Medicine

Prediction of Newborn Anthropometric Parameters using Maternal Anthropometry at Tertiary Care Maternity Hospital in Galle District, Sri Lanka

2023-04-26T10:58:36Z

Prediction of Newborn Anthropometric Parameters using Maternal Anthropometry at Tertiary Care Maternity Hospital in Galle District, Sri Lanka Darshana, LAN; Wijesinghe, CJ; Kulatunga, PARI; Abeynayake, NR The state of maternal nutrition, denoted by maternal anthropometric parameters, is found to play a pivotal role in determining new-born anthropometric parameters. This study was conducted to predict new-born anthropometric parameters based on maternal anthropometric parameters. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 333 pregnant mothers admitted for delivery after 28 weeks of gestation at Teaching Hospital Mahamodara, Galle. Pregnant mothers who had multiple pregnancies, registered after 12 weeks of gestation and pre-existing disease conditions that might affect the anthropometric parameters were excluded from the study. Multiple linear regression was performed using SPSS (25th version) at 0.05 significance level. Newborn anthropometric and maternal anthropometric parameters which were considered in the study were normally distributed. Maternal anthropometry had mean (SD) of pre-pregnancy weight of 55.1(12.8) kg, maternal height of 154.7(5.7) cm and pregnancy weight gain of 9.6(4.1) kg. New-born anthropometry had Mean (SD) birth weight of 2.79(0.6) kg, head circumference of 32.6(1.7) cm and length of 50.8(3.0) cm. Birthweight was statistically significantly predicted (F=11.25, p<0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.090) using pre-pregnancy weight (β=11.75, p<0.001) and pregnancy weight gain (β=39.33, p<0.001). Head circumference (F=13.11, p<0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.035) and length at birth (F=13.91, p<0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.037) were statistically significantly predicted using pregnancy weight gain (β=0.37, p<0.001 and β=0.60, p<0.001 respectively). New-born anthropometric parameters can be predicted using pregnancy weight gain and pre-pregnancy weight. Hence prepregnancy care should be strengthened to optimize pregnancy weight gain and pre-pregnancy weight to achieve optimal new-born anthropometric parameters.

Filarial Infections among Migrant Workers Employed in Steel Factories in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka

2023-04-26T11:29:49Z

Filarial Infections among Migrant Workers Employed in Steel Factories in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka Ubhayawardana, DLNL; Gunaratna, IE; Kannangara, PDCN; Premaratne, PH; Abeyewickreme, W In 2016, WHO declared Sri Lanka as a country that eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. Influx of migrant workers from neighbouring countries which are still endemic for LF has been reported in Sri Lanka, recently. Majority of them are employed in the industrial sector in Gampaha district. This could be associated with increased risk spreading LF with the possibility of introducing new strains of Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) and may increase the potential of re-emergence of brugian filariasis. This study reports the initial findings of an ongoing research, conducted jointly by the FOM, KDU and Anti Filariasis Campaign, Sri Lanka, to assess the impact of migrant workers in re-establishment of LF in the country. Migrant workers (N = 1112) who are employed in six steel factories in Gampaha district were enrolled for this descriptive cross-sectional study. Participants’ demographic data and other information were collected using a questionnaire. Thick Night Blood Films (NBF) of the participants were prepared and later examined by two independent expert microscopists. A single multiplex PCR was performed using WBR129 and BMR188 reverse primers specific for Wb and Brigia malayi respectively on the participants who were positive for NBF. Screening of NBF identified 14 filariasis positive workers. All NBF positives were confirmed as Wb infections by PCR. All positive workers were Indians who resided in Sri Lanka from 3 months to 5 years. Thus, the results indicate that migrant workers could act as reservoirs for LF in the Gampaha district where the density of vector mosquito is high.

A Relapsed Case of Disseminated Histoplasmosis – A Case Report from Sri Lanka

2023-04-26T11:03:29Z

A Relapsed Case of Disseminated Histoplasmosis – A Case Report from Sri Lanka Welagedara, PGRUM; Liyanage, SPM; Dissanayake, DMUI Histoplasma capsulatum is a soil saprophyte which is now considered to be endemic in Southeast Asia and Southern Europe. It is a thermally dimorphic fungus seen in damp soil contaminated with bat guano and bird excreta. Here we present a case of disseminated histoplasmosis, which is rarely encountered in the Sri Lankan clinical setting. 57-year-old farmer presented to Army hospital Colombo 05 with painful, pus discharging multiple nodular lesions on face, upper limbs, and trunk for one month. He had oral mucosal lesions with oral swelling and he complained of dysphagia, loss of appetite and loss of weight. He had been treated for Histoplasma capsulatum infection four years ago in a different hospital but had defaulted treatment. This patient had been exposed to caves with bats in their village which can be considered as the source of his infection. In this admission histopathology of forehead nodular lesion was compatible with Histoplasma infection. KOH direct smear of biopsy samples from R/axillary nodules showed numerous budding yeast cells and culture isolated Histoplasma capsulatum at the Mycology Reference Laboratory. CECT revealed numerous foci of calcification in the pancreatic head, body, and tail region with a large amorphous calcification (32mm x 22mm x 16mm) in the tail region. No other organs were involved. He was managed as disseminated histoplasmosis, with IV amphotericin B and oral itraconazole to which he achieved an adequate clinical response. Histoplasmosis should be suspected in patients with granulomatous skin lesions, and prompt diagnosis and prolonged antifungal treatment with close follow up will result in favourable outcomes in these patients.

Review on Antidiabetic Potency of Family Aristolochiaceae Using the Diabetic Rat Model, α-Glucosidase, and α-Amylase Inhibitory Assays

2023-04-26T11:22:25Z

Review on Antidiabetic Potency of Family Aristolochiaceae Using the Diabetic Rat Model, α-Glucosidase, and α-Amylase Inhibitory Assays Piyathilaka, KHRLG; Karunaratne, GHRE The plant species in the family Aristolochiaceae consists of various important bioactive compounds, and they are used as functional ingredients in the development of therapeutic agents to act against diseases including diabetes. The main objective of this review is to identify the glucose-lowering potencies regarding the diabetic mellitus of plant species in the family Aristolochiaceae. This was conducted by analyzing the alpha-glucosidase inhibition in the alphaglucosidase inhibitory assay, the alpha-amylase dehydrogenase rate in the alpha-amylase inhibitory assay, and glucose reduction in the diabetic rat model. In the diabetic rat model, root ethanolic extract of Aristolochia ringens showed the highest glucose reduction with the Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetogenic agent, which is 113.1±1.8 mg/dl. The leaf ethanol extract of Aristolochia indica showed the highest glucose reduction with the alloxan diabetogenic agent, which is 5.28±0.37 mg/dl. When using dexamethasone as a diabetogenic agent, methanolic extract of the whole plant of Aristolochia bracteolata showed the highest glucose reduction, which is 124.5±1.231 mg/dl. In α- glucosidase inhibitory assay, ethyl acetate root extract of Aristolochia longa showed the highest IC50 value which is 0.199±0.014 mg/ml. In the α- amylase inhibitory assay, whole plant methanolic extract of Aristolochia indica showed the highest α-amylase dehydrogenase rate which is 60.12 ±0.46 nm/min/mg protein. The genus Aristolochia in the family Aristolochiaceae showed significant glucose-lowering potency. Moreover, the importance of using species in the family Aristolochiaceae in the management of diabetes should be identified and accepted for suitable alternative medicines in future studies.