Browsing by Author "Senanayake, B."

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Effectiveness of the Drug Abuse Monitoring System (Dams) as Information Sharing System: Situational Analysis
(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Senanayake, B.; Darshana, A.T.; Nawarathna, T.; Wathsala, H.
The Drug Abuse Monitoring System (DAMS) is a computerized information system, which collects information on persons arrested for drug offences and persons seeking treatment for drug abuse. Purposes of the DAMS are to determine the incidence, prevalence and characteristics of drug users, monitor the trends and patterns in drug use, determine and describe the at risk groups in the population and evaluate the existing treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Information is collected from drug law enforcement agencies and drug treatment agencies on a monthly basis and produce report quarterly and by annually for policy making. The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) was designated the principal national institution charged with the formulation and review of a national policy relating to prevention and control of the abuse of dangerous drugs and the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and was given power to make evidence based recommendations to eradicate drug menace using this database. The main objective of this paper was to analyze improvement and effectiveness of the DAMS after moving from manual data entering phase to web application phase. The DAMS was established in 1989 and it was updated as web application in 2015. This situation analysis has done considering the time period of 2012-2015 as manual data entering system and 2015 – June, 2018 as web application. According to the DAMS system data during the period of 2005- 2015 NDDCB has identified the issues which are data repeating, data entering delays, system crash/failures. The data reporting percentages in 2012 and 2015 were 14% and 35% respectively. Data reporting percentages in 2016 and 2017 were 38% and 44% respectively. During the period of January to June 2018, 37% of drug related arrest records have been reported to the system. This analysis illustrated that common advantage of implementing web application for users and administrator which are user friendly appearance; reduce the paper cost, timely reporting data and minimizing data repeating errors.
Frequent falls and gaze palsy in two patients
(Ceylon College of Physicians, 2000) Seneviratne, S; Ranawaka, U.; Gunasekera, S.; Senanayake, B.; Fernando, A.; Dissanayake, S.; Wijesekera, J.
Injecting Drug Users in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Senanayake, B.; Kandiah, R.; Ratnayake, Y.
An exploratory descriptive study on Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Sri Lanka was undertaken in the light of the increase in the number of IDUs between 1998 and 2002. The aim of the study was to understand the nature and the extent of injecting drug use in the country in 2003-2004. A non-probable ‘snow-ball’ sample of IDUs was studied from the correctional institutions and the community. The case histories and interviews were conducted taking into consideration the physical signs of drug injecting, body language and verbal expressions. The IDUs were males aged mostly between 20 and 40 years, mostly from Colombo and adjacent urban areas. Majority them were form a lower social strata, employed as smallscale entrepreneurs or manual workers. The IDUs could be broadly categorised into 3 groups by their drug injecting: regular injectors, intermittent injectors and those injected once or few occasions. Many regular IDUs had a criminal record. Periods of social and political instability or high profile drug law enforcement appear to have enhanced the spread of injecting drug use. During the crisis period, the street level supply of heroin had been severely hampered, which had forced the heroin chasers (Chinese method users) to switch to injecting as a means of survival. Sharing of injecting equipment was minimal among IDUs. Many of the IDUs had engaged in unprotected sex with multiple partners including commercial sex-workers in countries of high seroprevalence of HIV/AIDS and STDs. Many IDUs believed that injecting heroin could enhance their sexual libido, which had been proven otherwise within 3 months of regular injecting. However, this had been a major reason for initiating injecting drug use. Sri Lanka at present is a low prevalence country for injecting drug use and HIV/AIDS. A scenario of decrease in accessibility to heroin due to high price, and law level of purity possibility of increase in the prevalence of injecting drug use could increase in seroprevalence of HIV/AIDS and other blood and STD. Hence, the injecting drug use has to be closely monitored to prevent this situation in Sri Lanka.
Neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka
(BioMed Central,, 2023) Chang, T.; Wijeyekoon, R.; Keshavaraj, A.; Ranawaka, U.; Senanayake, S.; Ratnayake, P.; Senanayake, B.; Caldera, M.C.; Pathirana, G.; Sirisena, D.; Wanigasinghe, J.; Gunatilake, S.; ASN COVID-19 Study Group
BACKGROUND: Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported from many countries around the world, including the South Asian region. This surveillance study aimed to describe the spectrum of neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. METHODS: COVID-19 patients manifesting neurological disorders one week prior and up to six weeks after infection were recruited from all the neurology centres of the government hospitals in Sri Lanka from May 2021 – May 2022. Data was collected using a structured data form that was electronically transmitted to a central repository. All patients were evaluated and managed by a neurologist. Data were analysed using simple descriptive analysis to characterise demographic and disease related variables, and simple comparisons and logistic regression were performed to analyse outcomes and their associations. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-four patients with neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 were recruited from all nine provinces in Sri Lanka. Ischaemic stroke (31%) was the commonest neurological manifestation followed by encephalopathy (13.6%), Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) (9.2%) and encephalitis (7.6%). Ischaemic stroke, encephalitis and encephalopathy presented within 6 days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms, whereas GBS and myelitis presented up to 10 days post onset while epilepsy and Bell palsy presented up to 20 – 40 days post onset. Haemorrhagic stroke presented either just prior to or at onset, or 10 – 25 days post onset of COVID-19 symptomatic infection. An increased frequency of children presenting with encephalitis and encephalopathy was observed during the Omicron variant predominant period. A poor outcome (no recovery or death) was associated with supplemental oxygen requirement during admission (Odds Ratio: 12.94; p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum and frequencies of COVID-19 associated neurological disorders in Sri Lanka were similar to that reported from other countries, with strokes and encephalopathy being the commonest. Requiring supplemental oxygen during hospitalisation was associated with a poor outcome.
Recreational Drug Use & Night Life: Special Reference to Night Club Events in Colombo
(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Senanayake, B.; Darshana, A.T.
Substance abuse as a social phenomenon, is varies from different settings and sub groups. Nigh club culture is being emerging in urban and coastal area in the country and recreational drug use is also being emerging associating with night club events. Many youths tend to be use substances in their teen age and societal and environmental factors have been influenced for the initiation of drug use. Research problem of this study was what is the combination between substance abuse and night life and the main objective of this research is to identify the nature and current trends of recreational drug use in night clubs in Colombo district. Survey method and case study method was used as research methods and Colombo district selected as study area. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the sample of 50 club drug users. Major findings of this research are as follows, 54% of the sample have initiated drug use at the age range of 15-17 and their curiosity have led them to use. The people, who attend to the party events, were desired to different music types and lighting patterns which feel with effects of drugs. Out of the total sample 90% were used LSD and they may face two kind of experiences which are “good trip” and “bad trip”, further LSD users are using different images which can enhance drug effects. Ecstasy users (49 persons) are using ecstasy party events for feeling euphoria, increase energy, empathy and mild hallucinations. There were two types of party events which are “night party” and “after party” that includes different characteristics and drug use appear as common in both events. Both legal and illegal drugs peddlers were present within the club and 62% (31) of the sample used to buy drugs from them. Further identified that majority of them were not daily clubbing and 32 (64%) of them used to go only in weekends. These people believe drug use in a night club is not a problematic as they used to go once in a week. However, because of the drug use 62% of them have ever been experienced to problematic situations in their life. Social media like Facebook was used to promote the party events Majority, 98%, of the sample have started clubbing when they were less than 30 years. People who attend to party events were multiple drug users. Cannabis (84%), heroin (42%), hashish (44%), pharmaceutical drugs (52%), cocaine (56%) and methamphetamine (56%) are the other popular drugs among them. Subcultural terms were used to communicate within the club such as, the term “phill” used for ecstasy, “acid”, ”stamp” for LSD, “white bair” for cocaine and “ice”, “mendi” for methamphetamine. Persons who attend to night club events consider drug use is a highly socially oriented action. Recreational drug use and the night life are the combined factors in night club settings
Seroprevalence and clinical phenotype of MOG-IgG-associated disorders in Sri Lanka
(British Medical Association, 2019) Senanayake, B.; Jitprapaikulsan, J.; Aravinthan, M.; Wijesekera, J.C.; Ranawaka, U.K.; Riffsy, M.T.; Paramanathan, T.; Sagen, J.; Fryer, J.P.; Schmeling, J.; Majed, M.; Flanagan, E.P.; Pittock, S.J.
Abstract not available
Sural nerve involvement in patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome with sural sparing at initial presentation
(Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists, 2023) Munasinghe, H.; Gunasekara, S.; Gunarathne, K.; Senanayake, B.; Mohotti, S.; Weerakoon, T.; Wanniarachchi, S.; Ravindra, S.; Ponnamperuma, M.; Wijayawardhana, S.
INTRODUCTION: Neurophysiological testing is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Sural sparing is a usual feature of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) type GBS. However, sural involvement has been reported in later stages of GBS. It is important to identify patterns of sural nerve involvement to differentiate GBS from its mimickers and to stage the disease. This research aimed to detect the pattern of sural nerve involvement in AIDP-GBS cases with normal electrophysiological responses in the sural nerve at the beginning. OBJECTIVES: To determine the location and timing of sural nerve involvement in AIDP-GBS. METHODS: This prospective follow up study included diagnosed cases of AIDP-GBS with preserved bilateral sural responses. Nerve conduction and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) were done on admission and weekly thereafter for four consecutive weeks. The last evaluation was done four weeks after the fourth study. RESULTS: All patients (100%) showed normal distal sural responses over the initial four weeks of follow up. They continued to remain normal up to eight weeks in eight patients (53.3%). Two patients had gradual prolongation of their sural SSEP on consecutive studies. One of them had gradual reduction of sural sensory nerve action potential and nerve conduction velocity along with the prolongation of sural SSEP latencies. The difference of SSEP latency increments in the left sural nerve of these two patients was statistically significant (p<0.05). The right sural SSEP latency difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Sparing of the distal sural sensory response was demonstrated in 100% of AIDP-GBS cases during the first four weeks of follow up. More than 50% of the cohort demonstrated preserved sural sensory responses for eight weeks from the initial presentation. Two out of fifteen patients showed statistically significant proximal sural sensory pathway involvement with increasing SSEP latencies. This finding suggests that in some patients, the sural sensory pathway may get affected at its proximal segments or at the central nervous system before the distal nerve is affected.
Triple therapy prevention of recurrent intracerebral disease events trial: rationale, design and progress
(Blackwell Publishing, 2022) Anderson, C.S.; Rodgers, A.; de Silva, H.A.; Martins, S.O.; Klijn, C.J.; Senanayake, B.; Freed, R.; Billot, L.; Arima, H.; Thang, N.H.; Zaidi, W.A.W.; Kherkheulidze, T.; Wahab, K.; Fisher, U.; Lee, T.H.; Chen, C.; Pontes-Neto, O.; Robinson, T.; Wang, J.; Naismith, S.; Song, L.; Schreuder, F.H.; Lindley, R.I.; Woodward, M.; MacMahon, S.; Salman, R.A.; Chow, C.K.; Chalmers, J.
Background: Patients who suffer intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are at very high risk of recurrent ICH and other serious cardiovascular events. A single-pill combination (SPC) of blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs offers a potentially powerful but simple strategy to optimize secondary prevention. Objectives: The Triple Therapy Prevention of Recurrent Intracerebral Disease Events Trial (TRIDENT) aims to determine the effects of a novel SPC "Triple Pill," three generic antihypertensive drugs with demonstrated efficacy and complementary mechanisms of action at half standard dose (telmisartan 20 mg, amlodipine 2.5 mg, and indapamide 1.25 mg), with placebo for the prevention of recurrent stroke, cardiovascular events, and cognitive impairment after ICH. Design: An international, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in adults with ICH and mild-moderate hypertension (systolic BP: 130-160 mmHg), who are not taking any Triple Pill component drug at greater than half-dose. A total of 1500 randomized patients provide 90% power to detect a hazard ratio of 0.5, over an average follow-up of 3 years, according to a total primary event rate (any stroke) of 12% in the control arm and other assumptions. Secondary outcomes include recurrent ICH, cardiovascular events, and safety. Results: Recruitment started 28 September 2017. Up to 31 October 2021, 821 patients were randomized at 54 active sites in 10 countries. Triple Pill adherence after 30 months is 86%. The required sample size should be achieved by 2024.