Pediatric Household Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 Infection-Los Angeles County, December 2020 to February 2021.

This brief report presents transmission rates from a prospective study of 15 households with pediatric index cases of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 in Los Angeles County from December 2020 to February 2021. Our findings support ongoing evidence that transmission from pediatric index cases to household contacts is frequent but can be mitigated with practicing well-documented control measures at home, including isolation, masking and good hand hygiene.

High Resolution View on the Regulation of Recombinase Accumulation in Mammalian Meiosis.

A distinguishing feature of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), compared to DSBs in somatic cells, is the fact that they are induced in a programmed and specifically orchestrated manner, which includes chromatin remodeling prior to DSB induction. In addition, the meiotic homologous recombination (HR) repair process that follows, is different from HR repair of accidental DSBs in somatic cells. For instance, meiotic HR involves preferred use of the homolog instead of the sister chromatid as a repair template and subsequent formation of crossovers and non-crossovers in a tightly regulated manner.

Untangling the contribution of Haspin and Bub1 to Aurora B function during mitosis.

Aurora B kinase is essential for faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis. During (pro)metaphase, Aurora B is concentrated at the inner centromere by the kinases Haspin and Bub1. However, how Haspin and Bub1 collaborate to control Aurora B activity at centromeres remains unclear.

Effects of yoga on utero-fetal-placental circulation in high-risk pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction. Impaired placentation and inadequate trophoblast invasion have been associated with the etiology of many pregnancy complications and have been correlated with the first trimester uterine artery resistance. Previous studies have shown the benefits of yoga in improving pregnancy outcomes and those of yogic visualization in revitalizing the human tissues.

Treatment success in cancer: industry compared to publicly sponsored randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To assess if commercially sponsored trials are associated with higher success rates than publicly-sponsored trials.

Study Design And Settings: We undertook a systematic review of all consecutive, published and unpublished phase III cancer randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (CTG). We included all phase III cancer RCTs assessing treatment superiority from 1980 to 2010.

The effects of yoga in prevention of pregnancy complications in high-risk pregnancies: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: While previous studies have shown the potential effects of yoga in normal pregnancies, this randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of yoga in prevention of pregnancy complications in high-risk pregnancies for the first time.

Methods: 68 high-risk pregnant women were recruited from two maternity hospitals in Bengaluru, India and were randomized into yoga and control groups. The yoga group (n=30) received standard care plus one-hour yoga sessions, three times a week, from the 12th to the 28th week of gestation.

Antithymocyte globulin for acute-graft-versus-host-disease prophylaxis in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a systematic review.

Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is a major complication associated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is recommended for GVHD prophylaxis following allo-HCT, however, evidence on efficacy of ATG is conflicting. Accordingly, we undertook a systematic review.

Comparison of leucine and dispensable amino acid kinetics between Indian women with low or normal body mass indexes during pregnancy.

Background: Evidence suggests that in women with a normal to high body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)), the extra amino acids needed during pregnancy are met through reduced oxidation. It is not known whether a woman with a low BMI can make this adaptation successfully.

Objective: The objective was to measure and compare leucine kinetic parameters and alanine-nitrogen, glutamine amide-nitrogen, and glycine and cysteine fluxes in Indian women with a low and normal BMI in early and midpregnancy.

Timing of first-line cancer treatments - early versus late - a systematic review of phase III randomized trials.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all phase III randomized controlled trials comparing efficacy of early versus late first-line or initial treatments for cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE and Cochrane library databases was performed (1966-2008). Data was extracted and pooled as per the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration.

Efficacy of rituximab in the setting of steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Increased insight into the role of B lymphocytes in the pathophysiology of graft-versus-host disease has led to a number of studies assessing the efficacy of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) rituximab in treating steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Findings vary greatly among these studies, however. We conducted a systematic review to summarize the totality of evidence on the efficacy of rituximab in steroid-refractory cGVHD.

Glucose kinetics and pregnancy outcome in Indian women with low and normal body mass indices.

Background/objectives: Fetal energy demands are met from the oxidation of maternally supplied glucose and amino acids. During the fasted state, the glucose supply is thought to be met by gluconeogenesis. Underweight women with low body mass index (BMI) might be unable to adequately supply amino acids to satisfy the demands of gluconeogenesis.

In vivo arginine production and nitric oxide synthesis in pregnant Indian women with normal and low body mass indices.

Background/objectives: Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a mediator of vascular expansion during pregnancy. Inability to increase NO synthesis and/or production of its precursor, arginine, may be a contributor to pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. Because maternal weight is associated with blood pressure and risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy, it may also influence arginine and/or NO production.

The relationship between maternal physical activity during pregnancy and birth weight.

Introduction: Earlier studies in India have demonstrated an inverse relationship between physical activity and birth weight in rural women who had high levels of physical activity related to agricultural and domestic activities. There are no data on urban Indian women from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with varying levels of physical activity. This study assessed the role of different domains of physical activity during pregnancy and its relation to birth weight.

The effect of fish and omega-3 LCPUFA intake on low birth weight in Indian pregnant women.

Background: Inadequate consumption of fish could be a risk factor for low birth weight (LBW). This study assessed fish intake and omega-3 LCPUFA intake and status for their association with LBW in a cohort of urban, south Indian pregnant women.

Subjects/methods: In a prospective cohort study, data on maternal fish intake and omega-3 LCPUFA intake and status of 676 women were obtained at baseline (first trimester), the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Effects of maternal vitamin A status on kidney development: a pilot study.

Nephron endowment ranges widely in normal human populations. Recent autopsy studies have drawn attention to the possibility that subtle congenital nephron deficits may be associated with increased risk of developing hypertension later in life. Since modest maternal vitamin A deficiency reduces nephron number in rats, we designed a pilot study to determine the prevalence of maternal vitamin A deficiency in Montreal (Canada) and Bangalore (India) and the usefulness of newborn renal volume as a surrogate for nephron endowment.

Anthropometry and body composition of south Indian babies at birth.

Objectives: To assess the consequences on body composition of increasing birth weight in Indian babies in relation to reported values in Western babies, and to assess the relationship between maternal and neonatal anthropometry and body composition.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Bangalore City, India.

Low maternal vitamin B12 status is associated with intrauterine growth retardation in urban South Indians.

Objective: To assess the maternal sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and micronutrient status in apparently healthy pregnant women in order to determine their associations with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Bangalore City, India.

Are we increasing serious maternal morbidity by postponing termination of pregnancy in severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of admission--delivery interval on maternal morbidity in patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. This was a retrospective study, which involved review of case sheets of 188 women (admitted to St John's Medical College Hospital during the year 2000--2001 with the above diagnosis). The incidence of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was 5.

Serum nitrate levels as an index of endothelial function in pre-eclamsia and normal pregnancy.

The study was conducted in St. John's Medical College Hospital and Department of Physiology, with the aim of studying the serum nitrate levels in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. The total number of subjects studied in various groups were 159, control (n = 55), first trimester (n = 13), second trimester normal (n = 42), second trimester pre-eclampsia/PET (n = 5), third trimester normal (n = 32), third trimester pre-eclampsia/PET (n = 12).

Factor XIII deficiency: a rare cause of repeated abortions.

Factor XIII deficiency is a rare cause of early abortion. The obstetrical outcome of four pregnancies in two women with factor XIII deficiency is reported. Both women were treated with substitution therapy using locally-prepared cryoprecipitate.

Trophoblastic hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism can occur secondary to gestational trophoblastic disease. The clinical and biochemical data of four women who had hyperthyroidism secondary to gestational trophoblastic disease was analyzed. The parity ranged from primi to gravida four and the period of amenorrhoea from six weeks to sixteen weeks.

Methemoglobinemia following chromopertubation in treated pelvic tuberculosis.

Methylene blue administered through cervix is used to check tubal patency at laparoscopy. Although methylene blue is used to treat methemoglobinemia it can also produce methemoglobinemia in susceptible individuals. A case of methemoglobinemia induced by methylene blue in a patient with treated pelvic tuberculosis is presented.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent determination of autoantibodies to zona pellucida as a possible cause of infertility in women.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determination of antibodies against the zona pellucida was developed and compared with the already available indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) technique. Sera from 100 women with explained and unexplained infertility were screened for the presence of autoantibodies to the zona pellucida by ELISA and IIF techniques. Porcine/goat zonae immobilized on activated microtitre plates or solubilized zona pellucida antigens adsorbed on poly-L-lysine-coated microtitre plates were used as a solid phase in an ELISA.

Status of autoantibodies to zona pellucida in human reproduction.

The sera of 80 patients were tested by the indirect immunofluorescence technique to evaluate the presence of autoantibodies to zona pellucida in human reproduction. The incidence of positive anti-zona activity was 71.4% (25/35) in the infertile women, 40.