Background/Objectives: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a glycoprotein commonly overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and widely recognized as a tumor marker. However, elevated CA125 levels are also observed in various non-malignant conditions, including diseases affecting mucosal surfaces, pleural or peritoneal effusions, cirrhosis (with or without ascites), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy. This review aims to explore the role of CA125 in non-malignant serous effusions, highlighting its diagnostic and prognostic potential beyond the realm of oncology. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and clinical trial registries. Eligible studies included full-text original research articles, reviews, and case reports published in English over the past 10 years. Inclusion criteria were limited to studies involving human subjects and focused on the role of CA125 in non-malignant serous effusions. Results: CA125 is produced by coelomic epithelial cells lining the ovary, pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum. Its serum concentration is not significantly influenced by age, body weight, or renal function, even in the advanced stages of the disease. In peritoneal conditions, CA125 is synthesized by mesothelial cells and serves as a potential marker of peritoneal involvement. The prevailing pathophysiological mechanism suggests that mechanical stretching of mesothelial cells due to ascitic pressure stimulates CA125 release. Similarly, in heart failure, mesothelial cells of the pericardium produce CA125, which correlates with congestion severity, supports risk stratification, and may inform diuretic therapy. Conclusions: While a threshold of 35 U/mL is established for malignancy, no standardized cutoff exists for CA125 in non-malignant conditions. The utility of CA125 measurement in peritoneal, pleural, or pericardial effusions—and cardiovascular diseases such as acute heart failure—for purposes of differential diagnosis, treatment guidance, or prognostication warrants further investigation through prospective clinical trials.

Background: Disruption of the natural balance of the skin microbiota can impair wound healing and contribute to chronic infections. Identifying the bacterial species involved and understanding their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles are essential for guiding treatment, especially given the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Methods: This study characterized the virulence and antibiotic resistance phenotypes of 43 bacterial strains isolated from chronic wounds. The antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils (sandalwood, ylang-ylang, sage, cajeput, and juniper), pharmaceutical products (propolis tinctures, usnic acid), and probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains (Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus lactis) was assessed using qualitative and quantitative assays, including MIC, MICBA, and co-culture evaluations. Results: Gram-positive strains were more sensitive to essential oils than Gram-negative strains, with sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and propolis tincture showing the strongest antibacterial effects. These agents also showed significant biofilm inhibition. Probiotic strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Morganella morganii, with Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus being particularly effective in reducing bacterial growth and adhesion in vitro. Conclusions: Essential oils and probiotic strains demonstrate promising antimicrobial effects against chronic wound pathogens and may serve as alternative or adjunctive treatments to antibiotics. Further clinical research and standardization are necessary to establish their safety, efficacy, and optimal application protocols.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities, and increasing evidence suggests a close relationship between AF and liver disease, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD); however, the clinical patterns, hepatic phenotypes, and clinical implications of this association remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterize hepatic involvement in patients with paroxysmal AF by integrating a structured literature review with original clinical data. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 253 patients admitted with paroxysmal AF between 2015 and 2025. Demographic data and associated diagnoses were collected with a specific focus on hepatic pathology. Patients were stratified according to the presence and type of liver disease, and descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify associations and independent predictors. Results: Liver disease was identified in 65.2% of patients, most commonly hepatic steatosis (46.2%), followed by liver cirrhosis or advanced liver disease (19.0%). Patients with liver disease had higher prevalences of type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and alcohol consumption. Dyslipidemia (OR 4.51) and obesity (OR 2.54) were independent predictors of hepatic steatosis, whereas liver cirrhosis was inversely associated with age and serum lipid levels. Conclusions: Liver pathology is highly prevalent among patients with paroxysmal AF and is closely associated with adverse metabolic and clinical profiles. Recognition of distinct hepatic phenotypes may support improved risk stratification and multidisciplinary management in patients with AF.

Background: Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular comorbidities frequently coexist in patients with multiple myeloma and are particularly common among hospitalized patients. However, the relationship between common cardiovascular comorbidities and advanced CKD in routine clinical practice remains incompletely characterized. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study including 137 hospitalized patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between January 2015 and February 2026. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records. Advanced CKD was defined as eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m², calculated using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation. Patients with isolated acute kidney injury were excluded. Cross-sectional associations between cardiovascular comorbidities and advanced CKD were assessed using logistic regression models. Results: The median age was 69 years (IQR 63–77), and 56.9% of patients were women. Renal impairment was common, with a median creatinine level of 2.82 mg/dL and a median eGFR of 22.4 mL/min/1.73 m². Advanced CKD was identified in 55 of 116 patients (47.4%) with available CKD classification. Cardiovascular comorbidities were common, including hypertension (42/55, 76.4%), diabetes mellitus (18/55, 32.7%), myocardial ischemia (41/55, 74.5%), and heart failure (25/55, 45.5%). In univariate analysis, atrial fibrillation showed a significant cross-sectional association with advanced CKD (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.30–15.07, p = 0.017), as was myocardial ischemia (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.07–7.80, p = 0.039). In multivariable analysis, atrial fibrillation demonstrated a trend toward an association with advanced CKD but did not remain statistically significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Advanced CKD and cardiovascular comorbidities frequently coexist in hospitalized patients with multiple myeloma. Atrial fibrillation and myocardial ischemia were associated with advanced CKD in univariate analyses; however, these associations were attenuated after multivariable adjustment. Overall, these findings provide insight into the coexistence of advanced CKD and cardiovascular comorbidities in hospitalized patients with multiple myeloma.