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Table 1 Analytical and assessment characteristics

From: The immediate effect of traditional Malay massage on substance P, inflammatory mediators, pain scale and functional outcome among patients with low back pain: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

No.

Assessment

Explanation

1.

Blood sample

Blood collection

 - 10 ml of venous blood will be taken by a trained nurse.

 - The whole blood will be collected into a plain polyethylene tube until blood clot formation.

 - The clots will be separated from the wall of tube using a wooden applicator stick.

 - The serum will be separated by centrifugation at 10,000 g at 4 °C for 15 min to eliminate debris and cellular matter.

Blood test

1) Substance P

 - The blood serum will be tested using Human Substance P EIA kit (Cusabio Biotech)

2) Cytokines

 - The blood serum will be tested individually using Elisa kits to investigate

  a) TNF-α

  b) IL-1β

  c) IL-6

  d) IL-8

  e) IL-10

c) monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)

d) The soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule (Sicam-1).

2.

Saliva sample

Saliva collection

 - 3 to 4 ml of unstimulated (resting) whole saliva will be collected 2 min after the patient has rinsed his/hermouth several times with tap water.

 - The accumulated saliva in the floor of the mouth will be drawn by a plastic disposable pipette and collected into a plastic polyethylene tube.

 - The collected saliva will be centrifuged at 10,000 g at 4 °C for 15 min to eliminate debris and cellular matter.

Blood test

1) Substance P

 - The blood serum will be tested using Human Substance P EIA kit (Cusabio Biotech)

2) Cytokines

 - The blood serum will be tested individually using Elisa kits to investigate:

  a) TNF-α

  b) IL-1β

  c) IL-6

  d) IL-8

  e) IL-10

c) monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)

d) The soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1).

3.

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

 - Pain intensity will be measured using VAS by asking the patients to describe their pain level before and after treatment.

4.

Roland-Morris Disability questionnaire

 - Functional disability will be measured using the Roland-Morris Disability questionnaire.