Dr. Wijesekera studies several vital areas in medicine, including the role of genetic variations in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer survival rates specifically in lung, esophageal, and gastric cancers, and techniques to improve surgical procedures and patient recovery. His research includes developing innovative tools for analyzing DNA, especially tandem repeats that are linked to neurological disorders. Additionally, he assesses survival outcomes for cancer patients and explores methods to enhance surgical practices, like minimizing blood loss during complex spine surgeries, which can significantly affect recovery times and treatment success.
Key findings
In a study on lung cancer, 349 patients who received curative treatment had a median survival of 12 months, whereas those receiving palliative care survived only 3 months.
A retrospective analysis of 374 patients with esophageal and gastric cancer revealed that only 19% survived for two years after being treated with curative intent.
Using high doses of tranexamic acid during spine surgeries resulted in a significant reduction in blood loss, supporting safer recovery without increasing complications.
His research identified that TREAT can accurately detect dangerous tandem repeat expansions linked to Alzheimer's with 99.94% accuracy, minimizing errors in genetic testing.
The sanitation study revealed that increasing sanitation coverage from 60% to 100% can lead to a 24% reduction in diarrhea cases among children under 5.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Wijesekera study genetic conditions?
Yes, he focuses on understanding genetic variations, particularly tandem repeats in DNA that are associated with neurological disorders and diseases like Alzheimer's.
What treatment outcomes has Dr. Wijesekera researched for cancer?
He has studied survival rates of lung, esophageal, and gastric cancer patients, finding low survival rates for those with advanced disease and the need for better treatment access.
Is Dr. Wijesekera's work relevant to patients undergoing surgery?
Yes, he conducts research that improves surgical techniques, such as reducing blood loss during complex surgeries, which can enhance patient recovery.
What are the key health issues Dr. Wijesekera addresses?
His research addresses cancer survival, genetic disorders, surgical outcomes, and public health issues, including sanitation's impact on health.
How does Dr. Wijesekera help improve patient care in Sri Lanka?
Through his studies, he highlights critical gaps in cancer treatment and surgical practices, advocating for better diagnostics and access to aggressive treatments.
Publications in plain English
Multisample motif discovery and visualization for tandem repeats.
2025
Genome research
Zhang Y, Hulsman M, Salazar A, Tesi N, Knoop L +5 more
Plain English This study focused on developing a new tool called MotifScope to better analyze and visualize tandem repeats (TRs) in human DNA, which are important because their variations are linked to neurological disorders. The researchers found that MotifScope identifies more motifs and represents repeat sequences more accurately than previous methods. This is important because it enhances our understanding of genetic variations in populations and their potential impact on health.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors by improving the understanding of genetic links to diseases.
Characterizing tandem repeat complexities across long-read sequencing platforms with TREAT and.
2024
Genome research
Tesi N, Salazar A, Zhang Y, van der Lee S, Hulsman M +9 more
Plain English The research study focused on tandem repeats (TRs) in human DNA, which are important for understanding genetic differences and disease risks. The new tool called TREAT was developed to accurately analyze these TRs using long-read sequencing from different technologies. The study found that TREAT accurately identifies dangerous TR expansions linked to conditions like Alzheimer's disease and minimizes errors in TR typing—though in rare cases (0.06%), some sequences may still be misidentified.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and clinicians working with genetic disorders, particularly in identifying risks associated with diseases like Alzheimer's.
The Administration of Tranexamic Acid For Complex Spine Surgery.
2023
AANA journal
Jockel K, Lee A, Cosgrove MS, Reilly D, Wijesekera S
Plain English This research looked at the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) during complex spine surgeries to reduce blood loss. The study found that using high doses of TXA led to a significant reduction in blood loss compared to low doses, without increasing complications, which is important since many spine surgeries result in major blood loss. Improving how we manage blood loss during these surgeries can help patients recover faster and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing complex spine surgeries and the doctors performing those surgeries.
Outcomes of patients with esophageal and gastric cancer in Sri Lanka: A retrospective survival analysis.
2023
Journal of cancer research and therapeutics
Wijesekera S, Alagiyawanna L, Peiris V, Silva DC, Rupasinghe T +6 more
Plain English This study looked at the survival rates of patients with esophageal and gastric cancer treated in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2016. Out of 374 patients, only 19% survived for two years when treated with the intent to cure. Those who received chemotherapy before surgery had the best chances of long-term survival, while patients receiving palliative care had a median survival of just 2 months. This information highlights the need for earlier diagnosis and better treatment options to improve survival rates for these cancers.
Who this helps: This helps patients with esophageal and gastric cancer and their healthcare providers.
Alagiyawanna L, Wijesekera S, Peiris V, Rupasinghe T, Chathuranga D +5 more
Plain English The study looked at lung cancer survival rates among patients in Sri Lanka. It found that of the 349 patients treated, the median survival was 12 months for those receiving curative treatment, while those receiving palliative care survived an average of only 3 months. The results show that most patients (over 90%) were not getting the aggressive treatment they needed, highlighting the importance of improving early diagnosis and treatment access.
Who this helps: This research helps patients with lung cancer, healthcare providers, and policymakers in Sri Lanka.
Equity implications for sanitation from recent health and nutrition evidence.
2017
International journal for equity in health
Cronin AA, Gnilo ME, Odagiri M, Wijesekera S
Plain English This study looked at how sanitation affects health and nutrition, particularly in communities. It found that communities need to have at least 60% sanitation coverage to see real health benefits, such as a 24% reduction in diarrhoea among children under 5 when improving from 60% to 100% coverage in Indonesia. This matters because focusing on improving sanitation can lead to healthier populations, especially in underserved areas.
Who this helps: This research benefits communities, health officials, and policymakers aiming to improve public health through better sanitation.
Two Case Reports on Thalamic and Basal Ganglia Involvement in Children with Dengue Fever.
2016
Case reports in infectious diseases
Liyanage G, Adhikari L, Wijesekera S, Wijayawardena M, Chandrasiri S
Plain English This study looked at two children in Sri Lanka who had dengue fever and experienced unusual brain problems involving the thalamus and basal ganglia. Both children had severe symptoms even though they did not show typical signs of serious fluid loss, highlighting that dengue can affect the brain in rare cases. Understanding these severe effects is important because it helps doctors recognize and treat these complications more effectively.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and healthcare providers treat children with severe dengue fever.
From joint thinking to joint action: a call to action on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene for maternal and newborn health.
2014
PLoS medicine
Velleman Y, Mason E, Graham W, Benova L, Chopra M +11 more
Plain English This study calls for better cooperation between the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and maternal and newborn health. The authors emphasize that improving access to clean water and proper sanitation could significantly lower health risks for mothers and newborns. This matters because better WASH conditions can lead to healthier pregnancies and reduce newborn deaths, making a real difference in lives.
Who this helps: Patients, especially pregnant women and newborns.
Efficacy of intraoperative monitoring of transcranial electrical stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials and spontaneous electromyography activity to identify acute-versus delayed-onset C-5 nerve root palsy during cervical spine surgery: clinical article.
2013
Journal of neurosurgery. Spine
Bhalodia VM, Schwartz DM, Sestokas AK, Bloomgarden G, Arkins T +5 more
Plain English This study looked at how well two types of monitoring—transcranial electrical stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials (tceMEP) and spontaneous electromyography (spEMG)—could detect nerve injuries in the C-5 region of the spine during surgery. Researchers found that 5.1% of patients experienced nerve injuries, which was most common (50%) in those who had a specific type of surgery called dual corpectomy. The tceMEP method was very effective, detecting immediate nerve weakness with a 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity, while spEMG was not as reliable.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing cervical spine surgery and their doctors in identifying potential nerve issues during and after surgery.
Reliability of radiographic parameters in neuromuscular scoliosis.
2007
Spine
Gupta MC, Wijesekera S, Sossan A, Martin L, Vogel LC +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how accurately different doctors measure scoliosis in patients with neuromuscular conditions using X-rays. Researchers reviewed the X-rays of 48 patients and found that the measurement of the Cobb angle, commonly used for scoliosis, had some variability (5.7 degrees when the same doctor measured multiple times and 14.8 degrees between different doctors). However, other measurements like the Ferguson angle showed even more inconsistency. This is important because knowing which measurements are reliable can help doctors make better treatment decisions for their patients.
Who this helps: Patients with neuromuscular scoliosis and their doctors.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Rajapakse VP, Wijesekera S
Plain English This study looked at the outcomes of 43 patients who were on mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit in Sri Lanka. The researchers found that 42% of these patients survived, with specific conditions like organophosphate poisoning and Guillain-Barré polyneuritis showing high mortality rates of 47% and 50%. Meanwhile, patients who experienced complications after surgery had a lower death rate of 20%, and those with tetanus or myasthenia gravis all recovered.
Who this helps: This information is valuable for doctors treating critically ill patients, especially in assessing risks based on different conditions.