Ischemia-modified albumin: is it a promising marker in acute coronary syndrome?

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a type of coronary heart disease (CHD), which is responsible for one-third of total deaths in people older than 35 years. Even though cardiac troponin is the gold standard for myocardial necrosis it is blind for ischemia without necrosis. Studies demonstrate that Ischaemia Modified Albumin (IMA) is more sensitive in diagnosing ischemic chest pain compared to cardiac troponin T and electrocardiogram, and its combination with these tests significantly increases the sensitivity for diagnosing unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with high positive and negative predictive values, making it a valuable tool for ruling out ACS in patients with inconclusive diagnoses in the emergency department.

Synopsis of Biomarkers of Atheromatous Plaque Formation, Rupture and Thrombosis in the Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Acute coronary syndrome is the main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and early diagnosis is a challenge for clinicians. Though cardiac Troponin, the most commonly used biomarker, is the gold standard for myocardial necrosis, it is blind for ischemia without necrosis. Therefore, ideal biomarkers are essential in the care of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of cardiac ischemia.

The Total Antioxidant Capacity and the Total Phenolic Content of Rice Using Water as a Solvent.

Background: The present study evaluates the antioxidant properties of some Sri Lankan red rice varieties using water extracts.

Methods: Water extracts of rice varieties Attakkari, Bg2907, and Bg407 were used in this study. The total antioxidant capacity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and reducing power assays.

Epidemiology and the Magnitude of Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Narrative Review.

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the foremost single cause of mortality and loss of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) globally. A large percentage of this burden is found in low and middle income countries. This accounts for nearly 7 million deaths and 129 million DALYs annually and is a huge global economic burden.

Critical review on conventional spectroscopic α-amylase activity detection methods: merits, demerits, and future prospects.

α-Amylase is an endoenzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of internal α-l,4 glycosidic linkages in polysaccharides to produce maltose, maltotriose, and α-limit dextrins. It is widely used in the laboratorial and industrial workflow for several applications. There are several methods utilizing different techniques and substrates to assess α-amylase activity, among which the spectroscopic methods have found widespread applicability due to their ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

Poor Glycaemic Control Is Associated with Increased Lipid Peroxidation and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Glycaemic control is the main focus of managing diabetes and its complications. Hyperglycaemia induces oxidative stress favouring cellular damage and subsequent diabetic complications. The present study was conducted to compare the plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and individual antioxidant marker antioxidant status of type 2 diabetics (T2D) with good ((+) GC) and poor ((-) GC) glycaemic control with prediabetic (PDM) and normoglycaemic (NG) individuals.

Comparison of Serum Cystatin C and Creatinine Levels among Individuals with Persisting Proteinuria in Farming Communities of Rural Sri Lanka.

Background: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) is one of the major health concerns among agricultural communities in Sri Lanka. Individuals involved in severe agricultural works for their livelihood are highly vulnerable for this disease and patients have been detected with persisting proteinuria at community-level screening. The current study was designed to evaluate the diagnosis of two functional markers of kidney damage using individuals with persisting proteinuria as the baseline.

Heat stability of the in vitro inhibitory effect of spices on lipase, amylase, and glucosidase enzymes.

This study investigated the effect of boiling on the inhibitory action of spices on digestive enzymes. Unboiled extracts of (seed) (25.42%), (seed) (22.

Applicability and reliability of the glucose oxidase method in assessing α-amylase activity.

Glucose oxidase (GOD) is an enzyme widely used in glucose monitoring systems owing to its high specificity towards glucose. However, in our previous work maltose was found to show significant interaction with GOD and based on this observation, a novel microplate-based method was developed to assess α-amylase inhibitory activity (GOD method). Concerns regarding the interaction of GOD with maltose has limited the widespread use of the GOD method in assessing α-amylase activity.

Boiled, sprouted, and raw cowpea-incorporated diets modulate high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of processed (boiled and sprouted) cowpea-incorporated experimental diets on serum cholesterol and serum antioxidant capacity in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed Wistar rats. Seven weeks old male Wistar rats were fed 20% fat as a control (CD), for comparison with 20% fat-enriched diets containing 20% whole raw cowpea diets (Bombay Raw Diet; BRD and MI35 Raw Diet; MRD), boiled cowpea diets (Bombay Boiled Diet; BBD and MI35 Boiled Diet; MBD) and sprouted cowpea diet (Bombay Sprouted Diet; BSD) for 6 weeks. The increase in serum total cholesterol as a result of high-fat diet was significantly countered by boiled and raw cowpea-incorporated diet-fed rats.

Diminished disease progression rate in a chronic kidney disease population following the replacement of dietary water source with quality drinking water: A pilot study.

Aim: Environmental toxin/s is alleged to be the contributory factor for the chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. The potential of drinking water as a medium for the nephrotoxic agents in the affected subjects has been comprehensively discoursed in the recent past. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of replacing the habitual drinking water on the kidney function of CKDu patients residing in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka: METHODS: An interventional study was carried out to assess the disease progression rate of a CKDu population whose habitual drinking water was replaced by bottled spring water certified by Sri Lanka Standard (SLS) for a period of 18 month along with a population of CKDu patients who continued with their usual drinking water.

Bioassay-guided fractionation and identification of α-amylase inhibitors from Syzygium cumini leaves.

Context: Pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors serve as important strategies in the management of blood glucose. Even though Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae) (SC) is used extensively to treat diabetes; scientific evidence on antidiabetic effects of SC leaves is scarce.

Comparative Analysis of Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Commercially Important Fish and Shellfish from Sri Lanka and Japan.

Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, allowing plenty of fishes to be caught. Moreover, these fishes represent one of the undocumented fish resources in the world and their detailed lipid profiles have not been previously examined. In this study, the lipid content and fatty acid composition of 50 commercially important fishes from the Indian Ocean (Sri Lanka) and the Pacific Ocean (Japan) were compared.

Dehydration and malaria augment the risk of developing chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown etiology (CKDu) is a serious health issue in Sri Lanka. One-to-one age and sex-matched two sample comparative study was carried out in the Medawachchiya divisional secretariat area of the North Central Province (NCP) of Sri Lanka, by randomly selecting 100 CKDu patients and 100 age and sex-matched subjects from non-CKDu affected families from the same area. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the collection of data pertaining to occupation, medical history and lifestyle.

Chemical characterization of gallstones: an approach to explore the aetiopathogenesis of gallstone disease in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Records on gallstones and associated ailments in Sri Lankan community are scarce, despite frequent detection of gallstone disease. Identification of the chemical composition of gallstones in the local setting is important in defining aetiopathogenic factors which in turn are useful in implementing therapeutic and preventive strategies. This study aimed to describe the chemical composition of gallstones and the socio-demographic factors of a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with gallstone disease.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease, with special emphasis on chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology, in the north central region of Sri Lanka.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out by analyzing health statistics, and three cohort studies were conducted (n = 15 630, 3996, and 2809) to analyze the demographic information, age-specific prevalence, etiology, and stage of presentation. We screened 7604 individuals for chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology.

Serum lipid concentrations in patients with cholesterol and pigment gallstones.

Background: Gallstones (GS) are formed as a result of impaired metabolic regulation of the human body. Abnormal lipid metabolism is partly responsible for the pathogenesis of GS mainly rich in cholesterol. Thus abnormalities of serum lipids would reflect the possibilities of the formation of cholesterol GS.

Is the staple diet eaten in Medawachchiya, Sri Lanka, a predisposing factor in the development of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology? - A comparison based on urinary β2-microglobulin measurements.

Background: Exact mechanism of causation of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka is not described to date, despite the identification of possible multiple risk factors. Questions have been raised as to why only some are affected while others remain intact, though they are inhabitants of the same locality.

Methods: Comparative studies were carried out, assessing urinary β2 microglobulin (β2m) and the dietary patterns of CKDu patients and age sex matched non-CKDu subjects.

Chemical and functional properties of fibre concentrates obtained from by-products of coconut kernel.

The coconut kernel residues obtained after extraction of coconut milk (MR) and virgin coconut oil (VOR) were analysed for their potential as dietary fibres. VOR was defatted and treated chemically using three solvent systems to isolate coconut cell wall polysaccharides (CCWP). Nutritional composition of VOR, MR and CCWPs indicated that crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and hemicelluloses contents were higher in CCWPs than in VOR and MR.

PM(10)-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: biological indicators, lung cancer risk of realistic receptors and 'source-exposure-effect relationship' under different source scenarios.

Cancer has become a critical health issue in the world heritage city Kandy, Sri Lanka. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of persistent organic pollutants, in the atmosphere may be a major etiological factor in lung carcinogenicity. Over the very high concentrations of ambient air PAHs reported in Kandy, this paper is focused on setting priorities to control human exposure to PAHs in prevention of cancer.

Cardiovascular risk factors in elderly normolipidemic acute myocardial infarct patients--a case controlled study from India.

The goal of the present study was to address the various risk factors associated in normolipidemic acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients admitted to the intensive coronary care unit (ICCU). The study compared serum lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation markers, antioxidants and inflammatory markers in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and age/sex-matched controls. A lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, enzyme antioxidants, endogenous antioxidants, ischemia modified-albumin (IscMA), ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, lipoprotein (a) and paraoxonase-1 activities were analyzed in 330 subjects, 165 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and 165 age/sex-matched controls.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in normolipidemic AMI patients.

The objective of the study was to observe the correlation between oxidative stress and antioxidants in myocardial infarct patients with normal lipid profile. In the present study investigation of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants were done in patients. This study was carried out on 165 AMI patients, (123 males and 42 females).

Replacement of maize with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) tuber meal in broiler diets.

1. The nutrient composition of sweet potato tuber meal (SPM) was similar to that of maize, with the exceptions of crude protein and calcium. The crude protein content was lower (62 v 91 g/kg) and the calcium content was higher (l.