Study of vertical transmission of COVID-19 infection in COVID-19 positive obstetrical patients by comparing amniotic fluid and immediate neonatal COVID-19 RT-PCR

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of vertical transmission COVID-19 by RT-PCR.Methods: In this hospital based prospective study, all COVID-19 positive pregnant women admitted in COVID ward in Muzaffarnagar medical college and hospital from April 2020 to January 2021 were included. A detailed history and examination was done and all routine investigations were done as per protocol. Samples were taken from amniotic fluid during vaginal delivery or caesarean section and collected in viral transport medium. Sample were also collected as nasal and oropharyngeal swab from neonate immediately after birth and sent for COVID 19 RT-PCR.Results: Out of total 50 cases; 43 (86%) neonates were delivered via LSCS and 7 (14%) by normal delivery, out of these 41 (82%) neonates were normal; 4 (8%) were IUGR, 2 (4%) were IUD, 2 (4%) were pre-term and 1 (2%) neonatal death. All 50 amniotic fluid as well as nasal and oropharyngeal samples of all neonates were negative by RT-PCR.Conclusions: Low vertical transmission may be due to the fact that antibodies are produced by mother that crosses the placenta and saves the fetus or there are highly specific immunological mediators in the placenta that do not allow the infection to pass to the fetus.

Extraction Free Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal Swabs by Real Time PCR

Introduction: The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has been troublesome particularly for developing countries that lack infrastructure and capacities to produce the kits locally. Simplification of the method can increase diagnostic efficiency which can benefit patients and help in infection control, consequently saving time and lives. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of four methods (that omit extraction step) for detection of SARS-CoV-2 against the traditional extraction method. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis for evaluating diagnostic accuracy of four methods for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR), conducted in the Department of Microbiology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, in October 2020. Ninety four SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive samples and 20 negative samples were taken for this study. Automated extraction system was used for Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction and four different approaches were compared to the traditional extraction method for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Data was entered and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software version 24.0. Results: The automated RNA extraction method was compared to the method of direct addition of samples with (Heat processed Direct Viral transport medium Sample (HDVS)) and without heating (Direct Viral transport medium Sample (DVS)), directs addition of diluted (1:5) sample with (Heat processed diluted VTM sample (HdVS)) and without heating (Diluted VTM sample (dVS)) as well as after addition of Proteinse K (PK) to the diluted samples that came either negative/invalid. Out of four methods, the HdVS method gave the best results, considering extraction with Perkin Elmer as standard, this method showed sensitivity of 96.74%, specificity of 100%. Conclusion: In current pandemic, molecular testing is critically challenged by the limited supplies of reagents of nucleic acid extraction alternative method like diluting and heating of Viral Transport Media (VTM) samples and using them directly as elutes serve as an easy, fast and inexpensive alternative.

Study on Flushability Testing of Wood Pulp Composite Spunlaced Nonwovens

Wood pulp composite spunlaced nonwoven is a new environment-friendly material that can disintegrate in toilet system. It could be easily flushed into septic or sewer systems, thus avoids the risk of clogging the pipes. In this study, the flushable wood pulp composite spunlaced nonwoven was prepared and the flushability testing method was developed. The effects of testing parameters and conditions on the flushability were studied through laboratory experiment and theoretical analysis. It was found that the size of sample, liquid volume, shaking speed and shaking time were directly related to the disintegration ratio. A medium sample size, a higher liquid volume, a higher shaking speed and shaking time can result in a good disintegration. These factors should be taken into serious consideration when testing the flushable or disintegrating properties.

Black stains in the mixed dentition: A PCR microbiological study of the etiopathogenic bacteria.

The aim of this work is to emphasize that particular stains on the third cervical of the buccal and lingual surfaces in mixed dentition, called "black stain." Previous research showed the microbiological etiology of this discoloration by chromogen bacterias. Our study shows bacteria spp involved in stains by means of PCR process and electrophoresis gel on the agarose medium. Sample was formed by 100 subject with black stain and 100 control subjects stain-free.A statistical analysis (SPSS 10.0) using X2 was performed in this study. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella melaninogenica, were not involved in both in black stain subjects and in the control. On the contrary, Actinomyces could be involved in the pigmentation process.