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Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is involved in the regulation of LDL metabolism. There is evidence that circulating PCSK9 is a cardiovascular risk factor. In this study, we determined factors associated with circulating PCSK9 in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Material included 116 consecutive patients with DM2 from outpatient diabetes clinic. Circulating PCSK9, PTX3, apolipoprotein (apo) B100, apo B48, and apo C3 levels were determined by ELISA, apo A1 by immunoturbidimetry. The mean (sd) age of patients was 59.1 (11.1) years, the mean (sd) values of serum PCSK9 were 255.4 (106.97) ng/ml. Circulating PCSK9 correlated negatively with age ( r = -0.21, p < 0.05) and HbA1c ( r = -0.21, p < 0.05) and positively with BMI ( r = 0.21, p < 0.05), total cholesterol ( r = 0.59), LDL-cholesterol ( r = 0.50), triglyceride ( r = 0.35), apo B100 ( r = 0.43), apo A1 ( r = 0.43) ( p < 0.001 for all), apo C3 ( r = 0.29, p < 0.01), and apo B48 ( r = 0.25, p < 0.01) concentration and FLI ( r = 0.26, p < 0.01). Strong correlation between PTX3 and PCSK9 levels was observed ( r = 0.47, p < 0.001). Multiple stepwise backward regression analysis with PCSK9 as dependent variable revealed that PTX3, apo B100, apo A1, apo B48, and BMI were significantly positive and the presence of NAFLD and HbA1c negatively associated with PCSK9 concentrations. These variables together explain 57% of PCSK9 variability; the strongest relationship was observed between PCSK9 and PTX3 and apo B100. Our results indicate that circulating PCSK9 is significantly associated with inflammation marker PTX3 as well as atherogenic lipids and apolipoproteins C3, B100, and B48, which might be of value in understanding interactions between development of atherosclerosis and inflammatory state in DM2 patients., Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Małgorzata Waluś-Miarka et al.)

Elevated levels of plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a marker of inflammation, are associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in the general population, as well as in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2). In this study, we aimed to determine factors associated with PTX3 serum concentrations in men and women with DM2. The study included 116 consecutive patients (67 men and 49 women) with DM2 from an outpatient diabetic clinic. Men were characterised by lower age and higher uric acid, creatinine and bilirubin concentrations and waist/hip ratio than women. In women, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were higher than in men. In men, median (interquartile range) values of PTX3 concentration were 4.02 (1.99), and in women they were 4.53 (3.31) ng/ml (NS). In men, PTX3 concentrations correlated with total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, apolipoprotein (Apo) C3, Apo B48, Glc and creatinine levels. In women, PTX3 correlated significantly with TC and LDL-C and Apo B100. Partial regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for age, PTX3 concentrations in men were significantly associated with TC, LDL-C, triglycerides, creatinine, Apo C3 and Apo B48, while in women they were associated with TC, LDL-C and Apo B100. The results could be of importance in sex-specific prevention of vascular complications in DM2 patients.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a marker of inflammation, is a cardiovascular risk factor., Objectives: We examined clinical and biochemical factors associated with serum PTX3 concentrations in patients with T2D with and without NAFLD., Patients and Methods: Serum material was obtained from 116 patients with T2D (mean age, 59.1 years), including 79 patients with NAFLD., Results: Median (interquartile range) PTX3 level was 4.264 (2.293) ng/ml in patients with and 3.773 (3.223) ng/ml in patients without NAFLD (P = 0.93). In the whole group, PTX3 level was associated with total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑C), apolipoprotein (apo) B100, apo C3, triglyceride (TG) concentrations, and waist circumference after adjustment for age and gender. As indicated by partial regression coefficient b, increase of independent variable LDL‑C by 1 mmol/l was associated with the rise of PTX3 by 1.2017 ng/ml, increase of apo B100 by 1 mg/dl with the rise of PTX3 by 1.0051 ng/ml, and increase of apo C3 by 1 μg/dl with the rise of PTX3 by 1.0012 ng/ml. In patients with T2D with NAFLD, total cholesterol, LDL‑C, TG, apo C3, and apo B100 were associated with PTX3. Associations of PTX3 with apolipoproteins were observed only in the NAFLD group., Conclusions: Reported associations of PTX3 level add new insight into possible mechanisms of its atherogenic actions.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized in 20-30% of general population but among the people with impaired glucose metabolism this percentage is about 70-90%. The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of NAFLD with respect to patients' gender. We examined 180 patients, 73 women and 107 men. Increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference above the norm are the determinants of NAFLD irrespectively to gender. Besides it has been observed that in the women group the increase of HDL-cholesterol by 1 mmol/l decreases the chances of NAFLD occurrence by 90%.

Background: There is evidence that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In this study we examined factors associated with the presence of NAFLD and the prevalence of macroangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes., Material and Methods: Subjects were 101 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes: 72 with NAFLD and 29 free of NAFLD. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Serum lipids were measured enzymatically and glycated hemoglobin HbA1c was measured by HPLC., Results: The mean age of patients was 53.1 ± 10.4 in the NAFLD group and 44.9 ± 10.9 years in patients without NAFLD (p<0.001). The mean duration of diabetes was 10 ± 6.3 years in patients with NAFLD and 15.1 ± 7.8 years in those without NAFLD (p<0.001). Mean values of glycated hemoglobin A1c were similar in both groups. Patients with NAFLD were characterized by a significantly higher prevalence of coronary angioplasty (20.8% vs. 0%, p=0.008). Overweight and obesity were observed in a higher percentage of patients with NAFLD (p<0.001). Patients with NAFLD were characterized by significantly higher values of alanine transaminase (p=0.033), and lower serum concentrations of HDL-cholesterol (p<0.001) and creatinine (p=0.034). Logistic regression analysis (p<0.001) revealed that NAFLD was positively associated with waist circumference above normal (women >80 cm, men >94 cm) (p=0.0083) and alanine transaminase activity (p=0.0164), and negatively with creatinine concentration (p=0.0226). In a second logistic regression model (p<0.001), waist circumference (p<0.007) and total cholesterol (p<0.008) were positive predictors, while HDL-C (p<0.003) was a negative predictor of NAFLD., Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that NAFLD is associated with visceral obesity and low HDL-cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Arterial compliance is a significant prognostic factor of cardiovascular risk. Elevated serum homocysteine level is related to increased oxidative stress and impaired endothelial function. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors influencing arterial compliance in patients with diabetes. We examined 30 patients with type 2 diabetes. In each patient we performed measurements of arterial compliance, blood pressure, serum lipids, glucose and homocysteine concentration and microalbuminuria. Serum lipids were determined by enzymatic methods, using Boehringer-Mannheim reagents, homocysteine levels by ELISA, using Bio-Rad reagents, HbA1c by HPLC method and microalbuminuria by immunonephelometric method. Arterial compliance assessment was based on measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV), registered on femoral and carotid arteries (mean of 20 measurements), using automatic sensor (Fukuda) and Complior system. The mean age of patients was 62.2 +/- 8.1 years, BMI 30.0 +/- 3.4 kg/m2, waist to hip ratio (WHR) 0.9 +/- 0.09, mean diabetes duration 14.1 +/- 7.5 years, and HbA1c level 7.7 +/- 1.5%. Mean cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride serum concentrations were as follows: 5.7 +/- 1, 2 mmol/l; 1.32 +/- 0.43 mmol/ll and 1.8 +/- 1.0 mmol/l, and homocysteine levels 16.3 +/- 3.9 mmol/l. Arterial compliance significantly correlated with age (r = 0.52, p = 0.007), homocysteine concentration (r = 0.47, p = 0.015), WHR(r = 0.47, p = 0.015) and creatinine levels (r = 0.51, p = 0.016). The results of the study suggest that in patients with type 2 diabetes arterial compliance is associated not only with age but also with serum homocysteine levels and renal function parameters.