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Background: The role of leukocyte adhesion molecules in patients with burns and their relationship to other parameters of inflammation and lipid metabolism is only recently beginning to be explored. Therefore, we investigated the temporal changes in the levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules and other parameters of inflammation and lipoprotein metabolism in patients with thermal injury., Materials and Methods: The serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and sE-selectin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen in seven patients with severe burns over a 30- day period were measured to determine the involvement of these factors in the pathophysiology of severe burns. Serum levels of slCAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were determined by ELISA. Furthermore, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL chol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL chol) and triglycerides (TG) were measured., Results: Blood levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, CRP and fibrinogen increased with maximum values six days after thermal injury. In contrast, serum levels of sE-selectin were elevated two days after thermal injury. The sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels correlated significantly with both the CRP and the fibrinogen levels. Plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased with minimum values four days after thermal injury. Furthermore, an increase of triglyceride levels was observed., Conclusion: The observed inflammatory response of soluble cell adhesion molecules could be useful in monitoring endothelial activation immediately following thermal injury. Further studies involving a larger number of patients with burns should help to clarify the extent to which measured parameters, especially the temporal changes ofsCAMs, could be relevant in assessing the morbidity ofpatients with thermal injury.

The levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were determined in urban and rural persons of Ethiopia in dependency on age. Regarding total and LDL cholesterol a comparable age-dependency as in the population of other countries is observed. On the other hand higher values of these parameters were found in the serum of urban persons in comparison with rural subjects which may be a reflection of the different life style.

Ageing is associated with a variety of changes of intracellular and extracellular lipid metabolism. Depending upon age the the rapidity of synthesis and metabolism of lipids decreases and partly increased plasma lipoprotein levels are found. Both under basal and under special alimentary conditions the lipoprotein metabolism shows age-dependent changes which may lead to an increased risk for atherosclerosis. These results are important for therapeutic and prophylactic conditions.

Clinical manifest hypothyreosis leads to changes of plasma lipoproteins, which are characterized by elevated LDL levels, an increase of the relation LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, an elevation of the quotient cholesterol/triglycerides within the VLDL and an increase of the relation HDL2/HDL3. Both these changes and the diminished activities of post-heparin lipase of hepatic and extrahepatic origin are reversible after substitution therapy. On the contrary, patients with hyperthyreosis M. Basedow show low lipoprotein levels, high activities of post-heparin lipase and an elevation of the relation of the apolipoproteins apo C II/apo C III within the VLDL fraction.