BackgroundAssociation of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) have been identified in several ethnic groups globally. Despite abundant sunlight, vitamin D deficiency is reported in many tropical countries. As vitamin D is a key modulator for intestinal calcium absorption, low vitamin D could contribute to low serum calcium leading to abnormalities of skeletal homeostasis. Therefore, present study was aimed to study the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), serum calcium and VDR polymorphisms in a selected Sri Lankan population.Materials & methodsA case control study was conducted in 119 participants (cases = 51: controls = 68). Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using ELISA. The VDR polymorphisms (Fok I and Taq I) were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsFindings indicated a significantly low (p = 0.000) 25(OH)D levels in cases (18.7±3.7 ng/mL) compared to controls(25.5±9.8 ng/mL) while 25(OH)D in both groups were below the reference range. Mean serum calcium levels in both groups were within normal reference range and was not significantly different among groups. Statistically significant association was not observed between VDR Fok I polymorphisms among cases and controls. Although Fok I polymorphism genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), Taq I genotypes in controls violated HWE.ConclusionPresent study confirms that insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels in cases have major contribution to LDH. VDR Fok I polymorphisms did not have any significant association with LDH in Sri Lankan ethnicity.

A descriptive cross-sectional study, Level V.

Introduction:Curd (Dadhi) peptides reduce hypertension by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and serum cholesterol. Peptides vary with bacterial species and milk type used during fermentation.Aim:To isolate and assay the antihypertensive peptides, before and after digestion, in two commercially available curd brands in Sri Lanka.Materials and Methods:Whey (Dadhi Mastu) separated by high-speed centrifugation was isolated using reverse-phase-high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Eluted fractions were analyzed for ACE inhibitory activity using modified Cushman and Cheung method. Curd samples were subjected to enzymatic digestion with pepsin, trypsin, and carboxypeptidase-A at their optimum pH and temperature. Peptides isolated using reverse-phase-HPLC was assayed for ACE inhibitory activity.Results:Whey peptides of both brands gave similar patterns (seven major and five minor peaks) in HPLC elution profile. Smaller peptides concentration was higher in brand 1 and penta-octapeptides in brand 2. Pentapeptide had the highest ACE inhibitory activity (brand 2–90% and brand 1–73%). After digestion, di and tri peptides with similar inhibitory patterns were obtained in both which were higher than before digestion. Thirteen fractions were obtained, where nine fractions showed more than 70% inhibition in both brands with 96% ACE inhibition for a di-peptide.Conclusion:Curd has ACE inhibitory peptides and activity increases after digestion.

Aim. To identify the effects of sociodemographic status, family history, and lifestyle habits on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting serum insulin (FSI) levels in apparently healthy subjects. Methods. Information was gathered using an interviewer-administered questionnaire from 227 apparently healthy nondiabetic subjects residing in a suburban area in Sri Lanka. Venous blood samples were collected after an overnight fast for FBG and FSI analysis. Correlations and differences were analyzed using SPSS (ver. 17) software. Results. The majority of the subjects were females, having secondary or tertiary education, monthly income ≥Rs. 25,000 (USD 175), and a positive family history of diabetes. Among the subjects, 10.1% were identified as prediabetics and the majority had familial diabetes with monthly income ≥Rs. 25,000 (USD 175). Subjects with high income had significantly higher mean FBG. In addition FBG had a significant correlation with age. Males and subjects with less than 6 hours/day sleeping duration at night had significantly higher FBG. Subjects with less vigorous physical activity and longer sitting duration had significantly higher FSI levels. Conclusions. Increasing age, higher income, positive familial history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and short sleep at night have positive impact on glycaemic status in apparently healthy subjects.

Fermented milk and milk proteins have shown beneficiary health effects in humans. Angiotensin-II, which is formed from angiotensin-I by Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), plays a major role in regulating the blood pressure in humans and animals. Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of prolonged consumption of milk proteins (casein & whey) in comparison with fermented milk (curd) on serum ACE activity and lipid profiles in Wistar rats.In experiment I, test groups were given 2 mL of hydrolysed casein or curd, whilst in experiment II, test groups received 2 mL whey and controls received 2 mL of water. The percentage differences obtained for individual animals were analysed after eight weeks. Casein hydrolysate fed group had a 4.3% reduction in serum ACE activity when compared with 3.5% reduction in curd hydrolysate fed group. The mean percentage difference of ACE showed significantly lower values (p<0.05) in both casein and curd fed group when compared with the control. A greater reduction in serum total cholesterol was noted in the curd fed group (7.3%) when compared with the whey fed group (5.4%) and the casein treated group (0.8%). The mean percentage difference was significant (p<0.05) only in the curd and whey treated groups. There was no significant difference in feed intake, body weight, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, between the treated groups and the control groups. This indicates that both casein and curd have the effect of lowering serum ACE activity.

Background. Intentional ingestion of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate is a significant health issue worldwide. It causes adverse health effects on the liver. This study aimed to determine liver transaminases (AST and ALT) and bilirubin levels to assess the severity of poisoning in patients with acute OP and carbamate poisoning. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on patients admitted to a selected hospital in Sri Lanka with acute OP and carbamate poisoning. The severity of poisoning was measured by RBC cholinesterase and Peradeniya Organophosphorus Poisoning scale (POP), where six clinical features were assessed based on a 3-point scale. A score of 0–3 was considered mild, 4–7 to be moderate, and 8–11 to be severe poisoning. Liver parameters such as AST, ALT, and total and direct bilirubin were measured. Results. Among the 188 screened patients, 166 were recruited. Majority were males (112, 67.5%). Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant differences in AST and ALT on admission and AST on discharge, across POP groups ((χ2 (2, n = 166) = 26.48, p ≤ 0.001 ), (χ2 (2, n = 166) = 14.31, p = 0.001 ), and (χ2 (2, n = 157) = 11.34, p = 0.003 ), respectively)). Mann–Whitney U test showed significantly higher AST and ALT in the moderate POP group compared to the mild POP group (AST: U = 1709, z = −4.50, p ≤ 0.001 , r = 0.36; ALT: U = 2114, z = −3.04, p = 0.002 , r = 0.26) on admission. In addition, the treatment outcomes (duration of hospital stay and duration of ventilator assistance) were significantly correlated ( p ≤ 0.001 ) with the severity of poisoning and serum AST and ALT at the time of admission. Conclusion. AST and ALT levels on admission and AST level at discharge showed significant correlations with the severity of poisoning. Treatment outcomes significantly correlated with the severity of poisoning and serum AST and ALT levels.

Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are inter-related causes of metabolic syndrome. Early identification before the onset of metabolic syndrome will be useful to lead a healthy life. The purpose of the present study was to identify the importance of IR before the onset of metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy, non-diabetics subjects. Data of 227 apparently healthy non-diabetics (20-70 years) who reside in a suburban area in Colombo district, Sri Lanka, were recruited for this study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (ver.17). Majority were females (61.8 %). Prevalence of IR was 59.9 %. Mean BMI of IR subjects was 28.3±2.7 kg m −2 where 75.3 % of obese had IR. All anthropometric variables except height had significant positive correlations (P<0.01) with IR. Linear regression analysis indicated that BMI is useful in predicting IR while logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and WC are the best predictors of IR in males whereas it was WHtR and WC in females. Even though study subjects were apparently healthy and not diagnosed as diabetes, those with elevated anthropometric parameters had higher prevalence of IR. Best anthropometric predictors of IR for a specific sex should be used as an easy self-monitoring alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome.

Background and aims Hypertension is a major risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which attributes to one‐third of all deaths worldwide. It is also considered as a key feature of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the present study was to compare the presence of characteristic features of MetS in hypertensive and non‐hypertensive males and females and find out the percentages of MetS in hypertensive and non‐hypertensive adults. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study, involving 120 participants that included 60 hypertensives and 60 non‐hypertensives (35‐55 years). Data were obtained through an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid parameters [triglyceride‐(TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL)] were analyzed, and waist circumference (WC) was measured. Percentages of MetS among hypertensive and non‐hypertensive groups were determined according to both modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results Among the characteristic features of MetS, mean FBS and WC were significantly higher in hypertensive males compared with non‐hypertensive males (P < .001 and P = .002 respectively), while mean value of TG was significantly higher (P = .005) in hypertensive females compared with non‐hypertensive females. Further, the percentage of subjects in the total hypertensive group with increased FBS and increased WC was significantly higher than the non‐ hypertensive group. The percentage of subjects with MetS was significantly (P < .001) higher in hypertensive group (68%) compared with non‐hypertensive group (20%) according to modified ATP III criteria. When compared with new IDF criteria, it was 63% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion The percentage of subjects with increased FBS, WC, and MetS was significantly higher in the hypertensive group compared with non‐hypertensives group. These findings emphasize the urgent need to develop national strategies for early detection, and to take preventive measures to make people aware of the impact of metabolic syndrome.