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Fulltext Solid-pseudopapillary carcinoma: a case study and literature review

Mat Zin AA, Shakir KA, Aminuddin AR, Mahedzan MR, Irnawati WA, Andee DZ, et al.

BMJ Case Rep, 2012;2012.
PMID: 22927280 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006495

Solid-pseudopapillary tumour (SPT) is a rare exocrine tumour of the pancreas and is considered to have low malignant potential. Few morphological criteria are used to predict malignant behaviour such as equivocal perineural invasion, angioinvasion and invasion to surrounding tissue, and should be designated as solid-pseudopapillary carcinoma (SPC). We report a case of SPC. Clinical and radiological findings are typical for SPT with no metastatic disease. There is no tumour recurrence after 4&emsp14;months postresection. Clinical history and radiological findings were retrieved from the patient's record sheet and Viarad system. H&E staining and few immunoproxidase staining were reviewed by several pathologists. The histological findings are typical for SPT, with additional perineural invasion. There is no angioinvasion or capsular invasion identified. This is our first experience in diagnosing and managing SPC. We look forward to seeing the patient's disease status during her next routine follow-up. We expect good disease-free survival and very low risk of tumour recurrence, in view of only one risk factor (perineural invasion) and uninvolved surgical margins by the tumour.
Fulltext The effects of exercise on vascular markers and C-reactive protein among obese children and adolescents: An evidence-based review

Salamt N, Muhajir M, Aminuddin A, Ugusman A

Bosn J Basic Med Sci, 2020 May 01;20(2):149-156.
PMID: 31509733 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2019.4345

Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of exercise training on obese children and adolescents. However, the impact of aerobic and/or resistance exercise alone, without any other interventions, on vascular markers and C-reactive protein (CRP) in obese children and adolescents is still not clear. We performed a literature search in Ovid Medline, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases to identify articles on the effects of exercise on vascular markers and CRP among obese children and adolescents, published between January 2009 and May 2019. Only full-text articles in English that reported on the effect of aerobic and/or resistance exercise on the vascular markers pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), augmentation index (AIx), or CRP in obese children and adolescents (5-19 years old) were included. The literature search identified 36 relevant articles; 9 articles that fulfilled all the inclusion criteria were selected by two independent reviewers. Aerobic exercise or a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise training significantly improved CIMT and PWV in obese children and adolescents in all studies in which they were measured (2 studies for PWV and 4 studies for CIMT). However, the effects of exercise on FMD and CRP levels were inconclusive, as only half of the studies demonstrated significant improvements (1/2 studies for FMD and 4/8 studies for CRP). The results of our review support the ability of exercise to improve vascular markers such as PWV and CIMT in obese children and adolescents. This finding is important as obesity is a modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and exercise may help in reducing the future occurrence of CVD in this population.
Sex hormones in Malay and Chinese men in Malaysia: are there age and race differences?

Chin KY, Soelaiman IN, Mohamed IN, Ahmad F, Ramli ES, Aminuddin A, et al.

Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2013;68(2):159-66.
PMID: 23525310

OBJECTIVES: Variations in the prevalence of sex-hormone-related diseases have been observed between Asian ethnic groups living in the same country; however, available data concerning their sex hormone levels are limited. The present study aimed to determine the influence of ethnicity and age on the sex hormone levels of Malay and Chinese men in Malaysia.
METHODS: A total of 547 males of Malay and Chinese ethnicity residing in the Klang Valley Malaysia underwent a detailed screening, and their blood was collected for sex hormones analyses.
RESULTS: Testosterone levels were normally distributed in the men (total, free and non-sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) bound fractions), and significant ethnic differences were observed (p<0.05); however, the effect size was small. In general, testosterone levels in males began to decline significantly after age 50. Significant ethnic differences in total, free and non-SHBG bound fraction estradiol levels were observed in the 20-29 and 50-59 age groups (p<0.05). The estradiol levels of Malay men decreased as they aged, but they increased for Chinese men starting at age 40.
CONCLUSIONS: Small but significant differences in testosterone levels existed between Malay and Chinese males. Significant age and race differences existed in estradiol levels. These differences might contribute to the ethnic group differences in diseases related to sex hormones, which other studies have found in Malaysia.
Retinal Vasculature Fractal Dimension Measures Vessel Density

Ab Hamid F, Che Azemin MZ, Salam A, Aminuddin A, Mohd Daud N, Zahari I

Curr Eye Res, 2016 Jun;41(6):823-31.
PMID: 26268475 DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2015.1056375

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to provide the empirical evidence of fractal dimension as an indirect measure of retinal vasculature density.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred retinal samples of right eye [57.0% females (n = 114) and 43.0% males (n = 86)] were selected from baseline visit. A custom-written software was used for vessel segmentation. Vessel segmentation is the process of transforming two-dimensional color images into binary images (i.e. black and white pixels). The circular area of approximately 2.6 optic disc radii surrounding the center of optic disc was cropped. The non-vessels fragments were removed. FracLac was used to measure the fractal dimension and vessel density of retinal vessels.
RESULTS: This study suggested that 14.1% of the region of interest (i.e. approximately 2.6 optic disk radii) comprised retinal vessel structure. Using correlation analysis, vessel density measurement and fractal dimension estimation are linearly and strongly correlated (R = 0.942, R(2) = 0.89, p
Fulltext Roselle attenuates cardiac hypertrophy after myocardial infarction in vivo and in vitro

Si LY, Ramalingam A, Ali SS, Aminuddin A, Ng PY, Latip J, et al.

EXCLI J, 2019;18:876-892.
PMID: 31645847 DOI: 10.17179/excli2019-1792

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn) has been traditionally used as folk medicine for hypertension and maintaining cardiovascular health, with therapeutic potential in protecting against numerous cardiovascular diseases. However, it remains unclear whether roselle can be used for management of cardiac hypertrophy seen after myocardial infarction (MI). This study therefore investigated the effects of aqueous roselle extract on cardiac hypertrophy arising from myocardial infarction both in vivo and in vitro. For in vivo study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control or MI groups (receiving 85 mg/kg isoproterenol s.c. for 2 days) and were given roselle extract (100 mg/kg, p.o daily) for 28 days. Cardiac structure and functional changes were evaluated at study end-point using histology, Langendorff analysis and gene expression analysis. In vitro effects of roselle were also assessed on ANG II-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy using H9c2 cells, simulating cardiac hypertrophy evident after MI. Roselle significantly ameliorated MI-induced cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction, as seen across improvement in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and its derivative (LVdP/dtmax) and isovolumic relaxation (Tau). Oxidative stress evident across elevated pro-oxidant markers (NOX2 subunit of NADPH oxidase and 8-isoprostane) as well as reduced antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase and glutathione) were also significantly attenuated by roselle. Furthermore, roselle treatment markedly reduced markers of cardiac remodeling (cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis) compared to the untreated MI rats. On in vitro analysis, roselle significantly attenuated ANG II-induced cardiomyoycte hypertrophy in dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrated that roselle attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction seen after MI both in vivo and in vitro, and these effects are likely mediated by phenolic compounds found in roselle extract.
Fulltext Effects of Swedish massage therapy on blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammatory markers in hypertensive women

Supa'at I, Zakaria Z, Maskon O, Aminuddin A, Nordin NA

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013;2013:171852.
PMID: 24023571 DOI: 10.1155/2013/171852

Swedish Massage Therapy (SMT) is known for its therapeutic relaxation effects. Hypertension is associated with stress and elevated endothelial inflammatory markers. This randomized control trial measured the effects of whole body SMT (massage group) or resting (control group) an hour weekly for four weeks on hypertensive women. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after each intervention and endothelial inflammatory markers: vascular endothelial adhesion molecules 1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecules 1 (ICAM-1) were measured at baseline and after the last intervention. Massage group (n=8) showed significant systolic BP (SBP) reduction of 12 mmHg (P=0.01) and diastolic BP (DBP) reduction of 5 mmHg (P=0.01) after four sessions with no significant difference between groups. Reductions in HR were also seen in massage group after sessions 1, 3, and 4 with significant difference between groups. VCAM-1 showed significant reduction after four sessions: the massage group showed reduction of 998.05 ng/mL (P=0.03) and the control group of 375.70 ng/mL (P=0.01) with no significant differences between groups. There were no changes in ICAM-1. In conclusion, SMT or resting an hour weekly has effects on reducing BP, HR, and VCAM-1 in hypertensive women.
Total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin are significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly men

Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S, Mohamed IN, Aminuddin A, Ngah WZ

Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes, 2013 Jul;121(7):407-12.
PMID: 23765753 DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1345164

Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been shown to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) in men. This study aimed at validating these relationships in a group of middle-aged and elderly men and assessing their strength of association to MS. A cross-sectional study of 332 Malaysian men aged 40 years and above was conducted. The blood of subject was collected under fasting condition for determination of testosterone, SHBG, glucose and lipid levels. Their medical history, smoking and alcohol consumption status, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded. All testosterone and SHBG levels were significantly reduced in MS subjects compared to non-MS subjects (p<0.05). Testosterone and SHBG were correlated significantly with most of the MS indicators without adjustments. In multiple regression analysis, the triglyceride level was the only MS indicator that was significantly, inversely and independently associated with all testosterone measurements and SHBG (p<0.05). Waist circumference was significantly and negatively associated with SHBG level (p<0.05) though not independent of BMI. Total testosterone and SHBG were significantly and inversely associated with the presence of MS. Testosterone and SHBG are potential intervention targets for the prevention of MS in men.
Age-related rarefaction in retinal vasculature is not linear

Che Azemin MZ, Ab Hamid F, Aminuddin A, Wang JJ, Kawasaki R, Kumar DK

Exp Eye Res, 2013 Nov;116:355-358.
PMID: 24512773 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2013.10.010

The fractal dimension is a global measure of complexity and is useful for quantifying anatomical structures, including the retinal vascular network. A previous study found a linear declining trend with aging on the retinal vascular fractal dimension (DF); however, it was limited to the older population (49 years and older). This study aimed to investigate the possible models of the fractal dimension changes from young to old subjects (10-73 years). A total of 215 right-eye retinal samples, including those of 119 (55%) women and 96 (45%) men, were selected. The retinal vessels were segmented using computer-assisted software, and non-vessel fragments were deleted. The fractal dimension was measured based on the log-log plot of the number of grids versus the size. The retinal vascular DF was analyzed to determine changes with increasing age. Finally, the data were fitted to three polynomial models. All three models are statistically significant (Linear: R2 = 0.1270, 213 d.f., p
cagA gene variants in Malaysian Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients of different ethnic groups

Ramelah M, Aminuddin A, Alfizah H, Isa MR, Jasmi AY, Tan HJ, et al.

FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol., 2005 May 1;44(2):239-42.
PMID: 15866222

Helicobacter pylori infection of a distinct subtype of cagA may lead to different pathological manifestation. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of cagA gene and its variants in H. pylori infection among different ethnic groups and its effect on gastroduodenal diseases. Overall detection of cagA among the 205 clinical isolates of H. pylori was 94%. Variations in size of the 3' region of cagA gene were examined among 192 Malaysian H. pylori cagA-positive strains. Results showed that three cagA variants differing in fragment length of PCR products were detected and designated as type A (621-651bp), type B (732-735bp) and type C (525 bp). Although there was no association between any of the cagA subtypes with peptic ulcer disease (p>0.05), an association between cagA subtypes with a specific ethnic group was observed. Specific-cagA subtype A strains were predominantly isolated from Chinese compared to Malays and Indians (p<0.0005), and cagA subtype B strains were predominantly isolated from Malays and Indians compared to Chinese (p<0.05). The cagA type A strains of H. pylori is commonly found in the Chinese patients who have a higher risk of peptic ulcer disease, thus indicating that it could be used as an important clinical biomarker for a more severe infection.
Fulltext Role of Honey in Obesity Management: A Systematic Review

Ugusman A, Shahrin SAS, Azizan NH, Pillai SB, Krishnan K, Salamt N, et al.

Front Nutr, 2022;9:924097.
PMID: 35811958 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.924097

Obesity is a metabolic disorder that has become critically prevalent throughout the world. Obesity has been linked to other chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Natural products such as honey have been investigated for their potential effect on obesity. Hence, this study systematically reviewed the recent literature concerning the effects of honey on obesity in obese animal models and in people with obesity. The Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched for relevant articles. A total of 130 relevant articles were obtained from the initial search. Following a thorough screening, nine articles were selected for data extraction, including six animal studies and three clinical trials. In most of the animal studies, honey demonstrated an anti-obesity effect by reducing body weight, body fat composition and adipocyte size, among others. However, supplementation of honey in clinical trials showed conflicting results. Even though honey supplementation did not demonstrate any weight-reducing effect in some of the clinical trials, none of the trials showed that honey increases body weight. However, the results should be interpreted with caution as most of the studies involved animal models and there is a limited number of high quality, randomized, controlled clinical trials.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-6-0038/ PROSPERO, identifier 10.37766/inplasy2022.6.0038.
Fulltext Piper sarmentosum Roxb. Attenuates Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Nicotine-Induced Rats

Md Salleh MFRR, Aminuddin A, Hamid AA, Salamt N, Japar Sidik FZ, Ugusman A

Front Pharmacol, 2021;12:667102.
PMID: 34194328 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.667102

Exposure to cigarette smoke is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Nicotine is an addictive compound in cigarette smoke that triggers oxidative stress, which leads to vascular dysfunction. Piper sarmentosum Roxb. is a herb with antioxidant and vascular protective effects. This study evaluated the potential protective effect of the aqueous extract of P. sarmentosum leaf (AEPS) on vascular dysfunction in rats induced with prolonged nicotine administration. A total of 22 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (normal saline, oral gavage [p.o.]), nicotine (0.8 mg/kg/day nicotine, intraperitoneally [i.p.]), and nicotine + AEPS groups (250 mg/kg/day AEPS, p.o. + 0.8 mg/kg/day nicotine, i.p.). Treatment was given for 21 days. Thoracic aortae were harvested from the rats for the measurement of vasorelaxation, vascular nitric oxide (NO) level, and antioxidant level and the assessment of vascular remodeling. Rats treated with AEPS had improved vasorelaxation to endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (ACh), compared with the nicotine-induced rats (p < 0.05). The presence of endothelium increased the maximum relaxation of aortic rings in response to ACh. Compared with the nicotine group, AEPS enhanced vascular NO level (p < 0.001) and increased antioxidant levels as measured by superoxide dismutase activity (p < 0.05), catalase activity (p < 0.01), and reduced glutathione level (p < 0.05). No remarkable changes in aortic histomorphometry were detected. In conclusion, P. sarmentosum attenuates vascular endothelial dysfunction in nicotine-induced rats by improving vasorelaxation and enhancing vascular NO and antioxidant levels.
Fulltext Promising Druggable Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Wnt Signaling

Aminuddin A, Ng PY

Front Pharmacol, 2016;7:244.
PMID: 27570510 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00244

Canonical Wnt signaling pathway, also known as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is a crucial mechanism for cellular maintenance and development. It regulates cell cycle progression, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Dysregulation of this pathway correlates with oncogenesis in various tissues including breast, colon, pancreatic as well as head and neck cancers. Furthermore, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway has also been described as one of the critical signaling pathways for regulation of normal stem cells as well as cancer cells with stem cell-like features, termed cancer stem cells (CSC). In this review, we will briefly describe the basic mechanisms of Wnt signaling pathway and its crucial roles in the normal regulation of cellular processes as well as in the development of cancer. Next, we will highlight the roles of canonical Wnt signaling pathway in the regulation of CSC properties namely self-renewal, differentiation, metastasis, and drug resistance abilities, particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, we will examine the findings of several recent studies which explore druggable targets in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway which could be valuable to improve the treatment outcome for head and neck cancer.
Fulltext Piper sarmentosum Promotes Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production by Reducing Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Sundar UM, Ugusman A, Chua HK, Latip J, Aminuddin A

Front Pharmacol, 2019;10:1033.
PMID: 31607906 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01033

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). ADMA is degraded by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). Elevated levels of ADMA lead to reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production, which is linked to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Piper sarmentosum is an herb that has shown stimulation on endothelial NO production by increasing both expression and activity of eNOS. Thus, this study determined whether the positive effect of P. sarmentosum on NO production is related to its modulation on the DDAH-ADMA pathway in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). HUVEC were divided into four groups: control, treatment with 250 µg/ml of aqueous extract of P. sarmentosum leaves (AEPS), treatment with 30 ng/ml of TNF-α, and concomitant treatment with AEPS and TNF-α for 24 h. After treatments, HUVEC were collected to measure DDAH1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. DDAH1 protein level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and DDAH enzyme activity was measured using colorimetric assay. ADMA concentration was measured using ELISA, and NO level was measured using Griess assay. Compared to control, TNF-α-treated HUVEC showed reduction in DDAH1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05), DDAH1 protein level (P < 0.01), and DDAH activity (P < 0.05). Treatment with AEPS successfully increased DDAH1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05), DDAH1 protein level (P < 0.01), and DDAH activity (P < 0.05) in TNF-α-treated HUVEC. Treatment with TNF-α caused an increase in ADMA level (P < 0.01) and a decrease in endothelial NO production (P < 0.001). Whereas treatment with AEPS was able to reduce ADMA level (P < 0.01) and restore NO (P < 0.001) in TNF-α-treated HUVEC. The results suggested that AEPS promotes endothelial NO production by stimulating DDAH activity and thus reducing ADMA level in TNF-α-treated HUVEC.
Fulltext Effects of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. on hypertension and diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Othman NS, Che Roos NA, Aminuddin A, Murthy JK, A Hamid A, Ugusman A

Front Pharmacol, 2022;13:976247.
PMID: 36091787 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.976247

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are among the most prevalent diseases affecting people from all walks of life. Medicinal herbs have garnered interest as potential agents for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to their multiple beneficial effects. Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (PS) is an edible medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in Asia for treating hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This review is aimed to provide comprehensive information from the literature on the effects of PS on hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A computerized database search was performed on Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases with the following set of keywords: Piper sarmentosum AND diabetes mellitus OR diabetic OR diabetes OR hyperglyc*emia OR blood glucose OR HbA1c OR glycated h*emoglobin OR h*emoglobin A1c OR hyperten* OR blood pressure. A total of 47 articles were screened and 14 articles published between the years 1998 until 2021 were included for data extraction, comprising of six articles on antihypertensive and eight articles on antidiabetic effects of PS. These studies consist of two in vitro studies and eleven in vivo animal studies. Meta-analysis of three studies on hypertension showed that PS versus no treatment significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure with mean difference (MD) -39.84 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI) -45.05, -34.62; p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure with MD -26.68 mmHg (95% CI -31.48, -21.88; p < 0.01), and mean arterial pressure with MD -30.56 mmHg (95% CI -34.49, -26.63; p < 0.01). Most of the studies revealed positive effects of PS against hypertension and diabetes mellitus, suggesting the potential of PS as a natural source of antidiabetic and antihypertensive agents.
Fulltext Preventative and therapeutic potential of tocotrienols on musculoskeletal diseases in ageing

Saud Gany SL, Chin KY, Tan JK, Aminuddin A, Makpol S

Front Pharmacol, 2023;14:1290721.
PMID: 38146461 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1290721

Musculoskeletal health is paramount in an ageing population susceptible to conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis and fractures. Age-related changes in bone, muscle, and joint function result in declining musculoskeletal health, reduced mobility, increased risk of falls, and persistent discomfort. Preserving musculoskeletal wellbeing is essential for maintaining independence and enhancing the overall quality of life for the elderly. The global burden of musculoskeletal disorders is significant, impacting 1.71 billion individuals worldwide, with age-related muscle atrophy being a well-established phenomenon. Tocotrienols, a unique type of vitamin E found in various sources, demonstrate exceptional antioxidant capabilities compared to tocopherols. This characteristic positions them as promising candidates for addressing musculoskeletal challenges, particularly in mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress underlying musculoskeletal disorders. This review paper comprehensively examines existing research into the preventive and therapeutic potential of tocotrienols in addressing age-related musculoskeletal issues. It sheds light on the promising role of tocotrienols in enhancing musculoskeletal health and overall wellbeing, emphasizing their significance within the broader context of age-related health concerns.
COVID-19 and Hypertension: The What, the Why, and the How

Muhamad SA, Ugusman A, Kumar J, Skiba D, Hamid AA, Aminuddin A

Front Physiol, 2021;12:665064.
PMID: 34012410 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.665064

It has been a year since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared pandemic and wreak havoc worldwide. Despite meticulous research has been done in this period, there are still much to be learn from this novel coronavirus. Globally, observational studies have seen that majority of the patients with COVID-19 have preexisting hypertension. This raises the question about the possible relationship between COVID-19 and hypertension. This review summarizes the current understanding of the link between hypertension and COVID-19 and its underlying mechanisms.
The effects of pedometer-based exercise on central and peripheral vascular functions among young sedentary men with CVD risk factors

Omar N, Yeoh BS, Chellappan K, Chui SZ, Salamt N, Aminuddin A

Front Physiol, 2023;14:1062751.
PMID: 37057183 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1062751

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the main cause of morbidity and mortality in Malaysia and worldwide. This is mainly due to an increase in the prevalence of CVD risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity. Increased physical activity has been recommended as a modality to improve CVD risk. Pulse wave velocity (PWVCF), augmentation index (AI), and finger photoplethysmography fitness (PPGF) index have been introduced to assess the vascular functions related to CVD risk factors. The effects of long-term exercise on PPGF index are not established. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 young men who were sedentary with two or more cardiovascular risk factors were recruited. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) (n = 34; no change in walking) and pedometer group (PG) (n = 36; minimum target: 8,000 steps/day). PWVCF and AI were measured via the Vicorder system. The PPGF index was obtained via the finger photoplethysmography method. All parameters were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks. Results: After intervention, the PG had significant increased step count from 4,996 ± 805 to 10,128 ± 511 steps/day (p < 0.001). The PG showed significant improvement in anthropometric variables, lipid, PWVCF, AI, and PPGF index (time and group effect p < 0.001). No changes were observed in CG. Conclusion: This signifies that pedometer-based walking program is beneficial in improving markers of vascular functions among young working sedentary men with CVD risk factors. Pedometer-based exercise should be encouraged to improve cardiovascular health.
Fulltext Impact of offspring endothelial function from de novo hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: An evidence-based review

Abdull Sukor AN, Ankasha SJ, Ugusman A, Aminuddin A, Mokhtar NM, Zainal Abidin S, et al.

Front Surg, 2022;9:967785.
PMID: 36420416 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.967785

De novo hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) which consist of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia affect maternal and offspring morbidity and mortality, and potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in the offspring. It is well known that de novo HDP causes various maternal complications, including cardiovascular diseases, placental abruption and liver and kidney failure. However, there are studies suggesting that offspring of pregnancies complicated by de novo HDP have an increased risk of long-term cardiovascular disease. The endothelium is an important regulator of vascular function, and its dysfunction is highly associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Hence, this review aimed to systematically identify articles related to the effect of de novo HDP on the endothelial function of the offspring. A computerized database search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Medline from 1976 until 2022. A total of 685 articles were obtained. We identified another three additional articles through review articles and Google Scholar. Altogether, we used 13 articles for data extraction. All studies reported that endothelial function was impaired in the offspring of de novo HDP. This is most likely attributed to impaired vasodilation, subclinical atherosclerosis formation, inflammation, and dysregulated epigenetic regulation of endothelial functions.
Fulltext How has rural tourism influenced the sustainable development of traditional villages? A systematic literature review

Yanan L, Ismail MA, Aminuddin A

Heliyon, 2024 Feb 29;10(4):e25627.
PMID: 38384513 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25627

Rural tourism has been widely recognized as a means of promoting the revival of traditional villages and has been supported by numerous researchers. It has the potential to provide significant social and economic advantages, making it a popular strategy for rural development in both developed and developing countries. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has substantiated the significant disruptions that rural tourism has imposed on traditional villages. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) qualitative method to systematically analyze 92 papers from WOS and SCOPUS that investigate the impact of rural tourism on traditional villages. The papers were categorized into five groups: spatial, economic, sociocultural, and holistic. This categorization allowed for the identification of the purpose, theme, sub-topics, research methods, and data sources used in these papers, which in turn provided an overview of the characteristics and overall trends in research in this field. It compensates for the deficiencies of lesser reviews that just emphasize rural tourism as the primary catalyst for the sustainable development of traditional villages. Based on a thorough investigation, this paper asserts that the development of tourism in traditional villages should be differentiated from typical rural tourism sites that prioritize the preferences of tourists. The primary objective should be to prioritize the preservation of community values, with a strong emphasis on community participation. This should be done while considering the interests of various stakeholders and promoting a diverse range of livelihoods that are rooted in traditional practices. By doing so, the essence of authenticity in traditional villages can be reinforced, leading to a greater sense of connection and loyalty among tourists. The preservation of traditional village genes fosters a symbiotic relationship with rural tourism, resulting in a mutually beneficial cycle.
Fulltext Is Heart Rate a Confounding Factor for Photoplethysmography Markers? A Systematic Review

Md Lazin Md Lazim MR, Aminuddin A, Chellappan K, Ugusman A, Hamid AA, Wan Ahmad WAN, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 04 10;17(7).
PMID: 32290168 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072591

Finger photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform is blood volume change of finger microcirculation that reflects vascular function. Reflection index (RI), stiffness index (SI) and second derivative of photoplethysmogram (SDPPG) are derived from PPG waveforms proposed as cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers. Heart rate (HR) is a known factor that affects vascular function. Individual resting HR variation may affect RI, SI and SDPPG. This review aims to identify studies about the relationship between HR with RI, SI and SDPPG among humans. A literature search was conducted in Medline via the Ebscohost and Scopus databases to find relevant articles published within 11 years. The main inclusion criteria were articles in the English language that discuss the relationship between HR with RI, SI and SDPPG using PPG among humans. The search found 1960 relevant articles but only six articles that met the inclusion criteria. SI and RI showed an association with HR. SDPPG (SDPPG-b/SDPPG-a ratio, SDPPG-d/SDPPG-a ratio, aging index (AGI) and revised aging index (RAGI)) also had an association with HR. Only RI had a considerable association with HR, the association between SI and HR was non-considerable and the association between HR and SDPPG was inconclusive. Further interventional studies should be conducted to investigate this issue, as a variation in resting HR may challenge the validity of PPG-based CVD markers.

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