Pentraxin 3 Levels Research Articles

Salivary Inflammatory Mediator Profiles in Periodontal and Peri-Implant Health and Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the salivary profile of inflammatory mediators in individuals with periodontal and peri-implant disease as compared to individuals with periodontal and peri-implant health. Saliva samples were collected from 155 participants (mean age 63.3 ± 11.4 years), comprising individuals with periodontal and peri-implant health (N = 41), gingivitis and/or mucositis (N = 18), and periodontitis and/or peri-implantitis (N = 96). Samples were analyzed using multiplex-immunoassay panel consisting of inflammatory mediators in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN), interleukin (IL) superfamily, and matrix metalloproteinases. The levels of B-cell activating factor (BAFF), sIL-6Rβ, IFN-β, and sIL-6Rα, sTNFR1, and Pentraxin-3 were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis and/or peri-implantitis compared to healthy subjects. Furthermore, among the investigated inflammatory mediators, Pentraxin-3 exhibited the highest diagnostic potential (AUC = 0.74) for distinguishing between subjects with periodontitis and/or peri-implantitis and healthy individuals. Our findings demonstrated elevated salivary levels of BAFF, sIL-6Rβ, IFN-β, sIL-6Rα, sTNF-R1, and Pentraxin-3 in individuals with periodontitis and/or peri-implantitis in comparison to periodontal and peri-implant healthy controls.

Migraine and ergot use increase plasma pentraxin 3 levels: an Egyptian study

ABSTRACT Background Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are linked to migraine, which may contribute to atherogenesis and increase the risk of ischemia. In migraineurs, preclinical vascular involvement manifested as compromised structural characteristics of vessel wall has not received enough attention or evaluation. Objectives To measure plasma pentraxin 3 as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in migraine in comparison to controls and to examine its correlation with clinical characteristics, headache severity, and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings. Subjects and methods This study was conducted on 40 migraineurs and 40 healthy matched control subjects. The severity and intensity of headaches were quantified using the Headache Impact Test and the translated Arabic version of Migraine Disability assessment questionnaires. Both patients and controls underwent routine laboratory assessment, brain MR imaging, and measurement of plasma pentraxin 3 level. Results Patients with migraine had a significantly higher mean plasma pentraxin 3 when compared to controls. Patients with chronic migraine and those taking ergots also had significantly higher plasma pentraxin 3 levels. Additionally, there were statistically significant positive correlation between frequency of headaches and duration of the disease with plasma pentraxin 3 level. For diagnosing endothelial dysfunction in migraine patients, the sensitivity and specificity of pentraxin 3 levels were 85% and 95%, respectively, with cut-off value of 3.100 ng/ml. Conclusion Pentraxin 3 levels could be used as a chemical biomarker for endothelial dysfunction in migraines with high sensitivity and specificity. Higher plasma levels of pentraxin 3 in patients receiving ergots may influence the selection of treatment for migraine patients.

Pentraxin-3 as a novel prognostic biomarker in non-neutropenic invasive pulmonary aspergillosis patients.

The incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-neutropenic patients is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and risk factors for mortality in non-neutropenic IPA patients. We conducted a prospective, multicenter study from August 2020 to February 2024, enrolling 565 patients with suspected IPA. The study cohort comprised 195 IPA (non-neutropenic) cases and 370 non-IPA cases. Peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens were collected to measure pentraxin-3 (PTX3) levels. Additionally, demographic data, clinical characteristics, and antifungal therapy of each patient were recorded. We analyzed factors associated with 30- and 90-day mortality. IPA patients exhibited higher mortality rates compared to non-IPA patients, with 30-day rates of 26.15% versus 8.38% (P < 0.001) and 90-day rates of 34.36% versus 13.24% (P < 0.001). Higher plasma and BALF PTX3 levels were associated with poor prognosis in IPA patients. ROC curve analysis identified optimal PTX3 thresholds of 4.29 ng/mL in BALF (sensitivity, 67.1%; specificity, 81.4%) and 7.11 ng/mL in plasma (sensitivity, 73.4%; specificity, 82.8%) for predicting mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed PTX3 levels in plasma (hazard ratio [HR] 3.87, 95%CI [1.87-8.00], P＜0.001) and BALF (HR 2.40 [1.19-4.84], P = 0.014) were independent prognostic factors for IPA mortality. Additionally, positive galactomannan test results in both BALF and plasma were initially correlated with increased mortality in IPA patients. However, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, this correlation no longer remained statistically significant. In conclusion, PTX3 is a promising prognostic biomarker of mortality in IPA patients.IMPORTANCEStudies have confirmed the value of pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), yet its prognostic significance in IPA remains unclear. This study found that in non-neutropenic IPA patients, plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of PTX3 are independently associated with poor outcomes. Furthermore, the optimal cutoff values of PTX3 for predicting a poor prognosis of IPA are 4.29 ng/mL in BALF and 7.11 ng/mL in plasma. These findings could help us better manage IPA in non-neutropenic patients, potentially enhancing the prognosis of patients with this condition.

Evaluation of Pentraxin-3 and Interleukin-6 Levels in Serum and Gingival Crevicular Fluid in Patients with Generalized Periodontitis and Periodontal Health Controls Before and After Scaling and Root Planing

Objectives: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are two of the most important inflammatory cytokines produced by cells in periodontal tissues. The present study aims to evaluate the levels of PTX3 and IL-6 in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with generalized periodontitis stages II and III, grades A and B, and periodontal health individuals before and after scaling and root planing (SRP). Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 patients with periodontitis (12 males and 10 females) and 22 periodontal health controls (11 males and 11 females) were selected. All patients underwent full-mouth SRP. Serum and GCF samples were collected before and one month after SRP. PTX3 and IL-6 levels in serum and GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests (P&lt;0.05). Results: Serum levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than the controls (P&lt;0.05). GCF PTX3 levels and serum and GCF IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, this study did not show any significant changes in the levels of these cytokines before and after SRP. Conclusion: Among the studied cytokines and media, only serum PTX3 levels showed a significant difference between periodontitis patients and healthy controls and could serve as a diagnostic marker of periodontal inflammation. SRP did not affect the levels of these cytokines, suggesting that other inflammatory factors may be involved in disease process. However, additional longitudinal prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

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.

Elevated serum pentraxin-3 levels are generally considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, there is limited data on the relationship between pentraxin-3 and cerebral infarction (CI) accompanied by intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study aims to investigate the association between pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and short-term recurrence in cerebral infarction caused by ICAS patients within one year. A prospective observational study was conducted. Cerebral infarction accompanied by intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (CI-ICAS) patients were selected from January 2020 to December 2023. Recurrent ischemic stroke (RIS) is defined as a new neurological deficit that appears after a period of clinical stabilization, lasting more than 24hours, with an attributable new ischemic lesion that can be confirmed by CT or MRI. Serum pentraxin-3 levels were determined on admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between serum pentraxin-3 and RIS. Among 398 patients enrolled, 112 cases (28.1%) had recurrence within one year. The elevation of serum PTX-3 level in patients accompanied with ICAS was independently correlated with recurrent stroke. Therefore, it is worth considering the possibility of intervening in higher PTX-3 levels. Serum pentraxin-3 was significantly higher in patients with RIS (15.16 vs 10.21 µmol/L, P<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that PTX-3 was correlated with age, LDL, Hs-CRP, Baseline NIHSS score, and Hcy (P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that pentraxin-3 remained an independent predictor of recurrent ischemic stroke after adjusting for major confounding factors (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06-1.39, P = 0.007). The elevation of serum pentraxin-3 level in patients with ischemic stroke was independently correlated with the recurrence of stroke within one year. Therefore, intervention in serum pentraxin-3 levels may be worth considering.

Pentraxin 3 deficiency ameliorates streptozotocin-induced pancreatic toxicity via regulating ER stress and β-cell apoptosis.

The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a marker of inflammation, has been associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Recently, elevated serum PTX3 levels have been linked to type 2 diabetes in obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insufficient insulin secretion or action. However, the precise role of PTX3 in hyperglycemia remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the physiological roles of PTX3 in vivo. The deformation of pancreatic islets was mitigated in PTX3-deficient mice treated with streptozotocin (STZ) compared to control C57BL/6J mice. In addition, PTX3 deficiency prevented STZ-induced unfolded protein responses and pancreatic β-cell death. Immunoblotting data revealed significant inhibition of IRE1α and CHOP protein expression in PTX3 KO mice administered tunicamycin which is a chemical ER stress inducer. Similarly, tunicamycin-induced Grp78, Grp94, ATF6, and CHOP mRNA levels were reduced in PTX3 KO mice. Moreover, recombinant PTX3 induced CHOP expression and β-cell apoptosis in primary mouse islets. These findings suggest that PTX3 plays a critical role in STZ-induced the deformation of pancreatic islets via regulating ER stress and β-cell apoptosis.

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.