This is the first study investigating the clinical relevance of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in genomic DNA from white blood cells (WBC) in the context of prostate cancer (PCa) and other prostate pathologies. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we identified significantly different distributions of patients with low and elevated 5hmC content in WBC DNA across controls and patients with prostate cancer (PCa), atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP), and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The measured values were within the normal range for most PCa patients, while the latter category was predominant for ASAP. We observed a wider heterogeneity in 5hmC content in all of the prostate pathologies analyzed when compared to the healthy age-matched controls. When compared to blood levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), this 5hmC-based biomarker had a lower performance in PCa detection than the use of a PSA cut-off of 2.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Above this threshold, however, it delineated almost three quarters of PCa patients from controls and patients with other prostate pathologies. Overall, genome-wide 5hmC content of WBC DNA appears to be applicable for detecting non-cancerous prostate diseases, rather than PCa. Our results also suggest a potential clinical usefulness of complementing PSA as a PCa marker by the addition of a set of hydroxymethylation markers in the blood, but further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Little information exists on YKL-40—a key protein in tissue remodeling—and complete blood count (CBC) parameters during acute exacerbations of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This pilot exploratory study (August 2020–January 2021) investigated the connection between serum YKL-40 levels and CBC profile in sex- and age-matched individuals with severe COPD (GOLD stage III, n = 23, median age = 66 years, 65.21% males) and very severe COPD (GOLD stage IV, n = 24, median age = 66.5 years, 74.81% males). The measured parameters were serum YKL-40, absolute leukocyte count (ALLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil percentage, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), eosinophil percentage, absolute monocyte count (AMC), monocyte percentage, absolute basophil count (ABC), basophil percentage, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit concentrations. No significant inter-group differences were observed. However, high YKL-40 subjects (n = 23)—as stratified via median YKL-40 (3934.5 pg/mL)—showed significantly increased neutrophil percentage and NLR but significantly lower lymphocyte-, eosinophil-, and basophil-related parameters compared to low YKL-40 patients (n = 24). These results reveal multidimensional, YKL-40-associated changes in leukocyte profile of patients with advanced COPD during acute exacerbations, with potential implications for personalized treatment.

Background and Objectives: Bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not only common obstructive respiratory conditions but also major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is, however, a surprising lack of blood-based biomarkers for separating between these pulmonary disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the practical relevance of using serum YKL-40, single or combined, for this purpose. Materials and Methods: Subjects included Romanian patients with BA (n = 24) or COPD (n = 27). YKL-40, fibrinogen, pre-treatment C-reactive protein (CRP), post-treatment CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin 6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), absolute neutrophil count, neutrophil percentage, absolute lymphocyte count, lymphocyte percentage, absolute eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage were measured and compared between these patients. Results: This is the first study investigating the clinical significance of serum YKL-40 in delineating between COPD and BA in Caucasian populations. Only fibrinogen and YKL-40 levels were different between COPD and BA, with the measured values being significantly elevated. These patients exhibited distinct inflammatory profiles. Using the upper quartiles of these variables for the pooled study population (YKL-40: 5100 pg/mL; fibrinogen: 552 mg/dL) as cut-off values, subjects were classified into high or low groups. High YKL-40 adults revealed significantly increased PCT levels. High fibrinogen subjects, by contrast, showed significantly elevated IL-6 concentrations and pre-treatment CRP levels. Low YKL-40 and fibrinogen patients showed the absence of COPD. Conclusions: Combined use of serum YKL-40 and fibrinogen may be useful for identifying the absence of COPD.

Background and objectives: Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous, multifactorial pulmonary disease characterized by variable airway obstruction caused by chronic inflammation. Our study investigates the clinical relevance of MBL plasma levels in accordance with IgE values in children who attended a pediatric consult for respiratory symptoms with bronchial asthma. Materials and Methods: The study population consists of patients <18-years-old and included 43 patients with bronchial asthma and 64 age-matched healthy subjects as a control group. We used the ELISA Human MBL Immunoassay kit and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) kit for IgE determination. Results: Our results show significantly different distributions of patients in the bronchial asthma group and control group. The measured values were within the normal range for most controls, while the bronchial asthma patients displayed higher values of plasma MBL and IgE levels. We observed a wider heterogeneity in MBL concentrations in bronchial asthma patients when compared to the healthy age-matched controls. Our results also suggest a potential clinical usefulness of plasma MBL concentrations in accordance with IgE and eosinophil cells levels in the diagnosis of bronchial asthma, and our results may suggest a prognostic role of MBL in the evolution of asthmatic disease; however, further studies are necessary to confirm these findings. Conclusions: We can say that plasma MBL concentrations present a relative diagnostic role for bronchial asthma in pediatric patients and may suggest a more severe disease progression; however, further studies are needed to elucidate the role played by MBL in the determination and evolution of this disease.

Background: Tetranectin (CLEC3B), a plasminogen-binding protein involved in fibrinolysis and tissue remodeling, has been increasingly studied as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review synthesizes current evidence on its clinical utility across heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), and related conditions. Objectives: To systematically evaluate and synthesize published clinical evidence on the diagnostic and prognostic value of tetranectin in cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus (January 2010–June 2025) identified original human studies examining associations between tetranectin (CLEC3B) and cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and cardiometabolic conditions. Eligible studies included adult cohorts with observational designs; experimental, in vitro, and pediatric studies were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study design, population characteristics, biomarker assessment, and outcomes, resolving discrepancies by consensus. Results: Twelve studies were included. Tetranectin levels were consistently lower in patients with CAD, MI, and advanced HF compared to controls. Higher circulating TN levels were associated with reduced risk of HF onset, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization. In two studies, combining tetranectin with NT-proBNP improved diagnostic accuracy over NT-proBNP alone. Mechanistic studies revealed correlations between TN expression and fibrosis-related gene pathways, supporting its biological relevance. Conclusions: Tetranectin shows consistent promise as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disease, particularly in heart failure and coronary artery disease. Its involvement in fibrotic remodeling, plasminogen activation, and vascular homeostasis underlines biological pathways relevance. Combining tetranectin with established biomarkers may improve cardiovascular risk stratification and guide more personalized therapeutic strategies. Further large-scale and longitudinal studies are needed to validate its clinical utility across diverse settings.

Prostate disease diagnostics increasingly integrate PSA-derived parameters, molecular assays, risk calculators, and multiparametric MRI, yet important limitations remain in distinguishing benign inflammatory changes from clinically significant prostate cancer and in capturing biological heterogeneity. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on inflammatory and epigenetic biomarkers in prostate disease, focusing on YKL-40, mannose-binding lectin, and global DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation. The reviewed evidence indicates that chronic inflammation, innate immune variability, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and epigenetic dysregulation contribute to prostate disease progression and may provide biological information not fully reflected by conventional diagnostic tools. YKL-40 may reflect inflammatory stromal remodeling and angiogenic activity, mannose-binding lectin may represent innate immune variability, while DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation may indicate systemic molecular adaptation and long-term inflammatory imprinting. However, these biomarkers remain largely investigational and should currently be considered adjunctive biological layers rather than validated standalone diagnostic tools. Future studies should prioritize analytical standardization, prospective prostate-specific validation, and assessment of incremental clinical utility beyond PSA, molecular assays, and mpMRI within clearly defined contexts of use.