Indika Mallawaarachchi

Mr. Indika Mallawaarachchi

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2016 in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MOMohamed O. Othman
Mohamed O. Othman
RGRichard Guerrero
Richard Guerrero
SESherif Elhanafi
Sherif Elhanafi
BDBrian Davis
Brian Davis
JHJesus Hernandez
Jesus Hernandez
MZMarc J. Zuckerman
Marc J. Zuckerman

30 January 2023 in Journal of Migration and Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ANAmanda J. Nguyen
Amanda J. Nguyen
MLMolly Lasater
Molly Lasater
CLCatherine Lee
Catherine Lee
IMIndika Mallawaarachchi
Indika Mallawaarachchi
KJKate Joshua
Kate Joshua
KGKirsten Gelsdorf
Kirsten Gelsdorf
Forced displacement is associated with elevated risk for poor psychosocial wellbeing, yet there remains a lack of clarity around the effectiveness of commonly implemented psychosocial support interventions focused on preventing disorder and promoting wellbeing. This study aimed to synthesize the literature on evaluations of psychosocial support interventions for populations affected by forced displacement. We searched for peer reviewed and gray literature in seven databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, SocIndex, PsychInfo, PILOTS), fifteen organizational websites, and via solicitation through multiple networks. Various study designs were included, with the criteria that they report an evaluation of a psychosocial intervention delivered to populations affected by forced displacement, and included quantitative or qualitative data on psychosocial outcomes. Records were screened independently by two reviewers at both title/abstract and full-text review; data was double-extracted and study quality assessed, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Meta-analyses for seven outcomes were conducted on a subset of 33 studies. We identified 162 reports. Over half (55%) used a single-group study design, with fewer using non-random (19%) or randomized (21%) comparisons. Study designs incorporating comparison conditions were less likely to report positive findings than single-group studies. In the meta-analyses, a moderately strong overall effect was found for psychosocial wellbeing (ES: -0.534, 95% CI: [-0.870, -0.197], p=.005); small effects on both internalizing (ES: -0.152, 95% CI: [-0.310, 0.005], p= .057) and externalizing (ES: -0.249, 95% CI: [-0.515, 0.016], p=.064) problems were promising but not conclusive. Subgroup analysis suggested differential impacts on internalizing problems for adults (improvement; ES: -0.289, 95% CI: [-0.435, -0.143], p=.001) and children (worsening; ES: 0.129, 95% CI: [.054, 0.204], p=.002). Other subgroup analyses showed little meaningful variation by context, population, or intervention characteristics. Pragmatic, field-driven program evaluations are dominated by single-group designs with significant risk of bias. Findings from controlled studies are promising but highlight a need for more rigorous research to support causal inference, align outcomes with theories of change, improve measurement of more positive or wellbeing-focused outcomes, examine subgroup differences, and report potentially negative impacts.

15 July 2021 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZJZehra Jamil
Zehra Jamil
NINajeeha Talat Iqbal
Najeeha Talat Iqbal
RIRomana Idress
Romana Idress
ZAZubair Ahmed
Zubair Ahmed
KSKamran Sadiq
Kamran Sadiq
SASyed Asad Ali
Syed Asad Ali
Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical condition of intestinal inflammation, barrier dysfunction and malabsorption associated with growth faltering in children living in poverty. This study explores association of altered duodenal permeability (lactulose, rhamnose and their ratio) with higher burden of enteropathogen in the duodenal aspirate, altered histopathological findings and higher morbidity (diarrhea) that is collectively associated with linear growth faltering in children living in EED endemic setting. In a longitudinal birth cohort, 51 controls (WHZ > 0, HAZ > −1.0) and 63 cases (WHZ< -2.0, refractory to nutritional intervention) were recruited. Anthropometry and morbidity were recorded on monthly bases up to 24 months of age. Dual sugar assay of urine collected after oral administration of lactulose and rhamnose was assessed in 96 children from both the groups. Duodenal histopathology (n = 63) and enteropathogen analysis of aspirate via Taqman array card (n = 60) was assessed in only cases.Giardiawas the most frequent pathogen and was associated with raised L:R ratio (p = 0.068). Gastric microscopy was more sensitive than duodenal aspirate inH.pyloridetection. Microscopically confirmedH.pylorinegatively correlated with HAZ at 24 months (r = −0.313, p = 0.013). Regarding histopathological parameters, goblet cell reduction significantly correlated with decline in dual sugar excretion (p< 0.05). Between cases and controls, there were no significant differences in the median (25th, 75thpercentile) of urinary concentrations (μg/ml) of lactulose [27.0 (11.50, 59.50) for cases vs. 38.0 (12.0, 61.0) for controls], rhamnose [66.0 (28.0, 178.0) vs. 86.5 (29.5, 190.5)] and L:R ratio [0.47 (0.24, 0.90) vs. 0.51 (0.31, 0.71)] respectively. In multivariable regression model, 31% of variability in HAZ at 24 months of age among cases and controls was explained by final model including dual sugars. In conclusion, enteropathogen burden is associated with altered histopathological features and intestinal permeability. In cases and controls living in settings of endemic enteropathy, intestinal permeability test may predict linear growth. However, for adoption as a screening tool for EED, further validation is required due to its complex intestinal pathophysiology.

5 July 2022 in Journal of Renal Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SPShirin Pourafshar
Shirin Pourafshar
BSBinu Sharma
Binu Sharma
SKSibylle Kranz
Sibylle Kranz
IMIndika Mallawaarachchi
Indika Mallawaarachchi
EKElizabeth Kurland
Elizabeth Kurland
JSJulia J. Scialla
Julia J. Scialla
To characterize patterns of fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in US adults with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). We used 24-hour dietary recall data from multiple cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 3 groups from 1988 to 2018 (1988–1994; 2003–2010; 2011–2018). We categorized F&Vs based on food processing and phytochemical content. We assessed patterns of F&Vs using latent class analysis and compared intake patterns across the 3 temporal cohorts and CKD status using weighted multinomial logistic regression. Four similar patterns of F&Vs emerged in each cycle: Overall Low Intake, High Unprocessed, High Ultra-Processed, and Moderate Processed F&Vs. The Overall Low Intake pattern was most prevalent in all cohorts and CKD groups. After adjustment for demographic variables and selected health conditions, participants with compared to without CKD were more likely to be classified as Overall Low Intake in each cohort, although this was not significant in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. Low consumption of F&Vs was more common in patients with CKD. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine if low intake is a risk factor for, or response to, CKD.

7 June 2023 in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ASAzza Sarfraz
Azza Sarfraz
ZJZehra Jamil
Zehra Jamil
SASheraz Ahmed
Sheraz Ahmed
FUFayaz Umrani
Fayaz Umrani
AQAbdul Khaliq Qureshi
Abdul Khaliq Qureshi
SASyed Asad Ali
Syed Asad Ali
Background Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARI) are assumed to be major drivers of growth and likely contribute to environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), which is a precursor to childhood malnutrition. In the present study, we checked the correlation between diarrhoeal/ARI burden and EED using a novel duodenal histo-logical index. Methods Between November 2017 and July 2019, a total of 365 infants with weight-for-height Z scores (WHZ score) of <-2 were enrolled, and 51 infants with WHZ scores of >0 and height-for-age Z scores (HAZ scores) of >-1 were selected as age-matched healthy controls. Morbidity was assessed weekly and categorised as the total number of days with diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) from enrolment until two years of age and was further divided into four quartiles in ascending order.Findings The HAZ declined until two years of age regardless of morbidity burden, and WHZ and weight-for-age Z scores (WAZ scores) were at their lowest at six months. Sixty-three subjects who had a WHZ score <-2 and failed to respond to nutritional and educational interventions were further selected at 15 months to investigate their EED histological scores with endoscopy further. EED histological scores of the subjects were higher with increasing diarrhoeal frequency yet remained statistically insignificant (p = 0.810).Interpretation There was not a clear correlation between diarrhoea and ARI frequency with growth faltering, however, children with the highest frequency of diarrhoea had the highest EED histological scores and growth faltering.

21 May 2016 in European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
RFRudolf Fullybright
Rudolf Fullybright
ADAlok Kumar Dwivedi
Alok Kumar Dwivedi
IMIndika Mallawaarachchi
Indika Mallawaarachchi
BSBrice Sinsin
Brice Sinsin