***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The long pentraxin-3 ( PTX3 ) is a key component of the humoral arm of the innate immune system . PTX3 is produced locally in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli . To investigate PTX3 levels and its use as a biomarker in patients with systemic inflammation , we developed a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on novel anti-PTX3 monoclonal antibodies detecting PTX3 with high sensitivity . The assay was applied on 261 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit prospect ively monitored with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS ) . 100 blood donors were included as controls .  PTX3 levels were elevated in patients ( median = 71.3 ng/ml ) compared with the controls ( median = 0 ng/ml ) ( Mann-Whitney , p<0.0001 ) . ROC analysis showed that  PTX3 levels were significantly specific ( 85.0 % ) and sensitive ( 89.1 % ) to discriminate between healthy controls and patients ( area under the curve ( AUC ) 0.922 ( 95 % CI 0.892 to 0.946 , p<0.0001 ) ) . Higher levels of PTX3  were associated with the development of sepsis , severe sepsis and septic shock ( p = 0.0001 ) . The serum levels of PTX3  correlated significantly with SAPS2 score ( Spearman 's rho 0.28 , p<0.0001 ) . Patients with high levels of PTX3  at admission did have a higher 90 day mortality rate than patients with the 25 % lowest levels ( Cox regression analysis , hazard ratio 3.0 , p = 0.0009 ) . In conclusion , we have established a highly sensitive and robust assay for measurement of PTX3 and found that its serum concentrations correlated with disease severity and mortality in patients with SIRS and sepsis Background New biomarkers are needed to assess the severity of necrotizing soft tissue infection ( NSTI ) at an early stage and to individualize treatment strategies . We assessed pentraxin-3 ( PTX3 ) as a marker of disease severity and risk of death in patients with NSTI . Methods We conducted a prospect i ve , observational study in the intensive care unit at Copenhagen University Hospital , where treatment of NSTI is central ized at a national level . We compared PTX3 , procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in septic shock versus nonshock patients and in amputated versus nonamputated patients using the Mann-Whitney U test . The prognostic value of the markers for 180-day mortality was assessed using Cox regression analyses . Results Patients with NSTI ( n = 135 ) were included over 25 months with up to 2.5-year follow-up ; 71 % had septic shock , amputation was undertaken in 20 % and the 180-day mortality was 27 % . Baseline plasma PTX3 level was significantly higher in patients with septic shock ( 67.3 versus 24.6 ng/mL , p < 0.0001 ) and in patients who underwent amputation ( 118.6 versus 43.6 ng/mL , p = 0.019 ) . No significant differences in baseline procalcitonin or C-reactive protein levels were found according to amputation ( 25.2 versus 7.0 μg/L , p = 0.060 and 202 versus 225 mg/L , p = 0.123 ) , respectively .  Baseline PTX3 level above the median was associated with death ( p = 0.009 , log-rank test ) and the univariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association  between PTX3 level upon admission and 180-day mortality ( hazard ratio 2.60 ( 95 % confidence interval 1.28–5.29 ) , p = 0.008 ) . When adjusted for age , sex , chronic disease and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II , no significant association was found . Conclusions  High PTX3 level is associated with septic shock , amputation and risk of death in patients with NSTI , but it is not an independent predictor of 180-day mortality in this patient group . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier : NCT02180906 . Date of registration : June 29 , 2014 Purpose Pentraxin 3 ( PTX3 ) is an inflammatory mediator produced by neutrophils , macrophages , myeloid dendritic and endothelial cells . During sepsis a massive inflammatory activation and coagulation/fibrinolysis dysfunction occur . PTX3 , as a mediator of inflammation , may represent an early marker of severity and outcome in sepsis . Methods This study is based on a prospect i ve trial regarding the impact of glycemic control on coagulation in sepsis . Ninety patients admitted to three general intensive care units were enrolled when severe sepsis or septic shock was diagnosed . At enrollment , we recorded sepsis signs , disease severity , coagulation activation [ prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 ( F1 + 2 ) ] and fibrinolysis inhibition [ plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ( PAI-1 ) ] . We measured plasma PTX3 levels at enrollment , everyday until day 7 , then at days 9 , 11 , 13 , 18 , 23 and 28 . Mortality was recorded at day 90 . Results Although not different on day 1 ,  PTX3  remained significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors over the first 5 days ( p = 0.002 by general linear model ) . On day 1 ,  PTX3 levels were higher in septic shock than in severely septic patients ( p = 0.029 ) . Day 1 PTX3 was significantly correlated with platelet count ( p < 0.001 ) , SAPS II score ( p = 0.006 ) and SOFA score ( p < 0.001 ) . Day 1 PTX3 was correlated with F1 + 2 concentration and with PAI-1 activity and concentration ( p < 0.05 for all ) . Conclusions Persisting high levels of circulating PTX3 over the first days from sepsis onset may be associated with mortality .  PTX3 correlates with severity of sepsis and with sepsis-associated coagulation/fibrinolysis dysfunction Abstract Objectives : To determine the diagnostic values of plasma C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , procalcitonin ( PCT ) , and interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay ( ECLIA ) method ( Roche Diagnostics GmbH , Mannheim , Germany ) to identify severe sepsis in an emergency room ( ER ) setting . Methods : This was a single-centre prospect i ve follow-up study of 539 consecutive adult patients admitted to the ER with suspected infection .  Blood sample s were taken concurrently with blood cultures at admission . Patients were divided into 5 groups on the basis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS ) criteria , documentation of bacterial infection , and organ dysfunction . Fifty-nine patients with no SIRS or bacterial infection , 68 patients with bacterial infection but no SIRS , 54 patients with SIRS but no bacterial infection , 309 patients with sepsis ( SIRS and bacterial infection ) , and 49 patients with severe sepsis ( sepsis and organ failure ) were evaluated . Results : In a logistic regression model , the odds ratio ( OR ) for PCT was 1.58 ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 1.37–1.82 , p < 0.0001 ) , for IL-6 was 1.54 ( 95 % CI 1.32–1.80 , p < 0.0001 ) , and for CRP was 1.33 ( 95 % CI 1.01–1.75 , p = 0.045 ) . The area under the curve ( AUC ) was 0.77 ( 95 % CI 0.71–0.84 ) for PCT , 0.72 ( 95 % CI 0.64–0.80 ) for IL-6 , and 0.60 ( 95 % CI 0.51–0.69 ) for CRP . PCT emerged as the best marker for severe sepsis , but the difference in AUC was not significant between PCT and IL-6 . In multivariate logistic regression analysis , after adjusting for confounders , PCT and IL-6 remained significant independent predictors of severe sepsis . Conclusions : PCT and IL-6 proved superior to CRP in detecting patients with severe sepsis . The findings thus support the use of either PCT or IL-6 as an early tool to diagnose severe sepsis . The automatic ECLIA method allows even night-shift measurements Background : Useful biomarkers that can serve as prognostic predictors are of great value in clinical practice because of the complex individual response to sepsis . Pentraxin 3 ( PTX3 ) , as a multifunctional pattern‐recognition molecule , has been reported to be closely associated with the severity of infectious diseases in intensive care units ( ICU ) . The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTX3 could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with septic shock . Material s and Methods : This single‐center prospect i ve observational study was conducted during May 2012‐May 2015 in the ICU of Taizhou People 's Hospital . We compared the clinical data and laboratory tests in surviving and deceased patients with septic shock within 28 days from admission . Potential independent prognostic factors for septic shock were analyzed by using univariate and multiple Cox proportional hazards regression analyses . Results : A total of 112 patients admitted to the ICU with septic shock were enrolled in our study with an overall 28‐day mortality of 25.9 % ( 29 of 112 patients ) .  PTX3 level was the only independent risk factor for the 28‐day mortality by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis ( hazard ratio = 3.87 ; 95 % CI : 1.66‐8.81 , P = 0.004 ) . The deceased patients had significant higher levels of PTX3  at the 4 different points ( baseline , day 1 , day 2 and day 3 ) versus the survivors ( P < 0.001 ) . Results from Kaplan‐Meier curves and log‐rank test revealed that  high PTX3 level ( above the median value ) was statistically associated with a lower 28‐day survival rate ( P = 0.014 ) . Conclusions : The baseline PTX3 level was an independent predictor for 28‐day mortality in patients with septic shock OBJECTIVES The aim was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of measuring pentraxin 3 ( PTX3 ) together with C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP ) . BACKGROUND The PTX3 values increase rapidly during multiple inflammatory conditions , but little is known about its characteristics in VAP . METHODS Measurement of PTX3 and CRP levels in plasma from 136 consecutive patients receiving mechanical ventilation > 48 h in a prospect i ve single center study . RESULTS A PTX3 threshold of > 16.43 ng/ml provided a specificity of 74.0 % and a sensitivity of 68.6 % for the diagnosis of VAP . PTX3 correlated with severity of sepsis and peaked earlier than CRP in patients with confirmed VAP . Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed PTX3 was the independent predictor for mortality of VAP . CONCLUSIONS PTX3 was not superior to CRP as a biomarker to diagnose VAP , but it was an early indicator of inflammation and had better prognostic value to predict mortality than CRP OBJECTIVE To estimate the diagnostic value of serum PCT , CRP , leukocyte count and temperature as markers of sepsis in critically ill ICU burn patients . DESIGN AND SETTING Prospect i ve , observational study in a four bed Burn Intensive Care Unit . PATIENTS Forty-three patients admitted in a Burn ICU were included in our study . MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS  Serum PCT , CRP concentrations , WCC ( white cell count ) , neutrophils and temperature were measured within the first 24h after-burn and daily thereafter . Severity of organ failure was estimated by sequential organ failure assessment ( SOFA ) score . Every day we classified all patients in one of the following three categories : non-systemic inflammatory condition ( non-SIRS ) , SIRS non-infected and SIRS 2 infected or sepsis . Patients with infected SIRS differ significantly from non-infected SIRS in PCT ( 11.8+/-15.8 versus 0.63+/-0.0.43 , respectively , p < 0.001 ) . On the other h and , WCC , temperature and neutrophils did not differ significantly between patients with SIRS non-infected and infected SIRS . CRP was elevated in all three groups but did n't differ significantly between SIRS non-infected and septic patients . Area under receiver operating curves was 0.975 and showed reasonable discriminative power ( p = 0.002 , 95 % CI , 0.91 - 1.035 ) in predicting of sepsis only for PCT . CONCLUSIONS  Serum procalcitonin levels  can be used as an early indicator of septic complication in patients with severe burn injury BACKGROUND The long pentraxin PTX3 is a key component of the humoral arm of inn 
    Output:
    
CONCLUSIONS PTX-3 significantly predicts disease severity and mortality in sepsis