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Objective: Periodontal disease triggers the immune response by affecting the host defence system. Positive and negative acute phase reactants, mostly secreted by liver, are released as a result of inflammation. Periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) has recently been used to measure the inflammatory load caused by periodontitis. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of PISA on the levels of positive, negative acute phase reactants C-reactive protein (CRP) and fetuin-A in saliva and serum. Material-Method: Forty-seven individuals were included in the study and divided into 3 groups according to their periodontal status as periodontal healthy (n=15), gingivitis (n=15), or periodontitis (n=17). Sociodemographics were recorded through a questionnaire, periodontal indices were taken, and saliva and serum samples were collected from patients. PISA was calculated using periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment level, and percentage of bleeding on probing. CRP and fetuin-A levels in saliva and serum samples were analysed by ELISA. Results: Periodontal parameters and PISA were higher in periodontitis group than healthy and gingivitis group. When compared to healthy group, salivary CRP was higher and salivary and serum fetuin-A was lower in periodontitis group. Serum fetuin-A was lower and salivary CRP was higher in periodontitis group compared to gingivitis group. As a result of the adjusted multivariate linear regression analysis, it was determined that PISA was negatively correlated with salivary and serum fetuin-A, and positively correlated with serum CRP. Conclusions: Fetuin-A and CRP levels were suggested to be used as a biomarker in periodontal disease pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebrospinal fluid analysis has been employed for supporting multiple sclerosis diagnosis and ruling out the differential diagnoses. The most classical findings reflect the inflammatory nature of the disease, including mild pleocytosis, mild protein increase, intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin G, and, most typically, the presence of oligoclonal bands. In recent years, new biomarkers have emerged in the context of multiple sclerosis. The search for new biomarkers reflect the need of a better evaluation of disease activity, disease progression, and treatment efficiency. A more refined evaluation of disease and therapy status can contribute to better therapeutic choices, particularly in escalation of therapies. This is very relevant taking into account the availability of a greater number of drugs for multiple sclerosis treatment in recent years. In this review, we critically evaluate the current literature regarding the most important cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in multiple sclerosis. The determination of biomarkers levels, such as chemokine ligand 13, fetuin A, and mainly light neurofilament has shown promising results in the evaluation of this disease, providing information that along with clinical and neuroimaging data may contribute to better therapeutic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetuin-A is a hepatic secretory protein and a novel risk factor for diabetes. However, it remains unclear whether the association between high levels of fetuin-A and diabetes can be attributed to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We conducted a case-cohort study among 1,957 subcohort members and 455 incident diabetes cases in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a multicenter US study of Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, and Chinese-American adults aged 45-84 years. Serum fetuin-A and computed tomography-determined liver fat content were measured from samples collected at baseline (2000-2002). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with follow-up through 2012, a higher fetuin-A level was associated with a higher risk of diabetes, with a stronger association among women (for top quartile vs. bottom, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08, 5.44) than among men (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.35) (P-heterogeneity = 0.001). Adjustment for liver fat content attenuated these associations slightly (women: HR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.59, 4.26; men: HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.84, 2.08). In this study, we observed a particularly strong association of fetuin-A with diabetes risk in women that could not be explained by liver fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Low fetuin-A and 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D) levels accompanied with high intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) contents are associated with cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients. The aim of present study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene FokI and ApaI polymorphisms with serum levels of fetuin-A, vitamin D, and intact PTH in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods. Serum was obtained from 46 stable chronic hemodialysis patients and 43 healthy controls. Serum levels of intact PTH, fetuin-A, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus were measured. Genotyping of the VDR gene was performed using standard methods. Results. Serum fetuin-A and vitamin D levels were significantly lower, whereas serum levels of PTH, calcium, and Phosphorus were higher in the hemodialysis patients than in the healthy controls. The FokI genotypes were more frequent in the hemodialysis patients than the control group (P = .004). With respect to FokI genotypes, intact PTH level was higher among the hemodialysis patients compared to the controls (P = .02). In contrast, vitamin D level was lower in the hemodialysis patients with ApaI genotypes compared to the control group (P = .04). Conclusions. Our study shows that increased serum level of PTH and decreased fetuin-A and vitamin D levels may increase susceptibility of atherosclerosis in patients with hemodialysis through VDR gene FokI and ApaI polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]