Analysis of outcome of pregnant women affected with COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Corona virus is a single stranded RNA virus with a diameter of 80 to 120 nm. It causes respiratory illness ranging from mild nasal stuffiness to severe respiratory infection which may lead to death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on maternal and perinatal outcome.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Government Sivagangai Medical College from June 2020 to November 2020. Totally 406 mothers were included in this study and the maternal and perinatal outcome analysed.Results: Majority of the patients were less than 30 years (85.95%) and only 14.03% were more than 30 years. Out of 406 patients 208 (51.23%) were multigravida. Out of 406 patients 148 patients had medical disorders like gestational hypertension, hypothyroidism, gestational diabetes mellitus, heart disease, anemia and bronchial asthma. Anemia being the most common followed by gestational hypertension. Among 406 patients, 100 (24.64%) patients were asymptomatic, 89 patients (21.92%) had fever, 50 patients (12.31%) had cough, 22 patients (5.4%) had difficulty in breathing, 62 patients (15.2%) had nasal congestion, 28 patients (6.8%) had headache, 55 patients (13.54%) had anosmia.72 (17.7%) patients had minimal ground glass opacity, 21 patients (5.17%) had ground glass opacity with consolidation, 15 patients (3.69%) had pneumonia with pleural effusion. Remedisivir IV was administered as per protocol to symptomatic patients and patients with CT findings. None of the mothers needed ventilator support or high flow oxygen (>12 l) and there was no maternal death. Among 207 babies (1 twin) delivered, about 91 babies weighed more than 3 kg, 77 babies weighed 2.6 to 3 kg, 31 babies weighed 2.1 to 2.5 kg, 8 babies weighed less than 2 kg. 38 babies had low birth weight. Five babies were found to be COVID-19 positive at birth and all five of them weighed more than 3 kg.Conclusions: Appropriate timely management is the key for safe motherhood and healthy offspring during this pandemic

Development of transgenic sorghum for insect resistance against the spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus)

Transgenic sorghum plants expressing a synthetic cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) under the control of a wound-inducible promoter from the maize protease inhibitor gene (mpiC1) were produced via particle bombardment of shoot apices. Plants were regenerated from the transformed shoot apices via direct somatic embryogenesis with an intermittent three-step selection strategy using the herbicide Basta. Molecular characterisation based on polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis revealed multiple insertions of the cry1Ac gene in five plants from three independent transformation events. Inheritance and expression of the Bt gene was confirmed in T1 plants. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay indicated that Cry1Ac protein accumulated at levels of 1–8 ng per gram of fresh tissue in leaves that were mechanically wounded. Transgenic sorghum plants were evaluated for resistance against the spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus Swinhoe) in insect bioassays, which indicated partial resistance to damage by the neonate larvae of the spotted stem borer. Reduction in leaf damage 5 days after infestation was up to 60%; larval mortality was 40%, with the surviving larvae showing a 36% reduction in weight over those fed on control plants. Despite the low levels of expression of Bt delta-endotoxin under the control of the wound-inducible promoter, the transgenic plants showed partial tolerance against first instar larvae of the spotted stem borer