Comparison of risk factor profile, severity and outcome between lacunar strokes & other ischaemic stroke subtypes

Objective: Lacunar infarcts are a frequent type of stroke caused mainly by cerebral small-vessel disease.  Because of this, lacunar infarcts are likely to behave differently from other ischaemic stroke subtypes and may require a different approach in their management. Objective was to describe the differences in risk factor profile, severity and outcome between lacunar and other ischaemic stroke subtypes as this aspect had not been studied in Srilankan patients. Methods: This prospective descriptive study included 70 patients with acute ischaemic strokes admited to Colombo South Teaching Hospital during 01/06/2012 to 10/09/2012. Severity of the stroke was assessed by using The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Assessment of the outcome was done by estimating disability using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) by contacting the patient via telephone after one month of hospital discharge. Results: In this period of time 46 patients with lacunar strokes and 26 with other types of ischaemic stroke were evaluated. Hypertension (58.7% Vs 54.2%) and Diabetes mellitus (45.7% Vs 45.8%) were equally common in lacunar and non lacunar stroke. Hypercholesterolemia (32.6% Vs 12.5%) was more frequent in lacunar stroke and chronic atrial fibrillation (4.2% Vs 2.2%) was more frequent in non lacunar stroke patients. Regarding severity, 56.5% of lacunar stroke patients had minor stroke (NIH stroke scale 1-4) while 62.5% of non lacunar patients had moderate stroke (NIH stroke scale 5-15)(P value = 0.02). With regard to outcome following stroke, 63% of lacunar strokes and 45.8% of non lacunar strokes were independent (MRS<3) after one month. Conclusion: Lacunar strokes appear to cause less disability and their outcome too is better.  Risk factors did not show a significant difference, but a larger study is needed to confirm this

Development of a suitable rearing media for Tribolium castaneum: Poster

Tribolium castaneum is a serious pest of cereal flour and flour-based products, and thus a test insect in storedproduct research. The composition of the rearing medium affects the progeny production, their performance and handling efficacy. The objective of this research was to develop a suitable rearing media for T. castaneum. The research tested wheat flour, crushed broiler feed, crushed dog feed and corn flour alone and in different combinations. Twenty adults of T. castaneum were introduced to each medium separately, and removed after 2 weeks. The progeny adults emerged in each rearing medium was determined. The progeny produced differed with the food medium. In general, the rearing media having a combination of ingredients produced more progeny than a particular component alone. Different ratios of these food ingredients need to be tested to further increase the progeny production in T. castaneum and to determine the efficacy of these media on the progeny production in other species.Tribolium castaneum is a serious pest of cereal flour and flour-based products, and thus a test insect in storedproduct research. The composition of the rearing medium affects the progeny production, their performance and handling efficacy. The objective of this research was to develop a suitable rearing media for T. castaneum. The research tested wheat flour, crushed broiler feed, crushed dog feed and corn flour alone and in different combinations. Twenty adults of T. castaneum were introduced to each medium separately, and removed after 2 weeks. The progeny adults emerged in each rearing medium was determined. The progeny produced differed with the food medium. In general, the rearing media having a combination of ingredients produced more progeny than a particular component alone. Different ratios of these food ingredients need to be tested to further increase the progeny production in T. castaneum and to determine the efficacy of these media on the progeny production in other species

Refinement of the taxonomic structure of 16SrXI and 16SrXIV phytoplasmas of gramineous plants using multilocus sequence typing

Phytoplasmas that infect gramineous plants, including Napier grass stunt, sugarcane whiteleaf, sugarcane grassy shoot, and Bermuda grass whiteleaf, have been classified into two closely related groups, 16SrXI and 16SrXIV, based on the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Subsequently, phytoplasmas associated with coconut and Areca palm in southern India and Sri Lanka have been added into the 16SrXI group. However, the 16S rRNA gene gives relatively poor resolution between these phytoplasmas. In this study, a new set of universal phytoplasma primers that amplify approximately 1 kb of the leucyl transfer RNA synthetase (leuS) gene have been validated on a broad range of phytoplasma taxonomic groups. These have been used along with partial sequences of the secA gene to clarify the taxonomic classification of 16SrXI and 16SrXIV phytoplasmas. Based on this data, the sugarcane whiteleaf and grassy shoot phytoplasmas appear to be the same phytoplasma. The Napier grass stunt phytoplasma forms a distinct group from the Bermuda grass whiteleaf and sugarcane phytoplasmas, suggesting that Napier grass stunt should be in its own ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma sp.’. The phytoplasmas associated with coconut and arecanut in southern India and Sri Lanka, which are in the same 16SrXI group, appear in different groups based on secA analysis

Abundance of insects in rice mills in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka: Poster

Monitoring of insect population is a prerequisite for integrated pest management attempts. The complex structures/machines in rice milling facilities, however, limit surveying attempts aggravating the ignorance of insect fauna associated with such facilities. Furthermore, insect surveys conducted in Sri Lanka are very rare. The objective of the current study was to determine the presence, diversity, and abundance of insects in rice mills of varying capacity as found in a major rice processing area in Sri Lanka. A group of large-, medium-, and smallscale mills were used for the survey. Samples were collected from different locations in the mills, and the density of insects at each location was determined. Insect species and their abundance varied with the type of mill as well as with the location in the mill. This information is useful to design and implement pest management for the mills.Monitoring of insect population is a prerequisite for integrated pest management attempts. The complex structures/machines in rice milling facilities, however, limit surveying attempts aggravating the ignorance of insect fauna associated with such facilities. Furthermore, insect surveys conducted in Sri Lanka are very rare. The objective of the current study was to determine the presence, diversity, and abundance of insects in rice mills of varying capacity as found in a major rice processing area in Sri Lanka. A group of large-, medium-, and smallscale mills were used for the survey. Samples were collected from different locations in the mills, and the density of insects at each location was determined. Insect species and their abundance varied with the type of mill as well as with the location in the mill. This information is useful to design and implement pest management for the mills

Response and Survival Estimates of Patients With Plasma Cell Myeloma in a Resource-Constrained Setting Using Protocols From High-Income Countries:A Single-Center Experience From Sri Lanka

There is a significant disparity in global cancer care and outcome between countries. Progress in the treatment of symptomatic plasma cell myeloma (PCM) in high-income countries is not seen in low- and middle-income countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is was a retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with PCM between May 1, 2013, and September 30, 2021, at the first hemato-oncology center in Sri Lanka. We aimed to provide data on clinicopathologic characteristics, response, and survival estimates. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with PCM received first-line therapy during the study period. The median age was 64 years, and approximately one third (33%) of patients were older than 70 years. There were 42 (53%) males and 37 females. Hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia, and bone disease were detected in 36.7%, 38%, 72.1%, and 81%, respectively. Thirty-nine, 34, and six patients received a combination of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone; bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone; and other treatments, respectively. The overall response rate (≥ partial response) was approximately 97% for both cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone and bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone. Twenty-three (29%) of these patients died during the study period, but only 14 (18%) died due to PCM or associated sepsis. After a median follow-up of 40.6 months (range, 35.2-59.07 months), the median overall survival was 84.2 months (95% CI, 60.87 to not available). The 5-year estimated overall survival was 65%. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the only well-characterized study on long-term survival of patients with PCM in Sri Lanka. We have shown that it is possible to successfully apply Western treatment and supportive care protocols to the local population. These published data will help to benchmark and improve the treatment and develop blood cancer care in the local setting

Face to face delivery this week; on-line the next

PURPOSE OF REFLECTION Reflects on the effects of on student engagement from shifting from face-to-face to online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown. Unitec accounting lecturers’ observations and experiences of student engagement in online learning from teaching post graduate and undergraduate accounting courses

New methodology for developing driving cycle(s) for Sri Lanka; case study, Colombo, Sri lanka

Even though driving cycles have been adopted around the world in different type of applications, the data needed for each steps is costly and time consuming. Majority of the Developing countries do not have systematic data bases for traffic related information such as origin-destinations, vehicle kilometers, average annual daily traffic etc. for majority of road links. Meager amount of available data is not sufficient to develop a driving cycle. Even though the data is collected, significant effort has to be made to construct a driving cycle that closely matches to the population data set. This paper gives simplified methodology for developing driving cycles using different approaches for route selection, data collection and cycle construction. For the route selection the available methods have been combined together and modified to suit for developing countries where no details traffic flow information will be available. Also a method was adopted for data collection by dividing selected routes in to links and grouped them according to daily traffic to optimize the cost for data collection. Road links were divided using physical junctions on the road and routes were selected using traffic generators and attracters combined with Origin Destination data. Also methodology was developed for synthesize data population using collected data from road links. Another issue for cycle construction is to construct a cycle which is close to population parameters. Using existing methods many cycles have to be constructed until the acceptable cycles is generated. New methodology has been adopted to develop driving cycle to match the population parameters and then to select data for driving cycle using Markov chain. As a case study Colombo, Sri Lanka has selected to apply the new approach of driving cycle construction for developing countries

Prioritizing transport infrastructure projects at early stages of projects

Investment on transport infrastructure is a significant component in a country’s budget as it is identified as a key factor to facilitate the country’s development. At the same time demand for transportation is positively correlated with the development. With this increasing demand for transport infrastructure and limited funding available, it is necessary to prioritise appropriate projects. Current appraisal practices at the early stages of projects fail to identify some important criterions and therefore, may ultimately end up not selecting the most appropriate project(s) which addresses contemporary concerns. Therefore the objective of this study is to identify a cost effective method and factors that should be considered in evaluating alternatives at the early stages of transport infrastructure projects. Both academic and grey literature was reviewed to identify current practises; methodologies and factors concerned in the recent past. Most of the time feasibility reports used descriptive format and often gave vague conclusions. Therefore the final selection of alternative(s) is implicit. A performance matrix was developed in this study based on multi criteria analysis linear additive model. This method was primarily selected as it is easy to use in practise. In addition to the traditional criterions, this matrix contains new criterions that should be looked into with the current interests. A case study for Kandy expressway alternative selection based on this developed performance matrix is presented in this paper. In addition to the new matrix, a modified scoring system was used in the analysis to minimise the variations, as scores are given by different experts. Further, analysis was compared with the view of different experts and results of sensitivity analysis to address the possible arguments on weight given to each criterion