Ramaesh T, Mendis BRRN, Ratnatunga N, Thattil RQ: Cytomorphometric analysis of squames obtained from normal oral mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. J Oral Pathol Med 1998; 27: 83–6. © Munksgaard, 1998. Cell and nuclear diameters (CD and ND) were measured in squames obtained from normal buccal mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous carcinoma (SCC) also from buccal mucosa. The study groups consisted of Group 1: normal buccal mucosa (n= 40); Group 2: lesions with no epithelial dysplasia (n= 58); Group 3: lesions with epithelial dysplasia (n= 27); and Group 4: SCC lesions (n= 51). The mean CD and ND values were: Group 1: 51.78 (± 0.11) and 8.36 (± 0.49); Group 2: 45.73 (± 0.16) and 8.31(± 0.68); Group 3: 41.32 (± 0.13) and 9.04 (± 0.46); Group 4: 38.58 (± 0.11) and 10.10 (± 0.56) urn, respectively. Correlation between the ND and CD was positive for Group 1 (r= 0.78, P < 0.05) and Group 2 (r= 0.33, P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations in Groups 3 and 4. ANOVA showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for CD between all four groups. Except between Groups 1 and 2, the ND was significantly different (P < 0.05) between all groups. The results indicate that ND and CD could possibly be sensitive parameters in the diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

The effect of tobacco use on the buccal mucosa has been assessed by cytomor‐phometry. Cell and nuclear diameters (CD, ND) of exfoliated oral squames were measured in tobacco smokers (S), betel chewers with tobacco (C) and those with a combined habit (S + C). Non‐users (NU) served as controls. The mean CD values in S, C, S + C and NU were: 50.8 (± 0.47), 49.39 (± 0.48), 49.12 (±0.47) and 51.87 (± 0.76) urn, and the mean ND values were: 8.83 (± 0.07), 8.61 (± 0.08), 8.72 (± 0.10) and 8.33 (± 0.09) um, respectively. The least significant difference procedure (LSD at P= 0.05) showed a significant reduction for CD in C and S + C and an increase for ND in all three habit groups, compared to the controls. This study shows that the use of tobacco influences the cytomorphology of the normal buccal mucosa. Betel chewing with tobacco influences the ND and CD, while smoking influences only the ND.

Objective To assess health status of 9-10-year old school children in Sri Lanka. Design A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Schools were selected to obtain a sample representative at national and provincial levels and 20 children were randomly selected from Grade 5 classes in each school. Measurements Children were examined for Bitot's spots and goitre. Height, weight, and visual acuity were measured according to standard procedures. Haemoglobin level was measured using finger-prick blood and a HemoCue® meter. Geohelminth infections were quantified by faecal examination using the modified Kato-Katz technique. Height for age Z-scores (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Results Two thousand five hundred and twenty eight children (1351 boys) from 144 schools (140 state schools and four private schools) were examined. Nationally, 15.5% of children were stunted (HAZ lower than-2.0 SD); 52.6% were thin (BMI < 5th centile of age-and sexmatched reference population); 3.1% were overweight (BMI > 85th centile); 12.1% were anaemic; 0.3% had Bitot's spots; 3% had a visible or palpable goitre; 4.6% were shortsighted; and 6.9% had one or more soil-transmitted nematode infection. Among children on whom anthropometry, haemoglobin and faecal examinations were all done, 64.6% (1332/2063) were thin, stunted, anaemic or infected with worms. A much higher proportion of children in the Northern and Eastern provinces had health problems when compared to the other provinces. Conclusions The majority of older primary schoolchildren in Sri Lanka are undernourished. Anaemia, vitamin A deficiency, iodine deficiency and soil-transmitted nematode infections affect a much smaller proportion of them.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of reducing saturated fat in the diet, or partly replacing it with unsaturated fat, on the serum lipoprotein profile of human subjects. The study had two intervention periods, 8 weeks (phase 1) and 52 weeks (phase 2). In phase 1, total fat was reduced from 31 to 25 % energy (polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA):saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio increased from 0´2 to 0´4) by reducing the quantity of coconut fat (CF) in the diet from 17´8 to 9´3 % energy intake. In phase 2, subjects were randomised to groups A and B. In group A total fat was reduced from 25 to 20 % energy (PUFA:SFA ratio increased from 0´4 to 0´7) by reducing the quantity of CF in the diet from 9´3 to 4´7 % total energy intake. In group B, the saturated fat content in the diet was similar to group A. In addition a test fat (a mixture of soyabean oil and sesame oil, PUFA:monosaturated fatty acids ratio 2) contributed 3´3 % total energy intake and total fat contributed 24 % energy intake (PUFA:SFA ratio increased from 0´7 to 1´1). At the end of phase 1, there was a 7´7 % reduction in cholesterol (95 % CI 23´6, 212´2) and 10´8 % reduction in LDL (95 % CI 24´9, 216´5) and no significant change in HDL and triacylglycerol. At the end of phase 2, the reduction in cholesterol in both groups was only about 4 % (95 % CI 212, 3´2) partly due the concomitant rise in HDL. The reduction in LDL at 52 weeks was significantly higher in group B (group A mean reduction 11 %, 95 % CI 220´1, 22´0 and group B mean reduction 16´2 % 95 % CI 223´5, 28´9). In phase 2, triacylglycerol levels showed a mean reduction of 6´5 % in group 2A and a mean increase of 8´2 % in group 2B. The reduction of saturated fat in the diet is associated with a lipoprotein profile that would be expected to reduce cardiovascular risk. The reduction of dietary saturated fat with partial replacement of unsaturated fat brings about changes in total cholesterol, HDL-and LDLcholesterol that are associated with a lower cardiovascular risk.

The coconut yield is harvested in six picks per year at two-monthly intervals. The yield variation between and within years is very complex and this variability has not yet been explained. The analysis of long-term nut yield and monthly climate data: rainfall (RF), pan evaporation (EV), sunshine duration (SS), wind velocity (WV), minimum and maximum air temperatures (TMIN and TMAX), and relative humidity in forenoons and afternoons (RHAM and RHPM), using multivariate methods enabled the use of the variables TMAX, RHPM and EV as significantly important determinants (parsimonious set of variables) to represent the effects of climate on coconut irrespective of picks. Parsimonious models developed using these three variables explain how the development of bunches during the active growth period responded to climate variables without physiological parameters. The models are desirable where interpretation is concerned. The yields of picks one to six were determined by the climate variability during February, June, July, September, December and February respectively. Based on the models the proper timing of the use of some agronomic practices to enhance the productivity was recommended. A common model was also fitted (R2 = 0.81; p < 0.002) to estimate the annual yield 18 months in advance using EV, RHPM and TMAX. The three variables influence the microclimate around the crown of the palm for utilizing solar radiation in dry matter partitioning and thereby nut production. The method used to screen climatic variables so as to develop parsimonious crop–weather models using multivariate and univariate techniques can be used for other tree crops.