FINDINGS: We studied 127 women; and based on their hair nicotine levels measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 25 of them were categorized as having higher hair nicotine levels, 25 were grouped as having lower hair nicotine and 77 women were grouped into the non-detected group. The non-detected group did not have detectable levels of hair nicotine. Anthropometry, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured accordingly. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed non-invasively using laser Doppler fluximetry and the process of iontophoresis involving acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside as endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators respectively. The mean hair nicotine levels for higher and lower hair nicotine groups were 0.74 (1.04) and 0.05 (0.01) ng/mg respectively. There were no significant differences in anthropometry, BP, lipid profile and hsCRP between these groups. There were also no significant differences in the microvascular perfusion and endothelial function between these groups.
CONCLUSION: In this study, generally healthy non-smoking women who have higher, lower and non-detected hair nicotine levels did not show significant differences in their microvascular endothelial function. Low levels of SHS exposure among generally healthy non-smoking women may not significantly impair their microvascular endothelial function.
AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between -174 G>C IL-6 polymorphism gene on the level of IL-6 and CRP in the population of western Indonesia obese who are obese.
METHODS: In this study, we examined 178 subjects consisting of 89 who are obese with BMI> 25, and controls with BMI between 18.5 and 23. Fasting blood was taken from each subject for the examination of IL-6 and CRP levels by the ELISA method. Determination of genotype -174 G>C IL-6 gene was examined by Polymerase Chain reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods.
RESULTS: The results of this study showed increased levels of IL-6 and CRP in the obese group compared to the controls. In the obese group, CC genotype had higher CRP and lower IL-6 levels than the GC and GG genotypes. The frequency of CC genotype in the obese group was 47.2% compared with 28.1% in controls and this genotype was considered a risk factor for obesity. Carriers of the C genotype as a dominant or a recessive model had greater risk of obesity.
CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the polymorphism - 174G>C IL-6 gene is a risk factor for obesity and is associated with increased levels of IL-6 and CRP in an obese group of the Western Indonesian ethnic population.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed at Hue Central Hospital from 2012-2016 on 176 CKD and 64 control subjects. ADMA levels were measured by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
RESULTS: Mean ADMA level was markedly higher (p<0.001) in all patients combined (0.73±0.24μmol/L) than in control subjects (0.47±0.13μmol/L). Mean ADMA levels in advanced kidney disease were higher than control subjects. ADMA levels correlated inversely and relatively strictly to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = -0.689; p<0.001), haemoglobin (r = -0.525; p<0.001) and haematocrit (r = - 0.491; p<0.001); correlated favourably and relatively strictly to serum creatinine (r = 0.569; p<0.001) and serum urea (r = 0.642; p<0.001). ADMA elevation was predicted simultaneously by eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73m2 (p<0.001), anaemia (p=0.002), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.011) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (p=0.041). Cutoff of ≥0.68μmol/L, ADMA levels predict reduction of eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73m2, sensitivity of 86.9 %, specificity of 82.6%, area under ROC 92.4% (95%CI: 88.6-96.1%).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study conducted at Sarawak General Hospital from 1st June to 30th September 2021. Patients who received intravenous methylprednisolone for severe COVID-19 in the ICU were identified and divided into two groups: higher dose (cumulative dose more than 10 mg per kg) and lower dose (cumulative dose less than 10 mg per kg).
RESULTS: Out of a total of 165 patients, 40 (24.2%) patients received higher dose methylprednisolone. There was no significant difference in socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, body mass index), COVID-19 vaccination status, laboratory parameters (lymphocyte count, CRP, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer), or usage of immunomodulator therapy between the groups. Overall mortality was 23.6%. Mortality in the higher dose group was twice as high compared to lower dose group (37.5% versus 19.2%) (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.24-11.59, p<0.05). In addition, the higher dose cohort developed more secondary infections (87.5%) and had longer stays in ICU (median 11 days, IQR 8- 15). No significant difference was found between both cohorts in terms of CRP reduction, improvement of PF ratio, or the need for mechanical ventilation post methylprednisolone.
CONCLUSION: In this study, the use of higher dose methylprednisolone in COVID-19 with ARDS was not associated with better clinical outcomes. A lower dose of methylprednisolone might be sufficient in treating severe COVID-19 with ARDS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study involving 70 patients with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin A nephropathy with a stable estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary albuminuria. Their demographic profiles were documented, and blood samples were taken for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, urine albuminuria and other routine blood tests.
RESULTS: We found nine patients (12.9%) had sufficient 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of more than 30ng/mL and the rest of the patients; 61 (87.1%) had serum 25(OH)D levels below 30 ng/ml. Amongst those with low vitamin D, 38 (62.3%) had serum 25(OH)D between 15-30 ng/mL (insufficient), and the remaining 23 (37.7%) had serum 25(OH)D below 15 ng/ml (deficient). Their mean level of serum 25(OH)D was 19.92 ± 9.04 ng/mL with a serum creatinine of 106.23 ± 38.56 μmol/L and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 68.11± 27.65 mL/min/1.73 m2. There was no association between urinary albuminuria, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, estimated glomerular filtration rate or systolic blood pressure with serum 25(OH)D level.
CONCLUSION: Low vitamin D (insufficiency and deficiency) are indeed prevalent in stable immunoglobulin A nephropathy patients. We found no correlation between the vitamin D levels with albuminuria, renal function and highly sensitive C-reactive.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six control and five DM Wistar rats were evaluated. DM was induced at 11 weeks of age using streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Animals were monitored up to 38 weeks of age, when plasma glucose, lipid profile, and markers specific for systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress were measured. The amount of fat within the aortic wall was assessed semiquantitatively using Oil Red O staining.
RESULTS: Diabetic rats presented significantly higher plasma glucose (p < 0.001), total cholesterol and triglycerides (both p = 0.02), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.01), and vascular endothelial growth factor (p = 0.04) levels, and significantly lower interleukin-10 (p = 0.04), superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01), and glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.01) levels than the control rats. Mild (grade 1) atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the aortic wall of 80% of the diabetic rats and in none of the control rats.
CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a STZ-induced type 1 DM rat model with one of the longest follow-ups in the literature. In this model, long-term DM created a highly pro-atherogenic environment characterised by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress that resulted in the development of early aortic atherosclerotic lesions.
METHOD: This cross-sectional study involved eighty-three (n=83) adults attending a health screening program at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Demographic data, anthropometric measurements and blood samples for fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting lipid profile (FSL), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and hsCRP were taken. Respondents were grouped according to FRS and the Joint Interim Statement into 10-year CVD risk categories (low, intermediate and high) and MetS, respectively.
RESULTS: hsCRP was significantly increased in patients with high body mass index (BMI) (p=0.001), at-risk waist circumference (WC) (p=0.001) and MetS (p=0.009). Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive correlation between hsCRP level and total FRS score (r=0.26, p<0.05) and HDL-C score (r=0.22, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The significant difference of hsCRP levels across obesity levels and MetS with its modest correlation with FRS scores supported the adjunctive role of hsCRP in CVD risk prediction, most likely capturing the inflammatory pathological aspect and thus partly accounting for the residual CVD risk.
Methods: This study comprised of two phases namely discovery and verification. In the discovery phase, proteins in the pooled plasma samples from young male adults between 18 and 45 years (10 AMI patients and 10 controls) were separated using two-dimensional electrophoresis. The protein spots that were expressed differently in the AMI patients were identified via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The plasma concentrations of these proteins were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during the verification phase (40 AMI patients and 80 controls).
Results: Haptoglobin (Hp), apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) and apolipoprotein AIV (Apo AIV) were up-regulated in the discovery phase. In the verification phase, the plasma concentration of Hp was significantly higher in AMI patients than the controls (P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed an association between Hp and AMI in young adults (odds ratio [OR] = 1.016, 95% CI: 1.002-1.030, P = 0.025) independent of other AMI risk factors. Hp was significantly correlated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r = 0.424, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: In young adults with AMI, plasma Hp concentrations were elevated and it is independently associated with AMI. A positive correlation with hs-CRP suggests Hp could be a potential biomarker of AMI in young adults.
METHODOLOGY: A prospective, descriptive and correlational study was conducted at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) over the span of two years (April 2013-April 2015). Patients aged between 30 years and 75 years with supratentorial intracerebral bleed secondary to uncontrolled hypertension were recruited in this study. Data pertaining to the demography, clinical and radiological parameters, peripheral WBC count and CRP levels were obtained. Mortality and functional outcomes were determined at 6 months post ictus. Patients were recruited following the fulfilment of exclusion and inclusion criteria, and all obtained data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 21.0.
RESULTS: A total of 60 patients with a mean age of 56 years were recruited in this study. We found that approximately 16 patients were less than or equal to 50 years old (26.7%) and that 44 patients belonged to the older age group of above 50 years (73.3%). The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission ranged from 9 to 14/15 with a median value of 11/15. The mean clot volume was 20.1 cm(3). The GCS score on admission and clot volume were significantly associated with the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 6 months and overall survival (P < 0.05). The elevated WBC count and CRP level on admission and at 72 hours post admission were significantly associated with GOS at 6 months and overall survival (P < 0.05). Thus, the GCS score, clot volume, WBC count and CRP levels on admission and at 72 hours post admission can be used to predict functional outcome at 6 months and overall survival in patients with SICH.
CONCLUSION: We could conclude via this study that for patients with SICH, the main determinants or predictors of functional outcome at 6 months and overall survival were noted to be the GCS score on admission, clot size, WBC count and CRP levels on admission and at 72 hours post admission.