The effect of aging on the kinetic characteristics of cytochrome c oxidase in rat heart mitochondria was investigated. Mitochondria from young and aged rats had equivalent Km values for cytochrome c, while the maximal activity of the oxidase was significantly reduced in mitochondria from aged rats. The cytochrome aa3 content was the same in both these two types of mitochondria. The Arrhenius plot characteristics differ for cytochrome oxidase activity in mitochondria from aged rats as compared with young rats in that the breakpoint of the biphasic plot was shifted to a higher temperature. Cardiolipin content was markedly decreased in mitochondrial membrane from aged rats. No alterations were found in the patterns of the phospholipid fatty acid distribution of mitochondrial membranes from young and aged rats. The results support the conclusion that the reduced mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity in aged animals is due to a specific decrease in the cardiolipin content.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Germ cell tumors in children. Evaluation of regional cases over a 23 year period].

UNLABELLED: A retrospective study on germ cell tumors on children is reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate some prognostic factors (age, sex, site, histology, treatment) as well as to compare the casistic of Puglia Region with the results of the National literature. 45 patients (30 females, 15 males) aging 2 days-12 years observed in three Pediatric Centres of Bari into 23 years. Primary site of the tumor was: ovary 9, testis 9, sacrococcygeal 16, and others site 11 (head 4, mediastinum 2, pelvis 2, abdomen 2, gluteus 1). HISTOLOGY: teratoma 31, choriocarcinoma 1, embryonal carcinoma 7, endodermal sinus tumor 5, germinoma 1. TREATMENT: surgery 35 patients, surgery+chemotherapy 6, surgery+chemotherapy+radiotherapy 4. Results of treatment: 37 of 41 valuable patients achieved a response (34 complete, 3 partial response); 4 patients had no response. Of the 37 patients that have had a complete or partial remission, 8 subsequently relapsed; of these 8 patients, 5 obtained a second remission after second line therapy, 3 are dead for progressive disease. Better prognosis was observed in children with gonadal tumors treated with surgery alone.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ulcerative rectocolitis in the pediatric age group. Radical surgical treatment by the pull-through procedure and direct ileo-anal anastomosis].

Ulcerous rectocolitis (URC) is today seen more frequently than in the past. Extended forms and/or those recalcitrant to medical therapy, make use today of radical surgical treatment with fewer functional and anatomic sequelae. Personal experience of seven cases admitted to the Paediatric Surgery Department of the University of Bari is reported, stress being laid in particular on the results of surgical therapy obtained with total colectomy associated with proctomucosectomy according to the Romualdi-Soave technique. After presenting some general remarks on the disease in paediatric age, stress is laid on the need to resort as quickly as possible to radical surgery, respecting the technical suggestions of Lester-Martin. It is maintained that before carrying out surgical therapy it is always advisable to carry out temporary ileostomy as it offers particular advantages deriving from the greater effectiveness of pharmacological therapy on the defunctionalides colon, the noteworthy recovery in general condition favoured by associated NPT and by recognition of the real extent of the disease which often does not correspond to the endoscopic aspects. Finally, it is maintained that Lester-Martin's technical modification if applied correctly leads to normal functional results (continence and number of alvus emptyings) and definitive, stable cure of the disease, thus rendering inopportune, at least in paediatric age, of the use of the ileal pocket.

Adolescent↗