1.Novel Coronaviruses and Astroviruses in Bats
Daniel K. W. Chu ; J. S. Malik Peiris ; Leo L. M. Poon
Virologica Sinica 2009;24(2):100-104
Zoonotic transmissions of emerging pathogens from wildlife to human have shaped the history of mankind. These events have also highlighted our poor understanding of microorganisms circulated in wild animals. Coronaviruses and astroviruses, which can be found from a wide range of mammals, were recently detected in bats. Strikingly, these bat viruses are genetically highly diverse and these interesting findings might help to better understand the evolution and ecology of these viruses. The discoveries of these novel bats viruses not only suggested that bats are important hosts for these virus families, but also reiterated the role of bats as a reservoir of viruses that might pose a zoonotic threat to human health.
2.Complete Androgen Insensitivity in two Filipino siblings: A case report
Vanessa S. Ediza ; Alistair Kashmir C. De la Cruz ; Mae Rhea Lim-Pacoli ; Albert L. Chu
Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine 2021;59(4):327-334
Androgen insensitivity syndrome is an X-linked recessive condition resulting in a failure of normal masculinization of the external genitalia in a chromosomally male individual. We describe two phenotypically female siblings aged 27 and 18 years, who presented with primary amenorrhea. The older sibling first consulted because of her desire to be pregnant while her younger sibling consulted upon the physician’s advice. Clinical presentation, physical examination, hormonal and imaging studies and a male (46XY) karyotype confirmed the diagnosis of Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) in both individuals. Both of them underwent exploratory laparotomy with histopathology confirming presence of immature testicular tissue. Hormone replacement therapy was then started. Both were advised to undergo psychosocial counseling and both chose to be women. This case report is significant since there are only a few local case reports about siblings presenting with this condition.
Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome
;
Karyotyping
3.Prospective cohort study on the risks of pre-pregnancy overweight, excessive gestational weight gain on macrosomia.
Z P ZHANG ; L M CHU ; S L CHU ; M LU ; L H SHEN ; K CHEN ; L F GU ; H T WU ; J SHEN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2018;39(8):1082-1085
Objective: To investigate the risks of pre-pregnancy overweight, excessive gestational weight gain on macrosomia. Methods: We conducted one hospital-based cohort study, focusing on pregnant women from January 2015. All pregnant women attending to this hospital for maternal check-ups, were included in our cohort and followed to the time of delivery. Data related to general demographic characteristics, pregnancy and health status of those pregnant women, was collected and maternal pre-pregnant BMI and maternal weight gain were calculated. Logistic regression was used to explore the risk difference of pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive gestational weight gain on macrosomia. Results: The overall incidence of macrosomia in our cohort appeared as 6.6% (149/2 243). After adjusting the confounding factors including age and histories on pregnancy, pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity was associated with higher risks of macrosomia (OR=3.12, 95%CI: 1.35-7.22, P=0.008; OR=2.99, 95%CI: 1.17-7.63, P=0.022) when comparing to those with normal pre-pregnancy weight. Cesarean delivery and sex of the offspring were associated with higher risk of macrosomia, while excessive gestational weight gain showed no significant difference (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 0.96-2.09, P=0.084). Our data showed that Macrosomia was statistically associated with gestational weight gain (P=0.002). After controlling parameters as age, history of pregnancy and related complications of the pregnant women, results from the logistic regression showed that women with gestational inadequate weight gain having reduced risks to deliver macrosomia, when compared to those pregnant women with adequate weight gain (OR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.90, P=0.019). Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were on higher risks to macrosomia.
Body Mass Index
;
Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Female
;
Fetal Macrosomia/epidemiology*
;
Humans
;
Incidence
;
Logistic Models
;
Obesity/epidemiology*
;
Overweight/epidemiology*
;
Pregnancy
;
Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology*
;
Prospective Studies
;
Weight Gain