The afferent innervation contacting the type I hair cells of the vestibular sensory epithelia form distinct calyceal synapses. The apposed presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes at this large area of synaptic contact are kept at a remarkably regular distance. Here, we show by freeze-fracture electron microscopy that a patterned alignment of proteins at the calyceal membrane resembles a type of ...

OBJECTIVE To discuss the relationship between testicular microlithiasis and testis tumors in children and to consider the chances of testis preserving surgery in specific cases. CASE DESCRIPTION Pre-adolescent presenting testicular microlithiasis and a larger left testis, corresponding to a cystic testicular tumor. The tumor was excised, with ipsilateral testis preservation. Histology diagnos...

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a disorder in which many tiny fragments (microliths) of calcium phosphate gradually accumulate in alveoli. Loss of function mutations in the gene SLC34A2 coding for the sodium phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIb) are responsible for genetic forms of alveolar microlithiasis. We now report a consanguineous Italian family from Calabria with two affected members ...

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare diffuse lung disease characterized by widespread sand-like intra-alveolar calcifications (calcospherites composed of calcium and phosphorus). Around 800 cases have been reported in the literature to date. We report here a case of a 35 years old female with prolonged h/o of exertional dyspnoea and mild cough. Clinical examination was mostly normal. Her...

Microlithiasis is the underlying cause in a significant proportion of patients with "idiopathic" acute pancreatitis. The mechanism appears to be a relative deficiency of phosphatidylcholine in bile, with fast and extensive cholesterol crystallization as a result. Diagnosis of microlithiasis by microscopic detection of cholesterol crystals in bile is important and should lead to appropriate ther...

OBJECTIVES Causes may be found in most cases of acute pancreatitis, however no etiology is found by clinical, biological and imaging investigations in 30% of these cases. Our objective was to evaluate results from endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of gallbladder microlithiasis in patients with unexplained (idiopathic) acute pancreatitis. METHODS Thirty-six consecutive non-alcohol...

Calyceal diverticula are congenital, nonsecretory abnormalities in which the transitional cell-lined cavity communicates with the renal collecting system. Here we present the case of a calyceal diverticular abscess during pregnancy. A 40-year-old primiparous woman developed the abscess at 23 weeks of gestation, with right flank pain and a 37.8°C fever. A transabdominal ultrasound revealed a 12 ...

BACKGROUND Calyceal fistulas are common and difficult to treat after surgery of urinary collecting system. METHODS A 30-year old woman. The fifth day after receiving a cadaver donor renal allograft presented an acute rejection episode; fourteen days later presented an urinoma treated with a percutaneous drainage tube. Five days later surgical exploration was made, lower pole infarction and is...

Different treatment approaches after failure of laparascopic treatment of calyceal diverticulum confused with communicating-type renal cyst: Case report Ayhan Dirim, Eray Hasirci, Yuksel Cem Aygun Baskent Baskent University, Department of Urology, Ankara, Turkey