Study purpose The aim of this study was to determine the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels, exhaled breath carbon monoxide (eCO) levels, blood pressure, blood lipid levels between smokers and non-smokers and to determine the association of smoking intensity with the above parameters. Methods This descriptive study was conducted in selected periurban areas of the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Adult male current tobacco smokers (n=360), aged between 21 and 60 years were studied and compared with anthropometrically matched male non-smokers (n=180). Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire, clinical assessment and measurement of FeNO by FENO monitor and eCO bySmokerlyser. Results Smokers had significantly lower mean FeNO levels and higher mean eCO values compared with non-smokers. Presentation of palpitations was higher among the smokers and a significantly positive correlation was identified between palpitations and eCO levels. There was a significantly positive correlation between the systolic blood pressure of smokers with the duration of smoking (DS), Brinkman Index (BI), Body Mass Index (BMI) and there was a significantly negative correlation with FeNO levels. The mean arterial pressure was positively correlated with the DS, BI and BMI. There was a significantly negative correlation between FeNO and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, DS and BI of smokers. Significantly higher total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very LDL-C, TC: HDL ratio and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was observed among smokers compared with the non-smokers. Conclusions Tobacco smoking was found to impact blood pressure and serum lipid levels thus enhancing the cardiovascular risk among smokers. The levels of eCO and FeNO are useful biomarkers for determining the intensity of smoking. The results indicate the necessity for urgent measures to stop cigarette smoking in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is the single most preventable cause of death worldwide and a major risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. Tobacco smoking has both acute and chronic effects on hematological parameters. The study aims to assess the effects of smoking intensity on...

The application of first aid for snakebites are important in rural Sri Lanka. This study aimed to assess the current level of knowledge and application of snakebite first aid. Results revealed a substantial gap between knowledge and practices. This study highlights the need for education programs to improve snakebite management

Background: Cigarette smoking has long been associated with decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms globally. While this relationship is well-established, a critical gap exists in our understanding of the specific impact of smoking intensity on individual lung volumes, particularly among the general population. Despite numerous studies conducted on this topic worldwide, there is a noticeable absence of research focusing on the Sri Lankan population, and South Asian studies in this context remain sparse. This study evaluated the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function changes among chronic cigarette smokers and compared them with non-smokers. Furthermore, the proposed study intends to close this gap by undertaking a systematic assessment of the influence of cigarette smoking on lung function and respiratory symptoms in the general population of Sri Lanka. Additionally, the present research represents the first-ever Lung function study conducted in Sri Lanka specifically targeting cigarette smokers. Methods: Adult male daily smokers (n = 360) and matched non-smokers (n = 180) from the Colombo district, Sri Lanka, were chosen. Smokers were compared in age, height, and weight with a matched nonsmoking control group. An interviewer provided a questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic information, smoking behaviors, and clinical respiratory symptoms. Lung function tests were performed with a calibrated PC-based Medikro® Pro (Finland) spirometer and forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and FEV1/ FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF 25–75%) were measured. Results: Smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and significantly lower FVC, FEV1, FEV1/ FVC, and PEF, FEF 25–75% values than non-smokers. There was a significantly negative correlation of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/ FVC, and PEF, FEF 25–75% with the duration of smoking, and the Brinkman Index. According to the Multiple regression analysis, smoking significantly contributed to deteriorated pulmonary function variables. Conclusion: This study revealed that continuous smoking accelerates the deterioration of lung function and increases respiratory symptoms. Early strategies to reduce tobacco use are recommended.

Introduction: Menopause is characterised by the ending of the menstrual cycle as part of a natural process. However, menopause can also be caused by other health conditions, such as premature ovarian failure or cancers that may have led to an oophorectomy or a radical hysterectomy. The physiological and psychological mechanisms linked to menopause across all age groups, races and ethnicities are not well understood. The paucity of data could reduce the advancement of optimal clinical practice, leading to reduced quality of life for women. To better explore and assess menopause, we have designed the MenopAuse mental hEalth Rating (MARiE) tool. Methods: We will conduct a prospective mixed methods study using two workstreams of WP2a and WP2b among in women and trans-men ≥18 years old that are experiencing perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause among an array of ethnicities and races. WP2a will involve a number of validated clinical assessments of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index Scale, Menopause Rating Scale, Greene Climacteric Scale, Health Related Quality of Life, Quebec Pain Disability Scale, and Burnout Assessment Tool will be administered digitally using the Qualtrex platform. WP2b will assess the feasibility of using a novel tool called MARiE to report face validity and efficacy. Ethics approval: Research Ethics approval reference for this study in the UK is 22/EE/0159. As required, country-specific approvals have been obtained and continue to be secured. Dissemination: The study findings will be made available using a peer-review publication journal, workshops and conferences.

Women-led indigenous farming and ethnobotanical systems across Asia, Africa, and South America are vital yet often overlooked foundations for reproductive health, food security, and ecological resilience. This paper draws on diverse case studies—including jamu in Indonesia, ayurveda in India and helawedakama in Sri Lanka, milpa systems in Mexico, Andean potato terraces, and sub-Saharan African agroforestry—to illustrate how women cultivate biodiversity-rich agricultural and medicinal traditions that support menstruation, fertility, childbirth, and postpartum care.As farmers, healers, seed custodians, and knowledge holders, women advance nutritional, therapeutic, and psychosocial outcomes while preserving intergenerational resilience. Yet these systems face mounting threats from land dispossession, extractive industries, commercial seed regimes, and exclusionary policies. Regional examples—from Kenya’s seed banks and Brazil’s feminist agroecology to Venezuela’s survival-based herbal practices—demonstrate both the strength of these traditions and the gendered barriers to their sustainability.Climate change further underscores the urgency of safeguarding these low-input, locally adapted practices. As women increasingly navigate civil society and state frameworks, their knowledge must be formally recognized and resourced. We argue that inclusive health, agricultural, and environmental policies that centre gender equity, biocultural heritage, and climate resilience in low- and middle-income countries. International collaboration is essential to protecting and scaling women-led indigenous systems as pathways toward transformative global health and sustainability.