AIM: To investigate the expression of Ficolin-3 and secreted frizzled-related protein 5(SFRP5)in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)combined with diabetic retinopathy(DR)and their diagnostic value.METHODS: Prospectively selected patients with T2DM combined with DR admitted to the hospital from May 2023 to May 2025 were divided into non-proliferative and proliferative groups according to the severity of DR. Another patients with T2DM alone during the same period were selected as the T2DM group. ELISA was used to detect Ficolin-3 and SFRP5 levels; Correlation of serum Ficolin-3, SFRP5 levels, and inflammatory markers in T2DM patients with DR were analyzed using Pearson method; Logistic regression was used to analyze related influencing factors; ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Ficolin-3 and SFRP5 for DR in T2DM patients.RESULTS: This study included a total of 108 patients with T2DM combined with DR(57 cases in the non-proliferative group, 51 cases in the proliferative group)and 108 cases in the T2DM group. The non-proliferative group had an average age of 59.01±6.28 y, with 34 males and 23 females. The proliferative group had an average age of 59.09±6.35 y, with 30 males and 21 females. The T2DM group had an average age of 58.96±6.18 y, with 62 males and 46 females.The serum levels of Ficolin-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the non-proliferative and proliferative groups were higher than those in the T2DM group(all P<0.05), while the level of SFRP5 was lower than that in the T2DM group(all P<0.05). The serum levels of Ficolin-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the proliferative group were higher than those in the non-proliferative group(all P<0.05), and the level of SFRP5 was lower than that in the non-proliferative group(P<0.05).Complying with Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum Ficolin-3 was negatively correlated with SFRP5(P<0.05), and both were related to TNF-α and IL-6(all P<0.001). Logistic analysis showed that the course of diabetes, SUA, HbA1c, Ficolin-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 were the risk factors for T2DM patients with DR(all P<0.05), and SFRP5 was a protective factor(P<0.05). Complying with the ROC curve, the AUC values of serum Ficolin-3 and SFRP5 alone and their combination for diagnosing T2DM patients with DR were 0.774, 0.793, and 0.864, respectively. The AUC of combined diagnosis was better than that of single diagnosis(Z=2.694, Z=2.708, both P<0.05).CONCLUSION: In patients with T2DM complicated by DR, serum levels of Ficolin-3 and SFRP5 are abnormally expressed. Both are influencing factors for T2DM with DR, and the combined detection can improve the diagnostic value in these patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone(PTH)and bone turnover markers with the glomerular filtration rate(GFR)in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:The study included a total of 426 non-dialyzed male T2DM patients with a disease course of more than 10 years, of whom 206 aged 60-86 years(the elderly group, 69.8±5.7 years old)and 220 aged 40-59 years(the middle-aged group, 50.1±5.3 years old). According to the estimated GFR(eGFR)calculated using the CKD-EPI formula, patients in each group were divided into four subgroups: Group 1(at CKD1 stage), Group 2(at CKD2 stage), Group 3(at CKD3 stage)and Group 4(at CKD4/5 stage). Levels of 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone(PTH), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide(P1NP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen(β-CTX)in each group were measured.Results:The median level of 25(OH)D was 17.10(11.30-21.60) μg/L in 426 patients, of whom 292(68.5%)showed vitamin D deficiency.The level of 25(OH)D decreased significantly in the elderly group compared with the middle-aged group(15.10 μg/L vs. 17.15 μg/L, Z=-2.165, P=0.030), while the proportions of patients with vitamin D deficiency were similar in the two groups(68.4% vs. 68.6%, χ2=0.002, P=0.966). With decreasing eGFR, the proportion of patients with vitamin D deficiency gradually increased in the elderly.In the elderly cases, compared with the Group 1 and Group 2, the level of 25(OH)D in Group 3 dropped significantly (10.85 μg/L vs. 16.80 μg/L, Z=-2.808, P=0.005; 10.85 μg/L vs. 15.60 μg/L, Z=-2.099, P=0.044), and Group 4 showed an even more pronounced decrease than Group 3(6.65 μg/L vs. 10.85 μg/L, Z=-1.956, P=0.048). The level of 25(OH)D decreased significantly in the middle-aged patients at the CKD4/5 stage.The levels of PTH and β-CTX were negatively correlated with the 25(OH)D level( r=-0.348 and -0.263, P<0.001), and the level of negative correlation was affected by eGFR. Conclusions:In non-dialysis elderly male patients with T2DM, PTH and bone turnover marker β-CTX levels are negatively correlated with the 25(OH)D level, and the negative correlations are affected by eGFR.