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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading throughout the world along with its strange and frightening mutations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as a global pandemic. Objective: The present investigation aims to evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on mother and newborn outcomes and the vertical transmission potential of this virus. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care dedicated COVID-19 hospital. A total of 40 pregnant females (RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2) and their 41 neonates (including stillbirths and a twin delivery) were included in the present study. Results: All the mothers in the study were SARS-CoV-2 positive on the RT-PCR test, but none had any COVID-19 symptoms (pneumonia-like fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath, and diarrhea). Out of 41 newborns, 38 (92.7%) were healthy, one (2.4%) was a stillbirth, and two newborns (4.9%) could not be revived. All the 41 (100.0%) neonates, including stillborn and preterm were negative for the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Twenty-Six neonates (63.4%) were delivered by caesarean section, whereas 15 cases (36.6%) had a normal vaginal delivery. Conclusion: The present study showed no suggestion of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant females. Therefore, the placenta might function as a barrier to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Also, there were no complications come upon during the delivery of any neonate in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delay in diagnosis and treatment of TB patients increases infectivity of disease in community, more complications and higher risk of death. Objectives: To assess magnitude of different types of delay in diagnosis and treatment of TB and to find out its association with treatment outcome. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Lokepur Tuberculosis Unit of Bankura, West Bengal from July 2016 to June 2017. Simple random sampling was adopted to select 50% of the DOTS centers under that Tuberculosis Unit. Complete enumeration of adult TB patients receiving Cat I treatment and registered from June to October 2016 was done from selected DOTS centers. Exit interview of the patients was conducted using pretested predesigned questionnaire and treatment outcomes were recorded from TB register. Data were entered in MS Excel spread sheet and analysed by SPSS 22.0 version. Results: Mean TB patient delay, diagnostic delay and treatment delay were 19.53 days, 18.54 days, 5.17 days respectively. All types of delay were significantly associated with unfavourable treatment outcome. Conclusion: Increasing knowledge of first care giving person, monitoring and supportive supervision at all level of healthcare delivery are the steps needed at this hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy and motherhood are natural processes and considered to be full of positive experiences. However, for various reasons many women end up dying during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality have been prioritized in several international declarations and national policies. Objectives: The objective of the study is to assess delays, cause, and its contributing factors related to maternal deaths in rural Varanasi. Methodology: Verbal and Social Autopsy have been done for each maternal death occurred between April 2015 and March 2016 in four randomly selected blocks of rural Varanasi. The "3 Delay Model" and "Pathway analysis" concept was used in collection and analysis of data through in-depth interview of three people (family member, neighbor, and a health worker) for each maternal death. Cause of death and delays was identified by two reviewers (obstetrician) independently. Results: In almost half of the autopsied cases two different delays were found, and in one-third case, only one delay was found. Direct obstetric cause found in more than half (54%) cases. Hemorrhage and anemia were found major direct and indirect obstetric cause, respectively. Other causes identified were sepsis (direct), jaundice, and meningitis. A number of social, behavioral, and cultural factors were identified, that had been contributed to different delays related to the maternal deaths. Conclusions: First delay was present in most of (90%) cases. Nonbiological (social, behavioral, and cultural) and health service factors were also identified in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There have been very few studies in India where both partners' involvement in family planning is seen. The present study was undertaken to assess the spousal agreement level regarding family planning adoption and unmet needs. Materials and Methods: Married couples where wife was in reproductive age group (15-44 years) were included. A pretested, semi-structured interview schedule was used for the study. Sterilized couples were excluded. Interview of both husband and wife was done on the same day but in isolation. Results: There was excellent to poor agreement was reported among husbands and wives in fertility desire (κ = 0.769), current use of contraception (κ = 0.581), unmet need for family planning (κ = 0.416), ideal family size (Spearman correlation = 0.329), and approval for the use of contraception (κ = 0.300). In 6.1% of cases, husband-only unmet need was reported. Conclusion: There is need to encourage spousal communication so that they can make informed decisions on contraceptive choice. Husband-only unmet need for family planning was found, so man may be a potential entry point of national demographic health surveys to improve the contraceptive usage among couples and reduce the unmet need of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gangliogliomas (GGs) are slow-growing glioneuronal tumors seen in children and young adults. They are associated with intractable epilepsy, and have recently been found to harbor BRAF (B- rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma) gene mutations. However, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, downstream of BRAF, has not been evaluated extensively in GGs.Materials and Methods: GG cases were retrieved, clinical data obtained, and histopathological features reviewed. Sequencing for BRAF V600E mutation, analysis of BRAF copy number by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry for mTOR pathway markers p-S6 and p-4EBP1 were performed.Results: Sixty-four cases of GG were identified (0.9% of central nervous system tumors). Of these, 28 had sufficient tumor tissue for further evaluation. Mixed glial and neuronal morphology was the commonest (64%) type. Focal cortical dysplasia was identified in the adjacent cortex (6 cases). BRAF V600E mutation was identified in 30% of GGs; BRAF copy number gain was observed in 50% of them. p-S6 and p-4EBP1 immunopositivity was seen in 57% cases each. Thus, mTOR pathway activation was seen in 81% cases, and was independent of BRAF alterations. 87% patients had Engel grade I outcome, while 13% had Engel grade II outcome. Both the Engel grade II cases analyzed showed BRAF V600E mutation.Conclusion: BRAF V600E mutation is frequent in GGs, as is BRAF gain; the former may serve as a target for personalized therapy in patients with residual tumors, necessitating its assessment in routine pathology reporting of these tumors. Evidence of mTOR pathway activation highlights similarities in the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying GG and focal cortical dysplasia, and suggests that mTOR inhibitors may be of utility in GG patients with persistent seizures after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodevelopmental and neuroimmunological genes critically regulate antipsychotic treatment outcome. We report genetic associations of antipsychotic response in 742 schizophrenia patients from Indian populations of Indo-European and Dravidian ancestry, segregated by disease severity. Meta-analysis comparing the two populations identified CCL2 [rs4795893: OR (95% CI) = 1.79 (1.27-2.52), P = 7.62 × 10−4; rs4586: OR (95% CI) = 1.74 (1.24-2.43), P = 1.13 × 10−3] and GRIA4 [rs2513265: OR (95% CI) = 0.53 (0.36-0.78), P = 1.44 × 10−3] in low severity group; and, ADCY2 [rs1544938: OR (95% CI) = 0.36 (0.19-0.65), P = 7.68 × 10−4] and NRG1 [rs13250975, OR (95% CI) = 0.42 (0.23-0.79), P = 6.81 × 10−3; rs17716295, OR (95% CI) = 1.78 (1.15-2.75), P = 8.71 × 10−3] in high severity group, with incomplete response toward antipsychotics. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with the efficacy of antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia patients from two major India populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]