Browsing by Author "Fernando, K.K.M."

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Quality of time mothers spend with their pre-school aged children and associated factors in Wennappuwa Medical Officer of Health area
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Fernando, I.D.; Fernando, K.K.M.; Fernando, M.H.I.; Fernando, M.R.S.; Fernando, M.Y.D.; Wangmo, T.
INTRODUCTION: Mothers or responsive adults spending quality time with children improve children’s developmental potential. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the quality of time spent by mothers of Wennappuwa MOH area with their preschoolers and the associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 397 mothers of preschoolers attending five preschools selected from the Wennappuwa MOH area. A high –quality child care time was defined as time spent in development or achievement oriented activities. Ten criteria appropriate for the Sri Lankan context were identified to assess the quality time. The time mothers spend with their children and associated factors were assessed using an activity chart and a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: All mothers were Sinhalese. The majority (n = 339; 91.6%) had secondary education or higher; 22% (n=81) were employed. Forty five percent (n = 166) had extended family support. Sixty five percent (n = 243) of mothers spent quality time with children based on our definition. Spending quality time was significantly associated with spending 6 hours or more per day with the child (p = 0.003), having a good knowledge about quality time (p=0.001), fathers’ age more than 31 years (p=0.011) and fathers’ salary higher than LKR 10,000 (p=0.02). There was no association with mothers’ age (p=0.819), educational level (p=0.051), number of children (p= 0.226) and extended family support (p=0.16) CONCLUSION: In Wennappuwa MOH area, most mothers spend quality time with their preschool aged children. Improving mothers’ knowledge on quality time will help to improve the situation.
Quality of time mothers spend with their pre-school children and associated factors in Wennappuwa MOH area
(Sri lanka Medical Association, 2015) Fernando, I.D.; Fernando, K.K.M.; Fernando, M.H.; Fernando, M.R.S.; Fernando, M.Y.D.; Wangmo, T.; Perera, K.M.N.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Mothers or responsive adults spending quality time with children improve children's developmental potential. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of time mothers in Wennapuwa MOH area spend with pre-schoolers and associated factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among397 mothers of pre-schoolers attending five preschools selected randomly from the Wennappuwa MOH area. A high-quality child care time was defined as time spent in development or achievement oriented activities. Ten criteria appropriate to the Sri Lankan context were identified to assess quality time. The time mothers spend with their children and associated factors were assessed using an activity chart and a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: All mothers were Sinhalese. The majority (n=339; 91.6%) had secondary education or higher; 22% (n=81) were employed. Forty five percent (n=166) had extended family support. Sixty five percent (n=243) of mothers spent quality time with children based on our definition. Spending quality time was significantly associated with spending 6 hours or more per day with the child (p=0.003), having a good knowledge about quality time (p=0,001), fathers' age more than 31 years (p=0.011), and fathers' salary higher than LKR 10,000 (p=0.02). There was no association with mothers' age (p=0.819), educational level (p=0.051), number of children (p=0.226) and extended family support (p=0.16). CONCLUSION: In Wennappuwa MOH area, most mothers spend quality time with their preschool aged children. Improving mothers' knowledge on quality time will help to improve the situation.
Sirtuins as potential therapeutic targets for mitigating neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease
(Frontiers Research Foundation,Lausanne, Switzerland, 2021) Fernando, K.K.M.; Wijayasinghe, Y.S.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, which is associated with memory deficit and global cognitive decline. Age is the greatest risk factor for AD and, in recent years, it is becoming increasingly appreciated that aging-related neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. The presence of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the primary pathological hallmarks of AD; defects which can then activate a cascade of molecular inflammatory pathways in glial cells. Microglia, the resident macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS), are the major triggers of inflammation; a response which is typically intended to prevent further damage to the CNS. However, persistent microglial activation (i.e., neuroinflammation) is toxic to both neurons and glia, which then leads to neurodegeneration. Growing evidence supports a central role for sirtuins in the regulation of neuroinflammation. Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases that modulate a number of cellular processes associated with inflammation. This review examines the latest findings regarding AD-associated neuroinflammation, mainly focusing on the connections among the microglial molecular pathways of inflammation. Furthermore, we highlight the biology of sirtuins, and their role in neuroinflammation. Suppression of microglial activity through modulation of the sirtuin activity has now become a key area of research, where progress in therapeutic interventions may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.