Pentraxin 3 Levels Research Articles

Evaluation of Pentraxin-3 levels in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Early recognition of cardiac involvement and prediction of disease prognosis are essential for the management of inflammatory diseases such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the role of Pentraxin-3 levels in identifying cardiac involvement and evaluating disease severity in patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The study included 56 multisystem inflammatory syndrome patients and 26 healthy children as a control group. The multisystem inflammatory syndrome group was divided into those with cardiac involvement (n = 34) and those without (n = 22), as well as those with clinically mild-moderate (n = 30) and severe (n = 26) multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Blood samples for measurement of Pentraxin-3 levels were obtained from all patients before treatment and from the healthy controls. In the patient group, the mean age was 8.2 ± 4 years (range: 2-17 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.8. In the control group, these values were 9.5 ± 3.7 years (range: 2-16 years) and 1.9, respectively (p > 0.05). Plasma Pentraxin-3 levels were significantly higher in multisystem inflammatory syndrome patients compared to controls (7.1 ± 5 ng/mL vs. 2.9 ± 2.1 ng/mL, p = 0.001). Patients with cardiac involvement had a significantly higher median Pentraxin-3 level than those without (5.8 ng/mL vs. 4.1 ng/mL, p = 0.004). Severe disease was also associated with a higher median Pentraxin-3 level compared to mild-moderate disease (6.1 ng/mL vs. 4.4 ng/mL, p = 0.001). Pentraxin-3 level was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction and positively correlated with B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin. Elevated Pentraxin-3 levels in multisystem inflammatory syndrome patients may help predict the clinical course of the disease and cardiac involvement. However, larger-scale prospective studies are needed to further elucidate this.

Prediction Value of High Serum Pentraxin-3 for Short-Term Recurrence of Cerebral Infarction in Patients Accompanied with Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Within One Year

Prediction Value of High Serum Pentraxin-3 for Short-Term Recurrence of Cerebral Infarction in Patients Accompanied with Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Within One Year

Hydroxytyrosol's Protective Effect Through Podocalyxin and Pentraxin-3 in Kidney Damage Resulting From Corn Syrup Administration.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether hydroxytyrosol (HT) has a protective effect on corn syrup-induced kidney damage in rats and the role of podocalyxin (PCX) and pentraxin-3 (PTX3)in this possible effect. Rats were divided into four groups with six rats in each group: 1) control, 2) HT, 3) corn syrup, and 4) corn syrup + HT. Rats were given 30% corn syrup added to their drinking water for six weeks. HT was given orally at 4 ml/kg/day, alone and together with corn syrup. PCX and PTX3 in the renal tissue were assessed through histopathological examination. Biochemical parameters were also examined in the sera with the ELISA method. In this study, it was observed that PCX and PTX3 levels, which increased as a result of corn syrup administration, decreased after HT treatment (p < 0.001). The increase in amylase, lipase, and insulin levels because of corn syrup consumption decreased with HT consumption (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). It was determined that the increase in erythrocyte extravasation, exudate accumulation, and fibrosis observed in the kidney tissue with corn syrup application decreased as a result of HT application (p < 0.001). It is thought that HT has a protective effect against kidney damage caused by corn syrup and that PCX and PTX3 may play a role in this effect.

The Role of Pentraxin 3 in the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk and Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is suggested to be both a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the role of PTX3 in assessment of disease activity and CV risk, in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and spondyloarthritis (SpA). The study group consisted of 235 patients (109 RA, and 126 SpA). The following parameters were assessed: disease activity, traditional CV risk factors, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), PTX3 plasma concentration. The median (IQR) PTX3 concentration was higher in RA than SpA patients [3.44 (2.56-4.79) vs 2.51 (1.72-3.62) ng/mL, p<0.001]. The mean (SD) cIMT value was higher in RA than SpA patients [0.85 (±0.21) vs 0.75 (±0.27) mm, p=0.02]. Atherosclerotic plaques were observed in similar number of patients with RA (31, 28.4%) and SpA (34, 27%) (NS). The PTX3 level was significantly higher in RA patients with moderate/high vs low disease activity, and in patients with presence vs no atherosclerotic plagues. In patients with RA correlations were found between PTX3 and disease activity parameters: C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, tender joint count, disease activity score in 28 joints, white blood cell count (WBC). In multiple linear regression analysis, significantly positive association was confirmed for PTX3 and WBC. No significant relationships were found in patients with SpA. The results of this study point to the dual role of PTX3 in patients with RA, as a biomarker of disease activity, and as a marker of CV complications risk.

The role of pentraxin 3 and cathepsin B levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the levels of cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 in maternal serum of pregnant women with preeclampsia in the second trimester, to ascertain the impact of these levels on maternal and fetal outcomes, and to present a comprehensive analysis of the combined effects of cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 levels. Methods This prospective case-control study was conducted at Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022. The study included 78 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 78 healthy pregnant women in the second trimester, between the ages of 18 and 45. Once a diagnosis of preeclampsia was established, maternal serum samples were obtained from the pregnant women prior to the initiation of any therapeutic intervention. Once all samples had been collected, the values for cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 were determined using the ELISA method. Results The results demonstrated a statistically significant elevation in the levels of pentraxin 3 (p = 0.008) and cathepsin B (p = 0.005) in pregnancies affected by preeclampsia when compared to those deemed healthy. Moreover, pentraxin-3 (p = 0.007) and cathepsin B (p = 0.002) were found to be significantly elevated in severe preeclampsia compared to mild preeclampsia. A comparison of the groups with and without HELLP syndrome revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The ROC analysis revealed that the Cathepsin B 7.04 cut-off value was statistically significantly associated with the prediction of preeclampsia in all cases, with a sensitivity of 78.2% and a specificity of 47.4% (p = 0.005, AUC = 0.631). Conclusion The levels of CB and PTX3 may be employed as biomarkers to facilitate the early diagnosis of PE during the second trimester. Furthermore, these biomarkers may prove to be promising for the prediction of PE severity.

Serum pentraxin-3 expression varies according to polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is a multibiological protein involved in cumulus cell expansion, fertilization, and implantation. This study was designed to analyze how circulating PTX-3 levels change in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 50 Turkish participants, 35 of whom had PCOS and 15 of whom were fertile, were included in the study. Patients in the PCOS group were divided into 4 different phenotypes according to the NIH criteria (phenotypes A-D). The number of patients in phenotype A was the highest 13 (37.1%). In the calculations made without phenotyping, the serum ptx3 levels of the PCOS group were found to be significantly lower compared to the fertile control group (3.32 ± 0.73 ng/mL vs 4.97 ± 1.29 ng/mL; P < .001). The ptx3 value of phenotypes A and B was significantly lower than phenotype D (P = .008 and P = .009, respectively). When the phenotypes were compared with the fertile control group, the PTX-3 levels of phenotypes A and B were significantly lower than the fertile group. Although the ptx3 levels of phenotypes C and D were lower than the fertile group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. This is the first study to investigate serum ptx3 levels by phenotype in PCOS. While serum PTX-3 levels decreased in phenotypes A and B, ptx3 levels in phenotypes C and D were similar in fertile patients.

Pentraxin-3 is a novel marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis

Introduction: Endometriosis is one of the most common reproductive disorders affecting women. The pathophysiology of endometriosis is also quite complicated, and many mechanisms have been put forward. Pentraxin-3 is a glycoprotein released by leukocyte and myeloid dendritic cells in peripheral blood with the stimulation of some cytokines, especially IL-1 and TNF-α, Toll-Like Receptor agonists, or microbial components. It has been shown that pentraxin-3 is also released from ectopic endometrial cells. The aim of this study is to investigate serum pentraxin-3 levels and their correlation with endometriosis in women with endometriosis and healthy women without endometriosis. Methods: This case-control study evaluated patients diagnosed with endometriosis based on imaging techniques or laparoscopy between 2018 and 2020. Serum samples of 71 patients who had been diagnosed with endometriosis as a case group and 56 healthy patients who had undergone laparoscopic tubal ligation and were proven to be endometriosis-free as a control group were compared for pentraxin-3 level. Results: Serum pentraxin-3 level was significantly higher in the endometriosis group compared with the control group ( p &lt; 0.05). Parity and gravida were significantly higher in the control group than in the endometriosis group. When patients with endometriosis surgery history were excluded, there was no significant change in serum pentraxin-3 levels in patients with medical treatment for endometriosis ( p &gt; 0.05). Both the sensitivity and specificity of serum pentraxin-3 were 73.2%. Conclusions: These results demonstrate a relationship between serum pentraxin-3 and endometriosis. Serum pentraxin-3 might be used as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Pentraxin-3 marker as a predictor of cardiovascular events in obstructive sleep apnea; a cross-sectional study

Introduction A large population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Most of these individuals (almost 90%) are either unrecognized or untreated OSA. These patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in OSA compared with the clinically relevant biological markers (HbA1c, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, and fibrinogen) and to evaluate the relationship between PTX3 levels and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Patients and methods This research used a cross-sectional design and enrolled 100 participants with suspected OSA. All the participants underwent a full clinical history, a STOP-Bang questionnaire, and a polysomnography (PSG) study, and the serum biomarkers were also analyzed. Results The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from PSG was used to measure the OSA severity, and the individuals were distributed into three groups accordingly. Our findings showed that there was a significant difference in Pentraxin 3 and fibrinogen levels between patients with mild or moderate OSA and those with severe OSA. Pentraxin 3, at a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml, had the highest prognostic accuracy in OSA (96%), with an AUC of 0.96. Regression analysis revealed that Pentraxin 3, with a cutoff point greater than 4.25, and CRP were significant predictors of cardiovascular disease in individuals with OSA. Furthermore, Pentraxin 3 (with a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml) and fibrinogen were significant predictors of pulmonary embolism in patients with OSA. Conclusion Serum PTX3 was higher in patients with severe OSA than in those with mild- to moderate OSA. Furthermore, we found that OSA severity as indicated by the AHI was significantly correlated with serum PTX3. PTX3 and CRP are useful markers of cardiovascular risk in OSA.

Involvement of pentraxin-3 in the development of hypertension but not left ventricular hypertrophy in male spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hypertension drives the development of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, the relative contribution of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), a novel marker for inflammatory cardiovascular disease, in the hypertrophic response to pressure overload has not been adequately elucidated. We investigated the role of PTX-3 in the development of LVH in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), untreated and treated with either captopril (an ACE inhibitor) or hydralazine (a non-specific vasodilator). Three-month-old SHR received either 20 mg/kg/day hydralazine (SHR + H, n = 6), 40 mg/kg/day captopril (SHR + C, n = 6), or plain gelatine cubes (untreated SHR, n = 7) orally for 4 months. Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 7) were used as the normotensive controls. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using the tail-cuff method. Cardiac geometry and function were determined using M-mode echocardiography. Circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers were measured in plasma by ELISA. LV fibrosis and cardiomyocyte width were assessed by histology. Relative mRNA expression of PTX-3 was determined in the LV by RT-PCR. Untreated SHR exhibited greater systolic BP and relative wall thickness (RWT) compared to WKY. Captopril and hydralazine normalized BP but only captopril reversed RWT in SHR. Circulating PTX-3 and VCAM-1 levels were elevated in untreated SHR and reduced with captopril and hydralazine. Circulating PTX-3 was positively associated with systolic BP but lacked independent relations with indices of LVH. LV relative mRNA expression of PTX-3 was similar between the groups. PTX-3 may not be involved in the development of LVH in SHR, but plausibly reflects the localized inflammatory milieu associated with hypertension.

Serum Pentraxin 3 Level in Egyptian Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver injury and is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute‑phase reactant and an essential component of innate immunity. Plasma PTX3 level is, according to some data, a marker for NAFLD. We aimed to assess the value of serum Pentraxin 3 level as a non-invasive bio-marker of NAFLD in patients with Type II DM. Methods This case-control study included 96 subjects classified in to 32 patients with T2DM and NAFLD, 32 patients with T2DM and without NAFLD, and 32 healthy subjects. All studied subjects underwent a detailed clinical examination, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound, Fatty liver index score, and calculated serum Pentraxin. Results Serum Pentraxin demonstrated a high statistically significant correlation with the presence of NAFLD in patients with Type II DM and in healthy people. Conclusion Pentraxin 3 is a sensitive, specific, and a promising biomarker for detection of liver injury in NAFLD when suspected in patients with and without DM.

Circular Pentraxin-3 and Betatrophin as Novel Predictors and Promising Biomarkers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with or without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Two recently discovered circulating proteins, pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and betatrophin, have a strong correlation with a number of illnesses, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. Objective: This study was made to investigate whether pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and betatrophin levels are sensitive markers associated with PCOS in women with or without diabetes. Materials and methods: We conducted a case-control clinical study. Samples were collected from "infertility center" at Basra hospital for Obstetrics and children in Basra province-Iraq during the period from August 2023 till end of February 2024. Results: Levels of Ts, PRL, HOMAIR, PTX3, betatrophin, and MDA were elevated (p &lt; 0.01), LH and insulin were increased (p&lt;0.05) and (p&lt;0.01), E2 and TAC decreased (p&lt;0.01), while BMI and FSH levels showed non-significant changes (p&gt;0.05) in PCOS women with or without diabetes (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS), respectively, as compared to the healthy control. Glucose was increased (p&lt;0.01) in PCOS women with diabetes (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS), and AMH had increased (p&lt;0.05) in PCOS women without diabetes. The area under the curve (AUC) indicate that PTX3 (AUC= 0.95, 0.90, 0.88, 0.85) and betatrophin (AUC= 0.89, 0.87, 0.86, 0.85) could potentially be used as greater predictive biomarkers in PCOS women (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS) with or without diabetes. Conclusion: Dysregulation of PTX3 and betatrophin may be associated with the metabolic consequences of PCOS. Therefore, we suggest that PTX3 and betatrophin may potentially serve as an independent predictor for the prognosis and development of PCOS in at-risk women, especially those with insulin resistance.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) as a potential biomarker for predicting death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

BackgroundPentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein that belongs to the pentraxin family, which plays an important role in the body’s defense against pathogens. PTX3 levels have been associated with inflammatory processes, and it is a possible biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of different infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The objective of this study was to analyze the potential of PTX3 as a plasma biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.MethodsThe study included a total of 312 patients with COVID-19, admitted from July 2020 to August 2021 to hospital ward and intensive care unit beds at two hospitals in the Northeast Region of Brazil. PTX3 was measured using ELISA in samples collected within 24 h after hospital admission. Maximally selected rank statistics were used to determine the PTX3 cutoff point that best distinguished patients who died from those who survived. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the performance of the biomarker. Survival analysis was performed using a Kaplan-Meier curve, and a Cox regression model was used to determine predictors associated with death.ResultsOf the 312 patients included in the study, 233 recovered and 79 died. Patients who died had higher PTX3 levels at the time of admission, when compared to those who recovered (median: 52.84 versus 10.79 ng/mL; p < 0.001). PTX3 showed area under the ROC (AUC) = 0.834, higher than other markers used in clinical practice, such as C-reactive protein (AUC = 0.72) and D-dimer (AUC = 0.77). Furthermore, according to the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, patients with PTX3 concentrations above the cutoff point (27.3 ng/mL) had a lower survival rate (p = 0.014). In multivariate Cox regression, PTX3 > 27.3 ng/mL was an important predictor of death, regardless of other confounding factors (hazard ratio = 1.79; p = 0.027).ConclusionPTX3 can be considered as a potential biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, MMP-3, osteopontin, pentraxin-3, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in crevicular fluid samples from peri-implantitis, periodontitis, and healthy sites.

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by the destruction of supporting tissues. Despite some similarities, it is essential to understand the differences in how these diseases elicit unique host responses within the oral tissues, including the production of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory mediators involved in tissue remodelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of proteolytic enzymes MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, as well as the inflammatory mediators osteopontin (OPN), pentraxin-3 (PTX3), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in crevicular fluid samples collected from healthy, periodontitis-affected, and peri-implantitis sites. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were collected from healthy and diseased teeth and implant sites of 163 patients. The MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, PTX3, and TSLP levels were determined using commercially available immunoassays. A linear mixed model procedure was adopted for multilevel analyses, using biomarker levels as the outcome variable to compare two types of sites. The diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers was evaluated by Youden's index to estimate the sensitivity, specificity and the area under curve (AUC). The levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, and TSLP were higher at sites with periodontitis and peri-implantitis compared to the levels at sites with healthy teeth and healthy implants. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the measured markers between the sites diagnosed with periodontitis and those diagnosed with peri-implantitis. The highest diagnostic potential at implant sites was found for MMP-2 (AUC = 0.74) and TSLP (AUC = 0.72). The highest AUC (0.82) at tooth sites was found for OPN. The findings indicate that the proteolytic enzyme MMP-2 and the cytokine TSLP might be potential biomarkers for both periodontitis and peri-implantitis, whereas the proinflammatory cytokine OPN may serve as a biomarker for periodontitis. Further studies are required to confirm the utility of these biomarkers and explore their potential clinical applications.

The assessment of pentraxin 3: a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in lower respiratory tract infections in children

BackgroundPentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase reactant that is elevated in the plasma during inflammatory responses. We aimed to evaluate the utility of PTX3 as a clinical marker in children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and the association between PTX3 and LRTIs severity.MethodsWe included 60 patients admitted to Fayoum University Hospital with LRTIs fulfilling the WHO criteria for diagnosing LRTIs. We collected data on peak temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation upon admission, and length of hospital stay. The complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and PTX3 were measured upon admission.ResultsPTX3 levels were significantly correlated with peak temperature, duration of hospital stay, the Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS), total leucocytic count (TLC), CRP, and blood cultures.ConclusionPTX-3 represented the severity of the disease and predicted the prognosis. Pentraxin levels demonstrate a statistically significant sensitivity of (93.3%) and a specificity of (70%) at the cut-off value (of 8.84) with an area under the curve (90.7%) in the diagnosis of LRTIs.

The utility of pentraxin 3 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta as non-invasive biomarkers for prediction of cardiovascular risk in MAFLD patients

BackgroundMetabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as the predominant form of chronic liver disease globally linked with heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the leading cause of mortality among affected individuals.AimThis study aims to assess serum PTX3 (pentraxin 3) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) as potential non-invasive biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular risk (CVR) in MAFLD patients.MethodA case–control investigation encompassing 84 MAFLD patients without prior CVD history and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls was conducted. Both cohorts underwent comprehensive laboratory and radiological evaluations. CVR was evaluated through common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), Framingham risk score, and QRISK 2 score. The efficacy of two ELISA biomarkers PTX3 and PDGFRβ was examined for correlation with CVR in MAFLD patients.ResultsMAFLD patients displayed significantly heightened levels of PTX3 and PDGFβ compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.016, respectively). PDGFβ exhibited a notably positive correlation with the Framingham score (P = 0.016), while no significant correlation was observed with pentraxin 3 (P = 0.061). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified diabetes mellitus (DM) (P < 0.001*), hypertension (P = 0.005), visceral fat (P < 0.001*), waist/hip circumference (P = 0.04), and PDGFβ (P = 0.03) as robust predictors of CVR, with PTX3 demonstrating limited prognostic utility.ConclusionPDGFβ emerged as a promising early non-invasive predictor of CVR in MAFLD patients, highlighting its potential role in guiding tailored preventive interventions, while PTX3 exhibited a modest impact warranting further investigation.

Serum pentraxin-3 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis.

The association between serum pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been explored in several studies. However, the results remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the differences in serum PTX-3 levels between COPD patients and healthy controls, as well as between patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and stable COPD. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically searched. A random-effects model was used to pool the results, accounting for the potential impact of heterogeneity. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of study characteristics on the outcome. The initial search identified 274 articles, with 17 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies included a total of 996 AECOPD patients, 1414 stable COPD patients, and 1016 healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed significantly higher serum PTX-3 levels in COPD patients compared to healthy controls (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.73, P < 0.001; I² = 85%). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses suggested that the results were not significantly affected by the age, sex, or smoking status of the patients. Additionally, serum PTX-3 levels were higher in AECOPD patients compared to stable COPD patients (SMD: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.74, P < 0.001; I² = 59%). In conclusion, serum PTX-3 levels are elevated in COPD patients, particularly during acute exacerbations, compared to stable COPD patients and healthy controls. PTX-3 may serve as a potential biomarker for COPD severity and exacerbation status.

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy enhances the rate of canine retraction by increasing &amp;beta; glucoronidase and pentraxin – 3 in gingival crevicular fluid: A clinical study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in enhancing the rate of orthodontic tooth movement using β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 (TNF) biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid.A split-mouth design was used in 16 subjects (8 experimental and 8 controlled) aged 14 to 25 years, who’s maxillary first premolars were extracted. A gallium-aluminium-arsenide semiconductor diode laser (wavelength, 810 nm; energy density, 10 J/cm2; power output, 100 mW) delivered low-level laser therapy to the experimental canine undergoing distalization at 10 points. The control canine was distalized without low-level laser therapy. The experimental and control canines were distalized using a force of 150 g provided by nickel-titanium closed coil springs. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected at 5 time points from the control and experimental sides, and the levels of β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 were analysed by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The rate of canine retraction was calculated by using ortho analyser software.Increased levels of β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 were observed in the experimental canines compared with the control canines (P &amp;#60;0.001). Cumulative tooth movements over an 8-week experimental period were greater for the experimental canines compared with the control canines. A positive correlation existed between the β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 levels and the amounts of tooth movement across all time intervals.Low level laser therapy in adjunct with continuous and light forces leads to increase in β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 leading to accelerated orthodontic tooth movement.: Low-level laser therapy fastens the rate of canine retraction thus accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement. The levels of β glucoronidase and Pentraxin 5 are increased significantly after laser irradiation which aids in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement.

Interplay between host humoral pattern recognition molecules controls undue immune responses against Aspergillus fumigatus

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a long pentraxin and a humoral pattern recognition molecule (PRM), has been demonstrated to be protective against Aspergillus fumigatus, an airborne human fungal pathogen. We explored its mode of interaction with A. fumigatus, and the resulting implications in the host immune response. Here, we demonstrate that PTX3 interacts with A. fumigatus in a morphotype-dependent manner: (a) it recognizes germinating conidia through galactosaminogalactan, a surface exposed cell wall polysaccharide of A. fumigatus, (b) in dormant conidia, surface proteins serve as weak PTX3 ligands, and (c) surfactant protein D (SP-D) and the complement proteins C1q and C3b, the other humoral PRMs, enhance the interaction of PTX3 with dormant conidia. SP-D, C3b or C1q opsonized conidia stimulated human primary immune cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, subsequent binding of PTX3 to SP-D, C1q or C3b opsonized conidia significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. PTX3 opsonized germinating conidia also significantly lowered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines while increasing IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) released by immune cells when compared to the unopsonized counterpart. Overall, our study demonstrates that PTX3 recognizes A. fumigatus either directly or by interplaying with other humoral PRMs, thereby restraining detrimental inflammation. Moreover, PTX3 levels were significantly higher in the serum of patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), supporting previous observations in IPA patients, and suggesting that it could be a potential panel-biomarker for these pathological conditions caused by A. fumigatus.

The Impact of Organized Exercise and Non-organized Leisured Time Activity on Serum Pentraxin3 and C-reactive Protein Levels, Lipid Profile and Physical Fitness in Diabetic Children

Background: Microvascular changes and precursors of atherosclerosis are frequently observed in young patients with early-onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Due to their known beneficial effects, physical activity is strongly recommended for its management. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of organized exercise (OE) and non-organized leisure time activity (NOLTA) on determinants of cardiovascular disease and physical fitness in children with type 1 diabetes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 children with T1DM were randomly divided into two groups of 10: OE (n = 10, mean age = 12.60 ± 1.34 years) and NOLTA (n = 10, mean age = 12.40 ± 0.84 years). Subjects in both groups participated in their respective activities 3 days per week. Blood samples and physiological measurements were taken 48 hours before and after the 8-week training period. Results: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and physical fitness factors increased significantly in both exercise groups. Fasting blood glucose, C-reactive protein, and the cholesterol/HDL ratio were also significantly reduced in both groups. Waist circumference, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the LDL/HDL ratio were significantly reduced only in the OE group. However, the decrease in the acute phase protein pentraxin 3 was minimal and statistically insignificant. Conclusions: In children and adolescents with T1DM, regular exercise—due to its anti-inflammatory effects and its ability to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, lipid profile, and blood glucose levels—may help reduce the severity and likelihood of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Assessment of Metabolic, Inflammatory, and Immunological Disorders Using a New Panel of Plasma Parameters in People Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy-A Retrospective Study.

Background/Objectives: People living with HIV (PLWH) treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) show a greater predisposition to metabolic and inflammatory disturbances compared to the general population. This study aimed to assess the effect of five years of cART use on the level of selected parameters related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and inflammation in PLWH compared to the uninfected. Methods: The levels of sirtuins (-1, -3, -6); irisin (IRS); myostatin (MSTN); peptide YY (PYY); glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1); dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4); fetuin-A (FETU-A); pentraxin 3 (PTX3); chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1); regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES); and interleukins (-4, -7, -15) in the plasma of PLWH and a control group were evaluated by immunoassay methods. The results obtained after five years of antiretroviral therapy were compared with the levels obtained before and one year after cART. Results: Analysis of the parameters after five years of cART showed significantly higher levels in PLWH compared to the control group for SIRT-6, IRS, and IL-4 and significantly lower levels for RANTES and IL-7. There were significantly higher levels of SIRT-6, PYY, GLP-1, and PTX3 obtained after five years of cART compared to the results before therapy and after one year of cART. Conclusions: The results indicated changes occur in the expression of selected parameters during cART use in PLWH. Further research on the clinical usefulness of selected parameters and obtaining new information on the development of HIV-related comorbidities needs to be conducted.