Publications by authors named "R B Banati"

Introduction: In both highly industrialised and developing countries, obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and increasingly becoming a critical indicator of general morbidity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal dysfunction. A promising trend in detection and management of obesity is the measurement of perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT), increasingly recognised as a metabolically active endocrine organ in itself. Its measurement by ultrasound is used increasingly to indicate visceral obesity and its clinical management.

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  • GRT-X, a compound targeting mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) and Kv7.2/3 potassium channels, has been shown to aid recovery from cervical spine injuries, promoting axonal growth in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.
  • When tested on DRG explants from wild-type and TSPO knockout mice, GRT-X significantly stimulated axonal growth, while targeting TSPO with agonist XBD173 had delayed effects and activators/inhibitors of Kv7 channels reduced growth.
  • The compound GRT-X increased gene expression related to axonal growth and myelination in co-cultures, but its effects were lost in TSPO knockout cultures, suggesting other mechanisms involved that need further exploration
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  • Investigated the effects of UV radiation, ethyl methanosulfonate (EMS), and X-ray as mutagens to increase fucoxanthin content in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum over a 6-month period.
  • Employed advanced methods like fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to isolate pigment mutants and measure pigment stability.
  • Found that both UV and EMS significantly boosted fucoxanthin levels, but mutants ultimately reverted back to wild-type, highlighting challenges for long-term use in microalgal biotechnology.
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Toxic heavy metals have been the focus of many investigations into chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) within Sri Lanka. It has been hypothesised that exposure to nephrotoxic arsenic, cadmium and lead could play a role in the development of CKDu, and these metals have previously been found in unsafe concentrations in Sri Lankan rice. Traditional varieties of Sri Lankan rice remain popular due to their perceived health benefits, but their uptake of trace and toxic heavy metals remained unexplored.

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Background: Optimal child-rearing practices can help mitigate the consequences of detrimental social determinants of health in early childhood. Given the ubiquity of personal digital technologies worldwide, the direct delivery of evidence-based information about early childhood development holds great promise. However, to make the content of these novel systems effective, it is crucial to incorporate place-based cultural beliefs, traditions, circumstances, and value systems of end users.

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