Background Lack of available reference values in a research setting under local conditions can be a drawback for beginners, as the accuracy of data from control samples cannot be checked at the beginning of a research project. This affects comparisons with data from test samples. To avoid these complications in their research projects, beginners tend to have a greater number of animals in the control group compared to test groups in order to have control group measurements within 2 SD s of the mean. Methods As non‐availability of reference values was a long‐felt need, the described project was conducted in order to establish a reference database for selected haematological, biochemical and physiological parameters using apparently healthy Sprague‐Dawley rats bred in the Animal House of Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (UCFM). Results Differences in mean values of packed cell volume ( PCV ), mean corpuscular volume ( MCV ) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration ( MCHC ), serum creatinine and blood glucose levels between the two genders were statistically significant. Lipid profile measurements did not differ significantly between genders, but mean and median values of triglycerides ( TG ) between male and female rats showed a difference of more than 10 mg/dL. The liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase ( AP ) and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) were also statistically significantly different between sexes. Despite wide variation in mean alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) between sexes, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion The findings of this project should support to a certain extent the “Reduction” aspect of the 3Rs concept of Russell and Burch by reducing the number of Sprague‐Dawley rats used in future research projects at UCFM .

Labour pain management is a major challenge in maternity care. Epidural analgesia provides safe and effective pain relief during labour. The objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and associated factors towards epidural analgesia during labour among pregnant women in Colombo region, Sri Lanka.This was a descriptive study conducted at two selected hospitals in Colombo Sri Lanka. The sample size was 260 and those below 18yrs were excluded. Participants were provided with a pretested questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Both knowledge and attitude were given separate scores and were categorized as 'good' or 'poor' based on their mean.Within the study population, 41.9% had heard of labour analgesia. Among them, only 6.7% had good knowledge and 15.6% had a positive attitude towards labour epidural analgesia. The patients with good knowledge about labour epidural analgesia had good attitude towards the procedure (p<0.05) and there was a positive association between those who had heard of analgesia and their sources of information.However, as the total level of knowledge and attitudes towards labour epidural analgesia was poor, it is recommended that the health care workers issue pamphlets carrying necessary information following discussions with the pregnant women. After admission they should be given clear information about risks and benefits of the procedure and a post-partum feedback would help in quality improvement.

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Due to the rarity of the disease, there are no guidelines or consensus for the management of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas with liver metastasis. We describe a patient with solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas with multiple liver metastases who was successfully managed with staged resection. A previously healthy 50-year-old female presented to the clinic with dull epigastric pain. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a well-defined cystic lesion at the distal body and tail of the pancreas with multiple liver deposits. A core needle liver biopsy was suspicious of a hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. A distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and a left hemi-hepatectomy were performed with a subsequent staged right posterior sectionectomy to address the inadequate future liver remnant. The final histology with immunohistochemistry revealed a pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm. The patient had satisfactory surgical and oncological outcomes with no recurrence. As these are slow growing tumours, appropriately spaced staged liver resection was feasible to allow hypertrophy of the liver remnant and physiological recovery of the patient. The discrepancy in the histology and cross-sectional imaging led to a pre-operative diagnostic dilemma, and the final diagnosis was reached after surgical resection. Thus, resectable metastatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas may be offered a primary curative radical surgery before considering other treatment modalities.

No abstract available