Browsing by Author "Perera, B.P.R."

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Ancient native medicine for Leukemia in Sri Lanka
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University of Kelaniya, 2014) Perera, B.R.P.S.; Perera, B.P.R.
Assessing mental well-being in a Sinhala speaking Sri Lankan population: validation of the WHO-5 well-being index
(BioMed Central., 2020) Perera, B.P.R.; Jayasuriya, R.; Caldera, A.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
PURPOSE: The WHO-5 well-being index is a widely used, short rating scale that measures subjective well-being. We translated the WHO-5 index into Sinhala and tested its psychometric properties including measurement invariance among diverse groups in a community sample in Sri Lanka. METHODS: The sample of 267 persons aged between 16 and 75 years was recruited from a semi-urban area. 219 completed a paper-based questionnaire and 48 responded to an online survey. Construct validity was tested for factorial validity (Confirmatory Factor Analysis -CFA), convergent validity and known group validity. Composite reliability for congeneric measures and test-retest reliability were also tested. Multi-group CFA (MG-CFA) was used to test measurement invariance. RESULTS: The translated Sinhala version demonstrated good content and face validity. Internal consistency reliability of the five items had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85 and test-retest reliability over 2 weeks was satisfactory (Pearson r = 0.72, p < 0.001, ICC = 0.82). Confirmatory factor analysis supported factorial validity with a [Formula: see text] =4.99 (p = 0.28), a RMSEA of 0.03 (90% C.I. =0.00-0.10), a SRMR of 0.02, a TLI of 0.99 and a CFI of 0.99; factor loadings were between 0.55 and 0.89. Measurement invariance was acceptable for configural, metric and scalar invariance for gender. WHO-5 scores were significantly negatively correlated with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Pearson's r = - 0.45, p < 0.001) scores and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores (Pearson's r = - 0.56, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Sinhala translation of WHO-5 well-being index has shown acceptable psychometric properties and can be used for assessing mental well-being in the community in Sri Lanka. Further testing of the measure with larger and diverse (including different ethnic/cultural) groups are indicated to test measurement invariance of the measure. KEYWORDS: Sri Lanka; Validation; WHO-5 Sinhala version; Well-being.
Determination of antimicrobial efcacy of Triphala Ashchyotana as a therapeutic agent for acute conjunctivitis.
(Department of Shalya Shalakya,Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Perera, B.S.R.; Dayarathna, M.T.A.; Perera, B.P.R.; Karunarathne, E.D.C.; Sudesh, A.D.H.
Triphala decoction is a therapeutic agent used in the form of Ashchyotana (eye drops) for acute conjunctivitis. The antibacterial assay was performed according to the standard Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (ABST) for Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans using chloramphenicol and uconazole as positive controls. The test drug, Triphala decoction, was prepared by boiling dry samples of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica and Phyllanthus emblica 20g each, in 1920ml of water and reducing it to 240ml. Based on the results of ABST, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC) against S. aureus was determined by using a concentration series ranging from 3 X 50 μl to12 X 50 μl of Triphala decoction with 100μl of S. aureus in 10ml of nutrient broth. The volumes were equalized up to 11ml using sterilized distilled water. After an overnight, incubation at 37OC, 500μl from each concentration was plated using pour-plate technique and incubated overnight at 37OC. To determine the MLC, a loopful of each concentration was streaked on Nutrient Agar plates and incubated overnight at 37OC. According to the results, S. aureus was sensitive to Triphala decoction making an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 18mm, while the readings for the other species were in the intermediate range of 17mm for E.coli and 13mm for P. aeruginosa. MRSA strain was resistant to the test drug making IZD 11mm and no inhibition zone was observed for Candida albicans. The MIC and MLC for S. aureus were of the same concentration (6 X 50μl) showing zero growth after that point. It can be concluded that Triphala ashchotana is effective in controlling acute conjunctivitis caused by S. aureus and the dosage required is 6 X 50 μl (6 drops). Triphala can also be used as a prophylactic agent against acute conjunctivitis.
Measuring mental well-being in Sri Lanka: validation of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) in a Sinhala speaking community
(BioMed Central, London, 2022) Perera, B.P.R.; Caldera, A.; Godamunne, P.; Stewart-Brown, S.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Jayasuriya, R.
Background: Well-being is an important aspect of people's lives and can be considered as an index of social progress. The Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale (WEMWBS) was developed to capture subjective mental well-being. It is a widely tested measure of mental well-being at the population level and has 14 items and a short-form with 7 items. This study was carried out to culturally validate and adapt the WEMWBS among a Sinhala speaking population in Sri Lanka. Methods: A forward and backward translation of the scale into Sinhala was done followed by a cognitive interview. The translated and culturally adapted scale and other mental health scales were administered to a sample of 294 persons between the ages of 17-73 using a paper-based version (n = 210) and an online survey (n = 84). Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were tested. Construct validity, and convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using the total sample. Results: The translated questionnaire had good face and content validity. Internal consistency reliability was 0.91 and 0.84 for the 14-item and 7-item scales, respectively. Test-retest reliability over two weeks was satisfactory (Spearman r = 0.72 p < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one factor model. Convergent validity was assessed using WHO-5 well-being index (Spearman r = 0.67, p < 0.001), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Spearman r = (-0.45), p < 0.001) and Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) (Spearman r = (-0.55), p < 0.001). Conclusions: The translated and culturally adapted Sinhala version of the WEMWBS has acceptable psychometric properties to assess mental well-being at the population level among the Sinhala speaking population in Sri Lanka.
Prevalence of asthma and its symptoms in Sri Lankan adults.
(BioMed Central, London, 2022) Gunasekera, K.D.; Amarasiri, W.A.D.L.; Undugodage, U.C.M.; Silva, H.K.M.S.; Sadikeen, A.; Gunasinghe, W.; Fernando, A.; Perera, B.P.R.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
BACKGROUND: Data on adult asthma is scarce in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of asthma and its symptoms in adult Sri Lankans. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a translated version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey screening questionnaire on subjects ≥ 18 years from 7 provinces in Sri Lanka was conducted. The asthma was defined as "wheezing in the past 12 months (current wheeze)", self-reported asthma attack in the past 12 months or on current asthma medication use. RESULTS: Among 1872 subjects (45.1% males, 48.8% between 18-44 years of age), the prevalence of current wheeze was 23.9% (95%CI: 22.0%-25.9%), self-reported asthma was 11.8% (95%CI: 10.3%-13.2%) and current asthma medication use was 11.1% (95% CI: 9.6%-12.5%). The prevalences were higher in adults > 44 years, 31.4% positively responded to any of the above questions (95%CI: 29.3%-33.4%) and 60.9% of current wheezers did not report having asthma whilst 38.2% used asthma medication. Among current wheezers, 80.1% had at least one other symptom, cough being the commonest. Those with no current wheeze, self-reported asthma and on current asthma medication use, 30%, 35.9% and 36.6%, respectively, reported at least one other symptom. Smokers comprises 22% current wheezers, 20.6% of self-reported asthmatics and 18.7% of current asthma medication users. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma in Sri Lankan adults is higher than the other South Asian countries and higher in the older age group. A significant percentage of symptomatic individuals did not report having asthma or being on medication.
Regional and demographic variations of Carotid Artery Intima and Media Thickness (CIMT): A Systematic review and meta-analysis
(Public Library of Science, 2022) Abeysuriya, V.; Perera, B.P.R.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
Background and objective: Carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) is a strong predictor of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and independent phenotype of early atherosclerosis. The global variation of CIMT and its demographic association is yet unclear. We evaluated regional variations of CIMT based on WHO regions and assessed the differences by age and sex. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on studies published between 1980 January up to December 2020. PubMed, Oxford Medicine Online, EBSCO, Taylor & Francis, Oxford University Press and Embase data bases were used for searching. Supplementary searches were conducted on the Web of Science and Google Scholar. Grey literature was searched in "Open Grey" website. The two major criteria used were "adults" and "carotid intima media". The search strategy for PubMed was created first and then adapted for the Oxford Medicine Online, EBSCO, Taylor & Francis, Oxford University Press and Embase databases. Covidence software (Veritas Health Innovation, Melbourne, Australia; http://www.covidence.org) was used to manage the study selection process. Meta-analyses were done using the random-effects model. An I2 ≥ 50% or p< 0:05 were considered to indicate significant heterogeneity. Results: Of 2847 potential articles, 46 eligible articles were included in the review contributing data for 49 381 individuals (mean age: 55.6 years, male: 55.8%). The pooled mean CIMT for the non-CHD group was 0.65mm (95%CI: 0.62-0.69). There was a significant difference in the mean CIMT between regions (p = 0.04). Countries in the African (0.72mm), American (0.71mm) and European (0.71mm) regions had a higher pooled mean CIMT compared to those in the South East Asian (0.62mm), West Pacific (0.60mm) and Eastern Mediterranean (0.60mm) regions. Males had a higher pooled mean CIMT of 0.06mm than females in the non CHD group (p = 0.001); there were also regional differences. The CHD group had a significantly higher mean CIMT than the non-CHD group (difference = 0.23mm, p = 0.001) with regional variations. Carotid artery segment-specific-CIMT variations are present in this population. Older persons and those having CHD group had significantly thicker CIMTs. Conclusions: CIMT varies according to region, age, sex and whether a person having CHD. There are significant regional differences of mean CIMT between CHD and non-CHD groups. Segment specific CIMT variations exist among regions. There is an association between CHD and CIMT values.
A review on traditional gruels used in Sri Lanka and their medicinal values
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University of Kelaniya, 2014) Pathirana, P.T.N.; Perera, B.P.R.; Rasingolla, S.K.
A study on different formulae of Narayana thaila used in Ayurveda and indigenous system of medicine in Sri Lanka
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University of Kelaniya, 2014) Perera, B.P.R.; Perera, B.S.R.
A study on the efficacy of a herbal mouthwash in the management of Sheethada and Upakusha
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, 2012) Perera, B.P.R.; Amarasena, P.A.D.R.; Gunarathne, U.M.P.M.; Perera, J.