Age-dependent changes in esterases of Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. (Bruchidae: Coleoptera)

Age-dependent changes, quantitative as well as qualitative, in esterase activity were found by assaying crude extracts of Callosobruchus maculatus. There is increase in esterase activity in both the sexes with advancing age in bruchids. Esterase from old bruchids showed several additional electrophoretic bands which did not appear in assays of young bruchids; in addition there is an increase in staining intensity of the bands. A rapid increase in esterase activity during the last days of life may be responsible for producing energy used in various metabolic processes in an attempt to escape death.

Age-related glycogen changes in bruchids

Quantitative measurements of glycogen in aging bruchids showed there was a considerable decrease (> 50%) with age except on the fifth day when an increase was observed, followed by a decrease on the sixth day. The variations in glycogen content with age suggests that glycogen serves as one of the energy sources responsible for the maintenance of metabolism in the process of aging in bruchids.

Cytogenetic effects of influenza virus infection on male germ cells of mice

Swiss albino male mice were administered two doses (1 and 2 HA units) of influenza A2 Hong Kong/68 virus IP. The incidence of chromosomal anomalies in spermatocytes was analysed at various times post infection and was found to be significantly higher than in controls, indicating that the influenza virus had induced these anomalies.

Recent advances in surgery of ongenital heart disease

In the cyanotic group palliative procedures for transposition of the great arteries are frequently life-saving in infancy, and the definitive operations such as the atrial baffle, and the Rastelli procedure for those with ventricular septal defect and pulmonic stenosis, are now firmly established. In tetralogy of Fallot shunting procedures continue to be employed in infancy and early childhood, and the complete repair is usually done after the age of five. Corrective operations for total anomalous venous return may have to be staged, and the results are more satisfactory in older children. The various forms of endocardial cushion defects can usually be recognized accurately preoperatively, and where the normal anatomical relationships can be restored, excellent results obtained. Brilliant operative success can now be had in some forms of truncus arteriosus and double outlet right ventricle. It is quite common to find congenital heart disease in adults, frequently after many years of having been treated as rheumatic heart disease. The operative risk in this group is less than 10 percent, and in most instances such patients are restored to their normal physiological age after operation.

Oesophageal Perforation

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