Browsing by Author "Badanasinghe, N."

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Bacterial growth in expressed mother's milk stored and transported under different simulated conditions in a tropical country
(Mary Ann Liebert, 2021) Rodrigo, R.; Badanasinghe, N.; Abayabandara-Herath, T.; Forster, D.A.; Amir, L.H.
BACKGROUND: Research on how storage and transport of expressed human milk in a tropical country affect the milk bacterial count is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 50 mothers of infants in a Sri Lankan tertiary neonatal unit was performed. Expressed mother's milk was divided into three bottles and kept under varied environmental conditions to simulate different storage and transport methods. Initial bacterial culture of milk was performed <30 minutes after expression, with further cultures at predetermined times. Bottles A and B were stored at room temperature and in a cool bag for the first 6 hours, respectively, and then refrigerated; and bottle C was refrigerated for 24 hours, transported in a cool bag for 6 hours, and rerefrigerated until 72 hours. Total colony counts >105 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of viable microorganisms or >104 CFU/mL of either Enterobacteriaceae or Staphylococcus aureus were considered positive. RESULTS: Initial culture was positive in 30% (15/50) of samples; majority, 87% (13/15), of these were S. aureus. For bottle A, 26% (13/50), 36% (18/50), 34% (17/50), and 26% (13/50) of samples were positive at 4, 6, 24, and 72 hours, respectively. For bottle B, positive cultures were found in 26% (13/50) and 17% (8/47) of samples at 24 and 72 hours, respectively. For bottle C, results were similar to bottle B. CONCLUSIONS: Transportation of expressed mother's milk for 4 hours in a tropical climate using a low-cost cool bag, with refrigeration at other times, maintained acceptable bacterial counts for up to 72 hours after expression. Hygienic practices at collection are extremely important as most samples with significant bacterial growth were positive on initial culture. KEYWORDS: expressed breast milk; expressed mother's milk; storage; transport; tropical country.
The effect of glycaemic control on neutralizing antibody response to COVID-19 among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka; A prospective cohort study
(Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka, 2023) Kottahachchi, D.; Badanasinghe, N.; Samarathunga, P.; Sandeepani, P.; Cooray, S.; Warnakulasuriya, T.
BACKGROUND: The antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is of particular concern given the increased risk of severe disease in this population. The correlation between glycaemic control among persons with DM and the antibody response was not published in Asian populations. Hence, this study aimed to determine whether glycaemic control has an association with the development of an adequate antibody response for SARS-CoV-2 among patients with DM following the administration of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out at three vaccination centers in the Kurunegala district from November 2021 to January 2022. Seventy-one patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited for this study and followed up on vaccination with the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. HbA1 c levels at the first dose and after 6-8 weeks from the second dose of vaccine were analyzed. The neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were analyzed using C Pass™ neutralizing antibody detection ELISA Kit following 6-8 weeks of the 2nd dose. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age of the total population (63.4% females) was 53 years (44.0-58.0) and they were diagnosed with diabetes for 6 years (3-11 years). The median first and second HbAlc values were 9.3% (7.2-10.7%) and 8.2% (7.1-10.2%) respectively. From the total population, only 66.2% developed protective levels of NAbs after 6-8 weeks of the second dose of the vaccine. The second HbAlc value was significantly lower compared to the first (z=-2.63, p=0.008). There was no significant difference in terms of sex, age, duration of diabetes, pre-vaccination HbAlc level, or HbAlc level 6-8 weeks after the vaccination among those who developed protective levels of antibodies and those who did not (p>0.05). There was no difference in sero-conversion depending on the abnormal HbAlc value (.28%) (1st HbAlc p=0.957, 2nd HbAlc p=0.360). Conclusion: We did not detect an association between glycaemic control and sero-conversion. However, 1/3rd of patients with diabetes did not have a protective level of NAbs following 2 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, glycaemic control did not deteriorate with COVID-19 vaccination.
Identification of Allergens (By Skin Prick Testing) in Adult Patients with Bronchial Asthma, Presenting at Asthma Clinic, Chest Hospital Welisara: A Preliminary Study
(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Badanasinghe, N.
Allergic diseases warrant identification of specific allergen triggers. Although many studies were done to determine patterns of allergen sensitization in Western countries, sensitization patterns are not known in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to identify the common aero-allergens by skin prick testing (SPT) in adult patients with bronchial asthma, at asthma clinic, Chest Hospital, Welisara. The specific objectives were to describe the exposure patterns, risk factors, severity, and control of symptoms of asthma and to compare allergen sensitization patterns with the severity and exposure patterns. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 patients >12 years of age with bronchial asthma diagnosed by a chest physician. SPT was done from 2018 January- 2019 January in all consenting and eligible 10th patient, to test maximum of 5 patients for a day until a minimum of 200 patients were tested. SPT was done for common aeroallergens with positive (0.1% histamine) and negative controls (saline). The aero-allergen panel was selected according to the most prevalent allergens in patients with asthma found by previous researchers. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data, clinical details including severity, co-morbid factors and exposures. Classification of asthma and symptom control was done according to 2016 Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. The study population was mostly (93%) comprised of patients above the age of 40 years. Adult onset asthma was present in 78% of patients. There was a significant female to male ratio of > 3:1. Allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (ARC) was the most prevalent concomitant atopic disease (63%). Most patients complained of worsening of their symptoms mainly at outdoors (62%) than indoors (37.5%). Out of total 200 study sample, 174 (87%) patients had a SPT positive result for at least one allergen tested. House dust mite (HDM) was the commonest allergen trigger which was positive in 87.3% of patients. Nearly 60% of patients were allergic to storage mites (SM) (59.2%), and cockroach (58.6%). Significant number of patients who complained of worsening of symptom indoors (88.0%) were allergic to both HDM and SM than who had worsening of symptoms outdoors (69.3%). Patients who complained of worsening of symptoms outdoors were allergic to pollens significantly (29.0%), more than who had symptoms indoors (12.0%). The SPT positivity is significantly higher in patients who had other concomitant atopic conditions (90.18%). In conclusion, 87% of asthma patients were sensitized to one or more allergens. HDM is the most common allergen trigger in all sub-populations in the study group, but it was commoner in the sub-groups of patients who had symptoms indoors (88.0%)) and had concurrent ARC (84.9%). Pollen sensitization was commoner in patients who had symptoms outdoors
Melioidosis associated with chronic osteomyelitis and visceral organ abscesses
(College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, 2014) Mathurageethan, M.; Kahathuduwa, C.; Badanasinghe, N.; Corea, E.; Fernando, R.