Publications by authors named "Athula Kaluarachchi"

Article Synopsis
  • Sri Lanka has a rich history of health practices and policies that have significantly improved maternal health over the past 75 years, influenced by sociodemographic changes and global medical advancements.
  • The establishment of trained midwives and health units, along with support from WHO, marked a pivotal shift from traditional birth methods to safer, more structured maternal care.
  • Initiatives like the Family Planning Association and the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response system have played essential roles in reducing maternal mortality and fertility rates, showcasing effective collaboration among government and health organizations.
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Based on available literature, pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe illness from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, compared to nonpregnant women. Consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy have many implications in women's lives other than unfavorable obstetric outcomes. In addition to managing acute respiratory illness and symptoms, caregivers should be equipped to detect and manage the short-term, intermediate, and long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well.

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Human post-partum tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (hPPT-MSCs) are widely used in research to investigate their differentiation capabilities and therapeutic effects as potential agents in cell-based therapy. This is ascribed to the advantages offered by the use of MSCs isolated from hPPT over other MSC sources. A paradigm shift in related research is evident that focuses on the secretome of the human MSCs (hMSCs), as therapeutic effects of hMSCs are attributed more so to their secreted growth factors, cytokines and chemokines and to the extracellular vesicles (EVs), all of which are components of the hMSC secretome.

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We report a case of ovarian lymphoma in a 59 year old woman with ulcerative colitis for over 20 years. She presented with intermittent high fever and right sided abdominal pain for 3 weeks. An ultrasound scan and CT scan revealed a right adnexal mass measuring 71 X 54 mm which was well defined with a thick wall and internal septations and enlarged pelvic and para aortic lymph nodes.

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We report a case of recurrent empty follicle syndrome (EFS) where no oocytes were aspirated in two separate IVF cycles using two different protocols. In the second cycle, oocyte aspiration in one ovary was delayed for 24 hours after administering a second dose of human chorionic gonadotropin injection (hCG) and still no oocytes were recovered. In view of the presence of severe male factor infertility and failure to retrieve oocytes in 2 stimulated cycles, the couple was offered donor embryo transfer which resulted in a singleton pregnancy.

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Objectives: This study was aimed at piloting a prospective individual patient database on hospital deliveries in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and at exploring its use for developing recommendations for improving quality of care (QoC).

Design: Observational study.

Setting: De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the largest referral hospital for maternity care in Sri Lanka.

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Background: Sri Lankan abortion law which dates back to the year 1883, and still unchanged, only allows a legal termination when the mother's life is in danger. Many studies undertaken in the country estimates that even in the light of such a backdrop, and with a high contraceptive prevalence rate, many women attempt an abortion when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. This study aims to describe the changes in abortion-related complications in the country over a period of time and explore the reasons for any changes in severity of symptoms among women hospitalized following an abortion based on the perceptions of healthcare service providers.

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The presence of highly echogenic amniotic fluid (AF) is uncommon, and presence creates a dilemma in the mind of the clinician. Echogenic AF has been attributed to meconium, blood, and vernix caseosa. Many studies have shown that the presence of meconium is unlikely in most cases.

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Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease. Estimated population incidence ranges from 0.62 to 2.

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We report a case of luteinizing thecoma in a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with progressive androgenic features and hypertension of one year duration. She did not notice a significant change in her body weight or appetite. Her total serum testosterone level was 4.

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