Browsing by Author "Rajapakse, H."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Iron content and availability studies in some Sri Lankan rice varieties
    (International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2011) Herath, H.M.T.; Rajapakse, H.; Wimalasena, S.; Weerasooriya, M.K.B.
    Thirty-eight rice varieties, grown in Low Country Wet Zone, during Yala (2006) and Maha (2006 . 2007) seasons were screened for stable high iron rice varieties and were statistically analysed. Iron contents ranged 1.89.3.73 mg 100 g)1 and varied significantly (P < 0.05) with variety and season. Selected fifteen high iron rice varieties, at degree of polishing 8.10% were analysed for iron, zinc and phytate. High iron contents in endosperm were observed in Suduru Samba (0.47 mg 100 g)1), Basmati 370 (0.37 mg 100 g)1), Kalu Heenati (0.42 mg 100 g)1), Rathu Heenati (0.44 mg 100 g)1) and Sudu Heenati (0.37 mg 100 g)1). Phytate contents of polished rice varieties ranged from 200.300 mg 100 g)1. Large reduction in iron content (84.5.93.6%) was observed in polished rice while the reduction in phytate content (18.9.40.8%) was low. Percentage dialyzability of iron in selected endosperm high iron rice varieties ranged from 1.73 to 8.71. Dialysability of iron in cooked polished rice did not show a relation to the phytate content in raw rice.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Psychological wellbeing and mental health amongst medical undergraduates: A descriptive study assessing more than 1,000 medical students in Sri Lanka
    (London Avenue Publishing Co, 2022) Dahanayake, D.; Rajapakse, H.; Wickramasinghe, A.; Chandradasa, M.; Rohanachandra, Y.; Perera, S.; Nillo, A.M.; Molodynski, A.
    BACKGROUND: Studies from around the world have shown higher rates of anxiety, depression, alcohol and other drug use, and burnout in medical students. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify the socio-demographic factors and severity of difficulties Sri Lankan medical students face regarding psychological wellbeing and burnout. METHOD: This one-off survey used a cross-sectional design, assessing substance use, psychological wellbeing, and burnout using the CAGE, GHQ-12, and OLBI. The survey was open to all medical students in six universities in Sri Lanka. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the statistical significance related to categorical dependent variables and one-way ANOVA for continuous dependent variables. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of diagnosed mental health conditions was found following admission to the medical course in comparison prior to admission. Sixty-two percent of students had a score of more than 2 on the GHQ-12 indicating caseness. The OLBI identified exhaustion in 79% of students. The CAGE questionnaire was positive in 4.8% of students. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small proportion of students are recognizing their mental health difficulties and seeking help. Further understanding is required as to why this is, as well as re-evaluation of the demands of the curriculum. Effective ways of regularly identifying and providing practical and evidence-based support for mental health problems in medical and other undergraduates need to be identified and introduced. KEYWORDS: Sri Lanka; Wellbeing; burnout; medical students.