University of Peradeniya

About: University of Peradeniya is a education organization based out in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 5970 authors who have published 7388 publications receiving 197002 citations.

Orofacial granulomatosis: review on aetiology and pathogenesis.

Abstract: Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is considered as an uncommon disease and nomenclature of the disease was subjected to debate for a long time. Although various aetiological agents such as food substances, food additives, dental materials and various microbiological agents have been implicated in the disease process its precise pathogenesis is yet to be elucidated. Delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction appears to play a significant role, although the exact antigen inducing the immunological reaction varies in individual patients. However, evidence for the role of genetic predisposition to the disease is sparse. The underlying immunological mechanism appears to show some similarities between OFG and Crohn's disease, emphasizing the need for more comparative studies of the two entities. Therefore, we propose the term idiopathic OFG as a better term for those cases restricted to oral region without any identifiable known granulomatous disease and the diagnosis should not be changed until the patient develops systemic manifestations of a specific granulomatous condition. This review attempts to discuss the role of different aetiological agents and certain aspects of pathogenesis of OFG.

Thermal stability of polyaniline

Abstract: Among conducting polymers with metallic characteristics, polyaniline (PANI) is claimed to have one of the highest environmental stability. From an industrial point of view it would be useful to be able to thermally process this material into useful products using conventional techniques such as extrusion, stretching, rolling, etc., which generally are carried out at elevated temperatures. Somewhat surprisingly, relatively few studies have addressed the thermal stability of PANI, in particular that of the non-protonated emeraldine base form. Therefore, a study of the thermal properties was performed to examine the thermal stability of this material and to identify the optimum processing and maximum application temperatures.

Solar radiation and functional traits explain the decline of forest primary productivity along a tropical elevation gradient

Abstract: One of the major challenges in ecology is to understand how ecosystems respond to changes in environmental conditions, and how taxonomic and functional diversity mediate these changes. In this study, we use a trait-spectra and individual-based model, to analyse variation in forest primary productivity along a 3.3 km elevation gradient in the Amazon-Andes. The model accurately predicted the magnitude and trends in forest productivity with elevation, with solar radiation and plant functional traits (leaf dry mass per area, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, and wood density) collectively accounting for productivity variation. Remarkably, explicit representation of temperature variation with elevation was not required to achieve accurate predictions of forest productivity, as trait variation driven by species turnover appears to capture the effect of temperature. Our semi-mechanistic model suggests that spatial variation in traits can potentially be used to estimate spatial variation in productivity at the landscape scale.

Improvement in survival after paraquat ingestion following introduction of a new formulation in Sri Lanka.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pesticide ingestion is a common method of self-harm in the rural developing world In an attempt to reduce the high case fatality seen with the herbicide paraquat, a novel formulation (INTEON) has been developed containing an increased emetic concentration, a purgative, and an alginate that forms a gel under the acid conditions of the stomach, potentially slowing the absorption of paraquat and giving the emetic more time to be effective We compared the outcome of paraquat self-poisoning with the standard formulation against the new INTEON formulation following its introduction into Sri Lanka METHODS AND FINDINGS: Clinical data were prospectively collected on 586 patients with paraquat ingestion presenting to nine large hospitals across Sri Lanka with survival to 3 mo as the primary outcome The identity of the formulation ingested after October 2004 was confirmed by assay of blood or urine samples for a marker compound present in INTEON The proportion of known survivors increased from 76/297 with the standard formulation to 103/289 with INTEON ingestion, and estimated 3-mo survival improved from 271% to 367% (difference 95%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 20%-171%; p = 0002, log rank test) Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed an approximately 2-fold reduction in toxicity for INTEON compared to standard formulation A higher proportion of patients ingesting INTEON vomited within 15 min (38% with the original formulation to 55% with INTEON, p < 0001) Median survival time increased from 23 d (95% CI 12-34 d) with the standard formulation to 69 d (95% CI 33-107 d) with INTEON ingestion (p = 0002, log rank test); however, in patients who did not survive there was a comparatively smaller increase in median time to death from 09 d (interquartile range [IQR] 05-34) to 15 d (IQR 05-55); p = 002 CONCLUSIONS: The survey has shown that INTEON technology significantly reduces the mortality of patients following paraquat ingestion and increases survival time, most likely by reducing absorption Language: en