Browsing by Author "Gunasekara, P."

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    30-year cardiovascular risk prediction of medical undergraduates of university of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
    (Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine, 2019) Mettananda, K.C.D.; Gunarathna, M.R.T.A.; Gunasekara, M.D.S.D.; Gunasekara, P.; Gunasekara, T.N.A.S.; Gunasekara, W.S.M.T.M.; Thampoe, R.S.
    BACKGROUND: Medical students could be at high risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) due to lack of exercises, increased mental stresses, unhealthy dietary practices. However, there are no reported data on this from Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to predict 30-year CVD-risk of medical students of University of Kelaniya. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya during November 2018. 20 students from each batch were randomly selected. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. 30-year risk of General-CVDs were calculated using Framingham 30- year CVD-risk calculator using sex, age, systolic blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medications, smoking, presence of diabetes mellitus and body mass index(BMI). Data was analysed using SPSSversion-22. RESULTS: 100 students (female 59(59%)) aged 21-29 years (mean 24.8 ± 1.8 years) were studied. Cardiovascular risk factor prevalences were; hypertension 1(I%), hyperlipidaemia 2(2%), diabetes mellitus I (I %), smoking 3(3%), overweight 37(37%) and obesity 2(2%). Mean 30-year hard-CVD risk was 2.13% (SD±l .63), mean 30-year general-CVD risk was 4.58% (SD±2.88). Majority (93%) were low-risk, and 7% were at moderate-risk and none were categorised high-risk. Of the moderate risk participants, 5(28.6%) were male (p=0.11), 6(87.7%) (p=0.043) were overweight but none were smokers nor had diabetes mellitus, hypertension or hyperlipidaemia. CONCLUSION: Majority of current medical students of University of Kelaniya e at low risk of future CVD events. The commonest risk factor seen among moderate risk students was being overweight. This emphasize the importance of adhering to healthy lifestyle.
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    Diagnosis of Vespa affinis venom allergy:use of immunochemical methods and a passive basophil activation test
    (Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 2019) Gunasekara, P.; Handunnetti, S.M.; Premawansa, S.; Kaluarachchi, P.; Karunatilake, C.; Ratnayake, I.P.; Dias, R. K. S.; Premakumara, G. A. S.; Dasanayake, W. M. D. K.; Seneviratne, S.L.; de Silva, R.
    Background: Allergy to Vespa affinis venom is common in the Asia Pacific region. Venom preparations for diagnosis are not commercially available for this species. Methods: The prominent allergens in V. affinis venom were identifiedusing immunochemical methods. Use of ImmunoCAP of Vespula vulgaris crude venom/its components and a passive basophil activation test (BAT) in the diagnosis of patients who had anaphylaxis to V. affinis venom (n = 30) were also accessed. The IgE double-positivity rates (positive to both hornet and honeybee) in ImmunoCAP and the passive BAT were determined. Results: High IgE reactivity was seen with the five allergens in V. affinis venom; 96% (29/30) for 34 and 24 kDa, 93% (28/30) for 45 kDa and 90% (27/30) reactivity for the 100 and 80 kDa respectively. IgE cross-reactivity was low with ImmunoCAP using V. vulgaris venom (43%; 13/30) and Ves v1 (3%; 1/30), but relatively high with Ves v5 (73%; 22/30). All patients (100%) were positive to V. affinis venom in passive BAT. In ImmunoCAP, a high double-positivity rate (76%; 23/30) was detected while no double-positivity was detected in passive BAT. Conclusions: High IgE reactivity for five allergens of V. affinis points to the potential of using these allergens in component resolved diagnosis (CRD). The passive BAT has shown its importance as a promising diagnostic tool with high accuracy. It would be particularly useful in cases with doubtful double-positive results of other diagnostic tests.