University of Kelaniya

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    Chemical and microbiological studies on some medicinal plants in Sri lanka
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 1997) PERERA, TAS
    Chemical studies on six medicinal plants of Sri Lanka namely Kaempferia galanga, Hibiscus abelmoschus, Piper longum, Anamirta cocculus , Berberis aristata and Coscinium fenestratum are reported in this thesis, Antimicrobial studies on K. galanga, H. abelmoschus, P. longum and A. cocculus were carried out. The variation in the volatile oil contents in the rhizome and root of Kaempferia galanga(Zingiberaceae) with maturity as well as the percentage of the constituents present in each of these oils were determined by GC. The one year old rhizomes and two years old roots gave the highest yields of oil. The plants cultivated under coconut trees showed a higher rhizome oil content and lower root oil content than those grown in the open area. Major compounds of this oil were identified as ethyl cinnamate and ethyl p-methoxycinnamate. In rhizome oil the percentage of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate decreased with maturity while the percentage of ethyl cinnamate increased. In root oil the percentages of both compounds increased with maturity. Microbiological studies of this oil indicated that both these oils have shows antibacterial and antifungal activities. GC-MS studies showed that famesyl acetate was the major compound in the seed oil of Hibiscus abelmoschus (Malvaceae) grown in Sri Lanka. Previously unreported 2,3dihydrofamasene was identified by GC-MS from the oil. Although the seed oil showed antibacterial activity, it didn't show any antifungal activity. The piperine content in various parts of Piper longum (Piperaceae) plant, and its variation with maturity in the berries were studied by HPLC analysis. The results of this study shows piperine content in the local berries was lower than that reported for those from India. Further it was found that not only the berries but also roots, stems and leaves of local plant contain considerable amount of piperine. This study also indicates that the local berries gave the highest piperine content at the age of 2 months and the plants cultivated under coconut trees have higher piperine content than those from the open cultivation. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil of P.longum showed that it contained at least 76 compounds .Of these twenty were identified by mass spectral data.The compounds identified were alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, l-ethenyl-4 methoxybenzene,4 methyl-l-( I-methylethyl)-3-cyclohexen-l-ol,linalyl propanoate,3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-l-ol,2 undecanone,eugenol, l-ethenyl -1-methyl-2,4-bis (1 methylethyl) cyclohexane, caryophyllene,7, ll-dimethyl-3-methylene-l ,6,10-dodecatiene, 1, 1 ,4,8-tetramethyl-4,7, 10-cycloundecatriene, 3,7,II-trimethyl-l,6,10-dodecatrien-3-0l,caryophyllene oxide, methyl eicosonate, 8-heptadecene, tetradecanal, methyl hexadecanoate, hexadecanoic acid. The oil also showed marked antibacterial activity. Caseiniurn fenestraturn (Menispermaceae) is the plant which serves as the source of berberine in Sri Lanka in place of Berberis aristata (Berberidaceae) which is very rare in Sri Lanka but common in India. Berberine content in the two plants were- determined by HPLC. This study indicates that C. fenestraum has a higher berberine content than B. aristata found in Sri Lanka. Berberine content in the stem bark of commercial samples of C. fenestraurn purchased from the markets in Pettah was higher than those grown in Sri lanka. Tetrahydroberberine was characterised from the alkaloid of C. fenestrtum. Total alkaloid content in the leaves of A. cocclus (Menispermaceae) aws higher than in the stems. The triterpenoid 21-beta moretenone was charctersed from the stem and leaf extracts of A. cocclus. This is the first report of this compound from A. cocclus. Microbiological studies carried out on the stem and leaf extracts of A. cocclus showed that both extracts showed antibacterial activity but no antifungal activity.
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    Gastric myoelectrical activity, gastric emptying time and oro-caecal transit time in children with Recurrent Abdominal Pain Syndrome
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(MED)., 2006) DEVANARAYANA, NM
    Recurrent abdominal pain syndrome is a common paediatric problem affecting approximately 10 percent children and adolescents worldwide. The exact aetiology of this troublesome syndrome is unclear in the majority of patients affected by this condition and attempts have been made to classify them into functional gastrointestinal diseases using Rome II and III criteria. Few studies have demonstrated gastrointestinal motility abnormalities in affected individuals. Despite the magnitude of the problem, knowledge on the effective management options is poor. This thesis attempts to answer some of the issues on pathophysiology and management of recurrent abdominal pain syndrome. The epidemiology and aetiology of recurrent abdominal pain syndrome in Sri Lankan children and adolescents was not known. An epidemiological survey was carried out in four randomly selected schools in Gampaha District of Sri Lanka using self-administered parental questionnaire. The study included 734 school children between 5 to 15 years and the prevalence, clinical profile, health care consultation behaviour, risk factors for recurrent abdominal pain syndrome, and its impact on education were determined. The epidemiology of childhood recurrent abdominal pain syndrome in Sri Lanka (prevalence 10.5 percent) is similar to other countries, except for health care consultation behaviour (70 percent ), which is higher than reported in previous studies. Fifty five recurrent abdominal pain patients identified in the epidemiological study were recruited for an aetiological investigation to detect possible organic and functional causes for recurrent abdominal pain. Clinical and laboratory evaluation revealed organic pathology in less than 24 percent of the affected children, and the majority had functional gastrointestinal diseases. A case control study to detect a possible association between Helicobacter pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain syndrome performed in 39 patients and 20 healthy controls did not show a significant association between the two conditions. Gastrointestinal motility abnormalities have been suggested as a possible cause for symptoms in patients with non-organic recurrent abdominal pain, but very few studies have been done to prove or disprove this. Case controlled studies were performed in 42 patients and 20 healthy controls to investigate an association between gastric myoelectrical activity (electrogastrography), gastric motility (gastric emptying and antral motility), and oro-caecal transit (small intestinal transit) and non-organic recurrent abdominal pain. The results showed significantly decreased gastric emptying, decreased antral motility and delayed oro-caecal transit time in patients suggesting that gastrointestinal motility abnormalities may be responsible for generation of symptoms in non-organic recurrent abdominal pain. High dietary fat is proven to delay gastric emptying and small intestinal transit, and known to induce gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disease. Low fat diet has been suggested as a therapeutic option in patients with functional dyspepsia. There were no studies published on the value of a low fat diet in patients with recurrent abdominal pain. A single blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to investigate the therapeutic value of a low fat diet on 42 patients with non-organic recurrent abdominal pain. The results demonstrated a possible therapeutic value of low fat diet on recurrent abdominal pain patients with delayed gastric emptying.
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    Bauddha ha batahira mano chikithsaka krama pilibanda adhayanayak
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 1989) WIMALAWANSA, thera PARAGODA
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    Development of speech skills in mentally retarded children having speech problems: A study of children with Down's syndrome
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 2002) WIJESEKARA, GJS
    The aim of this study is to gain a knowledge of the development of speech skills of mentally retarded children who live in Sinhala speaking society. A research of the language abilities of all mentally retarded children is a vast area. Hence this research has been limited only to the speech skills in mentally retarded children with Down's syndrome. The results of this research are explained in five chapters. Findings of many scholars on mental retardation are stated in the first chapter. This chapter also includes a brief explanation of the communication process, condition of mental retardation, measures of mental retardation and the causes attributed to their language disorders. The methodology of this research too, is included in it. The analysis of their phonological problems has been emphasized in the second chapter. Sounds that children are able to produce and articulatory problems that they face have been analyzed concerning each child separately. Recognized abilities on morphological production of children with Down's syndrome and their difficulties that exist in this field have been analyzed in the third chapter. Various syntactic features produced by children with Down's syndrome are explained in the fourth chapter. In the fifth chapter, it has been explained how children with Down's syndrome develop language skills. The abilities of language, speech production, perception and comprehension have been stressed in this chapter.
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    Isolation and characterization of influenza viruses circulating among avian, swine and human populations in Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(MED)., 2007) PERERA, KVHKK
    Ecological and phylogenic studies suggest that wild waterfowl are the natural reservoirs of influenza A viruses. All HA and NA subtypes are found in avian species especially wild aquatic birds, whereas viral subtypes of mammalian influenza viruses are limited. Restricted growth of avian influenza viruses in mammalian species is thought to be a barrier to the emergence of new pandemic strains with direct avian to human transmission. In Sri Lanka, although epidemiological and virological studies on outbreaks of influenza on humans have been carried out, there are no reported data on influenza subtypes circulating among human, swine and avian populations during any specified periods. In this study 300 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) obtained from human patients with acute respiratory tract infection, 750 cloacal samples, 750 tracheal samples and 750 blood samples from birds , and 300 tracheal and 300 blood samples from pigs were analyzed to identify the influenza subtypes circulating among these different populations in the country. Of the 300 NPA samples, 138 were screened by the indirect immunofluorescence test followed by the direct immunofluorescence test (DFA) to identify the viral etiological agents responsible for the infection: Influenza A (20/138), para influenza group (2/138), adeno (3/138) and respiratory syncitial virus (3/138) were identified. All 300 NPA samples were inoculated on to MDCK cell cultures and haemagglutination and DFA test were performed on the cultures that showed CPE: 24 Influenza A and 9 Influenza B viruses were isolated and were characterized as Influenza A Panama/2000/99 (H3N2) and Influenza B/Sichuan/379/99-like virus, using reference antisera supplied by the World Health Organization. One virus (Influenza A/swine/Sri lanka/48/04) was isolated from a pig brought to the Government slaughter house in Dematagoda and was sub-typed as H3N2. Genetic studies carried out on this isolate showed that this virus was identical to the H3N2 viruses isolated in humans during the study period. Serological analysis revealed that 61.66 percent of the sampled population also had antibodies to this virus and that none had antibodies to the common subtypes of swine influenza A viruses namely, A/HK/4167/1999 H1N1, A/HK/2422/1998/H3N2 Sydney-like and A/HK/1774/1999 Europian swine-like control viruses. Influenza viruses could not be isolated from the tracheal and cloacal samples collected from poultry when the samples were inoculated into 9-11 day old embryonated eggs. However, the serum collected from this avian population when tested in a HAI assay using H6 (1720) and H9 (Y280) reference antigens, showed evidence of infection with both these subtypes: 12.8 percent (96/750) and 5.2 percent (39/750) of birds had antibodies against A/quail/HK 1721-30/99 (H6N2) and H9 A/duck/ Hong Kong /Y280 (H9N2) subtypes respectively and 3.6 percent had sero-converted to both subtypes of viruses indicating dual infection.
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    Molecular diagnosis and transmission of dengue virus in Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(MED)., 2004) HAPUGODA, GPGMD
    Dengue virus is responsible for Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Four circulating dengue serotypes (DEN 1-4) have been identified. Early diagnosis of dengue viral infection helps monitoring the disease, hospital admission when necessary and reduces case fatality. Detection of dengue viruses in mosquitoes is useful to study on transmission of dengue virus. Study on risk factors for dengue is useful to understand spatial and temporal dynamics of transmission the disease. A novel diagnostic assay, Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Liquid Hybridization (RT-PCR-LH) was developed. Amplified products of Non Structural-3 (NS3) gene were hybridized with a mixture of the 4 dengue type specific Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) probes in liquid phase. A high sensitivity of 2 fluorescent focus units of dengue virus/reaction was achieved and the assay was highly specific for dengue virus. This novel assay was first validated for clinical specimens in a preliminary retrospective study using serum specimens known to be dengue positive or negative, according to virus isolation method. Secondly, this assay was validated in a prospective study using serum specimens. As an early (\<5 days of fever) laboratory diagnostic method for dengue virus, this assay had 100 percent and 46 percent sensitivity for detection of confirmed and suspected dengue patients respectively. This assay was found to be more sensitive than the other diagnostic techniques: virus isolation, enzyme linked immunosorbant assasy, Haemagglutination inhibition assay and molecular assays based on the same NS3 gene; RT-PCR- mixed phase hybridization, RT-PCR agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), semi nested PCR-AGE and based on other regions of dengue viruses, for early definitive laboratory diagnosis of primary and secondary dengue infection. Patients with definitive dengue correlated only with few signs and symptoms, indicating that laboratory confirmation is critical to avoid over estimation. Fifty four serum samples were typed; DEN-3 (92 percent) and DEN-2 (7 percent) were found and DEN-3 infected patients in the study population had severe clinical manifestations. This novel technique was also validated to be used for detection of dengue virus in vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Wild-caught mosquito samples were collected from 136 dengue case-reported stations during outbreaks and a hot-spot during a period of 31 months. This assay could detect dengue virus in 7 percent of Ae. albopictus specimens. A high density of Ae. albopictus was also associated with the dengue case-reported stations/hot-spots. These results therefore demonstrate that Ae. albopictus acts as an important vector of transmission of dengue in some urban and semi-urban areas. Epidemiological, environmental, entomological and other possible risk factors affecting transmission of dengue were analyzed. Monthly total rainfall, relative humidity and mean temperature having a lag period of 3 months moving average ending with current month can be used to forecast an impending dengue epidemic in a selected hot-spot where a clear seasonal pattern of dengue was evident. Other risk factors affecting transmission are presence of Ae. albopictus, previous dengue patients, untidy garden with mosquito breeding sites and shade of the garden made by vegetation.
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    Upadeshanaya sandaha yomu wana paul getalu pilibanda samaja vidyathmaka vimarshanayak
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 2001) MALDENIYA, GGMV
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    Chemical studies on some Myristica spp. and Curcuma longa
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 1987) COORAY, NF
    This thesis is comprised of two parts. Part I of the thesis deals firstly with chemistry of the phenolics of M.dactyloides seed kernel.A new arylalkanone, 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)-9-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)nonan-1-one and five other ary]alkanones namely 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-1-one and malabaricone A-D were isolated for the first time from M.dactyloides seed kernel. Apart from 1-(2,6 dihydroxyphenyl)-tetradecan-1-one and malabaricone A, the other four compounds are reported for the first time from M.dactyloides. Oleic (27.7 percent) and myristic (18.1 percent) acids were found to be the major components in the fatty acids of M.dactyloides. Since the phenolics and fatty acids were found to be different to that of M. fragrans these two parameters could be used to detect the adulteration of nutmeg with M.dactyloides. Antibacterial studies revealed that except 1-(2,6-dihydroxy phenyl tetradecan-1-one other compounds at a level of 5 mg ml-l were effective against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. All compounds at the same concentration had no effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Secondly, variation of the yield and chemical composition of the nutmeg oil with agro-ecological conditions were studied during the major and minor harvesting seasons. Results showed that the physical parameters (optical rotation and refractive index) of the nutmeg oil from different agro-ecological zones were not significantly different. If the chemical composition of the oils are compared, it is found except in the zones of WM2 and WM!, there are no significant variation depending on the agro-ecological zones. Oils from WM1 (92.0 percent) contains more monterpenes than that of WM2 (78.9 percent). Part II of the study deals with the effect of maturity on some chemical constituents of turmeric rhizome. The variation of curcumins (I, II, III) content with maturity monitored by TLC-UV spectrophotometry and a technique based on TLC-UV densitometry developed during this study. The ratios of curcumins 1:11:111 in Sri Lankan turmeric was found to be approximately 9:3:4. Maturity did not affect this ratio. Advanced maturity resulted in a decline in curcumin content (percent w/w). Maximum curcumin per bush was attained about 9 month after planting. Curcumin content in mother rhizome was found to be slightly lower than that of fingers Essential oil content and composition varied significantly with maturity, sesquiterpenes (particularly turmerone and ar-turmerone) increased with maturity while monoterpenes (notably 1,8- cineole and alpha-phellandrene) declined in both mother sets and finger rhizomes. The optimum time for harvest to obtain maximum yield of essential oil was found to be 7.5 - 8.0 months.
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    Transmission of infection and disease burden of Brancroftian filariasis in the Colombo district, Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(MED)., 2004) WEERASINGHE, CR
    Lymphatic filariasis is estimated to affect approximately 120 million people in 80 endemic countries worldwide. In Sri Lanka, lymphatic filariasis remains a public health problem, but the real burden of disease remains unknown. This study examines the correlation between varying rates of transmission and theoccurrence of clinical disease, among the residents of the Colombo District. The aggregation of infection at household level was also examined. A cross sectional survey was conducted from January 2001 to December 2002 to assess the prevalence of clinical disease and transmission indices in the Colombo District. A total of 3766 individuals participated in the study, with ages ranging from 10 - 92 years (mean 36.4 years); 54.8 precent were females. The overall prevalence of microfilaraemia and antigenaemia was 0.6 precent and 12.6 precent respectively. A higher prevalence of microfilaraemia was observed among males (1.1 precent) when compared to females (0.2 precent). Prevalence ofantigenaemia was significantly higher in males than infemales (15.8 precent vs 9.9 precent, 'l = 28.7, P\<0.005) and highest in the 30 - 39 year age group. All microfilaraemic persons were antigen-positive. Vector density varied from 10.2 to 33.5 man-hour catch within the study area. The highest Transmission Intensity Index observed was 0.25. Nocturnal cough of over two weeks duration was the most common clinical manifestation encountered. Males were more likely to be affected than females (6.3 precent vs 3.5 precent, odds ratio 1.9 [95 precent CI: 1.4 - 2.4]). The 30-39 year age group was the most severely affected. Hydrocoele affected 0.8 precent of the males in the study population. The prevalence of hydrocoele increased with age, with 1.0 precent of the 50-59 year age group showing this disease manifestation. Attacks of adenolymphangitis and lymphadenitis associated with fever were rare. Lymphoedema of the limbs was also uncommon, affecting only 0.3 precent of males and 0.4 precent of females. The highest age-specific prevalence oflymphoedema of 1.0 precent was observed in the 50-59 year age group. Elephantiasis was seen only in 3 individuals aged over 50 years. All 23 microfilaraemic individuals were asymptomatic; the prevalence of microfilaraemia among individuals with clinical features of lymphatic filariasis was O.However, the prevalence of antigenaemia among those with nocturnal cough suggestive ofTPE was 47.8 precent and 42.8 precent men with hydrocoele were also antigenaemic. The presence of antigenaemia was associated with a statistically significant relative risk of 6.4 (95 precent CI 4.8 - 8.4) for nocturnal cough suggestive of TPE, and a relative risk of 4.0 (95 precent CI 1.4 - 11.5) for hydrocoele. There was no significant association between antigenaemia and ADL, lymphoedema or elephantiasis. At the community level, there was a strong positive correlation between the prevalence of antigenaemia and the prevalence of prolonged nocturnal cough (R2=0.35) in the 12 DS areas, supporting the likelihood of a filarial aetiology to this symptom. Although the prevalence of hydrocoele was low, there was also a strong positive correlation between this rate and antigenaemia rates in the communit (R2=0.56). Correlation between infection fates in C. quinquefasciatus and theprevalence of nocturnal cough and hydrocoele at DS area level was 0.04 and 0.40 respectively. Aggregation of CF A positive individuals within households was noted.
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    Studies on the ecology of malaria in Sri lanka
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 1984) WICKRAMASINGHE, MB
    The present work incorporates studies on, the incidence of malaria in relation to rainfall, ecology of anopheline breeding in a riverine habitat and, the use of Aplcocheilus dayi, an indigenous fish for malaria control in Sri Lanka. Analysis of records for 1973 and 1974 for eight malarial districts showed an association between increased incidence of malaria and deficient rainfall. Seven species of anophelines - Anopheles varuna, Anopheles.vagus, A.. barbirostris A. annularis, A. nigerrimus, A. subpictus and A. culicifacies were found breeding in the margins of the Attanagalu Oya, the riverine habitat selected for ecological studies. A. culicifacies were not found in micro-habitats with emergent vegetation 12-15 cm in height. Anopheline breeding was directly related to the discharge rate of the river. However the colour, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, total alkalinity, free ammonia, albuminoid ammonia, chloride, total iron, bacteria and the plankton content of the Attanagalu Oya waters did not show a direct correlation with larval densities. Biological studies on A.dayi showed that the larger fish feed mainly on adult hemipterans, coleopterans and hymenopterans and on mosquito larvae. Female fish were observed to attain sexual maturity between 21 - 30 mm. Fluctuations of the gonadosomatic index indicated that they spawn more than once a year. Exposure of A.dayi to ambush, aldrex 25, endrex 20, actellic, propanex, azodrin 60, stam-F-34 and gramoxone showed that ambush was the most toxic of the pesticides tested. Large-scale field trials conducted in the Attanagalu Oya to determine the impact of A.dayi on anopheline breeding brought down the larval density by 86.9 percent, 71.1 percent , 86.6 percent and 81.5 percent within one week with fish stocked at 0.5, 0.9, 1.0 and 7.6 per square metre respectively. Reductions amounting to 94.4 percent and 88.9 percent were obtained at the end of two weeks with 0.5 and 7.6 fish per square metre respectively. The results are discussed in relation to the use of bio-environmental methods in an integrated approach for malaria control in Sri Lanka
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    Watika prakaranaya hewath beheth guli kalka potha pilibanda nawa sanskaranayak
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 1998) PONNAMPERUMA, A
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    Quantitative Analysis of specification of essential metals on wound healing
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 2007) RODRIGO, I
    An assessment of essential metals in human wound fluid and wound tissue for concentrations and speciation with new, reliable, verified and validated technologies may be of value for the detection and remediation of essential metal based wound management. An attempt was taken here to gain the target. Samples were analyzed for essential metals using atomic absorption spectroscopy and well-established MINTEQA2 computer based chemical speciation program was used for speciation work. Zinc and copper seems to be progressively accumulated around the site of wound when the wound is healing whilst iron seems vise-versa. Calcium is stable with the healing of wound. Blood contains high levels of metals than acute and chronic wound tissues except for calcium. Iron levels of chronic tissues are higher than those in acute tissues whilst others vise-versa. Nutritional and non-nutritional factors are not much important to manipulate the metal ion concentration since neither any nutritional nor non-nutritional factor has a relationship with the variation of any analyzed metal ion concentration. The modeling studies indicate that distribution and bioavailability of zinc and manganese in the wound fluid depend upon the pH and healing of wound, whilst others not apparent. A successful study would aim ultimately to influence hospital expenditure by increasing the healing rate of wounds so that patients are discharged earlier and returned to the community with improved quality of life
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    Saukkaya ha swasthathawa pilibanda bauddha igenweema
    (University of Kelaniya: UK(ML)., 2002) SADDHARATHANA, thera KANATHEGODA