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Background:Ischemic Heart Disease(IHD) characterized by atheroma formation, is a leading contributor for the rising disease burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka. Even though excessive salt-consumption has been attributed with hypertension, documented literature is scarce on exploring its direct association with atheroma formation with primary data. Coronary-Artery- Bypass-Grafting(CABG) is done as a tertiary preventive measure for IHDs. The aim was to estimate the sodium-intake and to describe the association of salt consumption and atheroma formation among preoperative patients undergoing CABG at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Sri Lanka.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was done on a calculated sample size of 213 participants who were awaiting CABG at SJGH. An interviewer-administered Additional file 1 was used, and dietary intake of sodium was calculated with food-frequency tables and web-based tools. A data extraction form was used and details regarding Coronary arterial segments with atheroma formation were obtained from angiogram reports. After exploring the normality, Spearman-correlation-coefficient and Mann-Whitney-U tests were used to explore associations of atheroma formation. Independent association of sodium-intake and Coronary arterial segments affected with atheroma was explored with multiple-logistic regression. ResultsThe sample was with a male preponderance(male to female ratio=3:1). Comorbidities were observed in a notable proportion: diabetes(47%), dyslipidemia(40%), hypertension(56%). The median(IQR) of BMI and waist circumference were 25.00(23.00-27.00)kg/m2 and 87.00(82.00-91.00)cm. The median(IQR) sodium-intake was 5875.50(4905.25-7091.25)mg. All participants (n=210) had a sodium intake of more than 2000mg/day. Sodium intake(rs=0.599,p0.05). Sodium intake was found to be an independent predictor of affecting “5 or more segments” when multiple logistic regression was applied(OR= 2.25,CI=1.41 to 3.61). Conclusions and RecommendationsThe daily intake of sodium by a regular person is more than the dietary recommendations in the study sample. Salt intake reflected by sodium intake seemingly increase the risk of atheroma formation in more coronary segments irrespective of age, sex as well as several known disease conditions and risk factors. More research must be promoted with analytical approaches in proving this hypothesis.

Single-molecule imaging has provided new insights on weak transient biomolecular interactions with micromolar to millimolar affinity. However, the limited duration of observation has hindered the study of strong and reversible interactions with sub-nanomolar affinity. We report single-molecule interaction microscopy (SMIM), which combines point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT) with extended imaging durations that enables the study of antibody binding kinetics in the cellular environment. SMIM revealed heterogeneous binding kinetics and the effect of concentration and antibody valency on the association and dissociation rates on antibody-antigen interactions in their cellular environments. We thereby demonstrate SMIM as a versatile single-molecule technique for studying strong, transient biomolecular interactions.

This paper is written in the context of the unravelling policy debate on Investor-State Dispute Settlement in Australia, which has become central in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Deviating from the widely accepted international practice of resolving investment disputes through international arbitration, the former Gillard government, in its April 2011 Trade Policy Statement, decided to discontinue the practice of including such dispute settlement provisions in investment agreements with developing countries. The paper argues that excluding ISDS provisions would in fact be a misdirected solution to the government’s concerns that are, allegedly, behind the new policy and would negatively impact on the interests of key stakeholders to investment agreements, being disproportionately beneficial to the host state, to the disadvantage of both foreign and domestic investors.In advocating for the retention of ISDS provisions, this paper demonstrates that it is possible to successfully perform the balancing act of retaining investor-state dispute settlement provisions and harmonising stakeholder interests by redrafting key treaty provisions. Adopting substantive measures address to the concerns erroneously attributed to the existence of ISDS will appropriately balance all stakeholder interests, preserving the state’s sovereign policy making powers, while also enabling the retention of investor-state dispute settlement provisions.