Needle fasciotomy for Dupuytren's contracture- a prospective cohort study of 58 fingers with a median follow-up of 6.5 years.

Needle fasciotomy (NF) is a minimally invasive treatment option for Dupuytren contractures, but long-term results have indicated a high recurrence rate. This prospective study was initiated to monitor the introduction of NF in a context where limited fasciectomy had been the only treatment option, and to investigate the long-term results. The inclusion criterion was a palpable cord with a Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and/or Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) contracture in one or more fingers. Fifty-eight fingers in 42 patients (40 male and 2 female with a median age of 68 years) were treated by needle fasciotomy between November 2010 and March 2012, and were followed for a median of 6.5 years. The median total passive extension deficit (TPED) was 52° at baseline, but decreased significantly to 20° postoperatively. No severe adverse events such as nerve or tendon injuries were reported. At final-follow up of 48 fingers the median TPED was still significantly reduced to 23° for all fingers (p < 0.0001). Twenty-nine fingers retained full correction of the contracture, and in patients with recurrent contractures NF was preferred in 13 out of 17 patients. This study showed that needle fasciotomy is a safe procedure for Dupuytren's contracture, with excellent immediate reduction of the joint contracture and with a recurrence rate comparable to treatment by collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH).

Immobilization of protoplasts by anchoring to microcarriers : Chris H. bornman and anders zachrisson.

Datura innoxia cell suspension-derived protoplasts were anchored to Cytodex 1 microcarriers pre-swollen in buffered concanavalin A. As many as 34 protoplasts were estimated to attach per microcarrier, in comparison to a potential 47 as determined from a model based on random anchorage. Fluorescein diacetate was used as localizing agent as well as to assess viability. When included in the swelling medium fluorescence was observed almost instantaneously, first in the protoplast at its interface with the microcarrier, and later throughout the cytoplasm. However, the dye was not conjugated with the lectin, and leakage eventually resulted in fluorescence also of non-anchored protoplasts. Fluorescein-labelled concanavalin A on the other hand permitted detection of microcarriers but not of anchored protoplasts, suggesting the use of differentially fluorescing microcarriers, as an aid in identification of fusion partners.