In humans, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (melatonin), a neurohormone widely found in plants and animal sources, is synthesized from serotonin primarily by the pineal gland. However, it it is also produced in a number of other areas, e.g. the gastrointestinal tract. Melatonin regulates various biological and physiologic body functions and its role in the regulation of circadian rhythms, particula...

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a genetic lung disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of calcium phosphate deposits in the alveolar spaces of the lung. Mutations in the type II sodium phosphate cotransporter, NPT2b, have been reported in patients with PAM. PAM progresses gradually, often producing incremental dyspnea on exertion, desaturation in young adulthood, and respi...

Eighteen cases have been reported in the literature, but the diagnosis was established during life in eight cases only. To our knowledge, the two cases we report are the nineteenth and twentieth. Among these 18 cases it has been noticed that 11 were in men and seven in women. The youngest patient reported was 6 years old, but the average age was between 30 and 50 years. Diagnosis was made at ne...

Table 1 in the article by Mathru et al’ shows that when the pericardium was opened, the cardiac index fell from 2.9 to 2.8, coupled with a rise in heart rate from 63 to 64. This should cause a fall in stroke volume of5.0 percent, not the 1.7 percent rise (from 59 to 60 ml) claimed in Table 2 in that article. Likewise, Table 3 shows no change in cardiac index. However, that cardiac index value c...

We report a patient with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis who was admitted to King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with chest pain, shortness of breath, dry cough and swelling of lower limbs. The patient underwent chest radiographs and CT scan showing multiple diffuse, almost symmetrical bilateral micronodular opacities of calcific density. The diagnosis was confirmed afte...

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare autosomal recessive condition that is often asymptomatic despite significant changes in chest imaging. Diagnosis is often made when patients become symptomatic in adulthood. There are still no proven treatments, but earlier diagnosis may allow for evaluation of preventative strategies that could improve outcome. It is an important diagnosis to c...

background: there are two kinds of ascites, cirrhotic and malignant. the conventional diagnostic method to differentiate them is paracentesis. this is an invasive and time consuming method. however, ultrasonography is an easy and available method to provide valuable results in a short period of time. the aim of this study was to evaluate gallbladder wall thickness in differentiating cirrhotic a...

The pathophysiology of canine gallbladder diseases, including biliary sludge, gallbladder mucoceles and gallstones, is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the component of gallbladder contents and bacterial infection of the gallbladder in order to elucidate the pathophysiology of biliary sludge and gallbladder mucoceles. A total of 43 samples of canine gallbladder contents (biliary ...

A case of a 10 year old boy with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is presented. Although most children with this disease are asymptomatic, our patient had persistent cough for more than 3 years. It is likely that his chronic cough was a direct consequence of the disease.

Gallbladder polyps are frequently found on abdominal ultrasonography. Most gallbladder benign. However, the risk of malignancy increases when polyp size exceeds 10 mm. The fifth edition World Health Organization Classification tumors proposed three types preinvasive neoplasms gallbladder: adenoma, intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN), and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN). Herein,...