http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/1461 2026-04-28T10:33:34Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5614 The effect of human impacts on the distribution of molluscs in Lunuwila Ela, Galle. Udayantha, H.M.V.; Munasinghe, D.H.N. The world is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Now the rate of species extinction is faster than ever before. Many reasons are responsible for this extinction including human impacts. Among major taxonomic groups that recorded extinctions, upto 42% are molluscs. Molluscs are one of the most diverse and dominant animal groups among macro-invertebrates. As they are ecologically and economically significant group, it is important to identify threats affect on their distribution. The current study was conducted to determine the effect on human impacts on the distribution of molluscan groups in selected areas of Lunuwila Ela, Galle. The study was continued up to six months from January to June 2007. Both temporal and spatial data were recorded to determine the human impact on the distribution of molluscs. A constructed anicut across the stream was considered as a barrier and water quality parameters and molluscan community structure was studied on both sides of the anicut. Among nine water quality parameters studied, five parameters showed significant differences between two sides. Salinity levels indicated the highest variation between two sides (19.08 ppt in site B - 26.07 ppt in site A) and the lowest variation indicated by Alkalinity levels (6.5 p molL’1 in site B - 9.2 p molL"' in site A). Five molluscan genera (Faunus, Gangetia, Thiaria, Neritina and Ostria) and one unidentified genus were recorded from both sides of the anicut. Among them five genera were identified from the upper side and three genera were identified from the lower side of the stream. Community structure parameters showed that there is a significant difference between two sides of the anicut of the molluscan community in this stream 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5613 A randomized, double blind clinical trial of commercial garlic on improvement of lung functions in asthmatic patients Menik, H.L. Bronchial asthma is characterized by both a decline in lung functions and periods of acute deterioration in symptoms called exacerbations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of garlic on lung functions in acute exacerbations in asthma. Asthma patients attending to the clinic were randomized into 2 groups. One group was given commercial garlic and other group was given the placebo (900mg /day) for 3 months and followed by 2 months of drug free interval. Treatment was continued again for next 2 months and lung functions were assessed during the follow up. Clinical status of the asthma was assessed using asthma symptom score. There was a significant difference in vital capacity (VC), Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak flow rate (PFR) and mid expiratory flow rate (MEFR) in garlic treated group but not in control group. Addition, there was a statistically significant difference in increase of FEV1/FVC ratio only in test group. Reduction of air trap in lungs was significant in test group compared to the control. VC, FVC, FEV1 and PFR values were static during the drug free period and increased again with the commencement of the therapy, in garlic group. Our data suggests that therapeutic effect of garlic is rapid in onset and have long lasting effects on bronchial relaxation. Beneficial effects observed with garlic therapy in asthma patients can be explained by effects as muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory and immune modulator effects caused by garlic. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5612 Is the prevalence of thyroiditis increasing? Findings of an audit of thyroid patients Samarawickrama, M.B.; Kasturi, C.T.R.; Wickramasekara, N.A. Thyroiditis is an inflammatory condition affecting the thyroid gland. It is a common condition for goitrous hypothyroidism. Various prevalence rates for this condition are sited in literature'. The data on thyroiditis in Sri Lanka is spars and the precise incidence in Sri Lanka is not known. The widespread use of Iodized salt is thought to be the course for increasing incidence of thyrioditis. The objectives of the study were to asses the patients with thyroiditis in terms of their; gender, age, and clinical presentations, identify the clinical sub types of thyroiditis in this study group and to find cytological and biochemical parameters of these patients. The data was collected from 43 patients with thyroiditis out of 350 patients with thyroid diseases who attended the surgical out patient clinic of the surgical unit III of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya from July 2004 to Jan. 2007. All these patients were studied in terms of their clinical presentation, demography, clinical type of the goiter, thyroid functional status, cytology of the thyroid and method of treatment and the data was analyzed. The number of patients with thyroiditis was 43 out of 350 patients studied. That is 12% of the study group. The male to female ratio was 42:1. The mean age was 33 yrs while it ranged from 12yrs — 63 yrs. Their presenting complains were goiter — 40 (93%), voice changes — 5 (12 %), pressure symptoms — 4 (9 %), toxic features — 4 (9 %), pain — 3 (7%), cervical lymph nodes — 2 (5 %). Majority of patients presented with a duration of less than 3 months (53%). Fifty two percent of the patients had multi nodular goiters. There was equal number of hypothyroid and euthyroid patients (21 from each). Only one patient was hyper thyroid. The diagnosis was made in most of the patients by FNAC (81%). The rest of the patients had colloid goiters and their thyroid peroxidase antibody level was elevated. The clinical features did not help the diagnosis of thyroiditid. Because of this we would like to recommend directing the investigation to find the possibility of thyroiditis in suspicious patients with thyroid diseases and further studies are required for making diagnosis & management protocols. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5589 Sex Differences in the diameter of coronary arteries Ilayperuma, I.; Nanayakkara, B.G.; Palahepitiya, K.N. Coronary artery disease is a major cause of human mortality. It is stated that females have worse outcomes than men following myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization. Gender differences in the coronary artery diameters have also been speculated as one of the reasons for the above outcome. However, because of possible confounding effects, such as the body size and heart weight, it is unclear if there is a true sex-specific effect on coronary arterial size. The present study was undertaken to investigate the sex differences in the diameter of coronary arteries in a group of adult Sri Lankan population. The diameters of the coronary arteries and their branches were measured at predetermined sites in a total of thirty four apparently healthy hearts obtained from cadavers during routine gross anatomy dissections. All measurements were taken using a sliding caliper capable of measuring to the nearest 0.01mm. The mean coronary arterial diameters were significantly smaller in females than in males. These differences persisted even after the diameters of coronary arteries were corrected for heart weight and body surface areas. Precise knowledge of the expected normal coronary arterial diameter at a given anatomic location is the first step towards developing a quantitative estimate of the severity of the coronary artery disease. This study provides a reference data set for adult Sri Lankans against which to compare the diameters of coronary arteries in various pathological conditions. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z