More patients after rectal dissection vs segmental colectomy had urinary tract infections [15 (31%) vs 3 (17.5%), P = 0.04]. At 37 months, urinary dysfunction after rectal excision was seen in 29 (60%; 20 men) vs nine (37.5%; eight men) after segmental colectomy. Postoperative urinary symptoms were significant in group A, but not in group B (pre: vs post; groups A and B: poor stream--13%vs 38%, P = 0.001 and 21%vs 21%, P = NS; incontinence--4.2%vs 17%, P = 0.008 and 8%vs 8%, P = NS; hesitancy--13%vs 35%, P = 0.034 and 17%vs 21%, P = NS). Sexual health was worse after rectal excision compared with segmental colectomy (men--62.5%, women--25%vs 44% of men) respectively. Erectile dysfunction was the chief cause (rectal excision--50%vs segmental colectomy - 33%). After rectal excision, 6% of women had dyspareunia and 19% reported reduced orgasm but none after segmental colectomy. Conclusion More men than women had urinary and sexual impairment after rectal excision than after segmental colectomy. Its aetiology is multifactorial.

No abstract

Hepatitis B and C are rare in Sri Lanka. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing in the country. Eighty-one patients referred for liver transplantation (LT) over a period of 18 months were prospectively evaluated. Ninety-two percent (n = 74) were males. Cryptogenic cirrhosis was the leading indication for LT (58%, n = 47) followed by alcohol in 27% (n = 33). Hepatitis B and C were not seen in our cases. The liver biochemistry and clinical status of cirrhosis were similar in cryptogenic and alcoholic cirrhotics. Fourteen patients died while waiting for transplant, and nine transplants were performed. Cryptogenic cirrhosis is the leading cause for LT in Sri Lanka.

No abstract

Two types of traps were compared for a period of 8 weeks in a citrus orchard to decide on the most suitable to use in a surveillance program for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Cerafitis capitata). The results showed that the Lynfield "pot" trap was significantly more efficient than the Jackson "sticky" trap, cheaper to construct, easier to maintain, and better suited to the monitoring program. Magnet@> TML 70-0 solid controlled release dispensers were compared over a period of 15 weeks in citrus orchards with standard Capilure cotton wicks. While both attracted equal numbers of C. cupituta, Magnet@ TML 70-0 dispensers at 10 times the cost of capilure wicks were not economical in large-scale trapping programs.