Journal/Magazine Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13
This collection contains original research articles, review articles and case reports published in local and international peer reviewed journals by the staff members of the Faculty of Medicine
Browse
8 results
Search Results
Item Molecular markers of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Sri Lanka:frequency before revision of the antimalarial drug policy(Academic Press, 2009) Hapuarachchi, H.A.C.; Abeysundara, S.; Dayanath, M.Y.D.; Manamperi, A.; Abeyewickreme, W.; de Silva, N.R.No Abstract AvailableItem A Case of imported malaria: the first report of Plasmodium malariae infection in Sri Lanka after 37 years(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2008) Hapuarachchi, H.A.C.; Gunawardena, N.K.; Senevirathne, M.P.; Abeyewickreme, W.; de Silva, N.R.We report a case of Plasmodium falciparum and P. malariae mixed infection in a patient who had been living in Malawi. This is the first case of P. malariae reported in Sri Lanka in 4 decades. The presence of both parasites was confirmed by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The history strongly indicated that the infection had been acquired from Malawi. The patient had liver dysfunction and a transient glomerulonephritis, both of which subsided with antimalarial treatment.Item Chloroquine resistant falciparum malaria among security forces personnel in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2004) Hapuarachchi, H.A.C.; Dayanath, M.Y.D.; Abeysundara, S.; Bandara, K.B.A.T.; Abeyewickreme, W.; de Silva, N.R.OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence and species distribution of malaria and the extent of chloroquine resistance among security forcespersonnel in a selected region of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. DESIGN: A descriptive study. SETTING: Mannar District in the Northern Province. METHODS: Nine hundred and seventy five security personnel were screened for malaria by microscopy. Those who were positive were treated withchloroquine and were subjected to 28 day in vivo assay to determine chloroquine resistance. In vitro microtest assay was performed to determine the response of Plasmodium falciparum isolates to chloroquine in vitro. RESULTS: Of the 975 personnel screened, 181 (18.6%) were positive for malaria. P. falciparum was the predominant species (n = 125; 69.1%). The rest were due to P. vivax (n = 42; 23.2%) and mixed infections (n = 14; 7.7%). This was an inversion of the usual species distribution pattern in the country. In vivo assay revealed 38 (53.5%) P. falciparum infections as chloroquine resistant. Fifteen of 23 (65.2%) P. falciparum isolates showed evidence of resistance in vitro. None of the P. vivax infections showed evidence of chloroquine resistance. There was no significant difference in the severity of clinical disease between chloroquine resistant and sensitive infections at first presentation. Recrudescent P. falciparum infections had significantly lower mean parasite densities as well as lower clinical scores at recrudescence than at first presentation. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate the high prevalence of malaria and chloroquine resistance in the study area and explains several contributory factors for this. There is an urgent need to review antimalarial drug policies in Sri LankaItem Severe hepatic dysfunction associated with falciparum malaria(SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Project, 2001) Premaratna, R.; Gunatilake, A.K.E.; de Silva, N.R.; Tilakaratne, Y.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; de Silva, H.J.We describe severe hepatic dysfunction associated with an attack of falciparum malaria in six Sri Lankan patients. Clinicians working in areas endemic for malaria should be made aware of this unusual complication.Item Unusual meuromuscular complications falciparum malaria(CAB International, 1994) de Silva, H.J.; de Silva, N.R.The involvement of the nervous system in Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a complex problem, and several mechanisms including mechanical obstruction of the microcirculation and immune mediated damage probably play a role in the pathogenesis. This review focuses attention on some of the more unusual neurological complications of falciparum malaria. Several neuropsychiatric manifestations have been reported during attacks of malaria and following use of antimalarial drugs.Item Urinary frequency in falciparum malaria(Oxford University Press, 1992) de Silva, H.J.; Herath, S.; de Silva, N.R.No Abstract AvailableItem Delayed cerebellar ataxia following falciparum malaria: lack of evidence for antibody mediation(Oxford University Press, 1992) de Silva, H.J.; de Silva, N.R.; Snook, J.A.No Abstract AvailableItem Immune activation during cerebellar dysfunction following Plasmodium falciparum malaria(Oxford University Press, 1992) de Silva, H.J.; Hoang, P.; Dalton, H.; de Silva, N.R.; Jewell, D.P.; Peiris, J.B.Evidence for immune activation was investigated in 12 patients with a rare syndrome of self-limiting, delayed onset cerebellar dysfunction following an attack of falciparum malaria which occurred 18-26 d previously. Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 2 were all significantly higher in serum samples of patients during cerebellar ataxia than in recovery sera and in the sera of 8 patients who did not develop delayed cerebellar dysfunction following an attack of falciparum malaria. Cytokine concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were also significantly higher in ataxic patients than in controls. These findings suggest that immunological mechanisms may play a role in delayed cerebellar dysfunction following falciparum malaria.