Background: Wound healing is a dynamic process which is divided into four phases; haemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation and tissue remodelling phases, that encompasses inflammatory cells, cytokines and growth factors. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) involve at the different phases of wound healing. Channa striatus (C.striatus) is a fresh water fish that is believed to have natural properties to promote wound healing. Currently, the effects of C.striatus on the cytokines and growth factors are not available. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the wound healing biomarkers; IL-6, VEGF and MMP-9 on post Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) women consuming oral C.striatus extract. Methods: This was a randomised, double-blinded study amongst LSCS women consuming C.striatus extract versus a placebo at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital and Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital from May 2011 to January 2013. After randomization, the treatment group received freeze dried C.striatus extract 500 mg daily while the placebo group received maltodextrin 500 mg daily for 6 weeks. Blood samples for IL-6, VEGF and MMP-9 were taken from both groups post-operatively at day 3, week 2, week 4 and week 6. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 39 patients from C.striatus and 34 patients from placebo group were included in this study. Within C.striatus group, the results of IL-6, MMP-9 and VEGF showed significant differences (P<0.05) for all the study period. Between group comparison showed significant difference (P<0.05) on week 4 and week 6 for IL-6 and MMP-9 whereas VEGF showed significant difference (P<0.05) on day 1, day 3, week 4 and week 6. The trend of IL-6 and MMP-9 exhibit decreasing trend in both groups however, VEGF in C.striatus group exhibit increasing trend till week 6 compared to placebo group. Conclusion: This study showed C.striatus extract had effects on IL-6, VEGF and MMP-9 in post LSCS women. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(3) 2020 p.520-526

Latar Belakang: Sebagian populasi lebih rentan untuk terserang penyakit arterosklerosis dibandingkan dengan populasi lain. Etnis India mempunyai mortalitas yang tinggi untuk penyakit jantung koroner (PJK) dibandingkan dengan etnis Cina dan Melayu. Antibodi terhadap oxLDL (Ab-oxLDL) diproduksi sebagai respons imun dan insidens PJK di berbagai etnis berhubungan dengan respon imun ini. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengukur kadar Ab-oxLDL dan kadar lipid di kalangan 3 etnis mayoritas di Malaysia. Metode: Penelitian ini melibatkan 150 subjek sehat di Malaysia yang terdiri dari 50 etnis Melayu, 50 etnis Cina dan 50 etnis India. Kadar Ab-oxLDL diukur dengan menggunakan metode enzim immunoassai dan kadar trigliserida dan kolesterol diukur dengan menggunakan metode enzimatik. HDL-kolesterol diukur menggunakan metode presipitasi dan LDL-kolesterol dihitung menggunakan formula Friedewald.