Biomedical subjects

K B Herath

Publications and source records attributed to K B Herath.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Mirasorvone: a masked 20-ketopregnane from the defensive secretion of a diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus).

The sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus, ejects a milky fluid from its prothoracic defensive glands when disturbed. Two major volatile components of this secretion are steroids; cybisterone (structure 7) constitutes about 20% of the volatiles, and a new steroid, mirasorvone, about 50%. Mirasorvone is assigned an 18-oxygenated pregnane structure (structure 9) on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data. Although no 18-oxygenated steroid has been described previously from an insect source, a closely related hormone with mineralocorticoid activity, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (structure 13), has been isolated from the adrenal glands of rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Defensive production of quinoline by a phasmid insect (Oreophoetes peruana).

Adults and nymphs of the Peruvian stick insect Oreophoetes peruana (order Phasmatodea) have a pair of thoracic glands from which they discharge a malodorous fluid when disturbed. The secretion contains a single volatile component, quinoline. Quinoline has not been reported previously from an animal source. The compound proved repellent or topically irritant in assays with ants, spiders, cockroaches and frogs. O. peruana nymphs, at molting, do not extricate the shed cuticular lining of the glands, thereby managing not to lose their secretory supply when they cast their skin. They are able, as a consequence, to discharge secretion even while still teneral after molting.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Investigating a lingual thyroid.

During a 15-year-period, in a thyroid investigation centre in Sri Lanka comprising 16,593 cases, 8 lingual thyroids were seen. All patients were female. Radioisotope studies and scintiscanning performed during the investigations of these cases are presented. All subjects were euthyroid at presentation and the clinical courses of 5 cases during follow-up are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Endemic goitre in Sri Lanka.

This survey examined 59,158 children from 87 schools in 17 out of 24 districts in Sri Lanka for goitre. The overall prevalence rate was 18.8%: 23.2% for girls and 14.0% for boys. Prevalence in districts varied from 30.2% in Kalutara to 6.5% in Matale. It was higher in rural than urban areas, and in inland than coastal areas. The sex ratio of prevalence rates was directly related and the ratio of palpable to visible goitre was inversely related to the severity of the endemic. It is suggested that for a rapid epidemiological assessment when the latter ratio is less than four, it is indicative of endemicity for public health purposes and calls for intervention. The iodination of salt is both practical and feasible in Sri Lanka.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982