Zinc and thymic hormone-dependent immunity in normal ageing and in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Plasma zinc levels were measured in young controls, aged controls, patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and patients with non-Alzheimer type dementia. Zinc levels decreased with age; however, no difference was found between patients with dementia and age-matched controls. Plasma levels of active or inactive thymulin, a nonapeptide produced and released by the thymus gland, were also determined in young controls, aged controls, patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and patients with non-Alzheimer type dementia.

Changes in the rheologic properties of blood after a high altitude expedition.

The changes in blood rheologic properties induced by exposure to high altitude plus heavy and prolonged physical strain were investigated in 14 climbers of an Italian expedition to Himalaya (maximum altitude reached m 7350). In blood samples collected immediately after return, alterations of some haemorheologic parameters were observed in comparison with baseline values, and namely an increase in relative blood viscosity, fibrinogen and erythrocyte filtration time along with a fall in platelet count. Treatment with a drug acting on the red cell deformability (Pentoxifylline) appeared to prevent the changes in blood viscosity and erythrocyte filterability.

[What is in the future for geriatrics? II].

The authors point out the importance of geriatric medicine in the hospital in its traditional goals and in some new proposals: geriatric case finding, general practitioner's education, teaching in nursing schools, family education, pre-retirement courses etc.

[What is in the future for geriatrics? I].

The authors, after an evaluation of the historical course of the geriatrics in England and its contents, point out the importance of this specialty from a demografic, economical, social, epidemiological and cultural point of view.

[The role of the physician in the preparation of adults for old age].

Loss of his social role and various other stresses result in a psychological feeling of impotence and nothingness in the aged. Physicians should make a close study of these aspects and not identify the aged with the end of finality and segregation. Adaptation to old age is determined by the years preceding it and doctors should help adults to improve the quality of their lives and no "die" in a metaphorical sense.

[Histochemical methods in the study of normal and tumoral cells in serous effusions].

The behaviour of intracellular lipids (Sudan black B), PAS positivity peroxidase and hydrolytic enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase, aspecific esterases) was studied in normal and tumour cells from serous effusions. It is suggested that the practical application of such method to the diagnosis of effusions should be checked over a wider range of case material.