Utricles

Carexduanensis Z.C.Lu, Y.F.Lu & X.F.Jin, a new species in limestone areas of Guangxi, China, was discovered and described. The morphology showed that C.duanensis is similar to C.calcicola , but differs in having culms central, leaf blades 3-5.5 mm wide, bracts longer than spikes, utricles 4-5 mm long, shorter, and nutlets abruptly contracted into an erect beak at apex. SEM microphotographs of utricles and nutlets are provided for the new and related species, C.calcicola .

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often mixed with cerebrovascular disease (AD-CVD). Heterogeneity of dementia etiology and the overlapping of neuropathological features of AD and AD-CVD make feature identification of the two challenging. Separation of AD from AD-CVD is important as the optimized treatment for each group may differ. Recent studies using vestibular responses recorded from electrovestibulography (EVestG™) have offered promising results for separating these two pathologies. An EVestG measurement records responses to several different physical stimuli (called tilts)...

This study aimed to report our experience in indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in pediatric robotics. The data of 55 patients (35 boys and 20 girls), who underwent robotic surgery using ICG fluorescence in three institutions over the last 7 years, were retrospectively reviewed. The following robotic procedures were included: pyeloplasty (n = 21), complex Lich-Gregoir ureteral reimplantation (n = 8), varicocelectomy (n = 7), adnexal pathology resection (n = 8), partial nephrectomy (n = 4), nephrectomy (n = 4), renal cyst removal (n = 2), and excision of prostatic utricle (n = 1)...

The planar polarized organization of hair cells in the vestibular maculae is unique because these sensory organs contain two groups of cells with oppositely oriented stereociliary bundles that meet at a Line of Polarity Reversal (LPR). EMX2 is a transcription factor expressed by one hair cell group that reverses the orientation of their bundles, thereby forming the LPR. We generated Emx2-CreERt2 transgenic mice for genetic lineage tracing and demonstrate Emx2 expression before hair cell specification when the nascent utricle and saccule constitute a continuous prosensory domain...

OBJECTIVE: Cochlear receptors are sensitive to vibratory stimuli. Based on this sensibility, bone-anchored hearing aids have been introduced to correct unilateral or bilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss and unilateral deafness. The vestibular system is also sensitive to the vibratory stimulus and this type of response is used in clinics to test its functionality. Being aware of this double separated sensibility, we wondered whether bone vibration, which activates the acoustic receptors of patients with bone conduction aids, can also influence the functionality of the vestibular system...

Carexlinanensis X.D.Qiu & X.F.Jin, a new species in sect. Mitratae of the sedge family (Cyperaceae) from north-western Zhejiang is described and illustrated. We performed a statistical comparison of the new species with other closely-related species from the same section. Carexlinanensis is similar to Carexsachalinensis F.Schmidt, but differs in having leaf blades 1-2 mm wide (vs. 2.5-3.5 mm wide), utricles longer than pistillate glumes, with beak margin smooth (vs. barbate) and peduncles of lateral spikes enclosed in bract sheaths (vs...

INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the commonest causes of peripheral vertigo. It is treated with various canalolith repositioning manoeuvres by changing the head positions to allow the otoconial debris to fall back from the affected canal back to the utricle. The present study has compared the rate of recovery of vertigo with modified Epley's manoeuvres as compared to Semont's manoeuvre in patients with posterior canal BPPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients diagnosed by positive Dix-Hallpike test as posterior canal BPPV were included in this clinical trial...

Tmc1 and Tmc2 are essential pore-forming subunits of mechanosensory transduction channels localized to the tips of stereovilli in auditory and vestibular hair cells of the inner ear. To investigate expression and function of Tmc1 and Tmc2 in vestibular organs, we used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization - hairpin chain reaction (FISH-HCR), immunostaining, FM1-43 uptake and we measured vestibular evoked potentials (VsEPs) and vestibular ocular reflexes (VORs). We found that Tmc1 and Tmc2 showed dynamic developmental changes, differences in regional expression patterns, and overall expression levels which differed between the utricle and saccule...

Midline prostatic cysts are infrequent and mostly asymptomatic. We presented a striking case of a giant midline cyst and detailed its diagnosis, evolution, and treatment. From this case, we offered a comparison of congenital intraprostatic midline cysts, namely, Müller's cysts and utricle cysts. A 40-year-old male experienced recurrent urinary retention. A 10 × 11 mm2 cyst in the mid-prostatic region was diagnosed through transrectal ultrasound, leading to a transperineal puncture as a minimally invasive intervention...

BACKGROUND: Posterior expansion of the utricular endolymphatic space (ES) is a finding occasionally observed, and often occurs in bilateral ears. The clinical significance of posterior expansion of the utricular ES is not clear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical significance of posterior expansion of the utricular ES detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 957 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI to investigate the presence of endolymphatic hydrops (EH), clinical findings in cases with posterior expansion of the utricular ES were evaluated and the significance of their existence is considered...

Vestibular hair cells (HCs) are mechanoreceptors that sense head motions by modulating the firing rate of vestibular ganglion neurons (VGNs), whose central processes project to vestibular nucleus neurons (VNNs) and cerebellar neurons. We explored vestibular function after HC destruction in adult Pou4f3+/DTR (DTR) mice, in which injections of high-dose (50 ng/g) diphtheria toxin (DT) destroyed most vestibular HCs within 2 weeks. At that time, DTR mice had lost the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVORH ), and their VNNs failed to upregulate nuclear cFos expression in response to a vestibular stimulus (centrifugation)...

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a debilitating disorder for millions worldwide. While there are multiple underlying causes of ARHL, one common factor is loss of sensory hair cells. In mammals, new hair cells are not produced postnatally and do not regenerate after damage, leading to permanent hearing impairment. By contrast, fish produce hair cells throughout life and robustly regenerate these cells after toxic insult. Despite these regenerative abilities, zebrafish show features of ARHL. Here, we show that aged zebrafish of both sexes exhibited significant hair cell loss and decreased cell proliferation in all inner ear epithelia (saccule, lagena, utricle)...

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear implantation is currently regarded as a safe and minimally invasive procedure. However, cochlear implantation can have an impact on vestibular function, despite the lack of correlation between patient symptomatology and damage in vestibular tests. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the presence of hydrops and histological reactions at the level of the vestibule after cochlear implantation with dexamethasone pump delivery in Macaca fascicularis (Mf). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed histological study was conducted on a total of 11 Mf...

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Vestibular frailty and presbyvestibulopathy, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), can cause dizziness among elderly patients. Vestibular frailty and presbyvestibulopathy may contribute to the onset of the vicious circle of falling-bone fracture-prolonged bedridden status-senile dementia. Treatment interventions for vestibular frailty and presbyvestibulopathy should be based on vestibular rehabilitation rather than vestibular implantation or regeneration. In acute BPPV, the otolith repositioning maneuver can be used to return otolithic debris to the utricle...

OBJECTIVES: Canalith repositioning procedures to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are often applied following standardized criteria, without considering the possible anatomical singularities of the membranous labyrinth for each individual. As a result, certain patients may become refractory to the treatment due to significant deviations from the ideal membranous labyrinth, that was considered when the maneuvers were designed. This study aims to understand the dynamics of the endolymphatic fluid and otoconia, within the membranous labyrinth geometry, which may contribute to the ineffectiveness of the Epley maneuver...

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo. It is characterized by short and recurrent episodes of vertigo, trigged by specific head movements that displace otoconia within the semicircular canals. The movement of dislodge otoconia from the utricle cause abnormal positional endolymphatic currents. Primary treatment involves reposition maneuvers aimed at moving the displaced otoconia out the affected canal, therefore correct identification of the affected canal is essential for the diagnosis...

BACKGROUND: Constructive interference in steady state (CISS) is a gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse sequence that provides excellent contrast between cerebrospinal fluid and adjacent structures but is prone to banding artifacts due to magnetic field inhomogeneities. We aimed to characterize artifacts in the inner ear and eye. METHODS: In 30 patients (60 ears/eyes) undergoing CISS sequence MRI, nine low-signal intensity regions were identified in the inner ear and compared to temporal bone histopathology...

One-sided vestibular disorders are common in clinical practice; however, their models have not been fully established. We investigated the effect of unilateral or bilateral deficits in the vestibular organs on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and optokinetic reflex (OKR) of zebrafish using in-house equipment. For physical dislodgement of the otoliths in the utricles of zebrafish larvae, one or both utricles were separated from the surrounding tissue using glass capillaries. The video data from VOR and OKR tests with the larvae was collected and processed using digital signal processing techniques such as fast Fourier transform and low-pass filters...

BACKGROUND: During development, planes of cells give rise to complex tissues and organs. The proper functioning of some cell types is critically dependent on proper inter- and intracellular spatial orientation in regards to the overall tissue, a feature known as planar cell polarity (PCP). To study the genetic and environmental factors affecting planar cell polarity investigators must manually measure cell orientations, which is a time-consuming endeavor. METHODOLOGY: To automate cell counting and planar cell polarity data collection we developed a Fiji/ImageJ plug-in called Planar Cell Polarity Auto Count (PCPA) to analyze binary images and identify "chunks" of white pixels that contain "caves" of infiltrated black pixels...