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To verify the relationship of mammographic (Mx) patterns of breast cancer to hormone receptor content (ER, PgR) we studied 129 women (59% in postmenopause; average age 55) in the last 3 years. All women had operable breast cancer and were submitted to mammography before surgery. The tumors were classified, according to Mx characteristics, in 5 classes (Broberg, 1983). ER and PgR contents (cut-off for positivity: 10 fmol/mg prot cyt) were analyzed in all patients by means of DCC method. The percentage of ER+ cases was significantly higher in class I than in all other Mx classes (85% vs 57%; p = 0.02), whereas it was lowest in class IV (51% vs 70%; p = 0.03). The percentage of PgR+ cases was significantly different only in class I with respect to class IV (70% vs 41%; p = 0.002). As for ER and PgR mean tumor content, no statistically significant difference was observed between the 5 classes. When the 2 receptors were simultaneously considered the percentage of ER+ PgR+ cases was higher in class I than in all the extant classes (p = 0.01), and the percentage of ER- PgR- was higher in class IV than in the extant ones (p = 0.02). In selected subgroups of patients, Mx classification of breast cancer can help the physician predict the hormone receptor tumor status with sufficient reliability.

A close relationship between dietary oils and fatty acid composition of bass liver and liver microsomes and mitochondria is reported in the present paper. Among the data the most relevant is the evidence for elongation and desaturation of dietary 18:3 n-3 and 18:2 n-6, giving as a result an increase of 22:6 n-3 and 20:4 n-6 levels respectively. The importance of such findings in carnivore marine fish is discussed and compared with literature data.

n-Hexane on coupled rabbit heart mitochondria induces "in vitro" uncoupling with both glutamate and succinate as substrates and the effect increases with increasing n-alkane concentration (from 0 to 160 microgram/mg mitochondrial protein) and temperature (from 15 degrees to 38 degrees C). The inner mitochondrial membrane is made permeable to proteins; moreover extrusion of some matrix enzymes and entry of exogenous NADH is produced. Furthermore at higher concentrations and temperatures NADH oxidase inhibition and increase of its thermosensitivity is shown whereas upon succinate oxidase is evidenced a biphasic effect (activation followed by inhibition). The results, qualitatively similar to those observed with detergents and solvents, suggest a fluidization of the lipid phase of the membrane.

Total lipids (TL), phospholipids (PL) and fatty acid composition of TL and PL were estimated in breast, leg and cardiac muscles of turkeys, males and females, fede diets containing 0%, 10% and 15% of Candida lipolytica cultivated on n-alkanes by industrial method ("Toprina"). LT and PL were also valued in "Toprina" and diets. With increasing concentration of dietary yeasts it was observed that: a) Pl increased in diets, breast and leg muscles; b) fatty acids 15:0 and 17:0 increased, 17:1 and 17:2, typical of the product, appeared and increased in the tissues.

A partial characterization of bass gill (Na+ + K+-ATPase is reported in the present paper. Microsomal preparation from gill homogenate showed optimal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at pH 6,5 in the presence of 100 mM Na+, 20mM K+ and 5mM Mg2+. Under these conditions maximal activity was shown at 45 degrees C, even if an increased lability of the enzyme was shown at temperature greater than 30 degrees C. A complete inhibition of the enzyme occurred in the presence of 1 mM ouabain. The break in the Arrhenius plot occurred approximatively at the temperature of adaptation of these fish (18 degrees C). The energies of activation above and below the break were scarcely different from each other and lower than those reported in other Poikilotherms. Furthermore similar values of Km for Na+ were evidenced at 18 degrees C and 30 degrees C. The whole of data are discussed in comparison with other teleost gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reports and related to the physiological role of the enzyme in osmoregulation.

Arrhenius plot of glutamate, succinate and ascorbate+TMPD oxidation in bass liver mitochondria show a break at different temperatures. Above the break activation energies (Ea) of the three enzymes. Above the break activation energies (Ea) of the three enzymes examined are similar and comparable with literature data in poikilotermic and homeothermic animals. Below the break the Ea are again comparable with poikiloterm and homeotherm ones except for succinate-oxidase whose Ea is surprisingly higher. The data are suggested to be due to the features of the enzymes or to the microenvironmental physical state.

Studies "in vitro" on the effect of n-nonane on coupled rabbit heart mitochondria with both succinate and glutamate as substrates show that the hydrocarbon examined makes the membrane permeable to protons (uncoupling), to some matrix enzymes and to exogenous NADH. The effect increases with increasing n-alkane concentration (from 0 to 160 microgram/mg mitochondrial protein) and temperature (from 15 degrees to 38 degrees C). Furthermore at higher concentrations and temperatures NADH oxidase inhibition is observed, whereas on succinate oxidase a biphasic effect (activation at lower concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations) is produced. However the results, qualitatively similar to those observed with n-hexane, exhibit features probably due to a longer chain and that can be ascribed to perturbations of the physical state of membrane lipids.

The effect of n-dodecane, n-pentadecane and n-octadecane at various concentrations (from 0 to 160 microgram/mg mitochondrial protein) and temperatures (from 15 degrees to 38 degrees C) is studied "in vitro" on coupled rabbit heart mitochondria. With both glutamate and succinate as substrates, and at higher temperatures only, n-dodecane makes the membrane permeable to protons (uncoupling), to some matrix enzymes and poorly to NADH; moreover it slightly inhibits NADH-oxidase and exerts a biphasic action (activation followed by inhibition) on succinate oxidase. The results, qualitatively similar to those observed with n-hexane and n-nonane, are yet less striking and exhibit features probably due to the longer chain. The other n-alkanes examined do not show any effect.

In the present paper the respiratory function in bass liver mitochondria is studied over the temperature range 6-34 degrees C. The respiratory rate in state 3 and state 4 at the temperatures examined agrees with data from poikiloterms reported elsewhere by other investigators ICR and ADP/O values with glutamate and succinate as substrates are considered and their variations as a function of the experimental temperature are discussed. ICR shows a maximum at 20 degrees C which approximatively corresponds with the temperature of the seawater where these fishes were bred. On the contrary ADP/O ratio does not show any meaningful variation.

Totals lipids (TL) phospholipids (PL) and fatty acid composition of TL and PL (the latter in blood only) were estimated in Candida lipolytica cultivated on n-alkanes by industrial method ("Toprina"), in 0%, 10% and 15% "Toprina" diets and in faeces and blood of turkeys, males and females, fed these diets. With increasing concentrations of dietary "Toprina" phospholipids and 15:0 and 17:0 fatty acids increased, 17:1 and 17:2, typical of the product, appeared and increased in diets and blood. Other lipid and fatty acids values were not affected by dietary yeast.

The authors evidence a Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity stimulated by Na+ in absence of K+ in bass gill microsomes. As this stimulated ATPase shows different features from "baseline" activity measured in the absence of both Na+ and K+ ions (Mg2+-ATPase) and from 1mM ouabain sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, it has been ascribed to a distinct Na+-ATPase. In the present paper the optimal conditions for bass gill Na+-ATPase assay and the temperature dependence of the enzyme are reported. Moreover the Na+-ATPase appears to be insensitive to 1mM ouabain and 100% inhibited by 2,5mM ethacrynic acid. It is suggested a parallel diffusion of Na+- and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and a possible physiological role of Na+ATPase in osmoregulation.

Total lipids (TL), phospholipids (PL) and fatty acid composition of TL and PL were estimated in adipose tissue, liver and brain of turkeys, males and females, fed diets containing 0%, 10% and 15% of Candida lipolytica cultivated on n-alkanes by industrial metod ("Toprina"). TL and PL were also valued in "Toprina" and diets. It was observed that: a) PL increased in diets, adipose tissue and liver, not in brain; b) with increasing concentrations of dietary yeasts fatty acids 15:0 and 17:0 increased, 17:1 and 17:2 typical of product appeared and increased in adipose tissue and liver only, not in brain.