Background Police officers are known for fieldwork shifts, psychological stress, and prolonged physical activity that are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aim to determine the differences in CVD risks factor and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) profiles as a predictor of cardiac events between police officers and civilians in a developing country as an evaluation and strategic preventive measure for CVD. Methods 978 participants were enrolled as subjects in this cross-sectional study. Data used were obtained during medical check-ups using complete physical and laboratory examinations including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and AIP between 2019 and 2020 at Bhayangkara State Police Hospital Surabaya. Mann-Whitney U test was performed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results There are significant differences in systolic (p = 0.000) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.003), triglycerides (p = 0.000), LDL-C (p = 0.006), total cholesterol (p = 0.000), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.001), and the AIP (p = 0.000) between the police and civilian groups, with the latter showing a tendency of having higher rates. Conclusions CVD risk was found in both groups. Nevertheless, police officers have higher AIP and overall CVD risk compared to civilians, creating a necessity for aggressive CVD prevention strategies within the population.

Background: Cigarette smoking could induce endothelial dysfunction and increase of circulating markers of inflammation by activation of monocytes. This can lead to the increased of intima media thickness (IMT) of entire blood vessel and result acceleration of atherosclerosis process. However, to our knowledge, little is known about the role of cigarette smoking in this atherosclerotic inflammatory process. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the link between cigarette smoking on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Methods: An experimental study with post-test only controlled group design was used in this study. We used 18 Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) randomly subdivided into 2 groups, group K (−) were given no tobacco smoking exposed, whereas group K (+) were exposed to 40 cigarettes smokes daily. After 28 days, samples were analyzed for e-NOS, VCAM-1 and aortic IMT. Results: Our results indicate that tobacco smoke can enhance the expression of VCAM-1 on mouse cardiac vascular endothelial cell, resulting in decreased expression of e-NOS level and increased of aortic IMT. Linear regression model found that eNOS level negatively correlated wiith aortic IMT (r ² = 0.584, β = −0.764, p < 0.001), whereas VCAM-1 expression did not correlate with aortic IMT (r ² = 0.197, p = 0.065). Conclusion: Low e-NOS level and high VCAM-1 level observed following after cigarette smoke exposure may increase aortic IMT. Clinical significance: Increasing evidence suggests that cigarette smoke exposure could induce VCAM-1 (enhance pro-atherogenic property),and decreased of e-NOS level (anti-atherogenic depletion). Thus, cigarette smoke may represent a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis by increasing aortic IMT. This evidence is discussed herein.

Background and aims. One of the regenerative therapy modalities in Parkinson is using the beta glucan effect contained in Saccharomyces cerevisae. The purpose of this research is to identify the effect of reduction in alpha synuclein expression on the brain substantia nigra in Parkinson's rat model after given Saccharomyces cerevisae. Method. This research applied true experimental design by in vivo with draft randomized post test only controlled group design. The sample was divided into five groups, each of them consisted of 5 rats, namely, negative control group, positive control, treatment 1, 2 and 3 (Rotenone + Saccharomyces cerevisae 18 mg/kgBB), 36 mg/kgBB, 72 mg/kgBB which is given for 30 days). Variables measured were the decreasing level of alpha synuclein. Result. There was a significant difference between positive control and negative control group (p = 0000) and treatment group (p = 0.000; 0.000; 0.000); the addition of Saccharomyces cerevisae in treatment 1, 2 and 3 (18mg/kgBB, 36mg/kg/BB, 72mg/kgBB) caused a significant difference compared with positive control group (p = 0.000; 0.000; 0.000); in treatment 1 (18 mg/kgBB) caused insignificant difference in the amount of alpha synuclein expression compared to the treatment 2 (36mg/kgBB) (p = 0.981), but it showed a significant difference in treatment 3 (72mg/kgBB) (p = 0000). Conclusion. The addition of Saccharomyces cerevisae is able to lower the alpha synuclein expression in Parkinson’s Wistar strain rat models significantly with maximum at the dose of 72 mg/kgBB. Keywords : Alpha synuclein, Beta glucan, Parkinson, Saccharomycescerevisae.

Objective: To evaluate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration safety and efficacy in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We conducted a literature search on PubMed/MEDLINE, medRxiv, EBSCOhost/CINAHL, ProQuest, and Scopus with keywords adjusted to each search engine’s specifications on February 12, 2021. Interventional studies that reviewed MSC efficacy (mortality, hospitalization duration, need for mechanical ventilators, and inflammation markers) and/or safety (adverse events) in COVID-19 patients who were 18 years old or more were included in this study. Study eligibility, data extraction, and study quality assessment were conducted independently by each author. Results: A total of five studies of moderate to high quality with a total of 193 patients were included. One of the three randomized studies included did not apply blinding to either participants or medical professionals. Pooled OR (Odd Ratio) for mortality risk, adverse events incidence, and use of mechanical ventilators for patients on MSC therapy were 0.13 [95% CI: 0.02, 0.68], 0.91 [95% CI: 0.45, 1.86], and 0.42 [95% CI: 0.12, 1.47], respectively. Pooled mean difference for hospitalization duration in the MSC group versus the control was -3.54 [CI 95%: -4.68, -2.40] with 7% heterogeneity. All studies agreed that there was an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease of anti-inflammatory markers that were statistically different in the MSC group. Conclusion: Mesenchymal stem cell administration to COVID-19 patients is safe and effective in reducing mortality and hospitalization duration. Furthermore, a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines were observed.

BACKGROUND: High angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in adipocyte cells facilitates the initiation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and triggers a cytokine storm. This finding suggests that obesity is an independent risk factor for the severity of the symptoms caused by COVID-19. The use of cardiovascular medications that focus on ACE2, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers, remains controversial, and their effects on inflammatory cytokine production and ACE2 expression in cells, especially adipocytes, remain inconsistent. METHODS: The human adipocytes were isolated from obese donor subcutaneous adipose tissue and infected with the subunit S1 spike protein from SARS-Cov-2. The adipocytes were later treated with either hrsACE2 or losartan. The levels of ACE2 and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ACE2 and S1 spike protein binding assays were also performed. RESULTS: ACE2, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly increased in human adipocyte cells infected with SARS-Cov-2 but not IL-1β. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between ACE2 and IL-6 (r=0.878, p<0.001). Administration of losartan and hrsACE2 was shown to reduce ACE2 levels and its binding to the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein, and IL-6 levels were statistically significant, but had no significant effect on IL-1β or TNF-α levels. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the administration of losartan in COVID-19 may not be harmful, but instead has a protective effect similar to that of hrsACE2 in preventing a cytokine storm, especially IL-6. KEYWORDS: obesity, SARS-CoV-2, losartan, IL-6, ACE2