The assessment of finger photoplethysmography fitness index (PPGF) among young men with cardiovascular disease risk factors: a cross sectional study

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). 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

Association between pulse wave velocity with other vascular markers and inflammation among young adults: an evidence-based review

Studies evaluating the association between pulse wave velocity (PWV), a gold standard measurement of aortic stiffness and established markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with other established vascular markers or inflammation among young adult is still scarce. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify relevant studies on the association between PWV with other vascular markers or inflammation. Relevant articles from Ovid Medline, Science Direct and Scopus databases were explored between 2009 and March 2018. Original articles published in English measuring any correlation between carotid-femoral PWV (PWVcf) with either augmentation index (AIx), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) or C-reactive protein (CRP) on young adult with age range between 18 and 45 years old were included. The literature search identified 21 potential articles to be reviewed, which meet all the inclusion criteria. Four articles investigated the correlation between PWVcf with CRP, however only two studies gave significant but weak correlations. As for CIMT, a single relevant article was found and the correlation was not significant. In conclusion, lack of association between PWV and other vascular markers and inflammation may suggest that these vascular markers have their own property in assessing vascular status. Thus, these markers should be measured independently for comprehensive assessment of future CVD risk

Effects of Swedish Massage Therapy on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Inflammatory Markers in Hypertensive Women

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

Sex hormones in Malay and Chinese men in Malaysia: are there age and race differences?

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 (

Preventative and therapeutic potential of tocotrienols on musculoskeletal diseases in ageing

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

The changes of aortic stiffness during normal menstrual cycle

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<0.05) and progesterone (ProgF = 0.62 ± 0.26 nmol/L vs. ProgL = 46.74 ± 14.59 nmol/L, P<0.05) were higher in mid-luteal compared to follicular phase. PWV value was higher during follicular phase when compared to mid-luteal phase (PWVF = 6.67 ± 0.66 m/s vs. PWVL = 6.31 ± 0.52 m/s, P=0.01). The levels of BP, BMI, PPGF (PPGFF = 55.43 ± 7.50% vs. PPGFL = 56.59 ± 7.23 %, P=0.41) and AI (AIF = 12.87 ± 5.13% vs. AIL = 10.80 ± 4.52%, P=0.11) were unchanged between the two phases. In conclusion, PWV differs between follicular and mid-luteal phases of menstrual cycle in healthy young women. Thus, history of menstrual cycle must be taken into account when assessing PWV among women

Evaluation of finger photoplethysmography fitness index on young women with cardiovascular disease risk factors

The use of photoplethysmography (PPG) as one of cardiovascular disease (CVD) marker has got more attention due to its simplicity, noninvasive and portable characteristics. Two new markers had been developed from PPG namely PPG fitness index (PPGF) and vascular risk prediction index (VPRI). The aim of the present study was to compare PPGF level between young women with and without CVD risk factors, to investigate the relationship between PPGF with other CVD markers and to assess the sensitivity of VRPI in classifying young women that have CVD risk factors. A total of 148 young women aged 20-40 years old with and without CVD risk factors were involved in this study. CVD risk factors comprised of abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking and family history of premature CVD. Subjects were categorized into healthy or having CVD risk factor. Measurements taken were anthropometric data, blood pressure, lipid profile, pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), PPGF and VRPI. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis with p0.05). PPGF was independently determined by PWV (β=-0.31, p<0.001) and height (β=0.16, p=0.04). VRPI had 77.9% sensitivity in identifying subjects with CVD risk factor. In conclusion, PPGF correlates with PWV and has potential to be an indicator of aortic stiffness while VRPI is sensitive to classify those with CVD risk factor

The effects of exercise on vascular markers and C-reactive protein among obese children and adolescents: An evidence-based review

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

Vascular markers among young women with CVD risk factors

Data pertaining to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVcf), augmentation index (AI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are less studied among young Asian women. The objectives of this study were to determine the associations between these vascular markers with other cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors and future CVD risks; and secondly, to determine the associations between the markers themselves among young women. One hundred and forty-eight young women who were healthy, or having any CVD risk factor, were recruited. They were divided into a healthy group (HG, n=71) and a risk group (RG, n=77). The parameters measured included body anthropometry, blood pressure (BP), CIMT, PWVcf, AI, CRP, blood sugar, and lipid profiles. The future CVD risk was expressed in short and long term Framingham Risk Scores (FRS). The data was analysed via SPSS and p-value <0.05 was accepted as significant. The RG had significantly higher PWVcf, AI, and hs-CRP when compared to HG. All of the markers were associated with CVD risk factors and the long-term FRS. The independent variable for CIMT was age (R2=0.11), while PWVcf was determined by diastolic BP and age (R2=0.29). AI was independently determined by age, heart rate, and LDL (R2=0.28), while for CRP, it was weight and HDL (R2=0.30). In conclusion, among the young women with CVD risk factor, CIMT, PWVcf, AI, and hs-CRP can be used to assess their risk of future CVD. No associations were observed between the markers themselves, which suggests that every marker reflects a different entity. They should be measured independently for a complete vascular assessment

Piper sarmentosum as an Antioxidant: A Systematic Review

Piper sarmentosum (PS) is an herb with various medicinal properties. The antioxidant activity of PS contributes to many of its pharmacological effects such as anti-hypertension, anti-cancer and anti-diabetes. This systematic review provides information regarding the antioxidant activity of PS. The review was conducted systematically to identify relevant published articles on the antioxidant activity of PS. The collected data was based on the searched articles through PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases between the years 1946 until March 2018. Only articles written in English and related to antioxidant activity of PS were included in this review. Based on the literature searched, 130 potential articles were identified and 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies related to chemical assays, five studies combined in vivo animal and chemical assays, three studies combined chemical assays and in vitro studies and a single study combined chemical assay, in vitro and in vivo studies were included in this review. All studies showed positive effects of PS against oxidation, indicating the potential of PS as a source of natural antioxidant