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Background: Burns represent a serious health problem, associated with multiple-organ failure, prolonged hospitalization, septic complications, and increased rate of mortality. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of various circulating molecules in children with severe burns (more than 25% TBSA), in three different moments: 48 h, day 10, and day 21 post-burn. Materials and Methods: This study included 32 children with burns produced by flame, hot liquid, and electric arc and 21 controls. Serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), α 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and platelet factor 4 (PF4) were detected using the Multiplex technique. Several parameters, such as fibrinogen, leucocyte count, thrombocyte count, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were also determined for each patient during hospitalization. Results: Significant statistical differences were obtained for CRP, AGP, and PF4 compared to the control group, in different moments of measurements. Negative correlations between CRP, AGP, and PF4 serum levels and burned body surface, and also the hospitalization period, were observed. Discussions: CRP levels increased in the first 10 days after burn trauma and then decreased after day 21. Serum PAI-1 levels were higher immediately after the burn and started decreasing only after day 10 post-burn. AGP had elevated levels 48 h after the burn, then decreased at 7–10 days afterwards, and once again increased levels after 21 days. PF4 serum levels increased after day 10 since the burning event. Conclusions: Serum CRP, AGP, PAI-1, and PF4 seem to be promising molecules in monitoring patients with a burn within the first 21 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a pathological condition, ranging from fatty liver to chronic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, and eventually to hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent findings suggest that patients with NAFLD have an increased risk of cardiovascular events and thromboembolism, which is independent of metabolic diseases that are frequently associated with NAFLD, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Methods: We evaluated 30 NAFLD patients, before and after weight loss. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (VWF), homocysteine, coagulation protein S, Thrombin activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), and factor VII (FVII) were assessed to evaluate whether they should be responsible of the prothrombotic state of NAFLD after weight loss. Results: At baseline, patients affected by NAFLD had a significantly higher levels of CRP, fibrinogen, PAI-1, VWF antigen, and FVII levels. After weight reduction, we observed a significant drop of inflammatory and prothrombotic markers, as well as glucometabolic, lipid profile. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence for a link between NAFLD/NASH and thromboembolism. The association seems to be linked with primitive thrombotic state and hypercoagulation due to increased levels of coagulation factors and reduced levels of PAI-1. This hypercoagulation state might explain increased levels of thrombosis and splanchnic thrombosis observed in NASH correlated cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]