Objective To investigate the effects of α-lipoic acid on mitochondrial energy metabolism of liver in the rat with obstructive jaundice. Methods Seventy-two male SD rats were randomly divided into groups of sham operation and bile duct-ligation + normal soldium( BDL + NS) and bileduct-ligation + α-lipoic acid( BDL + LA). Malondialdehyde(MDA) , superoxide dismutase(SOD) and ATP, ADP, AMP in rat liver's mitochondrion were examined on days 7,14,21 after operation. Results MDA contents, ADP contents and AMP contents of liver' s mitochondrion were significantly increased at each time point in BDL + NS-group,while SOD contents and ATP contents of liver' s mitochondrion decreased remarkably on the 7th, 14th days; MDA content of liver' s mitochondrion in BDL + LA group was more lower than that in BDL + NS group (P ＜ 0. 01 )on the 21st day; MDA content was further increased in BDL + NS group and in BDL + LA group but there was no difference in their comparisons. On the 7th, 14th days, SOD contents and ATP contents in BDL + LA group were significantly higher than that in BDL + NS group( 7th days,P ＜ 0. 01; 14th days,P ＜ 0.05 ), On the 21 st day SOD contents in BDL + NS group had no difference with that in BDL + LA group (P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusions LA has a protective effect on energy metabolism of liver' s mitochondrion in the initial ,metaphase stage of obstructive jaundice.

Objective To summarize the clinical efficacy of Millikan's modified modality using tension-free mesh-plug inguinal herniorrhaphy. Methods A retrospective study was performed in 185 cases with in-guinal hernias. They received surgical treatment using Millikan's modality in our hospital from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2006. Results There were 184 males and 1 female in these patients with a average age of 47 years ( range 32 - 75 years). Among them, 7 cases had bilateral hernia. The mean operative time of each hernia was 49 min (range 30 -70 min), and the average postoperative hospital stay was 5. 1 days (range 3 - 18 d). The complication rate was 10. 8% (20/185). All patients had no recurrence after following-up over 24 months. Conclusion Millikan's modified mesh-plug hemioplasty is a safe and effective modality in the pri-mary inguinal hernia repair, and has fewer complications and lower recurrence rate.