To assess secular trends in serum lipid levels in Finnish children and young adults, the authors examined a total of 3,517, 2,769, 2,392, 352, and 880 subjects who had complete data on serum lipids in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, and 1992, respectively, in a longitudinal follow-up study. Trend analyses were carried out among subjects aged 15 (n = 1,835) or 18 (n = 1,562) years to exclude the confounding effect of age on the study variables. Data on obesity, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use were available from each study year, and data on diet were available for the study years 1980, 1986, and 1992. Between 1980 and 1992, mean total cholesterol levels decreased from 4.88 to 4.47 mmol/liter (from 189 to 173 mg/dl), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased from 3.06 to 2.85 mmol/liter (from 119 to 110 mg/dl). The mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased by 19%, from 1.43 to 1.15 mmol/liter (55.2 to 44.6 mg/dl). During 1986-1992, triglyceride levels increased by 15%, from 0.88 to 1.01 mmol/liter (78.2 to 89.9 mg/dl). During 1980-1992, body mass index values increased from 20.8 to 21.8 kg/m2, parallel to increases in skinfold thickness. In the diet, the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids increased from 0.26 to 0.39. Alcohol and oral contraceptive use became more frequent, and the subjects tended to become less physically active. In conclusion, a change in the lipid profile in Finnish adolescents aged 15 and 18 years and young adults during 1980-1992 was observed, characterized by a decrease in low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and an increase in triglyceride level. Possible determinants for these changes include alterations in diet and a trend toward increased obesity.

The craniofacial morphology of 30 young adults with the Pierre Robin sequence, aged 17.0-27.1 years (mean, 20.8), was analyzed and compared with the craniofacial morphology of 116 young adults with isolated cleft palate, aged 16.9-20.6 years (mean, 18.8). All patients had been examined and operated on at the Cleft Center, Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital. The skeletal dimensions of patients with Pierre Robin sequence differed from those of patients with isolated cleft palate by the shorter posterior cranial base, maxilla, and mandibular ramus. The mandible was also more retruded and more posteriorly rotated, and the soft tissue profile more convex in Pierre Robin sequence patients. In the pharyngeal area, the lower sagittal depth of the pharynx was significantly shorter and the hyoid bone position more inferior in those with Pierre Robin sequence than in those with isolated cleft palate.

To compare craniofacial structure and growth, two standard lateral cephalograms of 35 children with Pierre Robin syndrome and 30 age and sex matched children with isolated cleft palate were taken at two different ages. The mean (SD) age of the children with Pierre Robin syndrome was 9.5 (3.0) years and of the children with isolated cleft palate 7.1 (1.1) years at the start of the follow up period. The follow up time in the first group was 4.3 (1.6) and in the second group 3.8 (2.7) years. There were no significant differences between the groups in the shape of the cranial base or the maxilla. The main differences were in the mandible, which showed more recession among those with Pierre Robin syndrome. There was a significant correlation between the shape of the maxilla and that of the mandible in that group, but not in the group with isolated cleft palate. During the follow up period there were no significant differences between the two groups in the rate of growth of the jaws. The association between the maxilla and the mandible (ss-n-sm) remained unchanged, or increased, or decreased with equal frequency in both groups. There was no catch up mandibular growth among the children with Pierre Robin syndrome.

The differences between higher and lower socio-economic groups in food consumption, energy intake and nutrient density of the diet of Finnish 9- to 15-year-old children were examined in a study performed within the project entitled Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns. Data on food consumption were collected using the 48-hour recall method. Family's socio-economic status was defined according to the father's educational level, his occupation, and family income. Children of families with higher socio-economic status used more fruit, low-fat milk, soft vegetable margarine and less high-fat milk, butter, rye products and coffee than did the children of families with lower socioeconomic status. Consequently, the main differences appeared in the fat, vitamin D, vitamin C and fatty acid content of the diet. Differences in energy intake and in mineral density of the diet were minor. If these childhood dietary differences remain in adulthood, it is possible that the present disparity between socio-economic groups in mortality from coronary heart disease will not disappear.