Search Results (818)

Objectives: To determine whether stunting modifies periodontal microbial dynamics, inflammatory responses, and short-term responses to oral interventions in children. Materials and Methods: This open-label, non-randomized study included 36 children aged 8–12 years, comprising 18 children with stunting and 18 without stunting. Stunting was defined as a Height-for-Age Z-score below 2 standard deviations according to World Health Organization criteria. Participants received a probiotic, an essential-oil intervention, or no active intervention for 14 days. Gingival swab and dental plaque samples were collected at baseline and Day 14. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola abundance and IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression were quantified using species or target-specific quantitative PCR. Each outcome was analyzed using a linear mixed effects model incorporating stunting status, treatment, time, and their interactions as fixed effects and participant as a random intercept. Exploratory Spearman correlations were used to evaluate microbial inflammatory relationships. Results: Stunting status was significantly associated with the abundance of both P. gingivalis (p = 0.036) and T. denticola (p = 0.043). For P. gingivalis, a significant stunting status by time interaction was observed (p = 0.008), indicating that its temporal trajectory differed between children with and without stunting. No significant treatment effect or treatment related interaction was detected for either bacterial species. IL-1β expression changed significantly over time (p = 0.027) and displayed substantial interindividual variability, particularly among children with stunting receiving the essential oil intervention; however, its group and treatment related effects were not significant. IL-6 expression remained comparatively stable, with no significant main or interaction effects. Exploratory correlations suggested contrasting cytokine coordination at baseline: IL-1β and IL-6 were positively correlated in children without stunting (r = 0.75) but negatively correlated in children with stunting (r = −0.58). Conclusions: Stunting was associated with differences in periodontal pathogen abundance, a distinct temporal response of P. gingivalis, and altered coordination of inflammatory markers. These findings suggest that nutritional status may modify periodontal microbial–immune relationships and highlight the need for larger randomized studies to determine whether stunting influences responses to oral health interventions. Full article

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease associated with systemic inflammation and multiple environmental triggers, including microbial colonization and infections. However, the relationship between upper respiratory tract microorganisms and the clinical characteristics of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis remains incompletely understood. This retrospective study analyzed 624 patients with plaque psoriasis, including mild and moderate-to-severe disease, and psoriatic arthritis who presented with upper respiratory tract symptoms and clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal involvement. Upper respiratory tract swabs were evaluated using culture-based methods. Clinical and inflammatory parameters, including disease severity assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), systemic inflammation assessed using C-reactive protein (CRP), body mass index (BMI), age, sex, and smoking status, were analyzed. All patients were evaluated prior to initiation of systemic antipsoriatic treatment. Overweight and obesity were prevalent and were associated with higher CRP levels across clinical groups. Culture-positive results were identified in 247 patients, yielding 275 isolates, while 377 patients had culture-negative results with physiological flora only. The distribution of the most frequently isolated microorganisms was broadly similar across clinical subgroups, with limited variation according to psoriasis severity or psoriatic arthritis status. Multivariable analysis identified CRP and PASI as the most consistent factors associated with culture positivity in selected subgroups, with evidence of an interaction between psoriasis severity and systemic inflammatory burden. No consistent associations were observed between specific microorganisms and clinical measures of disease severity. Overall, systemic inflammatory and metabolic parameters showed more consistent associations with culture-positive pharyngeal findings than individual culture-detectable microorganisms. Given the retrospective design, symptom-based inclusion, and absence of a contemporaneous control group, these findings should be interpreted as descriptive and associative rather than causal. Prospective controlled studies using standardized sampling and culture-independent methods are needed to clarify the clinical significance and temporal relationship between upper respiratory tract microbial findings and psoriasis activity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Conventional cardiovascular risk scores may provide only modest discrimination in asymptomatic individuals undergoing screening. Ultrasound markers, including resting left anterior descending coronary artery peak diastolic flow velocity (V-LAD), carotid plaque, and global longitudinal strain (GLS), may detect subclinical abnormalities not captured by standard clinical assessment. Methods: In this prospective single-centre screening study, 1100 consecutive asymptomatic adults underwent clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, transthoracic echocardiography with coronary Doppler and GLS analysis, carotid ultrasound, and treadmill exercise electrocardiography. The primary analysis used Cox regression for time to the first composite event of adjudicated new-onset angina, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure hospitalization, atrial fibrillation, or death. Hierarchical models sequentially added continuous V-LAD, carotid plaque, and GLS to an internal clinical reference model. Results: Among 1094 evaluable participants, 79 primary endpoints occurred over a median follow-up of 25 months. Harrell C-index was 0.653 for the clinical model and increased to 0.824 after addition of V-LAD. The combined V-LAD-plus-plaque model had a C-index of 0.816, V-LAD was independently associated with outcome (HR 1.32 per + 10 cm/s (95% CI 1.23–1.43), p < 0.001) and carotid plaque remained strongly associated (HR 4.19 (95% CI 2.37–7.41), p < 0.001). Adding plaque beyond V-LAD significantly improved model fit (likelihood ratio p < 0.001) but did not further improve discrimination. GLS added no incremental prognostic information. Conclusions: V-LAD provided the major incremental gain in discrimination beyond conventional clinical variables, while carotid plaque contributed independent prognostic information and improved overall model fit without a consistent further gain in discrimination beyond V-LAD alone. GLS provided limited incremental value. Full article

Background/Objectives: In this prospective clinical follow-up study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term periodontal responses over a five-year follow-up period associated with Class II direct posterior restorations placed using two different restorative approaches. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one Class II posterior restorations in 25 patients were included. Eighteen were performed using a bulk-fill approach with Admira Fusion X-tra^® (VOCO, Cuxhaven, Germany), whereas thirteen used the proximal wall approach with Admira Fusion^® (VOCO, Cuxhaven, Germany). Periodontal parameters, including plaque control record, gingival bleeding index, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss, were recorded at baseline and five years using standardized periodontal examination procedures. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Given the limited sample size, the statistical analyses were considered exploratory. Results: The plaque control record decreased from baseline to the five-year follow-up, with a significant overall effect of time (F = 4.789, p = 0.037), while the time × restorative approach interaction was not significant (p = 0.694). The gingival bleeding index showed a slight numerical increase over the five-year period (25.52 ± 27.20% at baseline versus 27.00 ± 26.11% at five years); however, neither the effect of time (F = 0.139, p = 0.712) nor the time × restorative approach interaction (F = 0.505, p = 0.483) was statistically significant. Probing depth and clinical attachment loss remained relatively stable throughout the observation period, with no statistically significant time or interaction effects. Overall, no statistically significant time × restorative approach interactions were observed, indicating that longitudinal changes in the evaluated periodontal parameters did not differ significantly between the restorative approaches. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this exploratory clinical study, both ormocer-based restorative protocols were not associated with detectable deterioration in the evaluated periodontal parameters over the five years of follow-up. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathology, impaired proteostasis, neurovascular dysfunction, maladaptive glial and immune responses, and synaptic dysfunction. Human genetic evidence supports an upstream role for Aβ. Anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies substantially reduce amyloid burden and modestly slow clinical decline in early symptomatic AD. Continued decline despite plaque removal is consistent with ongoing downstream tau pathology, glial responses, and neuronal injury. This narrative review examines AD mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic prospects from a geroscience perspective and applies the eight hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases as an analytical framework. Advances in blood-based biomarkers, particularly plasma phosphorylated tau 217, may improve biological detection, but their clinical value depends on assay performance, intended use, and patient context. Gut dysbiosis and gut–brain communication are considered separately as candidate systemic modifiers because causal evidence in humans remains insufficient. The hallmarks are overlapping analytical categories, not independent primary causes, and their therapeutic relevance depends on disease stage and pathway activity. Future studies should establish which preventive strategies and biomarker-guided, stage-matched combination therapies improve clinically meaningful outcomes and identify the patients most likely to benefit. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β plaques, neurofibrillary tau tangles, neuroinflammation, and progressive cognitive decline. Beyond these classical pathological features, emerging evidence implicates microbial dysbiosis as a contributing factor, with the gut and oral microbiomes currently providing the strongest evidence for microbiome AD associations. In contrast, the ocular microbiome represents a biologically plausible but largely unexplored candidate whose potential contribution to AD pathogenesis remains hypothetical and requires rigorous investigation. The ocular surface shares embryological, anatomical, and functional connections with the central nervous system, and the retina has emerged as a non-invasive window into neurodegenerative brain changes. Bacterial taxa detected in ocular specimens, including Cutibacterium acnes and Acinetobacter johnsonii, overlap with those reported in some studies of AD brain tissue, prompting speculation about an ocular–brain microbial interface. However, this overlap does not establish microbial trafficking, and no direct evidence currently supports the proposition that ocular microorganisms translocate to, colonize, or contribute causally to AD brain pathology. This review critically appraises the existing evidence, graded by methodological rigor and evidence strength, across gut, oral, nasal, ear, and ocular microbiome compartments. We address the substantial methodological challenges inherent in low-biomass microbiome research, emphasize the importance of distinguishing contamination artifacts from biological signals, and delineate the evidence gaps that separate association from causation. We conclude by proposing a research framework that places the ocular microbiome as an emerging hypothesis warranting experimental validation, rather than an established contributor to AD. Full article

Background/Objectives: The oral protozoa Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) and Trichomonas tenax (T. tenax) have been implicated in periodontal disease, yet their relationship to clinical periodontal status remains unresolved. This study examined their detection frequency by light microscopy across periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis groups, and its association with clinical periodontal parameters. Methods: In this single-center, cross-sectional study, 120 adults were allocated to three equal groups (n = 40 each): periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis. From each participant, subgingival plaque was collected from the deepest periodontal pocket or sulcus of every quadrant, together with unstimulated saliva. Each specimen was examined as an unstained saline wet mount and with a Lugol iodine preparation under light microscopy. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: E. gingivalis was detected in 20/120 participants: 7.5% in periodontally healthy, 20.0% in gingivitis, and 22.5% in periodontitis, a difference that did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.156). T. tenax was not detected in any participant (0/120). Positive participants had greater full-mouth probing pocket depth than negative participants (median 1.89 vs. 1.59 mm; p = 0.025). Conclusions: On microscopic examination of this sample, E. gingivalis detection did not differ significantly between periodontal groups, whereas T. tenax was not encountered. Among the clinical parameters examined, positivity for E. gingivalis was associated with probing pocket depth, consistent with the organism occupying the deep subgingival niche. Longitudinal molecular studies in larger, multicenter samples are warranted. Full article

Introduction: White spot lesions (WSLs) are early enamel demineralization lesions associated with increased surface roughness and plaque retention. Profilometry is commonly used to evaluate these surface changes, although methodological variability remains significant. Objective: To critically evaluate the available evidence regarding the validity and reproducibility of profilometry for assessing surface roughness in experimentally induced WSL models and treatment-modified surfaces and to identify methodological factors influencing its application across in vitro studies. Methods: A systematic review of 27 in vitro studies published between 2021 and 2026 was conducted. Methodological characteristics of contact and non-contact profilometry were synthesized, and evidence relevant to validity and reproducibility was qualitatively assessed based on complementary analytical methods and the reporting of standardized measurement procedures. Results: Considerable heterogeneity was identified in specimen sample and preparation, demineralization protocols, profilometric systems, acquisition settings, roughness parameters, and experimental conditions. Both contact and non-contact profilometry detected treatment- and demineralization-related surface changes, with Ra being the most frequent reported parameter. Complementary analytical techniques provided supporting evidence for the interpretation of profilometric findings but did not constitute formal validation. Methodological details relevant to reproducibility were inconsistently reported, and formal repeatability or reproducibility testing was generally lacking, Conclusion: Profilometry appears useful for quantitatively characterizing surface topography in experimentally demineralized enamel as a model of WSLs and treatment-modified enamel; however, substantial methodological variability and limited formal validation and reproducibility testing prevent definitive conclusions regarding its validity and reproducibility. Greater standardization of methodologies of measurement and reporting protocols is required to improve comparability and strengthen the evidence base. Full article

Background: The global prevalence of oral disease including dental caries varies significantly across different regions, and South Africa is no exception. Although dental caries is a major public health concern, it is largely preventable through the promotion of proper oral hygiene practices and screening. The study aimed to assess the oral health status of school children within selected primary schools in the Tshwane District, South Africa. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design employing a quantitative research approach, structured into three phases: a pre-test assessment, the implementation of the intervention, and a post-test evaluation. A total of 390 primary school learners from five selected schools underwent dental screening and were included in the study on a voluntary basis. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 30, incorporating both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: Prior to screening, 75.9% of participants exhibited dental caries, while only 24.1% showed no signs of tooth decay. Following the intervention, improvements in oral hygiene status were observed among participants. The proportion of children presenting with high plaque scores decreased markedly from 19.0% at baseline to 1.8% post-intervention. Similarly, the prevalence of poor oral hygiene declined from 30.1% pre-intervention to 16.2% after the intervention, indicating an overall enhancement in hygiene practices. The proportion of dmft in primary teeth recorded 37.3% pre intervention, higher than post intervention (23.2%). Additionally, the record of DMFT in permanent teeth (49.2%) pre-intervention compared to the post intervention (40.8%). The study reported a similar percentage on the treatment during pre and post intervention (75.9%). Conclusions: Dental screening intervention yielded promising short-term results, particularly in plaque reduction and caries detection. However, its long-term success hinges on integrating school efforts with parental support and improving access to follow-up dental care. A comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach remains essential to ensure lasting oral health benefits for children. Full article

Cardiovascular ultrasound is a cornerstone of noninvasive cardiac and vascular assessment, yet conventional interpretation remains operator-dependent, variable, and limited in sensitivity for subclinical disease. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and, most recently, vision–language and foundation models, offers tools to automate, standardize, and extend ultrasound analysis. This narrative review examines the role of AI-enhanced cardiovascular ultrasound in the transition from descriptive imaging toward predictive and personalized medicine. We conducted a structured literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (January 2016–May 2026), combining Medical Subject Headings and free-text terms related to AI and cardiovascular ultrasound. Original studies, meta-analyses, reviews, consensus documents, and seminal works were considered. AI now spans the entire echocardiographic workflow, acquisition guidance, view classification, segmentation (Dice ≈ 0.92–0.94 on public datasets), and automated quantification of ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain, achieving expert-level accuracy and improved reproducibility. Across clinical domains, AI supports ischemia detection on stress echocardiography, heart-failure phenogrouping, Doppler-independent aortic stenosis detection, and carotid plaque characterization for stroke-risk stratification. Emerging vision–language and multitask foundation models (e.g., EchoCLIP, EchoPrime, and PanEcho) point toward general-purpose interpretation, and a growing number of tools (Caption Guidance, Us2.ai, and Ultromics EchoGo) have obtained FDA clearance and/or CE marking. Increasingly, AI-derived imaging biomarkers feed multimodal models that enable individualized risk prediction and therapy selection. AI-enhanced cardiovascular ultrasound is poised to become a central tool of precision cardiology. Realizing its potential will require prospective multicenter validation, cross-vendor standardization, attention to generalizability, interpretability, and reproducibility, and evolving regulatory and ethical frameworks. Full article

Dengue remains one of the most important mosquito-borne viral diseases worldwide, and vector control continues to be the cornerstone of disease prevention. Vertical transmission has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to the maintenance of dengue virus (DENV) during interepidemic periods. In this study, field-collected egg pools and second-generation eggs derived from field-collected females from the state of Rio de Janeiro were analyzed by RT-qPCR, Sanger sequencing, plaque assay, and transmission electron microscopy. The second-generation egg samples (E1–E4), corresponding to F2 eggs of the AEDES-RIO strain, were all DENV positive. Sample E1 was positive for DENV-1, whereas samples E2–E4 were positive for DENV-4, confirming transovarial vertical transmission. The detection of DENV-1 and DENV-2 in field-collected egg pools further supports the occurrence of vertical transmission. All PCR-amplified viral fragments were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, homogenized egg samples naturally infected with DENV successfully infected Vero cells, demonstrating that the virus remained infectious. Transmission electron microscopy revealed virus-like particles of approximately 50 nm in diameter within egg tissues, providing ultrastructural evidence that corroborated the molecular and virological findings. Collectively, these findings provide additional evidence supporting vertical transmission of DENV in naturally infected Aedes aegypti populations and highlight the potential of egg-based surveillance as a complementary tool for entomological monitoring. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to establish its epidemiological value. Full article

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess caries-related indicators (DMFT and ICDAS indices), plaque index, salivary pH and buffering capacity, and dietary and oral hygiene habits in patients with cleft lip and/or palate undergoing orthodontic treatment, compared with a control group of healthy patients. Methods: This pilot case–control study included 26 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, 13 patients with cleft lip and/or palate and 13 healthy individuals. The following variables were assessed: diet and oral hygiene through a questionnaire; salivary pH and buffering capacity; caries risk, using the DMFT and ICDAS indices; and plaque index, using the ImageJ Software. Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in the DMFT index, salivary pH, and plaque index; nor in the diet, oral hygiene and salivary buffering capacity. A slightly higher plaque index was observed in patients with cleft lip and/or palate compared to healthy patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the location of plaque, with a higher incidence in the upper central incisors in the study group. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests no statistically significant differences in the DMFT index, plaque index, salivary pH, and buffering capacity between patients with cleft lip and/or palate and healthy controls undergoing orthodontic treatment. However, a higher incidence of bacterial plaque on the upper central incisors was observed in patients with cleft lip and/or palate. Full article

Background: Perioperative cardiovascular complications remain a major concern in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Coronary computed tomography (CT)-based imaging, including coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, coronary CT angiography (CCTA), and CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), enables noninvasive assessment of coronary plaque burden, anatomic stenosis, and functional ischemia. However, the comparative prognostic value of these CT-based imaging markers for predicting perioperative major adverse cardiac events (MACE) has not been systematically evaluated. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating CT-based coronary imaging before noncardiac surgery. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception through December 2025. Studies were included if they assessed CAC, CCTA, or CT-FFR and reported perioperative MACE. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. The CT-FFR analysis was pre-specified as exploratory given the limited number of eligible studies. Results: A total of 13 studies including 10,100 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery were included in the systematic review, and 9 studies were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis. Obstructive coronary artery disease detected by CCTA was strongly associated with perioperative MACE (pooled odds ratio [OR] 7.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.89–13.25). CAC burden was also significantly associated with perioperative cardiac risk (pooled OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.76–3.50). One study evaluating CT-FFR demonstrated a strong association between CT-FFR-defined ischemia and perioperative events (OR 10.77, 95% CI 4.64–25.02). These findings suggest that different CT-based imaging markers provide complementary prognostic information, with anatomic and functional assessment offering higher point estimates than plaque burden scoring. Conclusions: CT-based coronary imaging markers are significantly associated with perioperative MACE in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. CAC burden and obstructive CAD detected on CCTA demonstrated consistent prognostic associations with perioperative cardiovascular events across multiple studies. CT-FFR showed a strong exploratory signal in a single eligible study, suggesting a potential additional role for functional ischemia assessment, although further validation in larger prospective cohorts is required. CT-based coronary imaging may therefore provide valuable complementary information for perioperative cardiovascular risk stratification. Full article

Mouse models have been indispensable for defining the mechanisms of atherosclerosis, yet no single model reproduces the full spectrum of human disease. This review provides a practical framework for selecting mouse models according to the biological question being addressed. We compare classical lipoprotein-driven models, including Apoe^−/− and Ldlr^−/− mice, with models designed to study human-like lipoprotein metabolism, immune and immunometabolic mechanisms, adult-onset hypercholesterolemia, plaque complexity, coronary disease, and myocardial infarction-like outcomes. Particular emphasis is placed on how genetic background, lipoprotein composition, diet, sex, age, vascular site, and experimental design shape lesion development and influence interpretation. We also discuss discrepancies across single-cell RNA-sequencing studies, highlighting how differences in model, tissue processing, disease stage, and analytical strategy can alter the macrophage and immune-cell states detected. Rather than ranking models, we define what each model can teach, what it may miss, and when it is most appropriate to use. We conclude that future progress will depend on question-driven model selection, cross-model validation, improved reporting, and greater integration of molecular, spatial, and human benchmarking approaches. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the association between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP2, and MMP3) gene variations and susceptibility to Peyronie’s disease, and to investigate their effects on disease progression. This cross-sectional case–control study included a total of 182 individuals—91 patients with Peyronie’s disease and 91 healthy controls. Peripheral venous blood samples (5 mL) were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated using standard spin-column extraction kits. The promoter regions of MMP1, MMP2, and MMP3 were amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and genotyping was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays with specific restriction endonucleases. All genotyping procedures were conducted in a blinded fashion. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium analysis (HWE), binary logistic regression with rigorous multiplicity adjustments (Bonferroni-adjusted p-values), and non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis/Mann–Whitney tests with Dunn–Bonferroni post hoc comparisons were utilized. The frequency of the 2G allele for MMP1 (−1607 1G/2G) was significantly higher in the patient group (0.4830) compared to the control group (0.2360; p < 0.05). Similarly, significant differences in allele frequencies were observed for MMP2 (−735 C/T) and MMP3 (−1171 5A/6A) between the cohorts (p < 0.05). HWE analysis confirmed that all investigated variations were in equilibrium in both groups (all p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the MMP1 1G/1G genotype was associated with lower odds of Peyronie’s disease (OR: 0.250, p < 0.001), while the 1G/2G (OR: 2.032, p = 0.023) and 2G/2G (OR: 3.509, p = 0.005) genotypes were significantly associated with increased odds. Temporally, carriers of the MMP1 2G/2G genotype presented predominantly in the acute phase, exhibiting a significantly shorter median symptom duration (6.00 months, IQR: 3.00–9.00) compared to 1G/1G carriers (12.00 months, IQR: 5.25–36.00; p = 0.016, adj p = 0.048). For MMP2 (−735 C/T), the CC genotype was associated with higher odds of Peyronie’s disease (OR: 3.049, p < 0.001), while the TT genotype was associated with lower odds (OR: 0.278, p = 0.002). Furthermore, penile plaques were detected in 90% of patients with the CC genotype (p < 0.001). Patients with the CC genotype presented with a median symptom duration of 6.00 months (IQR: 3.00–12.00), whereas TT carriers exhibited a significantly longer duration (24.00 months, IQR: 4.00–48.00; p = 0.002, adj p = 0.006). Regarding MMP3 (−1171 5A/6A), the 5A/5A (OR: 3.930, p = 0.002) and 5A/6A (OR: 2.050, p = 0.022) genotypes were significantly associated with increased odds of the disease, while the 6A/6A genotype showed an inverse association (OR: 0.226, p < 0.001). Patients carrying the 5A allele presented characteristically in the acute phase, with a median symptom duration of 6.00 months (5A/5A) or 4.00 months (5A/6A), which was significantly extended to a median of 24.00 months (IQR: 7.50–54.00) in the 6A/6A genotype (p < 0.001, adj p < 0.001). The findings indicate robust statistical associations between the MMP1 2G, MMP2 C, and MMP3 5A alleles and increased susceptibility to Peyronie’s disease, as well as distinct correlations with compressed symptom durations, acute-phase characteristics, and plaque presence. Because this study relied on peripheral blood DNA genotyping without direct tissue expression quantification in a cross-sectional design, these genetic variations reflect strong exploratory associations rather than direct causal evidence. These markers highlight significant prognostic potential that warrants validation in larger, prospective, longitudinal cohorts. Full article