The ocean is a valuable natural resource that contains numerous biologically active compounds with various bioactivities. The marine environment comprises unexplored sources that can be utilized to isolate novel compounds with bioactive properties. Marine cyanobacteria are an excellent source of bioactive compounds that have applications in human health, biofuel, cosmetics, and bioremediation. These cyanobacteria exhibit bioactive properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-obesity effects, making them promising candidates for drug development. In recent decades, researchers have focused on isolating novel bioactive compounds from different marine cyanobacteria species for the development of therapeutics for various diseases that affect human health. This review provides an update on recent studies that explore the bioactive properties of marine cyanobacteria, with a particular focus on their potential use in human health applications.
Introduction: Institutional care is the commonest solution for children deprived of parental care in Sri Lanka. They have multiple risk factors which can contribute to a worse outcome with regard to growth and development. Data regarding growth of Sri Lankan institutionalised children are lacking.Objective: To assess growth and nutritional status of institutionalised children less than five years of age in the Colombo district.
Method:It is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in 8 randomly selected voluntary foster care institutions in the Colombo District housing children less than five years old. Children with an uncertain date of birth, chronic illnesses and genetic or congenital defects were excluded from the study. Data on growth were compared with information on malnutrition of children below 5 years in Sri Lanka.
Results:One hundred and eighty children were enrolled in the study. Among girls, 21% had moderate stunting and 13% severe stunting. In boys, 30% were moderately stunted and 8% severely stunted. In girls, prevalence of moderate and severe underweight was 25% and 18% respectively. In boys, 26% had moderate underweight and 17% had severe underweight. Whilst 20% of girls and 14% of boys were moderately wasted, 7% of girls and 8% of boys were severely wasted. Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was significantly higher in the study cohort. (p<0.001 for all three categories of malnutrition
Conclusion:Children less than five years of age in foster care institutions in Colombo district have significant growth impairment.
Background Growth faltering during later infancy is common in Sri Lanka. While retarding the physical and mental development of the infant, its burden on the social and economic aspects of the family, society and country is immense. Methods A case-control study, involving 150 controls and 75 cases (Total 225), was conducted in two randomly selected Child Welfare Clinics. Infants with failure to thrive were identified from Child Health Development Records and a pre-tested, interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Results Sex distribution was almost equal (Males=52.4%, Females=47.6%). The mean age of mothers was 26 years (SD=4.7) and only 26.2% (n=59) were employed although over 90% had secondary education. Lower segment caesarean section, low birth weight, intra-uterine growth restriction and presence of acute illnesses had a significant association with growth faltering with odds ratios (OR) of 3.3 (95% CI=1.8-5.8), 3.0 (95% CI=1.6-5.6), 3.5 (95% CI=1.3-9.5) and 2.3 (95% CI=1.3-4.1) respectively. Significant factors pertaining to feeding were, non-exclusive breast feeding (OR=2.8 and 95% CI=1.5-5.3), inadequate duration of breast feeding per feed (OR=3.8 and 95% CI= 2.1-6.9), formula feeding (OR=2.1 and 95% CI=1.2-3.7) and inadequate diet (OR=2.7 and 95% CI=1.5-5.0). Parental and household factors such as young maternal age, inadequate maternal education, increased number of children and non-availability of domestic help were not statistically significant. However, low monthly income was a significant factor associated with growth faltering (OR=3.3 and 95% CI=1.8-6.2). Conclusion Infant and dietary factors were of paramount importance while parental and household factors played a minor role in growth faltering.
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