BackgroundPre-hypertension is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension, with epigenetic dysregulation involvement. Nevertheless, the role of DNA methylation in prehypertensive state is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between DNA methylation level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter in pre-hypertensive (PreHT) and normotensive (NT) young adults.MethodsA total of 80 NT and 80 PreHT healthy subjects aged between 18–45 years were recruited in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia using an observational cross-sectional study approach. DNA methylation level of IL-6 promoter in peripheral leukocytes were measured using bisulphite conversion and MethyLight assay.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age between NT and PreHT (P = 0.655). The mean blood pressure was 110(8)/73(5) mmHg in NT and 125(7)/82(5) mmHg in PreHT subjects. The IL-6 promoter methylation level was significantly lower in PreHT compared to NT subjects (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe current study demonstrates that hypomethylation of IL-6 promoter was associated with pre-hypertension in young adults. Thus, IL-6 methylation could be used as an early indicator for predicting hypertension and related risk of cardiovascular diseases in prehypertensive subjects. Gene expression and longitudinal studies are warranted to examine the methylation effect on IL-6 expression over time.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze has traditionally been used to firm the uterus after delivery, however scientific evidences behind this claim is still lacking. Aims of study: To demonstrate Marantodes pumilum leaves aqueous extract (MPE) has an effect on uterine contraction after delivery and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. Methods: Day-1 post-delivery female rats were given MPE (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day) orally for seven consecutive days. A day after the last treatment (day-8), rats were sacrificed and uteri were harvested and subjected for ex-vivo contraction study using organ bath followed by protein expression and distribution study by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. The proteins of interest include calmodulin-CaM, myosin light chain kinase-MLCK, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+-ATPase (SERCA), G-protein α and β (Gα and Gβ), inositol-triphosphate 3-kinase (IP3K), oxytocin receptor-OTR, prostaglandin (PGF)2α receptor-PGFR, muscarinic receptor-MAChR and estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms α and β. Levels of estradiol and progesterone in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Results: Ex-vivo contraction study revealed the force of uterine contraction increased with increasing doses of MPE. In addition, expression of CaM, MLCK, SERCA, Gα, Gβ, IP3K, OTR, PGF2α, MAChR, Erα and ERβ in the uterus increased with increasing doses of MPE. Serum analysis indicate that estradiol levels decreased while progesterone levels remained low at day-8 post-partum in rats receiving 250 and 500 mg/kg/day MPE. Conclusions: These findings support the claims that MPE help to firm the uterus and pave the way for its use as a uterotonic agent after delivery.
Objective: To investigate the association between alpha-Adducin (ADD1) methylation and blood pressure in young adults with essential hypertension. Design and method: A total of 160 subjects (80 normotensive and 80 incident hypertensive) aged between 18 to 45 years from Kuantan, Pahang were included in a cross-sectional study by purposive sampling. They were assessed for ADD1 methylation in peripheral blood using MethyLight assay. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were also examined. Results: ADD1 methylation was inversely correlated with systolic (p = 0.006, r = –0.240), diastolic (p = 0.001, r = –0.281) and mean arterial pressures (p = 0.002, r = –0.270). Hypertensive subjects had significantly higher ADD1 methylation than normotensive control (p = 0.005). After adjusting for other relevant covariates (age, body mass index, HbA1c, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and low density lipoprotein cholesterol), ADD1 methylation remained a significant predictor for hypertension in young adults (p = 0.020) Conclusions: ADD1 methylation is a significant predictor of hypertension in young adults. ADD1 methylation could serve as a future preventive and therapeutic target for hypertension and related cardiovascular disease.
Introduction: Hypertension is the most prevalent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in Malaysia. 17.3% of hypertension cases in Malaysia is attributed to adults aged 18 to 39 years. Psychosocial distress is a possible risk factor for elevated blood pressure in young adults, and cortisol could be the mediating factor. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mediating role of cortisol in hypertension and psychosocial distress in young adults. Materials and Methods: A comparative crosssectional study was conducted in 240 young adults aged 45 years or less. The body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure parameters were recorded. Serum cortisol, creatinine, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were measured following acute mental stress test. Psychosocial distress was assessed using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Results: Mean (standard deviation) values for SBP, DBP and MAP were 126.0 (16.3), 84.1 (12.2) and 98.1 (13.1) mmHg respectively. Anxiety was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (β = 0.644), diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.454) and mean arterial pressure (β = 0.516) after adjusting to sex, age and cortisol. However, it was not mediated by cortisol. Depression and stress were not found to have any effect on blood pressure of the young adults studied. Conclusion: The data suggest that there is no elevated risk for psychosocial distress and hypertension that cortisol poses in young adults.
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