Thyroglossal duct cyst coexisting with a fistulous tract: A rare case report and literature review

An 11-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital complaining of odorous discharge from an opening in the anterior region of the left side of his neck. During physical examinations, we understood that his cyst moved with deglutition and protrusion of the tongue. In order to get a correct diagnosis of the patient problem, fistulography with contrast agent meglumine was done from the patient neck in two projections, anterior-posterior and anterior-posterior-oblique. By information obtained of physical examinations and his neck radiographs, thyroglossal duct cyst coexisting with a fistulous tract was diagnosed. In adolescents and adults, thyroglossal duct cyst is one the most common causes of midline congenital cyst formation in the neck that may appear anywhere between the base of the tongue and the suprasternal region. Thyroglossal duct cyst develops from a persistence of any portion of the thyroglossal tract in the embryonic period. After birthday, infection of cyst can sometimes lead to fistula formation in the neck. Both of them, thyroglossal duct cyst and thyroglossal fistula, are usually diagnosed by imaging techniques. Keywords: Thyroglossal duct cyst, Thyroglossal fistula, Fistulograph

Effects of Matricaria chamomilla Extract on Growth and Maturation of Isolated Mouse Ovarian Follicles in a Three-dimensional Culture System

Background: The aim of this study was to design and assess the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on preantral follicle culture of mouse ovaries in a three-dimensional culture system. Methods: Isolated preantral follicles were randomly divided into three main groups: the control group containing 10% fetal bovine serum without MC extract (G1), the first experimental group supplemented with 25 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G2), and the second experimental group supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G3). Results: After 12 days of culture, the survival rate (P < 0.05), antrum formation (P < 0.01), metaphase two oocytes (P < 0.01), and the expression of PCNA (P < 0.05) and FSHR (P < 0.05) genes significantly decreased in G3 as compared with G1. On the other hand, at the last day of culture (day 12), the mean diameter of follicles cultured in the medium which was supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile significantly decreased as compared with the G1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone hormones significantly increased in the medium of G3 relative to G1 (P < 0.01), while in the medium of G1, the level of 17β-estradiol was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.01). Reactive oxygen species levels of metaphase II oocytes were significantly decreased in G2 as compared with G1 (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Adding chamomile extract to culture media appeared to decrease follicular function and development