http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8152 2026-04-27T06:48:19Z 2026-04-27T06:48:19Z Nazeer, Z.A.A. Deneththi, M.P. Hathurusinghe, H.D.R.H. Fernando, W.D.P. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8263 2024-10-16T07:56:23Z 2022-08-26T00:00:00Z

Help Seeking Attitude for Depression among Nursing Undergraduates in a Private Education Institute in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka Nazeer, Z.A.A.; Deneththi, M.P.; Hathurusinghe, H.D.R.H.; Fernando, W.D.P. Background: Depression is a psychological problem which affects undergraduates. Studies have shown that nursing undergraduates are more prone to have depression due to clinical training, academic workload, and night shifts. Objectives: To study the attitudes of help seeking for depression among nursing undergraduates in a private institute in Gampaha district. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at International Institute of Health Science, Welisara, a private educational institution, in Gampaha district by recruiting 151 nursing undergraduates. A vignette describing a peer suffering from depression was presented and participants were given a questionnaire based on the case vignette, constructed according to Amarasuriya, et al., 2018. Attitude towards seeking help for depressions was evaluated using the response given for vignette. Results: The participants were between 18 to 28 years of age and among them 68.2% (n=103) were females. The majority (70%, n=106) of the participants were willing to reach professional help rather than informal help for the issue depicted in the case vignette. Respondents who preferred to get help from a psychologist and counsellor were 62.7% (n=95) and 73.3% (n=111), respectively. A fewer number of participants preferred to seek help informally through parents (48%, n=72) and from friends (34.7%, n=52). However, 5.3% (n=8) reported they are reluctant to communicate the problem with anyone if they ever suffered from depression while a majority (94.7%, n=143) preferred to share the problems and seek necessary help. Conclusions: Nursing undergraduates of the sample intended to communicate regarding problems and willing to seek professional psychological help. The participants have a positive attitude towards seeking help for depression.

2022-08-26T00:00:00Z Perera, K.G.D.M. Rathnayaka, R.M.U.S. Pathmathilaka, T.M.D. Premathilaka, H.G.N.P. Dissanayake, D.M.N.L. Jayamaha, A.R. Dharmarathna, H.H.N.D. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8262 2024-10-16T09:50:44Z 2022-08-26T00:00:00Z

Psychological Distress related to Acne among Young Adults who are Attending to the Dermatologic Clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka Perera, K.G.D.M.; Rathnayaka, R.M.U.S.; Pathmathilaka, T.M.D.; Premathilaka, H.G.N.P.; Dissanayake, D.M.N.L.; Jayamaha, A.R.; Dharmarathna, H.H.N.D. Background: Acne is a common visible skin disease affecting a considerable percentage of the world population with the highest prevalence in the younger generation. It is known to cause a significant psychological impact including anxiety, depression, and stress in adolescents and young adults. Objectives: To assess the psychological distress related to acne among young adults who attend the dermatologic clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among conveniently selected 113 patients (young adults, 18-35 years), attended the dermatology clinic at NHSL to seek treatments for acne problems. The questionnaire was converted to a google form and the link to the questionnaire was circulated among the participants using social media platforms. Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS 21) which was validated for Sri Lankan context, was used to measure the psychological distress of the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Among the participants, 70.8% belonged to the 27-30 years age category, 79.6% were females and 49.6% were unmarried. Most of them were employed (74.3%) and nearly half of the participants (54.0%) were educated up to GCE A/L. The majority of them (75.2%) were diagnosed with acne 5 years ago. Pimples (pustules) appeared on the face of 85.8% of the participants. Among the participants 85.0% reported normal, 10.6% mild, 3.5% moderate and 0.9% severe depression. Normal, mild, moderate, severe, and most severe anxiety levels among the participants were 67.2%, 12.4%, 11.5%, 6.2%, and 2.7%, respectively. Among the participants 92.0% had normal, 7.1% mild and 0.9% moderate stress levels. Conclusions: The findings of the study revealed a considerable psychological influence including anxiety, depression, and stress related to acne among young adults who attend the dermatologic clinic at NHSL. Early and effective interventions are necessary to manage patients with acne who suffer from phycological impairments.

2022-08-26T00:00:00Z Thilakarathne, R.M.P.S. Ampemohotti, A.A.L.T. Hettiarachchi, C.M. Kumari, K.D.K.P. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8261 2024-10-10T04:33:40Z 2022-08-26T00:00:00Z

Effect of Temperature on Cysteine Inhibitory Activity of Seed Extracts of Vigna unguiculate (Cowpea) Sri Lankan Breeds Thilakarathne, R.M.P.S.; Ampemohotti, A.A.L.T.; Hettiarachchi, C.M.; Kumari, K.D.K.P. Background: Disturbances in regulation of cysteine activity may leads to severe disease conditions such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the discovery of natural cysteine inhibitors paved the way to a novel therapeutic strategy against such diseases. Objectives: To investigate the cysteine inhibitory activity (CIA) of seed extracts of two local breeds of Vigna unguiculate (cowpea) and the effect of temperature on CIA. Methods: Seeds of two local breeds known as Dahawala and Bombay were collected from the Field Crops Research and Development Institute of Sri Lanka. A concentration gradient (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20, % w/v) of aqueous seed extracts was screened for CIA. The seed extracts were incubated with L-cysteine in phosphoric acid buffer (pH 7.5) and then the casein was added as the substrate. Following the incubation at 37⁰C, trichloroacetic acid was added. The absorbance of the supernatant was recorded at 280 nm and percentage cysteine inhibitory activity (CIA%) was calculated. The thermal stability of the inhibitors was studied by pre incubation of seed sample in different temperatures following evaluation of CIA. Results: Among the concentrations screened, the maximum CIA% was exhibited by 10% seed extracts of both breeds [Bombay, 67.5 (±0.01%); Dahawala, 65.5 (±0.03%)]. Hence, 10% extract was assessed for thermal stability. Dahawala seed extract demonstrated its maximum CIA% at 37⁰C [69.52 (±0.03%)], while it was 39.44 (±0.07%) at 60⁰C. The extract did not exert any activity beyond 80⁰C. Bombay seeds extract showed the optimum CIA% at 37⁰C [65.27 (±0.06%)], while the inhibitory activity at 60, 80 and 100⁰C were 32.63 (±0.02%), 26.60 (±0.08%) and 18.03 (±0.01%), respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed that, the seed extracts of both breeds contain a considerable amount of cysteine inhibitors. The inhibitors present in Dahawala seeds are heat-labile, while the inhibitors in Bombay seeds are heat stable as they demonstrated a considerable activity even at high temperatures.

2022-08-26T00:00:00Z Madawala, A.L. Gunarathne, P.D. Bandara, S.P. Samanmali, B.L.C. Pathirana, R.N. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8260 2024-10-11T08:15:22Z 2022-08-26T00:00:00Z

Study of In-vitro Antiurolithiatic and Lithotriptic Activities of Crateva adansonii Madawala, A.L.; Gunarathne, P.D.; Bandara, S.P.; Samanmali, B.L.C.; Pathirana, R.N. Background: Urolithiasis clinically stands for the formation and movement of stones in the urinary system and it is one of the most common urinary diseases in the world. The plant; Crateva adansonii (Garlic pear tree; Lunuwarana) is used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of urolithiasis. Objectives: To evaluate in-vitro antiurolithiatic and lithotriptic activities of the aqueous stem bark extract of C. adansonii. Methods: Plant extract was prepared by decoction method. Different concentrations of plant extract were mixed with artificial and natural urine. An aliquot of 15 mmol/L CaCl2 solution followed by 20 mmol/L Na2C2O4 solution were added while maintaining the pH of the medium at 6.5. Antiurolithiatic activity was examined by measuring the optical density of these mixtures at 620 nm followed by calculation of percentage inhibition of nucleation. The investigation of the lithotriptic activity was carried out with a redox titration using KMnO4 with CaC2O4. The percentage of dissolution of calcium oxalate crystals was calculated. Cystone tablets were used as the reference drug. Results: Results of the spectrophotometric method showed concentration dependant increase in the inhibitory activity of nucleation in both urine media. Plant C. adansonii showed the highest mean percentage of nucleation inhibition with a value of 50.82% at the highest concentration of 20 mg/mL in natural urine, whereas Cystone showed 47.08%. In artificial urine, plant extract at the concentration of 20 mg/mL showed a mean percentage inhibition value of 51.90% which is also higher than the reference drug: Cystone (47.47%). The results of lithotriptic activity demonstrated that the aqueous extract of C. adansonii was less effective in dissolving CaC2O4 crystals in both natural and artificial urine (25.03%, 24.68%), respectively compared to Cystone (36.91%, 35.17%). Conclusions: The aqueous extract of C. adansonii bark exhibits higher antiurolithiatic activity on CaC2O4 crystals formation and shows moderate lithotriptic activity in both natural and artificial urine.

2022-08-26T00:00:00Z