Browsing by Author "Prathapan, S."

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Impact of short term aerobic exercises on taste perception for sucrose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Vidanage, D.; Hettiarachchi, P.; Prathapan, S.; Wasalathanthri, S.
Exercise, along with diet and medications plays an important role in the management of type 2 diabetes. Several long-term studies have demonstrated that regular exercise is beneficial in increasing insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The sense of taste is an important oral chemical sense that plays a critical role in determining food preferences. The studies that have been conducted to determine the impact of exercise on taste perception is very limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of short-term aerobic exercise on taste perception for sucrose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A sample of 140 type 2 diabetic patients, aged between 35-60 years was recruited for the study and randomly assigned into two groups, an exercise group performing aerobic exercises and a control group. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data of all participants. A graded exercise protocol was introduced to the exercise group and they were instructed to perform regular exercises 4-5 days a week for 3 months without changing their regular diet and medications. Adherence to the protocol was assessed by giving regular telephone calls. Taste perception was assessed in both groups at 0 and 3 months. Preference for sucrose was assessed by the “Monell 2-series, Forced Choice Method” and suprathreshold intensity ratings for sucrose were tested using “general Labeled Magnitude Scale”. Data analysis was done by paired sample t-test and the significance was set at p=0.05 level. Participants in the exercise group showed increased supra-threshold intensity ratings for 04 out of 06 sucrose solutions, with the results being statistically significant for 02 of the higher concentrations i.e. 2.02 M (Difference in mean = 7.07 ± 4.03, p=0.032) and 0.64 M (Difference in mean = 7.77 ± 4.79, p=0.038) when compared to the controls. The preference for sucrose was significantly reduced (Difference in mean = 0.04 ± 0.02, p=0.031) after 3 months in the exercise group. The supra-threshold intensity ratings in the control group did not show a statistically significant pattern while the preference for sucrose was increased (Difference in mean = 0.1 ± 1.04, p=0.479). In conclusion, taste sensitivity for sucrose increases especially for higher concentrations and taste preference decreases in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients after 3 months of regular aerobic exercise.
Importance of public perception on the genetic link between parents and offspring in the determination of attitudes towards surrogacy.
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Withana, J.L.; Beneragama, D.M.; Grero, K.L.W.; Carnage, T.G.J.N.; Munasinghe, M.A.A.; Pathiraja, R.P.; Prathapan, S.
Introduction: Surrogacy, an unknown albeit discreetly commodified Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Sri Lanka might be controversial as it’s a third-party ART. Objective: To describe attitude and factors associated with surrogacy among 20-40-year- old adults in Sri Lanka. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among men and women aged 20-40 years, currently residing in Colombo District. Study instrument was an online questionnaire with close ended questions. Data collection was conducted among a sample recruited via snowball sampling method. Results: Acceptance of traditional surrogacy was lower among participants with positive attitudes towards the presence of genetic link between the parents and offspring (n = 168, 54.02%). In comparison, those who claimed that a genetic link was not of notable importance showed a significantly higher acceptance of the traditional form (n=80, 66.67%, p=0.017). A similar pattern in attitudes was observed in the acceptance of gestational surrogacy among the participants. However, the proportion of respondents who claimed that a genetic link was important and who also accepted the gestational form, was higher (n=245, 78.78%) than the proportion who accepted traditional surrogacy (p=0.012). Disapproval rates of gestational surrogacy among those who did not find a genetic link between parents and offspring dropped to a mere 10.83% (n=13) when compared to the traditional form. Conclusion: The need for genetic ties that links a parent to their children played a significant role in the formation of attitudes for and against surrogacy in general as well as between the two formats of the ART.
Knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 among tea plantation owners in Balangoda, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Dharmalingam, L.; Chandrasekera, C.; Pramodya, S.; Gamage, P.; Fernando, C.; Prathapan, S.
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic is the current global health crisis with a socioeconomic impact around the world. Tea plantation owners need adequate knowledge of COVID-19 to prevent its spread in tea estates and sustain their economy during the pandemic. Objectives: The objective was to describe the knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 among tea plantation owners in Balangoda, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted among 85 tea plantation owners of a Tea Estate Development Society in Sri Lanka. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising of participant’s sociodemographic data, effect of COVID-19 on estate economy (during March to August 2020 compared to 2019), knowledge, lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 and chronic diseases among the participants. Data was analysed using SPSS software. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: Most of the participants had poor knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID- 19 (50.6%). No significant association was found between knowledge of CO VID-19 and sociodemographic data such as age (p=0.579), gender (p=0.263), education level (p=0.941) and monthly income (p=0.082). Majority (56.0%) had a positive effect on estate economy during March to August 2020 compared to 2019. No significant association was found between poor knowledge of COVID-19 and poor effect on estate economy due to COV ID- 19 (p= 0.365). Statistical significance was observed between the presence of diabetes and poor knowledge of COVID-19 (p=0.049). Conclusions: Majority of the tea plantation owners lack adequate knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19. Thus, it is essential to improve the knowledge among them.
Public perspective on the uses and indications of surrogacy within the Sri Lankan context.
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Munasinghe, M.A.A.; Beneragama, D.M.; Grero, K.L.W.; Gamage, T.G.J.N.; Withana, J.L.; Pathiraja, R.P.; Prathapan, S.
Introduction: Although surrogacy is a controversial Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Sri Lanka, there are various platforms that advertise surrogate mothers anonymously Objectives: To describe attitude and factors associated with surrogacy among 20-40-year- old adults in Sri Lanka. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among men and women aged 20-40 years, currently residing in the Colombo District. Study instrument was an online questionnaire with close ended questions. Data collection was conducted among a sample recruited by the snowball sampling method. Results: Participants in general preferred the usage of surrogacy in women unable to have children due to medical conditions over the other instances provided (83.30%). However, in the instance of same-sex couples opting for surrogacy, non-heterosexuals (n=22, 88.00%), Buddhists (n=202, 58.21%), respondents with more liberal religious beliefs (n=78, 63.93%) and those without children (n=233, 58.54%) showed significantly higher levels of acceptance of surrogacy. Heterosexuals (n=165,40.64%), non-Buddhists (n=40, 57.14%) and respondents with firm religious beliefs had significantly higher rejection rates for the use of surrogacy to circumvent the effects of pregnancy. Participants who had positive attitudes towards having children also depicted higher acceptance rates for both these scenarios (p=0.001 each). Conclusions: Non-heterosexuals, Buddhists and respondents with more liberal religious beliefs were deemed more open minded as to the usage of surrogacy in various instances as opposed to their counterparts. This may have a significant socio-cultural impact on the acceptance and normalization of a third-party reproduction methods like surrogacy, even if properly regulated.