Spinal Perineural Cysts among European Patients

Background A perineural (Tarlov) cyst is a fluid-filled lesion occurring between the perineurium and the endoneurium of spinal nerve roots. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and morphology of perineural cysts, detected incidentally in patients with symptomatic degenerative disk disease. Materials/methods The study was based on the retrospective data gathered during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Results and Conclusions Out of 3,128 spinal MRI examinations, perineural cysts were detected in 286 patients (9%). The cysts were most commonly observed in the sacral region, followed by thoracic, cervical, and lumbar regions. Cysts were more common in women than in men and the average age of patients was 54.8 years. In the majority, a single cyst was found. The average longest dimension of the lesion was 11.72 mm.

P0225THE PRESENCE OF SIMPLE RENAL CYST IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF ALBUMINURIA IN YOUNG ADULTS

Background and Aims It is well-known that the prevalence of simple renal cyst increases with age. However, simple cysts are occasionally found in adults younger than 40 years of age. This cross-sectional study evaluated the clinical significance of simple renal cysts in young adults, focusing on the associations with hematuria and albuminuria. Method Adults younger than 40 years who received a comprehensive medical checkup from January 2005 to December 2013 were included. Simple renal cysts were identified by ultrasonography. Results Among 5832 subjects, renal cysts were found in 276 (4.7%). Subjects diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (n=5) or medullary sponge kidney (n=1) were excluded from the analyses. A single cyst and multiple cysts were found in 234 (4.0%) and 42 (0.7%) subjects, respectively. The locations of single cyst were cortex in 187, medulla in 26, and parapelvic region in 21. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.12 per 1-year increment, P = 0.002), systolic BP (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02 per 1-mmHg increment, P = 0.006), and hypertension (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.24-2.76, P = 0.003) were independent predictors of the presence of simple cyst. The presence of cysts was not associated with increased prevalence of hematuria. While, the subjects with cysts had higher prevalence of albuminuria than those without cysts (11.3% vs. 4.5%, P <0.001). Multivariate analyses of albuminuria revealed that the presence of simple renal cyst was associated with a 2.30-fold increase in the prevalence of albuminuria (95% CI 1.512-3.519, P <0.001) independently of other risk factors. The location of the cysts was not related to the prevalence of albuminuria. Conclusion The presence of simple renal cysts was independently associated with increased prevalence of albuminuria. The causal relationship between renal cysts and albuminuria needs to be elucidated in further studies.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation in adults, presenting as a single cyst

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations are lung anomalies usually detected prenatally or in newborns and infants. Type 1 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations appears as a multicystic lesion, with cysts up to 2 cm in diameter, or as a single large cyst. In the latter case, when detected in adults, the preoperative diagnosis is challenging because congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations can be confused with other more common lesions. We describe two cases of uniloculated type 1 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation in adults. In both cases, the preoperative clinical diagnosis was missed and the patients were surgically treated with lung-sparing cyst resections.

Morphological variability of new chrysophyte stomatocyst forming a single-cyst assemblage in a low-conductivity tropical lake in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest

Morphological variation of the chrysophyte stomatocyst found in surface sediments of a small, shallow lake in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest in eastern Cameroon, is described, illustrated and discussed. Neither living cells nor scales of chrysophytes were observed in the lake. The stomatocyst cannot be assigned to any known cyst and is described as new to science (stomatocyst #49) using International Statospore Working Group (ISWG) guidelines. This is the third report of stomatocysts in Africa, and the second from the tropical part of this continent. Some basic ecological information on the sampling site is provided and compared with similar data from other sampling sites of chrysophytes in Africa.

Lumbosacral myelocystocele: A Case report

Myelocystocele is a rare variety of spinal dysraphism that presents as a skin covered, midline, lumbosacral mass. Many a time it is associated with other congenital anomalies but isolated myelocystocele is rarely associated with neurological deficit. MRI is the modality of choice for preoperative diagnosis. A 3 years old female child presented with skin covered lumbosacral mass since birth. There was no associated neurological deficit. MRI revealed single cyst, which was continuous with central canal of spinal cord. Peroperatively, myelocystocele was found with tethering of cord. Untethering of cord and repair of myelocystocele was performed with uneventful recovery.

Concentrations of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) in follicular cysts, mono - and polyoocyte follicles in gilts

The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in the fluid of follicular cysts and ovarian follicles, and to compare their concentrations in mono- and polyoocyte follicles in gilts. The study involved two experiments conducted on the ovaries collected post-slaughter from gilts (7-8 months old). The first experiment covered 31 follicular single cyst gilts (15-25 mm in diameter) and 41 gilts without cysts. Follicular fluid from follicles of 8-10 mm in diameter (n=41) and 5-8 mm in diameter (n=41), and cystic fluid (n=31) were collected for analysis. The second experiment involved collecting follicular fluid from poly- (n=19) and monooocyte (n=22) follicles. The concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9 was then determined in the samples using specimen-specific ELISA kits. The differences in the concentration of these factors were calculated by means of analysis of variance and a posthoc test. Duncan’s multiple range test was used to verify the significance of differences at P<0.05 and P<0.01. In addition, correlations between the factors were calculated. BMP-15 and GDF-9 levels in the cystic fluid were significantly higher than those in the follicular fluid (P<0.01). However, no differences were observed between various size follicles or between mono- and polyoocyte follicles. BMP-15 and GDF-9 concentrations were found to be positively correlated (P<0.01). Differences in BMP-15 and GDF-9 concentrations in ovarian follicles and follicular cysts, as evidenced by our study, indicate that these factors may be related to folliculogenesis disorders in gilts. What is more, the number of oocytes in ovarian follicles does not influence the intrafollicular concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9.

Description of Sarcocystis turdusi sp. nov. from the common blackbird (Turdus merula)

SUMMARYCysts of Sarcocystis species were found in 24 of 44 (54·5%) examined blackbirds (Turdus merula). Under the light microscope, only 1 morphological type of cyst was found in all birds investigated. Ribbon-shaped cysts were long (the largest fragment found amounted to 7 mm) and of different thickness (25–206 μm). A cyst wall reached up to 3·5 μm and had finger-like protrusions. Under the transmission electron microscope, a single cyst isolated from 1 blackbird was studied. The cyst wall was 2·5–4·4 μm thick, had club- or irregularly-shaped and sometimes branched protrusions that differed in size. The content of cysts was divided into large chambers by septa. Orange segment-shaped cystozoites were 6·2 × 1·4 (5·5–7·2 × 1·2–1·5) μm. This type of cyst wall has never been described in Sarcocystis species isolated from birds, thus far. The results of 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and ITS–1 region sequences showed that S. turdusi was most closely related to S. columbae, S. calchasi, S. wobeseri, S. cornixi and Sarcocystis sp. ex Accipiter nisus parasitizing birds. Phylogenetic results suggest that predatory birds are the most probable definitive hosts of S. turdusi.