To determine the association between carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVCF) and augmentation index (AI) with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and to assess whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an important mediator towards these vascular changes, among young men.
This study was conducted to determine whether there was any genetic heterogeneity among Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from the antrum and corpus of the same individual in a Malaysian population and to determine the presence of heterogeneous susceptibility of the isolates by comparing PCR-RAPD and antibiotic profiles. Forty-four H. pylori isolates cultured from the antrum and corpus of 22 patients were analyzed. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration determination, using E-Test method strips. PCR-RAPD was carried out on all the strains and the profiles generated were analysed for cluster analysis. Twenty-nine different PCR-RAPD profiles were observed in the 44 isolates. Fifteen pairs of the isolates from the same patients had the same PCR-RAPD patterns while in 7 pairs, the profiles were different. The strains were clustered into 2 separate clusters at a low coefficient of similarity, where most of the strains were in cluster 1. The degree of similarity was very low among most of the isolates. Most of the patients (16 of 22) were infected with strains that have the same antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Out of these, only 10 pairs shared the same PCR-RAPD and antibiotic profiles. Five pairs of isolates with similar PCR-RAPD profiles differed in their antibiotic profiles due to metronidazole resistance in one of the sites. A large degree of genetic heterogeneity was observed among H. pylori strains circulating among Malaysian patients. An individual patient can be infected with multiple strains and the strains can be antibiotic resistant.
Pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AI) and finger photoplethysmography fitness index (PPGF) are non-invasive markers of vascular function and may predict future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In women, the changes from both oestrogen and progesterone levels during menstrual cycle may give significant impact on vascular function. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the variation of vascular function during follicular and luteal phase in healthy young women. Twenty-two healthy young women with regular menstrual cycle were recruited. Blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), PWV, AI, PPGF, estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Prog) level were measured during follicular (F) and mid-luteal (L) phase. Data was analyzed via SPSS version 20 and P value < 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean age of the subjects was 22.73 ± 0.60 years. There was significant variations of estradiol and progesterone levels during menstrual cycle whereby the level of estradiol (EsF = 107.6 ± 52.56 pmol/L vs. EsL = 555.16 ± 152.79 pmol/L, P
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.
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.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with endothelial dysfunction that leads to cardiovascular complications. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors demonstrated efficacy in glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients with positive cardiovascular outcome. Recent research revealed a link between SGLT2 inhibition and improved macro- and microvascular endothelial functions. Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon could be due to the role of SLGT2 in the regulation of endothelial physiology. In this review, current knowledge and hypothesis on the link between SGLT2 and endothelial function were critically appraised and the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction in pre-clinical and clinical studies was discussed.
Helicobacter pylori has been implicated as an aetiologic agent for type B chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. It is considered the most common bacterial infection in the world with approximately 50% of the population being infected. The majority of infected individuals are asymptomatic, with some developing gastritis only. However, chronic infection with H. pylori without antibiotic treatment predisposes infected individuals to the development of gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to determine active H. pylori infection among patients with symptoms of dyspepsia using three combinations of diagnostic methods. In this report, we studied 1,376 consecutive patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC) for dyspepsia from the period January 1999 to December 2002. The classification of patient’s diagnosis was assessed by endoscopic and histological examination. The H. pylori status was determined by rapid urease test, histological examination or H. pylori culture. Presence of H. pylori infection was confirmed in 30.8% of patients with dyspepsia. H. pylori infection was more prevalent in older patients and in males compared to females. Patients with severe gastroduodenal diseases were more commonly infected with H. pylori. There was a significant difference in H. pylori prevalence among the different ethnic groups. Indians had the highest infection rate (45.4%), followed by Chinese (36.8%) and the lowest were seen in Malays (18.3%). This finding on determination of active H. pylori infection among patients with dyspepsia is consistent with serological studies that showed racial differences in H. pylori prevalence. However, the pattern of H. pylori infection does not reflect the prevalence of severe gastroduodenal diseases among different ethnic groups.
Two new vascular health markers which are derived from finger
photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform have been introduced based on Malaysian
population, namely PPG fitness index (PPGF) and vascular risk prediction index
(VRPI). The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between
PPGF and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers such as carotid femoral pulse
wave velocity (PWVCF), to compare PPGF between those with and without CVD risk
factors and to determine the sensitivity of VRPI in identifying young subjects with
CVD risk factors. A total of 114 men age 20 to 40 yrs with and without CVD risk
factors were recruited. Risk factors included hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia,
abdominal obesity and family history of premature CVD. Subjects were divided
into healthy, those with one risk factor and those with at least two risk factors. Their
weight, height, peripheral and central blood pressure (BP), PWVCF and PPGF were
measured and the sensitivity of VRPI in predicting subjects with CVD risk factor was
calculated. Data was analyzed via SPSS version 15 and p < 0.05 was considered
significant. The mean age of the subjects was 28.94 ± 4.86 yrs. No differences in
PPGF was observed between groups (p > 0.05). The independent variables for
PPGF were forward pressure (Beta = 0.35, p < 0.01), PWVCF (Beta = -0.26, p < 0.01),
systolic BP (Beta = -0.26, p = 0.04) and height (Beta = 0.24, p < 0.01). The sensitivity
of VRPI was 82.02%. In conclusion, PPGF was correlated to PWVCF and may be a
potential marker of arterial stiffness. In addition, VRPI is sensitive to be used as an
early screening of CVD risk factors.
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.