Histological study on the human gubernaculums in descended and undescended testis

The gubernaculum is a fibrous cord connecting the caudal pole of the testis with the scrotum. The regression of the extra-abdominal part of the gubernaculum in prenatal and early stage of postnatal life plays an integral role in testicular descent. Researchers claim that the undescended testis is a condition caused by failure of the gubernaculum to function, particularly in infants suffering from neuromuscular diseases and myopathies. To provide more information on the role of the gubernaculum in testicular descent, the structure of the gubernaculum was examined in cases of descended and undescended testis. The study was performed at both the light and electron microscopic levels. The gubernaculum biopsies were taken from 20 children with undescended testis, the control biopsies were obtained from 5 children [3 and 5 years old] who suffered from inguinal hernia but with descended testis. The specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. The histological examination revealed that the gubernaculum in 75% of undescended testis contained large amount of fat cells, a small amount of collagen fibers, and wide interstitial spaces, compared to the control group. The results suggest that the lack of testicular descent is probably caused by loss of retractibility of the gubernaculum

Fungal infection of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: review of 26 cases

Fungal infection of the nose and sinuses is an uncommon condition which is now being increasingly recognized. In this study, we review clinicopathologic features in a series of 26 cases encountered at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre over a five-year period. The cases were divided into four categories according to the following histopathologic features: allergic fungal sinusitis [11 cases], aspergilloma [one case], chronic indolent fungal sinusitis [five cases], and acute fulminant fungal sinusitis [nine cases]. In the cases of allergic fungal sinusitis and aspergilloma, the fungal hyphae were limited to the sinus cavity without any evidence of invasion. Invasion in the wall of the sinus, as well as the surrounding tissue, was noted in cases of chronic indolent fungal sinusitis and acute fulminant fungal sinusitis. All patients were treated surgically and those cases with evidence of tissue invasion on pathologic or radiologic examination were given antifungal therapy. The prognosis was excellent in the cases of allergic fungal sinusitis and aspergilloma. Most of the patients with acute fulminant fungal sinusitis died of uncontrolled fungus growth. In the cases of chronic indolent fungal sinusitis, all patients are still alive, but two patients had loss of vision due to fungal invasion. Fungal sinusitis with absence of tissue invasion is easily treated by surgery alone. However, in cases with tissue invasion, a combination of surgery with antifungal therapy may be successful. Acute fulminant fungal sinusitis, however, has a grave prognosis