SCOPE: Surveillance of COVID-19 in pregnancy- results of a multicentric ambispective case-control study on clinical presentation and maternal outcomes in India between April to November 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical manifestations, risk factors, treatment modalities and maternal outcomes in pregnant women with lab-confirmed COVID-19 and compare it with COVID-19 negative pregnant women in same age group. DESIGN: Multicentric case-control study. DATA SOURCES: Ambispective primary data collection through paper-based forms from 20 tertiary care centres across India between April and November 2020. STUDY POPULATION: All pregnant women reporting to the centres with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive result matched with controls. DATA QUALITY: Dedicated research officers extracted hospital records, using modified WHO Case Record Forms (CRF) and verified for completeness and accuracy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data converted to excel files and statistical analyses done using STATA 16 (StataCorp, TX, USA). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 76,264 women delivered across 20 centres during the study period. Data of 3723 COVID positive pregnant women and 3744 age-matched controls was analyzed. Of the positive cases 56·9% were asymptomatic. Antenatal complications like preeclampsia and abruptio placentae were seen more among the cases. Induction and caesarean delivery rates were also higher among Covid positive women. Pre-existing maternal co-morbidities increased need for supportive care. There were 34 maternal deaths out of the 3723(0.9%) positive mothers, while covid negative deaths reported from all the centres were 449 of 72,541 (0·6%). CONCLUSION: Covid-19 infection predisposed to adverse maternal outcomes in a large cohort of Covid positive pregnant women as compared to the negative controls.

Therapeutic Profile of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Serum and Autologous Serum Therapies in Treatment of Ocular Surface Disorders: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Umbilical cord blood serum (UCBS) is an effective adjunctive treatment along with conventional therapy in ocular surface disorders (OSDs). It aids in rapid ocular surface restoration thereby achieving epithelial integrity, in addition to improvement in subjective and objective parameters. The study aims to compare the efficacy of human umbilical cord blood serum and autologous serum (AS) in treatment of OSD. Methods: A prospective randomized study was conducted on 101 eyes diagnosed with OSD resulting from dry eye disease (DED; n = 40), acute chemical burn (ACB; n = 21), and ocular allergy (OA; n = 40). Randomization was done in Group I, administered with AS, and Group II with UCBS. Outcomes evaluated were visual acuity (VA), eye sensation score (ESS), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer's value, Corneal Fluorescein Score, epithelial defect, limbal ischemia, corneal clarity (CC), and improvement in grade of severity. Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon signed-rank, Wilcoxon rank sum, Chi-square, and Z-test with a significance level (P ≤ 0.05). Results: In DED, Group II showed significant improvement in VA, ESS, and OSDI by the 7th day, whereas the mean Schirmer, TBUT, and corneal fluorescein staining score improved by 3 months. In ACB, Group II showed improvement in VA, reepithelialization, reduction in limbal ischemia, and CC by 3 months. In OA, Group II showed improvement in ESS by day 7. Conclusion: Human umbilical cord blood serum is more effective than AS in restoring ocular surface.

FIGO's PALM-COEIN Classification of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Clinico-histopathological Correlation in Indian Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the commonest menstrual problem during perimenopause. The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics working group on menstrual disorders has developed a classification system (PALM-COEIN) for causes of the AUB in non-gravid women. The present study was conducted with the aim to study the two components of this system in clinical practice in general and to establish a clinico-pathological correlation of AUB with context of PALM component in particular. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-six perimenopausal women (aged 40 years and above till 1 year beyond menopause) admitted with complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding were studied. After thorough history and examination, a clinical diagnosis was made as per PALM-COEIN classification. Relative contribution of various causes of PALM (structural) and COEIN (functional) components was analysed. After all indicated investigations, endometrial sampling and hysterectomy specimen were assessed by histology. A clinicopathological correlation was analysed statistically. RESULT: PALM and COEIN components contributed almost equally for AUB when assessed clinically. On the other hand, the histological examination revealed significantly more cases of PALM (structural or anatomical) component of AUB, i.e. 50.23 versus 63.98 % (p ≤ 0.05) The difference was mainly attributed to the detection of more cases of AUB-M (malignancy and hyperplasia) in highly significant proportions (p ≤ .01) and coexistent cases of AUB-A;L. AUB-L was the commonest (41.1 %) aetiology overall. CONCLUSION: The PALM-COEIN classification system should take into account both the clinical and histopathological diagnoses in women having AUB around perimenopause as the two diagnostic modalities are complementary to each other and clinical impression should be placed into proper perspective of this classification in order to optimise outcome.