MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 333 patients from the Family Medicine Specialist Clinic at Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah were recruited between March 2022 and February 2023. Blood samples were taken after a 12-hour fasting period, and levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured. 150 plasma samples were randomly selected for cytokine analysis of CCL2 and TNF-α using the Human Magnetic Luminex Assay. Patients' cardiovascular risk was assessed using the FRS calculator. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the relationship between cytokine levels and FRS categories, followed by a post hoc test with Bonferroni correction. A logistic regression model was implemented to assess the independent effects of these variables.
RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant association between the level of chemokines CCL2 and proinflammatory TNF-α, and FRS categories (low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk). CCL2 levels were notably higher in the high-risk group, as were TNF-α levels, with both biomarkers showing increasing trends with higher risk categories, (p<0.001, effect size=0.32) and (p<0.001, effect size-0.29), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dyslipidaemia, FBS, and TNF-α remained significant after adjusting for other variables. Specifically, dyslipidaemia had lower odds of being in the high-risk group (AOR: 0.04), while FBS (AOR: 3.19) and TNF-α (AOR: 1.18).
CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential of CCL2 and TNF-α as biomarkers for CVDs risk assessment. Integrating these biomarkers into CVDs risk prediction models may enhance the precision of identifying individuals at elevated risk. However, the study's cross-sectional design and small sample size for cytokine analysis constrain the findings. Future research should explore the long-term predictive value of these cytokines in larger, longitudinal cohorts and explore more advanced techniques for improving CHD risk prediction models.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma samples were collected prevaccination, 2 weeks and 6 months post-vaccination and tested for total immunoglobulin levels using ELISA method.
RESULTS: A small percentage of HCW (2.2%, 15/677) had elevated anti-S antibody levels in their pre-vaccination plasma samples (median 20.4, IQR 5.8), indicating that they were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to vaccination. The mRNA vaccine significantly increased anti-S levels of both previously infected and uninfected individuals to saturation levels (median 21.88, IQR.0.88) at 2 weeks postsecond dose of the vaccine. At 6 months post-vaccination, the antibody levels appeared to be maintained among the recipients of the mRNA vaccine. However, at this time point, anti-S antibody levels were lower in individuals given inactivated vaccine (median 20.39, IQR 7.31, n=28), and interestingly, their antibody levels were similar to anti-S levels in pre-vaccination exposed individuals. Antibody levels were not different between the sexes.
CONCLUSION: Anti-S levels differ in individuals given the different vaccines. While further study is required to determine the threshold level for protection against SARSCoV- 2, individuals with low antibody levels may be considered for boosters.