After replantation of incompletely severed limbs had been performed in the thighs of the hind legs of 5 dogs, the time and form of lymphatic regeneration and its relation to the subsidence of edema were studied by lymphangiography with direct technic (group 1). Radiogram taken in the 3rd week postoperatively showed the beginning of lymphatic regeneration. In the 5th week the lymphatic trunks were completely connected and returned to normal. However, no formation of collateral lymphatic circulation could be seen. In the other 5 dogs (group 2) the femoral arteries and veins were ligated and severed instead of being re-anastomosed, and it was found that a collateral lymphatic took part in lymphatic drainage in the 1st week. With regeneration and connection of the severed lymphatics in the 3rd week, the collateral lymphatics gradually disappeared except in one case when it remained visible until the 7th week. Proof is present that the lymphatics play an important role in assisting the vein to overcome edema and to restore the normal condition of the limbs. This study offers a theoretical basis for clinical practice that there is no need to anastomose the severed lymphatics during replantation of severed limbs and other transplantation operations.

We applied an indirect hemagglutination inhibition test to detect platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG). This test is relatively easy to perform and has good reproducibility. The PAIgG value detected with this method in 45 normal donors was 0–5 fg per platelet. In our series there were 15 ITP patients, of whom two had been in complete remission and had normal PAIgG values. In the remaining 13 cases, 11 were found to have increased PAIgG values (more than 5 fg per platelet). In cases where corticosteroids or splenectomy were effective, rising of the platelet count was associated with PAIgG waning.

Preliminary analysis of clinical data of ITP patients suggested that the clinically diagnosed ITP might be of heterogeneous pathogenesis. A further study is warranted.

The effects of tetrandrine, verapamil, propranolol and practolol on isoproterenol dose-response relationships and influence of tetrandrine, verapamil and nifedipine on calcium dose-response relationships and on excitation-contraction coupling were investigated in isolated cat papillary muscles.

Propranolol and practolol competitively antagonized isoproterenol. Tetrandrine and verapamil also antagonized isoproterenol but in a non-competitive manner. Tetrandrine, verapamil and nifedipine shifted calcium dose-response curves to the right, and acted as non-competitive antagonists of calcium, as a plot of log (x-1) vs.log [B] resulted in straight lines with slopes of -0.43, -0.55 and -0.42, respectively.

Tetrandrine, verapamil and nifedipine resulted in excitation-contraction uncoupling. It is suggested that tetrandrine inhibited the inward displacement of calcium through the voltage-dependent channel.

The results are consistent with our previous supposition that tetrandrine is a calcium antagonist of plant origin.