ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in Malaysia. Identification of asymptomatic at-risk individuals is often achieved by means of a risk prediction algorithm. Traditional CVD risk factors and their associated algorithms are, however, limited by residual CVD risk. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has emerged as a novel CVD risk factor. This study aimed to evaluate hsCRP as an adjunct CVD risk marker among the adult Malaysian population by determining its correlation with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). Comparison analyses were done according to sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory factors and between subjects with and without Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). 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 toFRSand the Joint Interim Statementinto 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.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective To investigate the clinical effect of resuscitating acupuncture and scalp acupuncture on neurological function and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in serum in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods 90 patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into three groups: drug, routine acupuncture and resuscitating acupuncture and scalp acupuncture groups in random. They were evaluated with NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) , Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) 0, 7, 14 d after treatment, and measured with the levels of hs-CRP. Results There were significant improvements for NIHSS and MRS scores in the resuscitating acupuncture and scalp acupuncture group compared with those of the others, as well as the levels of hs-CRP. Conclusion Resuscitating acupuncture and scalp acupuncture can reduce the level of hs-CRP and improve the neurological functions in patients with acute cerebral infarction.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of Dengzhan Xixin injection on prevention and intervention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system disease of older people caused by metabolic disorder. Method A Group with metabolic syndrome were treated with a mixture of 30～40 mL of Dengzhan Xixin injection in 250 mL of physiological saline by intravenous injections (n=52). A treatment session was one injection once a day for 10～14 days. Each session was repeated every six months for a duration of three years. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease symptoms, and changes of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured compared with the control group (n=50). Results Compared to the control group, the intervention group had improved symptoms, lower occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and ruduced hsCRP test result. The difference was significant (P