Water quality parameters in relation to chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, high concentrations of certain water quality parameters in drinking water are assumed to be causing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Nmih Central Province (NCP) in Sri Lanka repotis the highest number of CKD patients and mmiality rates. The repmied research herein concentrates on re-examining diverse causative factors identified by previous researchers on CKD and analysis of water quality in samples from shallow wells supplying drinking water to CKD patients and non-patients in NCP. The samples were tested for a number of parameters such as anions, cations, and heavy metals. These include Cd, Na, Ca, F and Cl which previous researchers have suggested as causative factors for CKD. The preliminmy analyses of data indicated majority of water quality parameters collected from the study area did not exceed the WHO drinking water quality standards. The critical water quality parameters that could cause the CKD were investigated using Factor Analysis techniques. From the water samples collected from the CKD Patients the parameters of Na, Cl, Mg, F and Ca could be grouped into one Factor and identified as hydro-geologically originating. Another Factor which could be due to nutrients from fetiilizer was identified consisting of N and P whereas Cd was grouped into a single Factor. In contrast, the water quality parameters in water samples collected from CKD Non-Patients were different and could not be clearly grouped into any special category

High Performance Work System and Organizational Commitment: A Study of a Large State Sector Organization in Sri Lanka

The objective of this study was to identify the impact of High Performance Work System (HPWS) on organizational commitment in a large state organization engaged in Electricity industry in Sri Lanka. This study used two main variables which were HPWS and organizational commitment. The hypotheses which were used for this study were: High performance work system is positively related to organizational commitment; and the percentage of variability of organizational commitment explained by high performance work system is significant. The data for the present study were collected from 50 respondents and all those respondents were executive level employees in the organization under the study. The standard instruments developed by Chuang and Liao and developed by Meyer, Allan and Smith were utilized to measure HPWS and organizational commitment respectively. The type of investigation of this study was correlational. The study was conducted in the natural environment and the researcher’s interference was minimal. This study was cross sectional rather than longitudinal. Results which were obtained after data analysis supported the acceptance of the two hypotheses. Based on the research findings, practical implications have also been discussed. Key Words: High Performance Work System, Human Resource Management, Organizational Commitmen

Differential Effect of Atpenin A5 on ROS Production from Wild- Type Mitochondrial Complex II in Human Cancer Cells and Normal Cells

Human mitochondrial complex II is an intriguing enzyme, which has been the focus of medical research during the past few decades since it contributes to pathogenesis of mitochondrial diseases as well as a target for chemotherapy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by this enzyme has been implicated in both these conditions. While ROS produced from mutated mitochondrial complex II has been implicated in pathogenesis of mitochondrial diseases, ROS produced from pharmacologically inhibited mitochondrial complex II has been implicated in cancer cell death. In this chapter, we show that inhibition of mitochondrial complex II in human cancer cells with atpenin A5 produces detectable levels of ROS while normal cells do not. Thus, this enzyme may be used as a potential target for developing new anticancer drugs to trigger ROS-mediated selective death of cancer cells

Evaluation of the Anti-carcinogenic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Lokanatha rasa: A mercurial preparation

Rasa Shastra is a branch of Ayurveda pharmaceutics that focusses on mercury-based preparations known as Rasaushadies. Lokanatha Rasa (LKN) is a Rasaushadie mentioned Rasasendra Sara Sangrahya, and is especially indicated for Liver and spleen disorders. It contains Kajjali (Parada and Gandhaka), and incinerated forms (Bhasma) of Abhra, Lauha, Thamra and Varatika. No scientific research has been conducted regarding LKN. This study aims on the evaluation of the invitro anticarcinogenic activity of LKN using HepG2 cancer cell line and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of it using the HRBC (Human Red Blood CELL) membrane stabilizing method. Cell viability of different concentrations of LKN on Hep G2 cell line was studied using MTT assay. Therefore, prevention of hypotonicity induced HRBC membrane lysis was taken as an invitro measure of anti-inflammatory activity of the drug. The inhibition percentage followed an exponential increase beyond 2 mg/mL, suggesting a threshold concentration at which LKN exerts significant cytotoxic effects. The MTT assay was directly proportional to its concentration. At the lowest tested concentration (0.0625 mg/mL) the % of inhibition was 27.73% and the highest concentration of LKN i.e. 1000mg/mL% of inhibition was 67.01. Results reveal that LKN possesses anti-inflammatory activity, though less than Diclofenac sodium

Synergism of Pheromone and Host-Plant Volatile Blends in the Attraction of Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee Males

Brinjal Fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee is considered to be the key insect pest that attacks brinjal plant. Insects such as L. orbonalis, which has extremely diverse adaptations such as hidden and protected lifestyles in the adult stage and concealed habits in the larval stage cannot be easily controlled with cover sprays of insecticides. Moreover, Pheromone-host plant odour interactions might also play a pivotal role in the evolution of mating communication and host-finding behaviour. The objective of the present work was to evaluate whether host plant volatiles synergise male L. orbonalis attraction to sex pheromone. Steam distillation method and super Q entrapment technique were used for the extraction of volatiles from brinjal plant leaves, shoots and fruits and sex pheromone from the insects respectively. Preliminary laboratory studies have shown that the male insects attracted to the host plant volatiles. Bioassay using Y-shaped olfactometer with different doses of the combination of sex pheromone and host plant volatiles were used to test the synergism. Two Whatman no. 1 filter papers (2.5 cm×2.5 cm) were used, one treated with a known amount of sex pheromone+host plant volatile and the other treated with equal amount of sex pheromone. In each experiment, the dose of sex pheromone was not changed and peak dose identified from the bioassay conducted previously was used. The dose of each host plant volatile was prepared by decreasing and increasing from the peak dose identified from the previous bioassays. Six doses of sex pheromone+fruit volatiles (25 μg+(8-48 mg)), sex pheromone+leaf volatile (25 μg+(12-42 mg)) and sex pheromone+shoot volatile (25 μg+(8-48 mg)) were tested using 15 male insects separately and each dose was replicated 5 times. The number of insects that moved into the sex pheromone+host plant volatile treated and sex pheromone treated arms within 5 minutes were recorded. This assay was carried out between 20.00–24.00 h and the test insects were not used repeatedly. Results revealed that all three types of volatiles from the host plant increased the attraction of male insects to the sex pheromone. In addition, the volatiles from brinjal fruits significantly increased the male attraction to the pheromone blend (p<0.05). The observed enhanced male attraction to the mixtures of pheromone and plant volatiles will facilitate the development of effective pest control programs for L. orbonalis.Keywords: Sex pheromone, Host plant volatiles, Synergism, Leucinodes orbonalis, Pest managemen

Chronic kidney disease of unknown origin in Sri Lanka and its relation to drinking water supplies

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major health concern in North Central Province (NCP) of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are the two most affected districts in NCP. Excess fluoride in groundwater used for drinking is suspected to cause CKD. This research was designed to identify possible CKD causative agents in drinking water of NCP. An analytical framework was developed to analyze drinking water sample data collected from shallow wells of CKD patients and non-patients in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts. Statistical analytical methods included Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s T3 post hoc test, Kruskal Wallis (KW) test followed by Mann-Whitney’s post hoc test, Factorial analysis followed by reliability tests and Discriminant analysis. A secondary data set obtained from CKD endemic and non-endemic areas were also analyzed independently using the same analytical techniques to validate results. Total results indicated that sodium and fluoride combination was the probable factor in drinking water of CKD patients. Sodium and fluoride as a combined factor was non-existent or less significant than magnesium and fluoride combination in non-patients. Even though Cd2+ and As3- were suspected to be causing CKD, As3- was not detected in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa samples and Cd2+ was insignificant in Polonnaruwa samples. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) was proposed as a mitigation measure to the CKD endemic areas as an alternative to groundwater supplies. RWH tanks were estimated for eight rainfall stations in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, using Mass Curve Method. For a four member household with average drinking water demand of 6 L/capita/day the rainwater tank sizes estimated varied between 3000 and 5100 L. Minimum runoff surface area estimations required to fill those tanks were between 6 to 18 m2. As such estimated tank sizes were of manageable size and can be applied in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts at household levels to supply drinking water as an alternative to groundwater sources. Removal of fluoride from drinking water obtained from ground water sources was the other CKD mitigation technique proposed in this research. Lab experiments showed that turmeric powder has fluoride removal capacity of 20% at concentrations between 2- 20mg/L. Langmuir Isotherm better fitted experimental results indicating monolayer adsorption. Intra-particle mass transfer diffusion equation indicated adsorption is governed by diffusion within the pores of the adsorbent. Column experiments showed that Fluoride adsorption by turmeric could be attributed to the processes of ion-binding and ion-exchange between turmeric and fluoride. After column experiments turmeric was regenerated with 1.0M NaOH. With the test results it was concluded that turmeric powder is a potential material for effective removal of fluoride

A Study of the Effects of Azadirachtin on Specific Tissues in the Locust, Schistocerca gregaria

Azadirachtin was isolated from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) by solvent extraction and flash column chromatography. The recrystallised material was characterised by chromatography, NMR and melting point, and was found to have a purity of >95%. The yield, from Sri Lankan neem seeds, was 0.065% w/w. The pure compound was used to prepare the reduced derivative (22,23) dihydroazadirachtin and (22,23-3H2)- dihydroazadirachtin was also commercially prepared for tracer and metabolic studies. The radiolabelled tracer was used to follow tissue uptake, metabolism and excretion in the locust Schistocerca gregaria. It was found that an injected dose of the tracer was removed with great speed from the haemolymph, apparently by carrier-mediated specific mechanisms, into many of the locust tissues. Unlabelled analogues, injected in large excess, inhibited the clearance of the tracer to different extents and the results suggested that azadirachtin and its dihydro derivative have different affinities for the uptake mechanism. Radio-labelled dihydroazadirachtin applied topically to the locusts was shown to penetrate the insect to only a limited extent. A large fraction of the tracer was absorbed into the fat body as well as into gut, Malpighian tubules and nervous tissue. Binding of the dihydroazadirachtin was persistent and not easily displaced. There was no evidence of active excretion of dihydroazadirachtin by the Malpighian tubules. Metabolism of the dihydroazadirachtin was slow, and largely restricted to fat body and crop. Attempts, in vivo and in vitro, to show an effect of azadirachtin on Malpighian tubule function in a) water secretion and b) clearance of the sulphonic acid dye, amaranth, were unsuccessful. 3H-glycine and 35S-cysteine were used as tracers to examine the effects of azadirachtin on the incorporation of these amino acids into the protein and peptides in various tissues both in vivo and in vitro. The tissues examined were fat body, ovary, gut, brain and corpus cardiacum. It was found that the terpenoid eliminated the stimulatory effects of crude neurohormonal extracts from corpus cardiacum on protein synthesis in fat body and ovary, but had no effect on basal, unstimulated synthesis. On the other hand, the azadirachtin did not inhibit the stimulation of protein synthesis in the fat body due to application of pure juvenile hormone, suggesting that the effects on protein synthesis were differential. Azadirachtin appeared to have a direct inhibitory effect on protein biosynthesis in the mid-gut, and this could partly account for observed secondary antifeedant effects. Incorporation of 35S-cysteine into the polypeptides, including glutathione, synthesised in both brain and corpus cardiacum was strongly inhibited by azadirachtin. This suggested that many of the biological effects of the terpenoid are due to interference with neuroendocrine processes, most of which are mediated by peptide hormones

Trichoderma-Inoculated Miscanthus straw can replace peat in strawberry cultivation, with beneficial effects on disease control

Peat based growing media are not ecologically sustainable and often fail to support biological control. Miscanthus straw was (1) tested to partially replace peat; and (2) pre-colonized with a Trichoderma strain to increase the biological control capacity of the growing media. In two strawberry pot trials (denoted as experiment I & II), extruded and non-extruded miscanthus straw, with or without pre-colonization with T. harzianum T22, was used to partially (20% v/v) replace peat. We tested the performance of each mixture by monitoring strawberry plant development, nutrient content in the leaves and growing media, sensitivity of the fruit to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, rhizosphere community and strawberry defense responses. N immobilization by miscanthus straw reduced strawberry growth and yield in experiment II but not in I. The pre-colonization of the straw with Trichoderma increased the post-harvest disease suppressiveness against B. cinerea and changed the rhizosphere fungal microbiome in both experiments. In addition, defense-related genes were induced in experiment II. The use of miscanthus straw in growing media will reduce the demand for peat and close resource loops. Successful pre-colonization of this straw with biological control fungi will optimize crop cultivation, requiring fewer pesticide applications, which will benefit the environment and human health