Rectothecal fistula secondary to an anterior sacral meningocele.

A rectothecal fistula secondary to anterior sacral meningocele is an extremely rare disease. To the authors' knowledge, only 2 cases have been reported in the English-language literature. It can cause symptoms by compressing adjacent structures, causing urinary difficulties and constipation.

Ceramic femoral head fractures in total hip replacement.

Two cases of fracture of the ceramic head of a total hip replacement are presented. In both cases the damaged components were replaced with satisfactory results.

Identification and expression of a copy number control gene in the IncFIII hemolytic plasmid pSU316.

A DNA fragment carrying both the IncFIII determinant and a copy number control gene of the hemolytic plasmid pSU316 has been cloned in pBR322. Deletion derivatives of the hybrid plasmid generated by Bal 31 digestion, which no longer exhibit the IncFIII phenotype, fall into two complementation groups when tested against a pSU316 miniplasmid derivative. Type 1 mutants exhibit the copy number control (Cop+) phenotype whereas type 2 mutants do not.