Relevance of augmented kisspeptin signaling through H KISS1R in central precocious puberty.

Understanding the pathophysiology of idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) is essential, in view of its consequences on reproductive health and metabolic disorders in later life. Towards this, estimation of circulating levels of the neuropeptides, viz; Kisspeptin (Kp-10), Neurokinin B (NKB) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY), acting upstream to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), has shown promise. Insights can also be gained from functional studies on genetic variations implicated in ICPP.

Outcomes in neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 during the second wave in India.

Unlabelled: COVID-19 pandemic has affected all age groups globally including pregnant women and their neonates. The aim of the study was to understand outcomes in neonates of mothers with COVID-19 during the first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis of 2524 neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers was conducted during the first wave (n = 1782) and second wave (n = 742) of the COVID-19 pandemic at five study sites of the PregCovid registry in Maharashtra, India.

Protocol for a prospective, hospital-based registry of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection in India: PregCovid Registry study.

Introduction: Pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to several factors and therefore require special attention. However, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women and their newborns remain uncharted. The PregCovid registry aims to document the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant, postpartum women and their newborns.

Clinical Presentations and Semen Characteristics of Men Attending the Secondary Referral Infertility Clinic at Mumbai, India.

Background: Limited information is available on the aetiology and semen profiles of male infertility in Indian population.

Aim: The aim of this study is to study the clinical and semen characteristics of men attending the infertility clinic and also to understand the impact of World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 reference values on the diagnosis of male infertility.

Setting And Design: A retrospective study evaluating the medical case records (January 2005 to December 2015, [ = 1906]) of men attending infertility clinic in Mumbai, India.

Clinical characteristics, outcomes, & mortality in pregnant women with COVID-19 in Maharashtra, India: Results from PregCovid registry.

Background & Objectives: The PregCovid registry was established to document the clinical presentations, pregnancy outcomes and mortality of pregnant and post-partum women with COVID-19.

Methods: The PregCovid registry prospectively collects information in near-real time on pregnant and post-partum women with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 from 19 medical colleges across the State of Maharashtra, India. Data of 4203 pregnant women collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-January 2021) was analyzed.

Differential impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women from high-income countries and low- to middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has infected a large number of pregnant women.

Objective: To compare clinical, perinatal outcomes of women with COVID-19 from high-income countries (HICs) and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs).

Search Strategy: Online databases were searched.

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Short-Term Outcome of Neonates Born to Mothers with COVID-19 in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.

Introduction: We describe the clinical characteristics, management, and short-term outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India.

Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of 524 neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 admitted from 14th April 2020 to 31st July 2020.

Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in 6.

Clinical presentations, pregnancy complications, and maternal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 and tuberculosis: A retrospective cohort study.

Pregnant women with symptomatic COVID‐19 should also be tested for TB in countries with a high burden of TB. The infrastructure of the TB Program can be utilized for the control of COVID‐19, and vice versa.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on multiple gestation pregnancy.

Objective: To assess clinical presentations, pregnancy complications, and maternal and neonatal outcomes among women with multiple gestation pregnancy (MGP) and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and to compare the data with a pre-pandemic period.

Methods: A retrospective study at a dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Mumbai, India. Data were obtained from the PregCovid Registry of pregnant and postpartum women with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from April to September, 2020.

Co-infection of malaria and dengue in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2.

Physicians and obstetricians should be vigilant so that they can swiftly identify co‐infections of malaria and dengue in pregnant women with COVID‐19.

HIV gp120 induced gene expression signatures in vaginal epithelial cells.

Gp120 is the envelope protein of HIV which binds to CD4 independent proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. HIV-gp120 has been reported to modulate gene expression in several cell types. How this interaction may alter the physiologic vaginal milieu during the earliest stages of vaginal transmission of HIV, is currently unknown.

AP-1 transcription factors, mucin-type molecules and MMPs regulate the IL-11 mediated invasiveness of JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells.

This study examines the IL-11 mediated activation of downstream signaling and expression of effector molecules to resolve the controversies associated with the IL-11 mediated regulation of the invasiveness of two commonly used trophoblastic cell models viz. JEG-3 and HTR-8/SVneo cells. It has been reported that IL-11 increases the invasiveness of JEG-3 cells while, reduces the invasiveness of HTR-8/SVneo cells.

Endometrial biology during trophoblast invasion.

Attainment of successful implantation depends upon the synchronized changes in the endometrium before and after the arrival of blastocyst into the uterine cavity. The cues obtained from the receptive endometrium helps in proliferation and differentiation of the trophoblast cells. During the course of invasive differentiation, the trophoblast cells undergo several morphological, biochemical and molecular changes to gain the invasive capabilities.

HIV gp120 binds to mannose receptor on vaginal epithelial cells and induces production of matrix metalloproteinases.

Background: During sexual transmission of HIV in women, the virus breaches the multi-layered CD4 negative stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina, to infect the sub-epithelial CD4 positive immune cells. However the mechanisms by which HIV gains entry into the sub-epithelial zone is hitherto unknown. We have previously reported human mannose receptor (hMR) as a CD4 independent receptor playing a role in HIV transmission on human spermatozoa.

High-affinity binding of seminal plasma PSP94 to human immunoglobulin is through the Fab domain.

Prostate secretory protein of 94 amino acids (PSP94) is one of the major proteins present in human seminal plasma. We had earlier reported that PSP94 has the ability to bind to human IgG. The aims of the present study were to further delineate the PSP94-IgG interaction and to understand whether this could have any significance in sperm function.

Follicle stimulating hormone receptor gene variants in women with primary and secondary amenorrhea.

Purpose: This retrospective study was designed to analyze the FSHR gene variants in subjects with primary and secondary amenorrhea with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

Materials And Methods: Eighty six women with primary or secondary amenorrhea and 100 normally cycling proven fertile women of Indian origin were retrospectively studied. These subjects were systematically screened for entire FSHR gene.

Expression of endometrial protein kinase a during early pregnancy in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

Embryo-induced signaling pathways are considered to be important for initiation and sustenance of pregnancy. However many of these pathways remain to be deciphered in primates. In the present study, differential display RT-PCR was used to identify genes or gene fragments that are differentially expressed in endometrium of bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) on Day 6 of pregnancy.

Stage-specific localization and expression of c-kit in the adult human testis.

The c-kit receptor (KIT) and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), represent one of the key regulators of testicular formation, development, and function and have been extensively studied in various animal models. The present study was undertaken to characterize the pattern of localization and expression of c-kit in normal adult human testis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that KIT is expressed in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia, acrosomal granules of spermatids, and Leydig cells.

Poor ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation is associated with FSH receptor polymorphism.

Similarities in the phenotype observed in women with FSH receptor mutation and in FSH receptor knockout mice have clearly established a critical role of this protein in normal gonadal function. Two common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the exonic region of the FSH receptor gene have been shown to be associated with altered ovarian response in subjects undergoing gonadotrophin treatment. Recent in-vitro studies have shown that the A allele at the -29 position in the 5 untranslated region of the FSH receptor gene is associated with impaired transcriptional activity.

Gene expression profiling during early folliculogenesis in the mouse ovary.

Objective: To evaluate genes involved in ovarian primordial-to-primary follicle transition.

Design: Experimental animal study.

Setting: Research institute.

Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphism (Thr307Ala) is associated with variable ovarian response and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in Indian women.

Objective: To evaluate the association of FSH receptor polymorphism and ovarian response.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academic research institute and private IVF clinic.

Exposure of adult rats to estradiol valerate induces ovarian cyst with early senescence of follicles.

Environmental and therapeutic estrogens are known to play an important role in modulating the reproductive life and pubertal maturation in males as well as in females. Animal studies have shown that exogenously administered estrogen induces follicular cysts. However, the probable mechanisms underlying this abnormal ovarian development and its impact on steroidogenesis have been ill defined.

Endometrial expression of immunomodulatory cytokines and their regulators during early pregnancy in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

Background: It is well established that endometrium undergoes extensive histological changes during implantation and subsequent stages of pregnancy in rodents as well as primates. Our previous investigation using a non-human primate model has demonstrated that morphological alterations are initiated even before the embryo invades the endometrium. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the embryo-induced morphological changes are accompanied by any alteration in the protein levels of the immunomodulatory cytokines and their regulators in the preimplantation stage endometrium.

Morphological events in the primate endometrium in the presence of a preimplantation embryo, detected by the serum preimplantation factor bioassay.

Background: Hormonal modulation of the endometrium towards receptivity is well established; however, the role of embryonic stimuli in modulation of the endometrium prior to implantation, especially in primates, is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the endometrial histology when the embryo was present in its vicinity prior to implantation.

Methods: Preimplantation factor (PIF) bioassay was used as a tool to detect the presence of an embryo in the uterine lumen of mated bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) (n=9).