The contractility of knuckle pads. An in vitro study.

Strips of tissue from knuckle pads contract in response to the myofibroblast stimulant mepyramine in a reversible, repeatable and dose-dependent manner. The significance of this finding is discussed.

Dupuytren's disease treated by palmar fasciectomy and an open palm technique.

The results of long-term follow-up (range 9-19 years) are presented in a continuous series of patients treated for Dupuytren's contracture by one surgeon using the open palm technique. Mean preoperative total range of movement was 48% rising to 96% postoperatively. Mean total range of movement was 92% at follow-up.

Control of carbon flux to acetate excretion during growth of Escherichia coli in batch and continuous cultures.

During growth of Escherichia coli ML308 on pyruvate in a continuous culture (turbidostat) or batch culture, flux of carbon into the cells exceeds the amphibolic capacity of the central pathways. This is balanced by diversion of carbon flux to acetate excretion which in turn diminishes the efficiency of carbon conversion to biomass [g] dry wt (mol substrate)-1]. However, restriction of carbon supply in a chemostat diminishes flux to acetate excretion and at a dilution rate (D = mu) of 0.

Molecular cloning and over-expression of the glyoxylate bypass operon from Escherichia coli ML308.

A recombinant plasmid carrying an 11 kb restriction-endonuclease-ClaI fragment of genomic DNA from Escherichia coli ML308 was constructed. This plasmid complements an aceA mutation. The plasmid encodes the structural genes of the glyoxylate bypass operon, namely malate synthase A (aceB), isocitrate lyase (aceA) and isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase (aceK), as judged by overexpression of enzyme activities and transcription/translation experiments in vitro.

Acute osteomyelitis of index finger caused by dog bite.

A forty-seven-year-old man was bitten by a dog on his left index finger. Despite initial antibiotic treatment, he developed acute osteomyelitis of the middle phalanx over the next three weeks. Pasteurella multocida and Bacteroides were isolated from the necrotic bone.