Kac Wickramaratne’s scientific contributions

Introduction: Reference intervals (RIs) of blood parameters vary between gender and age. Therefore, it is important to establish specific RIs for the population served. To interpret the reports of elderly population, laboratories use RIs of adults (>18 years old). In calculation of RIs, healthy population is used in direct method while patient data is used in indirect method. This study was carried out to establish RIs for blood cell parameters for elderly population using indirect method.Methods: A retrospective study was carried out using complete blood count (CBC) data of patients >65 years of age. Calculated RIs were compared with RIs defined for adults and with RIs defined for elderly population in five other countries.Results: Data sets in all CBC parameters showed Gaussian distribution thus, parametric approach was adopted to calculate RIs. Calculated RIs of all the CBC parameters for elderly population were similar to those of other countries. RIs calculated for red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) showed clinically significantly lower values when compared with adult RIs while RIs for other CBC parameters did not show such difference.Conclusions: Patient data can be used to calculate RIs for CBC parameters for elderly population. Elderly population shows clinically significantly lower RBC, Hb, and PCV compared to the adults thus, adult RIs for RBC, Hb, and PCV cannot be used for elderly population.

Exposure to asbestos causes health hazards including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos industry workers are at a higher risk of exposure. Objective of this research is to assess the health status and the safety practices of asbestos industry workers. Four hundred seventy-five workers from three asbestos sheet manufacturing factories were recruited into the study. One hundred sixty-two subjects who were not exposed to asbestos were recruited as controls. Study design was a comparative cross-sectional study. Information related to safety practices of workers were collected using an investigator-administered questionnaire. A doctor in the research team examined their respiratory system. They underwent lung function test (Cosmed Pony-FX spirometer). Mean duration of exposure to asbestos was 12.8±10.2 years. Results showed that protective gear for protection of hand, body, eyes and respiratory system from asbestos fibre were worn by 260 (54.74%), 63 (13.26%), 90 (18.95%) and 402 (84.63%), respectively. Regular use of respiratory protection was practiced only by 120 (25.26%). 458 (96.42%) had normal respiratory system examination findings while three (0.63%) had crackles at lung bases and 14 (2.95%) had wheezing. FVC was below predicted in 178 asbestos workers and 58 controls (Odds ratio (OR) 1.075 (95% CI 0.742-1.557), P=0.775). FEV1 was below predicted in 183 asbestos workers and 51 controls (OR 1.364 (95% CI 0.933-1.994), P=0.131). FEV1/FVC ratio was below predicted in 11 asbestos workers and seven controls (OR 0.525 (95% CI 0.200-1.378), P=0.291). FEF 25-75 below predicted in 41 asbestos workers and 21 controls (OR 0.634 (95% CI 0.363-1.110), P=0.146). It is concluded that safety practices of workers can be further improved. Lung function parameters of asbestos industry workers are not significantly different from those of controls.

Health Status and Safety Practices of Workers of Asbestos Sheet Manufacturing Factories in Sri Lanka.