Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

Objective The aim of this study is to describe a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome diagnosed at mid-second trimester. Case and Methods Nuchal translucency was measured thick and double test was found higher. The patient referred to our center at 16^th weeks of gestation. Fetal ultrasound examination and amniocentesis was performed. Results The nuchal translucency (NT) of fetus in present pregnancy was measured approximately 10 mm at 13 weeks and Down syndrome risk was calculated 1 in 10 by double test. On ultrasound examination; thick nuchal fold (NF) and short fetal limbs were found, and the fetus was seen a female and amniocentesis was performed. Three weeks later the fetal karyotype was reported normal as 46,XY. Thereupon the fetus reexamined for 2D and 4D ultrasound, and confirmed previous findings. The fetus was terminated at 19^th weeks and seen a female phenotype. The fetal gonads removed in abdomen and testicles confirmed histopatologically. Conclusion In generally, diagnosis of AIS is most made postnatally. This is the second case in English literature, which diagnosed mid-second trimester. In this situation, the fetus with thick NT/NF and short limbs may be AIS, therefore appearance of fetal sex on ultrasound should be compared with genetic sex Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sustainability science: an ecohealth perspective

Sustainability science is emerging as a transdisciplinary effort to come to grips with the much-needed symbiosis between human activity and the environment. While there is recognition that conventional economic growth must yield to policies that foster sustainable development, this has not yet occurred on any broad scale. Rather, there is clear evidence that the Earth’s ecosystems and landscapes continue to degrade as a consequence of the cumulative impact of human activities. Taking an ecohealth approach to sustainability science provides a unique perspective on both the goals and the means to achieve sustainability. The goals should be the restoration of full functionality to the Earth’s ecosystems and landscapes, as measured by the key indicators of health: resilience, organization, vitality (productivity), and the absence of ecosystem distress syndrome. The means should be the coordinated (spatially and temporally) efforts to modify human behaviors to reduce cumulative stress impacts. Achieving ecosystem health should become the cornerstone of sustainability policy—for healthy ecosystems are the essential precondition for achieving sustainable livelihoods, human health, and many other societal objectives, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals.     

医用防护口罩测试装置的对比研究

结合医用防护口罩实际使用工况,设计了两种针对环境气溶胶过滤性能的测试方法与装置.采集部分常用的防护口罩,分别采用TSI CERTITEST Models 8130型自动过滤测试仪及本文研发的测试装置DHU-Ⅰ平板型口罩性能测试台和DHU-Ⅱ实况型口罩性能测试台进行测试.对结果进行对比分析发现,DHU-Ⅰ平板型口罩性能测试台和8130型自动过滤测试仪测定结果比较接近,能够反映出防护口罩在环境大气中使用的情况;而DHU-Ⅱ实况型口罩性能测试台相对前两者而言,在吸气阻力基本不变的情况下,测得过滤效率降低近40%,结果更接近实际工况.