A Rare Case of Completely Calcified Lumber Juxta-facet Cyst: A Case Report.

Introduction: Juxta-facet cysts (JFCs) are extradural lesions. Calcification of cyst walls is often reported, although completely calcified facet cysts are extremely rare. Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of the right lower extremity weakness and pain, and chronic low back pain. Imaging showed hypointensity on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images which can be very well appreciated on a completely calcified computed tomography mass arising from the right L3/4 facet joint. The patient underwent a total cyst removal with a facetectomy of the right L3/4 facet, and L3 to L4 posterior fusion. Conclusion: We presented a case of a completely calcified JFC in a patient with back pain and radiculopathy who underwent cystectomy and spinal fusion. JFCs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of calcified extradural lesions.

Testicular inducing steroidogenic cells trigger sex change in groupers.

Vertebrates usually exhibit gonochorism, whereby their sex is fixed throughout their lifetime. However, approximately 500 species (~ 2%) of extant teleost fishes change sex during their lifetime. Although phylogenetic and evolutionary ecological studies have recently revealed that the extant sequential hermaphroditism in teleost fish is derived from gonochorism, the evolution of this transsexual ability remains unclear. We revealed in a previous study that the tunica of the ovaries of several protogynous hermaphrodite groupers contain functional androgen-producing cells, which were previously unknown structures in the ovaries of gonochoristic fishes. Additionally, we demonstrated that these androgen-producing cells play critical roles in initiating female-to-male sex change in several grouper species. In the present study, we widened the investigation to include 7 genera and 18 species of groupers and revealed that representatives from most major clades of extant groupers commonly contain these androgen-producing cells, termed testicular-inducing steroidogenic (TIS) cells. Our findings suggest that groupers acquired TIS cells in the tunica of the gonads for successful sex change during their evolution. Thus, TIS cells trigger the evolution of sex change in groupers.