Poster Presentations

Antimicrobial Activity of Two Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Propionibacterium acnes

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Antimicrobial Activity of Two Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Propionibacterium acnes Kumara, M.; Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B.; Attanayake, A.P.; Pathirage, S. Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition seen among teenagers and young adults. The severe form of the condition can be distressing, because of pain and skin scarring. The commonest aetiological agent for the condition is Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) (new name – Cutibacterium acnes). There are many artificial and natural substances used in the treatment of acne. Objective: To determine the anti-microbial activity of selected medicinal plants extracts and a mixture of the selected plant extracts against Propionibacterium acnes Methods: Plant parts were collected, oven dried (40 ⁰C) and were subjected to soxhlet extraction procedure. The fractionated (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous) plant extracts of Centella asiatica (Family: Apiaceae, common name: Gotukola) and Ricinus communis (Family: Euphorbiaceae, common name: Edaru) were prepared. The main acne causative agent, P. acnes was used to determine the anti-microbial activity of the crude extracts of the plants. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the crude anti-acne activity of all the extracts and the 1:1 mixture of the two extracts against P. acnes. Zones of inhibition were measured after 48 hours of incubation under anaerobic conditions. All the testings were triplicated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were detected by microtitre plate method, for the extracts which showed zones of inhibition in plate method. Results: Zones of inhibition for methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate and water extracts of Centella asiatica were 13.00, 13.00, 12.67 mm and for water and for Ricinus communis were 12.00, 10.67, 11.00 and 9.33 mm respectively. The zones of inhibition for methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate and water extracts were 12.00, 16.00, 13.30 and 8.67 mm respectively. The MIC of the methanol extract of Centella asiatica was 12.5 mg/mL and that of the hexane extract of Ricinus communis was 6.25 mg/mL. Conclusion: Methanol and hexane extracts of Centella asiatica (Gotukola) and Ricinus communis (Endaru) separately as well as 1:1 mixture exert antimicrobial effects against Propionibacterium acnes.

Nurses’ Perception on “Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation” Decision Making

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Nurses’ Perception on “Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation” Decision Making Sandaruk, M.A.C.; Dissanayake, A. Background: “Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation” (DNACPR) is a difficult and challenging area for many healthcare workers. Nurses are frontline healthcare workers who contribute to the decision-making process. They are required to have a good understanding of decision making of DNACPR. Objectives: To ascertain the availability of formalized decision-making process, nurse’s satisfaction, whether nurses are observed the decision- making process and to experience who have made the DNACPR decision currently Methods: A hospital-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire. A convenient sample of nurses working in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya was recruited to the study. Results: A total of 385 nurses were participated. It was noted that 76.1% of the nurses expressed as formalized decision-making process is not available for DNACPR. The 82.3% of the participants reported that they were not satisfied with current methods. Only 84.2% had observed DNACPR decision making process. Results showed nurses never made the decision and only 0.5% observed the patient’s family involvement. There were 72.2% of nurses who experienced that doctors did not discuss with nurses while making decision. Data showed nurse’s contribution is in very low level for making DNACPR decision. Around 56% of nurses have suggested that patient’s decision is required for the decision-making process and 82.3% responded as doctors must do a discussion before deciding action. Conclusions: Most of the nurses expressed that there is no formalized decision-making process, when DNACPR decision been made and dissatisfied about the current method. According to the nurse’s perception, nurses’ and patients’ contribution for DNACPR is very low.

Warming- up before Weight Training: Perceptions and Practices among Young Adults in Ederamulla Urban Council Area, Sri Lanka

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Warming- up before Weight Training: Perceptions and Practices among Young Adults in Ederamulla Urban Council Area, Sri Lanka Thalagala, K.N.; Jayatilleke, H.S.; Dissanayake, S.H.; Rajakulathunga, D.C. Background: There is a trend nowadays among youth, to participate in gymnasium sessions for exercise and weight training. Prior to weight training sessions, body warming-up is being practiced to prepare the body for a proper training session, as to minimize injuries. Objective: To study the perceptions and practices on warm-up exercise regimes prior to weight training among young adults Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using a self-administered questionnaire with a sample of 122 young adults of both genders within the age range of 16- 36. Convenient sampling technique was used to select the participants from weight training centers in Ederamulla Urban Council area. Data were descriptively analyzed using SPSS software and presented using graphs and tables. Results: The highest percentage of participants were observed at the age of 20 (13.6%) whereas only a few were below 19 or above 31 (0.8%). According to the results, 80.2% represent males and 19.8% are females; which is an average ratio of 4:1 (male: female). The results portray that, out of the total number of participants (n = 110) who engage in weight training, 90.9% follows a warm-up routine prior to weight training, with the commonest exercise type being stretching (53.3%) and 68.9% do follow full body workouts while 30.3% do follow split warm up workouts. Only 42.9% of participants do engage in warmup exercises for 5–15 minutes duration. Nearly half of the participants (48.3%) perceived that warming up would minimize the risk of getting injured while 28.3% of the participants think that it would help in increasing the flexibility of muscles while strengthening. Conclusions: As the perception towards warm-up exercise is positive since most of the participants perceive that a warm up is really important to minimize the risk of getting musculoskeletal injuries.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking among Teenagers in Beruwala Educational Division in Sri Lanka

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking among Teenagers in Beruwala Educational Division in Sri Lanka Ravihari, H.D.J.N.; Prabodha, L.B.L. Background: Tobacco usage and exposure to tobacco smoke have serious impacts on human health. Although it is most preventable cause of death in the world today, nearly 4 million people die annually from tobacco related causes. In Sri Lanka, prevalence of cigarette smoking among 13-15 years age group was 5.7% and in global, prevalence of cigarette smoking among 16-19 age group was 17.1%. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among teenagers in Beruwala educational division Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 640 students of 13-19 years old at randomly selected schools in 1AB category in Beruwala educational division. A pre tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between the prevalence of smoking and factors that influence the teenagers to smoke. Results: The responsive rate was 100%. Study population was consisted of 50% of male and 50% of female students. Among them, 200 (31.25%) students were in 13-15 age category and 440 (68.75%) students in 16-19 age category. There were 53 (8%) students who were ever smokers, among them, 3 (0.5%) female and 42 (6.32%) male students were found in 16-19 years age group and 1 (0.02%) female and 7 (0.11%) male students were found in 13-15 years age group. Out of ever smokers, 21 (3.3%) of them had smoked cigarettes during last 6 months and they are currently smoking and all of them were male students in 16-19 years age category. All of the female students (n = 4, 100%) and majority of male students (n = 42, 85.71%) who had smoked at least once, have smoked to get the experience of cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking behaviour associated with gender (p <0.001, df = 1), age (p = 0.005, df = 1), family income level (p = 0.029, df = 1) and ethnicity (p = 0.315, df = 1). Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking was relatively high among 16-19 age category. All of the current smokers were found in 16-19 category and were males. Smoking behavior was significantly associated with gender, age and family income level among teenagers in Beruwala Educational Division.