This study examined the relationship between levels of the chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 and mortality in patients with COVID-19..

Objectives: This study aimed to assess serum Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and IL-6 levels, along with other inflammatory markers, in type-1 bipolar disorder (BD) patients and explore their relationship with clinical features, metabolic parameters, and symptom severity. Background: The study included 38 manic, 35 euthymic BD patients, and 40 healthy controls. Sociodemographic data, such as age, gender, alcohol and smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded. Methods: The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were administered to patients. Biochemical measurements included Gal-3, IL-6, CRP, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet counts, and inflammatory indices like NLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI. Results: Gal-3 levels significantly differed among the groups (F = 52.251, p < 0.001), with the highest levels in euthymic patients. IL-6 levels were elevated in both manic and euthymic patients compared to controls (F = 7.379, p = 0.001). Manic patients had significantly higher levels of neutrophils, monocytes, CRP, NLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI. A positive correlation was found between Gal-3 levels, the total number of episodes, and YMRS scores in manic patients. In euthymic patients, Gal-3 levels correlated positively with disease duration and episode count. Conclusions: Elevated Gal-3 levels, particularly in the euthymic phase, may serve as a biomarker for BD and indicate ongoing inflammation. These findings suggest Gal-3 could help identify BD and differentiate the euthymic phase.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibits variations in terms of patients’ clinical symptoms and levels of routinely employed biochemical markers. The aim of the current study was to determine the correlation between serum levels of the C-X-C chemokine ligand type 12 (CXCL12) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), one of its specific receptors, and disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Sixty-nine patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 from February to July 2021, and a healthy control group of 39 individuals were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into subgroups: mild-moderate and severe. Serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: CXCL12 and CXCR4 concentrations were both significantly higher in the clinically severe disease group compared to the mild-moderate disease group (p<0.05 in both groups). CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels were also significantly higher in the patients with clinically mild-moderate disease compared to the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Both CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels were correlated with clinical severity. Serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels were significantly positively correlated. Assuming a cut-off value of 1.44 ng/mL, serum CXCL12 levels showed 98 % sensitivity and 84 % specificity to distinguish between COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals (AUC=0.98, p<0.001, 95 % CI=0.95–1.0). Serum CXCR4 levels distinguished individuals with COVID-19 from healthy controls with 88 % sensitivity and 72 % specificity at a cut-off value of 69.7 pg/mL (AUC=0.82, p<0.001, 95 % CI=0.74–0.9). Conclusions: Serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels may be included among the biomarkers used to differentiate patients with COVID-19 and determine the clinical severity of the disease.

Cognitive impairment is an increasingly common complication of diabetes, yet its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2), a recently identified synaptic biomarker linked to cognitive disorders, has not previously been examined in relation to cognitive function in geriatric individuals with diabetes. This cross-sectional study enrolled 90 participants—46 geriatric patients with diabetes and 44 age-matched non-diabetic controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected for all participants. After informed consent, cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Serum NPTX2 levels were measured by ELISA. No significant differences were found between the diabetic and control groups in age, sex, education level, marital status, smoking history, comorbid conditions, or polypharmacy. However, the groups differed significantly in MoCA scores (p < 0.001), MMSE scores (p = 0.028), and NPTX2 levels (p = 0.048); the diabetic group showed lower cognitive scores and biomarker levels. NPTX2 levels correlated positively with MoCA and MMSE scores and negatively with diabetes duration, patient age, and the presence of microvascular complications. In conclusion, cognitive function was significantly lower in geriatric patients with diabetes than in controls, and serum NPTX2 levels were significantly associated with cognitive performance. These findings suggest a possible role for NPTX2 in diabetes-related cognitive decline and support further investigation of its utility within a broader biomarker panel.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, synaptic dysfunction, and neuronal loss. Identifying reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring remains a critical need. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of NPAS-4 (Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 4) and NPTX-2 (Neuronal Pentraxin 2) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, exploring their potential roles in disease pathophysiology and their relationship with lipid parameters. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 63 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Venous blood samples were collected from all participants. NPAS-4 and NPTX-2 levels were measured using the ELISA method, while lipid parameters were analyzed via spectrophotometric techniques. Cognitive assessment was performed using the Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT). Comparative analyses between groups, correlation studies, logistic regression, and ROC analyses were conducted. Results: Serum NPAS-4 and NPTX-2 levels were significantly lower in Alzheimer’s patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Additionally, total cholesterol and LDL levels were lower in the patient group. Logistic regression analysis identified NPAS-4 as an independent risk predictor for Alzheimer’s disease (OR = 0.313, p < 0.001). ROC analyses demonstrated that both biomarkers had significant diagnostic discrimination power. However, no significant correlation was found between NPAS-4 and NPTX-2 levels and SMMT scores or lipid parameters. Conclusions: The decreased levels of NPAS-4 and NPTX-2 in Alzheimer’s patients may reflect biochemical manifestations of impaired synaptic plasticity. These findings suggest that NPAS-4 and NPTX-2 may serve as potential early biomarkers in the diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.