[Is it possible to improve erythrocyte deformability in vascular diseases in the aged? Preliminary study]. / E' possibile migliorare la deformabilità eritrocitaria nell'anziano vasculopatico? Studio preliminare.

A study is presented of erythrocyte filtration in 10 elderly patients suffering from vasculopathy and treated with 1000 mg X 2 cyticholine per diem for six days. Statistical analysis using the Student's "t" test showed a distinct improvement in the filtration index in all stages of treatment with maximum values (p less than 0.001) reached on the 2nd day, two hours after endovenous administration of 1 g cyticholine.

[The thymopause: an immunological climacteric]. / La timopausa: climaterio immunologico.

The part played by the thymus and its products in conferring and maintaining immunological competence is examined. Attention is also devoted to the effect of thymic involution on the immune system, with particular reference to a fall in circulating thymic hormone. Generally speaking, this fall occurs in the 5th decade of life, which can be described as the thymopause. It is accompanied by increased sensitivity to infection and neoplasia. Two lines of intervention are suggested: the use of highly purified, selective hormone fractions after careful evaluation of the functional aspects of the immune system; employment of organ extracts containing all or nearly all the thymic hormones and peptides in an integrated form. It is felt that the second approach is more practicable today, since it permits broad-spectrum interventions through the stimulation of many mechanisms with different sequential steps, and a well-programmed biological rhythm over the course of time.