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Background: Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is a rare disorder of sex development characterized by 46,XY karyotype and testes, yet presenting with a complete female phenotype, which is related to mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Case presentation: We herein present the case of a 14-year-old adolescent with primary amenorrhea and suspected delayed puberty whose diagnostic journey led to the identification of CAIS through the demonstration of a novel AR variant (c.159_207del). Case-based review: Our report encompasses the complexity of CAIS management, focusing on the risk of malignancy, surveillance options, hormone replacement therapy, timing of an eventual gonadectomy, and the psychosocial impact of such a diagnosis. An algorithm has been formulated for the management of CAIS starting in adolescence, highlighting the conservative approach for those patients unwilling to undergo gonadectomy. Conclusions: Primary amenorrhea and delay in puberty development may provide clues, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of CAIS. This review emphasizes the cruciality of a multidisciplinary approach in managing patients with CAIS, needing for an individualized care to optimize the overall outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiological quality of both freshwater and marine water by detecting both culturable and nonculturable enterococci, which are present in water and adherent to the plankton, are discussed. Results show that the PCR assay is a powerful tool for detecting fecal indicators and pathogens in the environment, providing a much more sensitive method than culture.

Chitin-binding proteins (CBPs) were found in the envelope of strains colonizing the copepod carapace and those living freely in the rock-pool water. These CBPs are the mechanism whereby Vibrio alginolyticus attach to chitin. Strains isolated both from the copepod surface and from rock-pool water were analyzed to characterize the interaction between chitin particles and V. alginolyticus. Attachment to chitin was found to be at its highest at 20 degrees C in the presence of 3% NaCl. Attachment was reduced with the addition of N-acetylglucosamine and pronase E. Chitin pretreatment with wheat germ agglutinin or membrane proteins also reduced attachment.