Background. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) within individual cohorts varies with the definition used. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of MetS between IDF and revised NCEP ATP III criteria in an urban Sri Lankan population and to investigate the characteristics of discrepant cases. Methods. 2985 individuals, aged 35–65 years, were recruited to the study. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and laboratory investigations were carried out following standard protocols. Results. Age and sex-adjusted prevalences of MetS were 46.1% and 38.9% by revised NCEP and IDF definitions, respectively. IDF criteria failed to identify 21% of men and 7% of women identified by the revised NCEP criteria. The discrepant group had more adverse metabolic profiles despite having a lower waist circumference than those diagnosed by both criteria. Conclusion. MetS is common in this urban Sri Lankan cohort regardless of the definition used. The revised NCEP definition was more appropriate in identifying the metabolically abnormal but nonobese individuals, especially among the males predisposed to type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to determine the suitability of the currently accepted Asian-specific cut-offs for waist circumference in Sri Lankan adults.

Objectives Quantifying the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a community is important in planning preventive strategies, but such data are limited from developing countries, especially South Asia. We aimed to estimate the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD), total CVD, and CVD mortality in a Sri Lankan community.Methods A community survey was conducted in an urban health administrative area among individuals aged 35-64 years, selected by stratified random sampling. Their 10-year CHD, total CVD, and CVD mortality risks were estimated using three risk prediction tools: National Cholesterol Education Program -Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III), Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), and World Health Organisation/ International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) charts.Results Among study participants (n=2985), 54.5% were females, and mean age (SD) was 52.4 (7.8) years. According to NCEP-ATP III ('hard' CHD risk), WHO/ISH (total CVD risk), and SCORE (CVD mortality risk) criteria, 25.4% (95% CI 23.6-27.2), 8.2% (95% CI 7.3-9.2), and 11.8 (95% CI 10.5-13.1) respectively were classified as at 'high risk'. The proportion of high risk participants increased with age. 'High risk' was commoner among males (30.3% vs 20.6%, p<0.001) according to NCEP-ATP III criteria, but among females (9.7% vs. 6.7%, p<0.001) according to WHO/ISH criteria. No significant gender difference was noted in SCORE risk categories.Conclusions A large proportion of individuals in this community are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, especially in older age groups. Risk estimates varied with the different prediction tools, and were comparatively higher with NCEP-ATP III charts.

Aqueous extracts of mature leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jak) are used by traditional medical practitioners in Sri Lanka and India for the treatment of diabetes. This study was conducted to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of an ethylacetate (EA) fraction of the mature leaves of A. heterophyllus in a streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat model. In normoglycemic rats, administration of a single dose (20 mg/kg) of the EA fraction resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the fasting blood glucose concentration and a significant improvement in glucose tolerance (P < 0.05), compared to the controls. In STZ-induced diabetic rats, chronic administration of the EA fraction of A. heterophyllus leaves daily for 5 weeks resulted in a significant lowering of serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels. Compared to control diabetic rats, the extract-treated rats had 39% less serum glucose, 23% lower serum total cholesterol and 40% lower serum TG levels and 11% higher body weight at the end of the fifth week. The percentage reductions in the serum parameters mediated by the test fraction were comparable with those produced by glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), the reference drug used in this study. It can be concluded that the EA fraction of A. heterophyllus leaves contains one or more hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic principles which have the potential to be developed further for the treatment of diabetes specifically associated with a hyperlipidemic state.

Shikimate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli has been crystallized by the vapour-diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as a precipitant. Mass spectrometry confirmed the purity of the enzyme and dynamic light scattering was used to find the appropriate additives to yield a monodisperse enzyme solution. The crystals are monoclinic, space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 110.0, b = 139.8, c = 102.6 A, beta = 122.2 degrees (at 100 K). Native crystals diffract to 2.3 A in-house on a rotating-anode X-ray source. The asymmetric unit is likely to contain four molecules, related by 222 symmetry, corresponding to a packing density of 2.86 A(3) Da(-1).

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