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The process vaginalis in the inguinal canal forms the canal of Nuck, which is a homolog of the process vaginalis in women. Incomplete obliteration of the vaginal process causes an indirect inguinal hernia or hydrocele of the canal of Nuck, a very rare condition in women. A hydrocele of the Nuck canal, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in girls with inguinal swelling. Establishing a definitive diagnosis on physical examination is difficult, radiological imaging can help diagnosis, but surgical exploration is essential for the final diagnosis. The authors report a case of congenital hydrocele in a 2-year-old girl and review the literature on this rare entity whose diagnosis can be made by surgical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal prolapse through a persistence of the omphalo-mesenteric duct or vitelline duct is a very rare clinical entity. It is a complication of the omphalo-mesenteric fistula which requires emergency surgery. The authors report a case emphasizing the clinical and therapeutic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the origin of the susceptibility to noise in subjects with histories of otitis media (OM), we assessed early sub-clinical impairments in normally hearing subjects with a history of OM using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). DPOAEs of 213 normal-hearing subjects aged 18–24 years were obtained and comparisons of DPOAE levels in several groups as a function of OM past infections were tested by ANOVA. A main finding was that young normal-hearing subjects with a history of OM had significantly lower DPOAEs over all octaves tested compared to normal-hearing subjects without antecedent of OM. The mean difference was 3.5±1.1 dB in the 2–4 kHz zone, which was especially marked in subjects (n=21) that had undergone a myringotomy (6.6±1.5 dB) in the 4 kHz zone. The level of impairment seemed to depend on the severity of the past infection as characterised by the importance and the duration of the infectious effusions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Osteomyelitis is a frequent pathology in the pediatric population. It is usually located on the fertile metaphyses of the long bones. However, there are rare locations such as short and flat bones. We report a case of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis in a scapular location in a 2-month-old infant with a late diagnosis. The identified germ was Staphylococcus aureus. The X-ray showed images of osteolysis of the scapula. Treatment consisted of double antibiotic therapy and drainage of the abscess with bone sequestrectomy, supplemented by immobilisation. The evolution was favorable after 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical diagnosis of a torsion of an ectopic testicle is difficult. Lack of knowledge on this pathology is often a cause of late diagnosis and can have serious consequences. This diagnosis should be made in front of any acute pelvic or inguinal pain in children with an ectopic testicle, regardless of age. We report a case of late presentation of a 6 month-old infant with torsion of an ectopic testicle leading to testicular necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to test whether under impulse noise exposure mood and emotional states could play a role in the onset of tinnitus and/or could modify cochlear sensitivity objectively measured with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The experimental design consisted in a short follow-up study of 54 young military subjects (20 ± 2 years old), psychologically normal, with normal hearing, during two consecutive days of target practice rounds. Data collection included an abbreviated version of the profile of mood states (POMSs) inventory [Profile of Mood States, Educational and Industrial Testing Service, San Diego, 1971], questionnaires on tinnitus perception (previous history and after shooting) and DPOAEs measurements before and after shooting. Higher scores of tension-anxiety were found in subjects having previous history of tinnitus. Association between tinnitus previous history and tinnitus after shooting was found significant. Perception of tinnitus after target practice rounds was associated with significantly lower DPOAEs at 3 kHz. The most tense-anxious subjects were found to have DPOAEs decreases of 3.35 ± 6 dB at 3 kHz after shooting. This study clearly shows that, in young healthy population, psychologically normal and with normal hearing, moderate variations in mood and emotional states were related to tinnitus onset and DPOAEs alterations. It is possible that stronger variations in mood and/or emotional condition would increase risks of tinnitus and alterations of cochlear sensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]