Study of symptomatology and presentations of COVID-19 in pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Objectives of this study were to study the incidence of SARS-CoV-19 positivity and the incidence of different signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy and comparison of the same with studies done in different populations previously.Methods: In this retrospective study, antepartum and postpartum parameters were integrated into the clinical records and total 205 ANC and PNC SARS-CoV-19 positive patients were evaluated for the signs and symptoms of COVID -19 over 2 months.Results: In our study, of all patients tested SARS-CoV-19 positive only 14.65% were symptomatic and rest were incidentally tested positive on admission. Of the symptomatic patients 50% had breathlessness followed by fever (13.33%). 92% patients had mild disease; approximately 8% had moderate disease and 6 out of 205 patient needed ICU care.Conclusions: The present study shows that 85.35% SARS-CoV-19 positive ANC and PNC patients were asymptomatic while only 14.65% symptomatic with breathlessness being the most common symptom at our institute

Load Balancing In Primary Distribution Feeders By Combination Of Renewable Energy Source And Voltage Source Inverter

In distribution automation system configuration the distributed generation directly connected to primary distribution system. To achieving the all total generation of PV the radial network converted into mesh or loop by connecting loop power controller at the receiving end of primary distribution system. The loop power flow controller has capable to control power flow between two distribution feeders by maintaining active and reactive power. The loop power flow controller control active power by changing phase shift and reactive power by changing voltage ratio. In these paper control algorithm in MATLAB is used to control voltage ratio and phase shift of LPC, and results shows how loss on distribution system is minimized

Evaluating KIND1 human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors to ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

Background & objectives: Diabetes is a global disease burden. Various stem cell types are being explored to serve as an alternative source of islets. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of in-house developed human embryonic stem (hES) cells-derived pancreatic progenitors to ameliorate diabetic symptoms in mice. Methods: Pancreatic progenitors were packed in macro-capsules and transplanted into six male Swiss mice and four mice were taken as controls. Thirty days post-transplantation, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin treatment. Mice were then followed up for >100 days and body weight and blood glucose levels were regularly monitored. Results: Control mice lost weight, maintained high glucose levels and did not survive beyond 40 days, whereas transplanted group maintained body weight and four of the six mice had lowered blood glucose levels. About five-fold increase was observed in human C-peptide levels in the recipients of progenitor transplants as compared to diabetic control. Interpretation & conclusions: The beneficial effect of transplanted cells was not long-lasting. Further studies are required to critically evaluate and compare the potential of endogenous pluripotent stem cells and hES cells-derived progenitors before moving from bench to the bedside

Gonadotropin and steroid hormones regulate pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells in adult mouse uterine endometrium

Abstract Background Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) exist in adult organs, express pluripotent markers and have the ability to differentiate into three germ layers in vitro. Testicular, ovarian and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells express receptors for follicle stimulating (FSH) and ovarian hormones and are activated by them to undergo proliferation/differentiation. VSELs exist in mouse uterus and are regulated by physiological dose of estradiol (E) & progesterone (P) during endometrial growth, differentiation and regeneration/remodeling. In the present study, effects of daily administration of E (2 μg/day), P (1 mg/Kg/day) or FSH (5 IU/day) for 7 days on the endometrium and stem/progenitor cells was studied in bilaterally ovariectomized mice. Results E treatment resulted in hypertrophy whereas P resulted in hyperplasia and overcrowding of epithelial cells. FSH also directly stimulated the endometrial cells. Nuclear OCT-4A positive VSELs were visualized in ovariectomized (atrophied) endometrium and cytoplasmic OCT-4B positive epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells were observed after treatment. FSH treated uterine tissue showed presence of 4 alternately spliced FSHR isoforms by Western blotting. 3–5 μm VSELs with a surface phenotype of LIN-/CD45-/SCA-1+ were enumerated by flow cytometry and were found to express ER, PR, FSHR1 and FSHR3 by RT-PCR analysis. Differential effects of treatment were observed on pluripotent (Oct4A, Sox2, Nanog), progenitors (Oct-4, Sca-1), primordial germ cells (Stella, Fragilis) and proliferation (Pcna) specific transcripts by qRT-PCR analysis. FSH and P (rather than E) exerted profound, direct stimulatory effects on uterine VSELs. Asymmetric, symmetric divisions and clonal expansion of stem/progenitor cells was confirmed by co-expression of OCT-4 and NUMB. Conclusions Results confirm presence of VSELs and their regulation by circulatory hormones in mouse uterus. Stem cell activation was more prominent after P and FSH compared to E treatment. The results question whether epithelial cells proliferation is regulated by paracrine influence of stromal cells or due to direct action of hormones on stem cells. VSELs expressing nuclear OCT-4A are the most primitive and pluripotent stem cells, undergo asymmetric cell division to self-renew and differentiate into epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells with cytoplasmic OCT-4B. Role of follicle stimulating and steroid hormones on the stem cells needs to be studied in various uterine pathologies