Antioxidant, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of probiotic yoghurt incorporated with various Annona species pulp.

In this study, antioxidant, chemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes changes taking place during the production of probiotic yoghurt using pulp of soursop (Annona muricata), sweetsop (Annona squamosa), and custard apple (Annona reticulata) were evaluated. The products were stored at 4 °C for 28 d, during which time physicochemical properties and viability of probiotic bacteria and yoghurt starter cultures were evaluated weekly. Yoghurts prepared with fruit pulps displayed higher antioxidant activities on the first day of storage compared to the control. During the storage, the addition of fruit pulps influenced (p < 0.05) pH, titratable acidity, syneresis and counts of B. animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 of yoghurts, whereas counts of Streptococcus thermophiles and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus were found to be insignificant. Sensory evaluation results showed that yoghurt containing soursop fruit pulp had better sensory scores than other treatments. Therefore, these results proved that soursop can be used to produce probiotic yoghurt with enhanced physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties.

Evaluation of probiotic attributes of Lactobacillus sp. isolated from cow and buffalo curd samples collected from Kandy

Introduction: Curd is a potential source of probiotic Lactobacillus species. Methods: This study was carried out to isolate and characterise Lactobacillus species available in curd samples sold in the market. Nine curd samples prepared using cow or buffalo milk were obtained from a local market in the Kandy district. Results: Seven isolates (LB 1-7) were identified based on their colony morphology and biochemical characteristics and evaluated for probiotic attributes such as low pH tolerance, resistance to bile salts, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antibiotic activity against erythromycin, chloramphenicol and norfloxacin, haemolytic activity and DNase activity. All isolates were able to grow at low pH (pH=3.0) and were able to survive at 0.3% bile salt, however, the viability decreased with time. LB7 showed very low viability with bile salt compared to others. All isolates exhibited antimicrobial activity against the two pathogenic organisms tested. Two isolates (LB1 and LB2) showed maximum zone of inhibition (18±1.13mm) against E.coli and four isolates (LB1, LB2, LB6 and LB7) against P.aeruginosa. Only LB6 and LB7 exhibited resistance to all three antibiotics tested while the other isolates were sensitive. In general, a higher sensitivity was shown against erythromycin and chloramphenicol compared to norfloxacin. All isolates exhibited δ-haemolysis (non-haemolysis) while none of the isolates showed any DNase activity. Conclusions: Tested isolates showed probiotic attributes such as resistance to low pH, tolerance to bile salt, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic activity, non-haemolysis and no DNase activity.

Aging and obesity are associated with undiagnosed hypertension in a cohort of males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle factors associated with hypertension (HT) in South Asian populations are relatively unknown. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prevalence rates of undiagnosed HT and factors associated with it in a cohort of males from the Central Province of Sri Lanka. METHODS: The study group consisted of 2462 males (mean age 31 years, range: 16-72 years) who underwent a routine medical examination at the National Transport Medical Institute, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Participants with previously diagnosed heart disease, diabetes, hypertension or other chronic illnesses were excluded from this study. Dietary and other lifestyle factors were studied using validated self-administered questionnaires. Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-off values for Asians were used to categorize the subjects according to weight status. The association of individual dietary and lifestyle patterns with HT was assessed by fitting into binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: The mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) of the individuals were 125.9 mmHg and 80.5 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence rate of undiagnosed HT was 31.7%. Both SBP and DBP showed significant positive correlations with age, weight, BMI and waist circumference. After adjusting for potential confounders, HT was associated with older age (p = 0.001) and increased weight status (p < 0.001) with trends of association for level of education (p = 0.058). Level of income, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours, smoking, physical activity level, ethnic difference, consumption of fruits, fish, meat, dairy, sweets or fried snacks were not significantly associated with HT. Obese males were 92.1% [odds ratio: 1.9 (1.4-2.7)] more likely to be hypertensive compared to normal weight males. CONCLUSIONS: Undiagnosed HT is prevalent at an alarming rate among adult males in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its association with age and BMI (weight status) highlights the importance of routine screening for HT as well as interventions targeted at reducing obesity to curb the rise of this modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Lifestyle factors associated with obesity in a cohort of males in the central province of Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a global epidemic. The prevalence of obesity has also increased in the South Asian region in the last decade. However, dietary and lifestyle factors associated with obesity in Sri Lankan adults are unclear. The objective of the current study was to investigate the association of dietary and lifestyle patterns with overweight and obesity in a cohort of males from the Central Province of Sri Lanka. METHODS: A total of 2469 males aged between 16 and 72 years ([Formula: see text]) were included in the study. The sample comprised individuals who presented for a routine medical examination at the National Transport Medical Institute, Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Body Mass Index (BMI) cutoff values for Asians were used to categorize the participants into four groups as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. The data on dietary and lifestyle patterns such as level of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours and other socio demographic data were obtained using validated self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to assess the associations of individual lifestyle patterns with overweight and obesity. RESULTS: The mean BMI of the study group was 22.7 kg m-2 and prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 31.8 and 12.3%, respectively. Mean waist circumference of the participants was 78.6 cm with 17.1% of them being centrally obese. After adjusting for potential confounders, weight status was associated with older age (P < 0.0001), ethnicity (P = 0.0033) and higher income (P = 0.0006). While higher physical activity showed a trend for being associated with lower odds of being obese (odds ratio: 0.898 - confidence interval: 0.744-1.084), alcohol intake, consumption of fruits, level of education, sleeping hours, smoking, consumption of fish, meat, dairy, sweets or fried snacks were not significantly associated with the weight status. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in working-age males is a threatening sign for Sri Lanka. Since the prevalence rate is higher in certain ethnic groups and higher-income groups, targeted interventions for these groups may be necessary.

Computer vision syndrome among computer office workers in a developing country: an evaluation of prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a group of visual symptoms experienced in relation to the use of computers. Nearly 60 million people suffer from CVS globally, resulting in reduced productivity at work and reduced quality of life of the computer worker. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of CVS and its associated factors among a nationally-representative sample of Sri Lankan computer workers. METHODS: Two thousand five hundred computer office workers were invited for the study from all nine provinces of Sri Lanka between May and December 2009. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data, symptoms of CVS and its associated factors. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed in all patients with 'presence of CVS' as the dichotomous dependent variable and age, gender, duration of occupation, daily computer usage, pre-existing eye disease, not using a visual display terminal (VDT) filter, adjusting brightness of screen, use of contact lenses, angle of gaze and ergonomic practices knowledge as the continuous/dichotomous independent variables. A similar binary logistic regression analysis was performed in all patients with 'severity of CVS' as the dichotomous dependent variable and other continuous/dichotomous independent variables. RESULTS: Sample size was 2210 (response rate-88.4%). Mean age was 30.8 ± 8.1 years and 50.8% of the sample were males. The 1-year prevalence of CVS in the study population was 67.4%. Female gender (OR: 1.28), duration of occupation (OR: 1.07), daily computer usage (1.10), pre-existing eye disease (OR: 4.49), not using a VDT filter (OR: 1.02), use of contact lenses (OR: 3.21) and ergonomics practices knowledge (OR: 1.24) all were associated with significantly presence of CVS. The duration of occupation (OR: 1.04) and presence of pre-existing eye disease (OR: 1.54) were significantly associated with the presence of 'severe CVS'. CONCLUSIONS: Sri Lankan computer workers had a high prevalence of CVS. Female gender, longer duration of occupation, higher daily computer usage, pre-existing eye disease, not using a VDT filter, use of contact lenses and higher ergonomics practices knowledge all were associated with significantly with the presence of CVS. The factors associated with the severity of CVS were the duration of occupation and presence of pre-existing eye disease.