The ACh content and turnover in the brain of rat during the course of acupuncture analgesia (AA) were investigated. In electro-acupuncture (EA) group, the pain threshold was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.0l) and the acetylcholine (ACh) content in the brain increased obviously.

In order to determine the rate of ACh utilization and synthesis, hemicholineum-3 (HC-3) and physostigmine were used as tool drugs to block the synthesis and degradation of ACh respectively. It was discovered that during AA, the ACh utilization rate increased significantly in comparison with the control group. In caudate nucleus it increased to more than twice and in thalamus nearly to twice the amount. At the same time the rate of ACh synthesis also increased. These indicate that the elevation of ACh content in the central nerve system (CNS) is the result of a new dynamic equilibrium between the increase in ACh utilization rate and synthesis rate induced by EA. Reviewing a lot of papers concerned, one can see that the increase in ACh utilization rate is an important evidence that ACh actively participates in the action of AA.

Purified phase I rickettsial suspension was obtained from the spleen of mouse infected with Henzerling strain Q fever by differential centrifugation, trypsin digestion and ether treatment. ELISA coating antigen of Q fever was then prepared by further disruption with ultrasonic wave and high speed centrifugation. The antibody of the infected guinea pig was detected by indirect method of ELISA by antigen coated microtitreplates with protein concentration of 7.89 μg/ml. The positive rate accounted for 40% 4–5 days, 68.7% 6–7 days and 100% 8 days after infection. By agglutination test, however, the same sera were all negative within 7 days after infection, 20% 8–9 days and all positive 18 days after inoculation. ELISA reached the peak titre (1:64–1:1024) on the 24th day after infection whereas agglutination test in the same period only gave a titre of 1:8–1:32, and reached its peak titre (1:128–1:256) 1 month after infection. Since the Q fever antibody of the guinea pig could be detected 66.7% as positive 1–2 days after fever onset by the ELISA indirect method, the ELISA appears to be a more ideal method for early diagnosis of Q fever than other serological methods.

Orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat is selected as a model for transplantation researches in a few countries in recent years, but the technique previously reported is difficult to master. Since 1981, we have been testing a new technique which differs from any so far reported mainly in the sequence of vascular anastomoses. At first, the portal veins are connected by using cuff technique before removal of the recipient’s liver and then the supra- and infrahepatic venae cavae are anastomosed. As a result, the clamping time of the portal vein and inferior vena cava are shortened to 13 and 14 minutes respectively, resulting in high postoperative survival rate.

Two to five μ1 20–50% horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in normal saline solution have been injected into the myocardium of the left ventricle of 36 rats. HRP positive reaction granules in spinal ganglion cells have been observed by means of DAB method.

Thirty-two rabbits were divided into 8 groups, 4 in each, according to different ischemic times, different preservation temperatures and presence or absence of biliary perfusion.

The intrahepatic bile ducts looked entirely normal in all animals. The degree of damage of the gall bladder was graded 4 in warm ischemia for 1 hour without biliary perfusion, and in warm ischemia for 2 hours with biliary perfusion, and in cold ischemia for 6–24 hours without biliary perfusion. The bladder damage was graded 0 in warm ischemia for 1 hour with biliary perfusion, and 0–1 in cold ischemia for 6–24 hours with biliary perfusion. Damage of the common bile duct was graded 2–3 in cold ischemia for 6 hours without biliary perfusion.

The biliary tract can be injured during ischemia, and the degree of damage depends on the ischemic time, preservation temperature and the amount of bile. Therefore, it is essential that the ischemic time be minimized as short as possible, the biliary tract be thoroughly perfused and the gall bladder be excised if necessary, during bloodless hepatectomy and liver transplantation.

In our series of 12 patients with unresectable primary liver cancers, hepatic function changes after hepatic artery ligation (HAL) have been investigated. Significant elevation of SGPT, SGOT and LDH were observed on the one hand, and only slight or no derangement in AKP, γ-GT, 5’-NT and bilirubin was noted on the other hand. Factors influencing hepatic function changes after HAL are discussed. The importance of high postoperative oxygen saturation of portal vein blood in maintaining a stable oxygen consumption of hepatocytes is stressed.