Allied Health Sciences

Factors Associated with Early Post-Partum Haemorrhage among Mothers during Postpartum Period at Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Factors Associated with Early Post-Partum Haemorrhage among Mothers during Postpartum Period at Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo, Sri Lanka Siriwardena, RNM; Jayathilaka, MRKS; Batagoda, NDG; Indrawansha, KMUJ; Jayathilaka, PLP; Senarath, NSASN; Kanchana, KTG Early Post-Partum Hemorrhage (early PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, where nearly one-quarter of all maternal deaths in most low-income countries. The study aimed to assess the factors associated with early postpartum hemorrhage among mothers during the postpartum period at Castle Street Hospital for Women. A retrospective Cohort Study was conducted among a sample of 300 mothers in the post-partum period to identify and evaluate the risk factors for early PPH at Castle Street Hospital for Women in Sri Lanka. Data was collected using a systematic sampling method and extracted from the delivery records during the 2017 and 2018 years into a data extraction sheet. It consisted of, Part ADemographic data, Part B - Current antenatal and obstetric history, Part C - Past obstetric history, Part D - Past medical and surgical history, Part E - History of current delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 version in percentages and Chi squire. The mean age of the sample was 30.39±5.17 years. The majority, 39.9% of mothers, were educated up to secondary level and 33% of mothers were “O positive” in the blood group. Among the sample anemia, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, renal diseases, and hyperthyroidism were presented respectively 12.0%, 15.3%, 11.0%, 1.0%, 0.7%, and 4.3%. In conclusion, the identified risk factors for early PPH have shown a significant association with anemia, diabetes hypertension (p=0.001) and hyperthyroidism (p=0.009) conditions of the mothers’ method of delivery (p=0.001), duration of labour in normal vaginal delivery (p=0.001), vaginal tears (p=0.001), retained placenta (0.001), and prostaglandin administration (p=0.001).

Evaluation of Performance Characteristics of an In-house Glucose Reagent Compared to Analyzer Specific Commercial Glucose Reagent

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of Performance Characteristics of an In-house Glucose Reagent Compared to Analyzer Specific Commercial Glucose Reagent Harshika, WAK; Dissanayake, M; Gunawardana, KB Blood glucose level is the most frequently analyzed parameter in a routine clinical laboratory in order to assess diabetes mellitus. Currently, commercial reagent kits with high costs are used for this test. However, the same reagent can be prepared in the laboratory at a lower cost. The aim of this study was to examine the performance of an inhouse reagent method under standard laboratory conditions with the analyzer specific commercial glucose reagent. An evaluation study was carried out at the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya using 200 randomly selected retained blood samples. Glucose values were determined by in-house glucose reagent and commercial glucose reagent. Correlation and the agreement between the two methods were determined. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and stability was checked for the in-house method. Daily IQC and monthly EQA samples were run to assure precision and accuracy. The results were significantly correlated (r=0.9993; p=0.001), and the two methods indicated a good agreement with a positive bias of 0.835±0.488 mg/dL in Bland Altman analysis. There was a good agreement between 0-300 mg/dL. At concentrations above 300 mg/dL, a tendency towards increasing scatter was observed, which could be due to the low number of sample size in this range. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 96.5%, 96.15% and 97.14% respectively. The in-house method was linear up to 1000mg/dL. An intra-assay precision (CV) of 6.88 and 2.38% and an inter -assay precision of 2.21 and 3.34% were obtained for normal and high levels of glucose respectively. The reagent was stable for a period of three months at 2-8˚C.The in-house glucose reagent is more cost-effective and possesses similar performance characteristics and good stability, compared to the analyzer specific glucose reagent. Thus, it can be adopted for analysis of plasma glucose in routine laboratory checkups.

Relationship between Unexplained Infertility and Sedentary Lifestyle among Women in the Urban City of Colombo; Infertile Female vs. Fertile Female

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Relationship between Unexplained Infertility and Sedentary Lifestyle among Women in the Urban City of Colombo; Infertile Female vs. Fertile Female Manike, MMVK; Darshika, P; Karunarathne, HPPM; Priyadarshanie, MN; Fernandopulle, RC Infertility is defined as the absence of conception after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between unexplained infertility and sedentary lifestyle behaviour among the young female population in the urban city of Colombo. A case-control study was conducted among 250 women (125-fertile group/125- infertile group) in the age group of 18 – 32, who were clinically diagnosed with infertility and fulfilled the inclusion criteria at Infertility clinics and Gynaecology wards at 3 hospitals in the Colombo district. A convenient sampling method was used to recruit cases and controls upon completion of clinical diagnosis by the Visiting Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. The study tools and measurement tools were an interview-administered female infertility questionnaire form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Skin Fold Thickness (SFT). Significant positive associations (P<0.05) were explored between the obesity category and female infertility. There was a significant influence of over fat (30.4%) level measured using SFT for female infertility. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was emphasized between the low level of IPAQ score (36.4%) and female infertility. Women aged ≥28 years, sedentary occupations, and age at menarche were found to be associated with infertility (P<0.01). Sedentary lifestyle behaviour among women of reproductive age, living in the urban city of Colombo was found to be associated with female infertility.

Comparative Evaluation of Metformin Hydrochloride Brands Available in Sri Lanka

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Comparative Evaluation of Metformin Hydrochloride Brands Available in Sri Lanka Lakmali, EMMS; Thanujah, M; Thuvaragan, S; Kuruppu, KDA Metformin, being noteworthy, is used in the management of Type 2 Diabetes. It is available in different brands in Sri Lanka. Several studies have shown that different brands of the drug varied qualities, which could impact the treatment efficacy. This study was conducted to analyse the quantity of different brands of metformin hydrochloride tablets available in the Jaffna municipal area, Sri Lanka. It was a laboratory-based exploratory study conducted in State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation, Sri Lanka. Based on most available brands at pharmacies in the Jaffna Municipal area, fifteen brands of conventional metformin tablets were selected for this study. They were coded as M1, M2, M3,… M15. The uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, disintegration, uniformity of content, and dissolution tests were performed in accordance with the British Pharmacopeia (BP). Two out of fifteen brands were locally manufactured, and the remaining were imported. All brands were conformed to BP specifications in uniformity of weight. The hardness test showed optimum withstanding strength in all brands. All brands excluding M1 (108.95%), M6 (111.58%), M7 (94.27%) and M11 (93.91%) were comprised of values falling under monograph specifications (95% -105%) for uniformity of content. Twelve brands satisfied Pharmacopeia requirements in the friability test, while two brands, M7 (40.45 min) and M10 (34.5 minutes), failed in the disintegration test. The dissolution of one brand showed the least drug release (61.40%), and the remaining passed the dissolution test. In conclusion, of all the metformin hydrochloride brands, nine brands passed all the official tests according to BP specifications.