Crypt: From 2 Different Sources
n. a small sac, follicle, or cavity; for example, the crypts of Lieberkühn (see Lieberkühn’s glands), which are intestinal glands.
(crypto-) combining form denoting concealed. Example: cryptogenic (of unknown origin).
Cryptococcosis is a rare disease due to infection with a yeast known as Cryptococcus neoformans. Around 5–10 cases are diagnosed annually in the United Kingdom. It usually involves the lungs in the ?rst instance, but may spread to the MENINGES and other parts of the body, including the skin. As a rule, the disease responds well to treatment with AMPHOTERICIN B, clotrimazole, and ?ucytosine.... cryptococcosis
A capsulate yeast which can infect humans. Can give rise to a cry ptococcoma in the lung and maylead to cryptococcal meningitis. One species with two subspecies recognised, Cryptococcus neoformans neoformans in which human infection is associated with pigeon droppings and C. neoformans gattii associated with Red River Gums.... cryptococcus
An undescended testis (see TESTICLE). The testes normally descend into the scrotum during the seventh month of gestation; until then, the testis is an abdominal organ. If the testes do not descend before the ?rst year of life, they usually remain undescended until puberty – and even then, descent is not achieved in some instances. Fertility is impaired when one testis is affected and is usually absent in the bilateral cases. The incidence of undescended testis in full-term children at birth is 3·5 per cent, falling to less than 2 per cent at one month and 0·7 per cent at one year. Because of the high risk of infertility, undescended testes should be brought down as early as possible and at the latest by the age of two. Sometimes medical treatment with HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN is helpful but frequently surgical interference is necessary. This is the operation of orchidopexy.... cryptorchidism
A type of diarrhoeal infection caused by protozoa, which may be spread from person to person or from domestic animals to people. The disease causes watery diarrhoea and sometimes fever and abdominal pain. It is most common in children but also occurs in male homosexuals. Treatment, apart from rehydration therapy, is not usually needed except for people whose immune system is suppressed, in whom the infection may be much more severe.... cryptosporidiosis
Apicomplexan protozoan associated with a watery diarrhoea in children and immunocompromised adults. Zoonotic infection often contracted from contaminated water. Commonest species in humans is Cryptosporidium parvum..... cryptosporidium
n. severe cyclical abdominal pain in association with *amenorrhoea, usually about a year after the expected onset of menstruation and usually due to an *imperforate hymen. On parting the labia, a bulging blue membrane is seen above the hymen and a pelvic mass is felt on examination. Treatment is by incision of the membrane.... cryptomenorrhoea
n. apparent absence of the eyes due to failure of normal eyelid formation during embryonic development, resulting in absence of the opening between the upper and lower eyelids.... cryptophthalmos
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