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Cytochemically demonstrated cytochrome oxidase activities in mitochondria of rat pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells were quantitatively compared. As the standardized procedures, lungs were fixed for 10 min at 4 degrees C with 2% pure glutaraldehyde, and incubated for different times at 37 degrees C in a medium containing 1.0 mg/ml 3,3'-diaminobenzidine-4HCl, 1 mg/ml cytochrome c, 0.1 mg/ml catalase, 7% sucrose, and 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Electron micrographs were then obtained, and the densities of the reaction deposits in the mitochondrial intermembrane-intracristal space were measured in an image analyzer, and were plotted in terms of time in minutes. The initial velocity (maximal rate) of the activity expressed as deposit accumulation rate (% area/60 min) filling the mitochondrial intermembrane-intracristal space of Type I, Type II and Type III cells was 40, 130 and 9.3, respectively. These results indicated that mitochondria are varied in the intensity of cytochrome oxidase activity among 3 types of pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells, and that the image-analyzing measurement of the accumulation rate of reaction product may be useful for quantitative analysis of enzyme activity, in particular, in the cells which are difficult to isolate from complex tissues.

A study of the source of the blood supply to the anterolateral femoral flap was carried out on 42 lower limbs of adult cadavers (among them 35 cadavers with injection of red latex and 1 with india ink into the arteries and 6 vascular cast specimens), and the surface locations of the vascular pedicle were detected on 50 healthy adults. It was found that the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral vessel was an ideal axial vessel. There are constant perforating branches of the myocutaneous artery or cutaneous branches from the intermuscular space to the anterolateral femoral skin. The area extends about 12 x 30 cm. Within the flap, the anterior branch of the anterolateral cutaneous nerve of the high is located. This flap has been widely used for free transplantation in China since 1983 with satisfactory results.

Fifty-four rats that had been used as models for lymphedema were divided into nine groups to observe the changes of lymphatic contractility in pathologic conditions at varying postoperative days. The changes of the lymphatic contractility were divided into three stages in this paper: In the first stage, the lymphatic contractility was impaired by high intralymphatic pressure, but the morphology of its wall was normal and it could recover its function if the pressure was decreased. In the second stage, the blocked lymphatic lost its contractile function partially or completely because its wall thickened and fibrosed, but the newborn lymphatics possessed contraction function and could be anastomosed. In the third stage, most lymphatics had lost their contractile function because of severe fibrosis. The fibrosis of the tissue even blocked the growth of the newborn lymphatics. In this stage, therefore, it was unsuitable to do a lymphatic-venous anastomosis. It can be concluded from the experiment that lymphatic contractility should be considered before performing a lymphatic-venous anastomosis. The lymphatic that still has contractile function should be selected for lymphatic-venous anastomosis.

Of 151 patients with renal cell carcinoma 12 were asymptomatic and 13 were small in size. The patients with asymptomatic renal cell carcinoma were incidentally discovered by B ultrasonography or IVP. Most of asymptomatic renal cell carcinomas were of lower stage than suspected, but a few were advanced. The patients with small renal cell carcinoma, which were all classified into stage One, Simple hematuria or pain is not only the manifestation of advanced carcinoma but also early stage. It is termed early diagnosis that the renal cell carcinoma without capsule invasion and metastases is detected. B ultrasonography should be the first choice for early diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

This paper reports a systematic survey of the biological character istics of K. galanga. As a result of investigations on plant density, planting season, fertilization, storage of maternal tubers in winter and qualitative analysis of tubers, etc, cultural measures have been brought forth that suit the local climatic conditions and thus give high yield and quality of products.

Based on techniques for identifying and distinguishing motor, sensory, and mixed fasciculi in peripheral nerves, the authors propose guidelines for selecting suture methods for nerve repair. When many mixed fasciculi are known to exist at the nerve lesion, epineurial repair is preferable; fascicular (perineurial) repair is more suitable when pure motor and sensory fasciculi are clearly recognized. Generally, epineurial repair is indicated for more proximal injuries, with fascicular repair most appropriate for more distal sites. A greater ratio of epineurial connective tissue to intrafascicular nervous tissue implies an inclination toward fascicular repair.

The authors' modified Olszewski method (J Cardiovasc Surg 9:178-183, 1968) for preparing chronic lymphedema with rats' limbs is presented. The incidence of chronic lymphedema formation after 9 months of follow-up was 64%. The experiment demonstrates that there is a brisk regeneration of the lymphatics under the lymphedema. The regeneration observed took place on the lateral wall of the blocked lymphatics, except for regeneration of capillary lymphatics, and the newborn lymphatics grew about 1 mm each day. There are indeed preexisting lymphatics in the body. They are of significant importance in the establishment of the collateral circulation because of their great number and early opening. Lymphatic regeneration and opening could be prevented by tissue scarring. Effective prevention of the formation of tissue scarring has important significance in preventing the development of chronic lymphedema.

Lymphatic contractility in rats was studied, and changes in lymphatic contractility were recorded under the influence of various factors. We suggest that this contraction is not only the essential driving force in lymph drainage, but also that it plays an important role in the effect resulting from external forces. It was proved that there are alpha- and beta-receptors on the smooth muscle of the lymphatics. Under the control of neurohumoral factors, alpha and beta receptors regulate the lymphatic motion coordinately. We recommend that the lymphatics that still have contractile function be selected for lymphaticovenous anastomoses or other microlymphatic operations for treating lymphedema. Diluted epinephrine is dropped onto the local lymphatic to identify its contractile function.