns' tumour on hypertension resolution in a multi-ethnic South East Asian Cohort.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for PHA between January 2010 to December 2022 was performed.

Parental expectations and perceptions of augmentative and alternative communication: A Sri Lankan perspective.

Everybody has a right to communicate in any way they can, which includes augmentative and alternative communication. The uptake of augmentative and alternative communication in everyday life may be influenced by awareness, perceptions and acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication by caregivers, family members and the wider society. This study aimed to uncover what parents thought about augmentative and alternative communication in a Global South context.

Assessing alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards: the International Alcohol Control Study.

Background: The alcohol industry uses many of the tobacco industry's strategies to influence policy-making, yet unlike the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is no intergovernmental guidance on protecting policies from alcohol industry influence. Systematic assessment of alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards is also lacking. Here, we aimed to identify the nature and extent of industry penetration in a cross-section of jurisdictions.

A novel mutation in the SLCO2A1 gene presenting as persistent hypoproteinaemia and refractory iron deficiency anaemia due to chronic enteropathy: a case report.

Background: The SLCO2A1 gene encodes a prostaglandin transporter and we report a novel mutation causing hypoproteinaemia and refractory anaemia due to chronic enteropathy.

Case Presentation: An 18-year-old boy of consanguineous parents was investigated for hypoproteinaemia and anaemia. He was short, pale and had generalised oedema.

The long-term impact of post-cholecystectomy major bile duct injury on liver stiffness.

Introduction: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (BDI) are a devastating complication. Long-term impact of corrective hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) for such injuries on post -surgery liver stiffness is lacking. Hence the aim of this study was to explore the extent of hepatic fibrosis in a cohort of patients with Strasberg E bile duct injuries who underwent HJ after a minimum follow-up of six months.

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.