Maternal nutritional status and care during pregnancy are essential for adequate birth weight. In this prospective cohort study (N = 1061) in an urban slum, we investigated the association of maternal anthropometry, body composition, gestational weight gain and dietary intakes with low birthweight (LBW, <2.5 kg). About one-third of the women were short (<150 cm), 35% were underweight (<45 kg), 23% suffered from chronic energy deficiency (CED, BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) and another 30% were overweight/obese. The mean age and BMI were 23 years and 21.7 kg/m², respectively, and haemoglobin was 10.73 g/dL. The mean birthweight (N = 605) was 2.81 ± 0.5 kg, and the average gestational age was 38 ± 2 weeks. About 15% of infants had LBW, and 48% were small for gestational age (SGA). Maternal body composition was assessed by skinfold thickness (SFT) in all trimesters. In the first trimester (N = 762), we found that mean fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage (% BF) were 38.86 kg, 11.43 kg and 21.55%, respectively. Low birthweight was significantly associated with preterm deliveries (p < 0.001) and less fat free mass (p = 0.02) in the third trimester. Among other factors were age (p = 0.017), maternal anthropometry (height: p = 0.031; weight: p = 0.059) and fewer antenatal check-ups (p = 0.037). Small size (SGA) was consistently associated with maternal bodyweight at all trimesters (term I, p = 0.013, term II, p = 0.003 and term III, p < 0.001), fat mass in the third trimester (p < 0.001) and maternal height (p = 0.003).

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may cause adverse maternal, neonatal and placental outcomes. While tissue hypoxia is often reported in COVID-19 patients, pregnant women with anemia are suspected to be more prone to placental hypoxia-related injuries.Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August-November 2021, during COVID-19 second wave in India. Term pregnant women (N=212) admitted to hospital for delivery were enrolled consecutively. Since hospital admission mandated negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 virus, none had active infection. Data on socio-demography, COVID-19 history, maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Pre-delivery maternal and post-delivery cord blood samples were tested for hematological parameters and SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Placentae were studied for histology.Results: Of 212 women, 122 (58%) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, but none reported COVID-19 history; 134 (63.2%) were anemic. In seropositive women, hemoglobin (p=0.04), total WBC (p=0.009), lymphocytes (p=0.005) and neutrophils (p=0.02) were significantly higher, while ferritin was high, but not significant and neutrophils to lymphocytes (p=0.12) and platelets to lymphocytes ratios (p=0.03) were lower. Neonatal outcomes were similar. All RBC parameters and serum ferritin were significantly lower in anemic mothers but not in cord blood, except RDW that was significantly higher in both, maternal (p=0.007) and cord (p=0.008) blood from seropositive anemic group compared to other groups. Placental histology showed significant increase in villous hypervascularity (p=0.000), dilated villous capillaries (p=0.000), and syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.02) in seropositive group, typically suggesting placental hypoxia. Maternal anemia was not associated with any histological parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of placental histopathological adverse outcomes showed strong association with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity but not with maternal anemia. When adjusted for several covariates, including anemia, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity emerged as independent risk factor for severe chorangiosis (AOR 8.74, 95% CI 3.51-21.76, p<0.000), dilated blood vessels (AOR 12.74, 95% CI 5.46-29.75, p<0.000), syncytiotrophoblasts (AOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.36-5.99, p=0.005) and villus agglutination (AOR 9.27, 95% CI 3.68-23.32, p<0.000).Conclusion: Asymptomatic COVID-19 during pregnancy seemed to be associated with various abnormal placental histopathologic changes related to placental hypoxia independent of maternal anemia status. Our data supports an independent role of SARS-CoV-2 in causing placental hypoxia in pregnant women.

Modification of DNA bases plays important roles in the epigenetic regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Among the different types of DNA methylation, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is common in higher eukaryotes. Although bisulfite sequencing is the established detection method for this modification, newer methods, such as Oxford nanopore sequencing, have been developed as quick and reliable alternatives. An earlier study using sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) indicated the presence of 5mC at very low concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. More recently, a comprehensive study of the yeast genome found 40 5mC sites using the computational tool Nanopolish on nanopore sequencing output raw data. In the present study, we are trying to validate the prediction of the 5mC modifications in yeast with Nanopolish and two other nanopore software tools, Tombo and DeepSignal. Using publicly available genome sequencing data, we compared the open-access computational tools, including Tombo, Nanopolish and DeepSignal, for predicting 5mC. Our results suggest that these tools are indeed capable of predicting DNA 5mC modifications at a specific location from Oxford nanopore sequencing data. We also predicted that 5mC present in the S. cerevisiae genome might be located predominantly at the RDN locus of chromosome 12.

Background/Objectives: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its prevention and control policies have impacted maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study documents the challenges faced by patients in accessing MCH services, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering those services during the COVID-19 outbreak, explicitly focusing on the lockdown period in India. Methods: A cross-sectional study (rapid survey) was conducted in 18 districts from 6 states of India during March to June, 2020. The sample size included 540 MCH patients, 18 gynaecologists, 18 paediatricians, 18 district immunisation officers and 108 frontline health workers. Bivariate analysis and multivariable analysis were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics, and challenges faced by the patients. Results: More than one-third of patients (n = 212; 39%) reported that accessing MCH services was a challenge during the lockdown period, with major challenges being transportation-related difficulties (n = 99; 46%) unavailability of hospital-based services (n = 54; 23%) and interrupted outreach health services (n = 39; 18.4%). The supply-side challenges mainly included lack of infrastructural preparedness for outbreak situations, and a shortage of human resources. Conclusions/Recommendations: A holistic approach is required that focuses on both preparedness and response to the outbreak, as well reassignment and reinforcement of health care professionals to continue catering to and maintaining essential MCH services during the pandemic.

Objective Studies on the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pregnant mothers and their newborns, specifically in relation to their micronutrient status, fatty acids (FAs), and inflammatory status are sparse. We hypothesized that COVID-19 infection would adversely affect the transfer of nutrients, and FAs from mothers to their fetuses via the umbilical cord and maternal–fetal distribution of inflammatory cells. This study aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19 on micronutrients, inflammatory markers, and FAs profiles in pregnant mothers and their newborns' cord blood. Study Design This was a cross-sectional study of 212 pregnant mothers in the third trimester and their newborns, recruited after testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serostatus. Peripheral blood of mothers and cord blood were collected at birth and analyzed for vitamin B12 (Vit B12), folic acid, 25(OH)D3, FAs, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Student's t-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to express statistical significance. Non-normal data were tested using the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test, with proportions compared with the chi-square test. Results Vit B12 levels were significantly low and adrenic acid levels significantly high in COVID-19 seropositive mothers while 25(OH)D3 was significantly low in seropositive cord blood. Irrespective of COVID-19 serostatus, folate, vit B12, saturated FA levels were significantly high in cord blood indicating their increased transfer from mothers to the fetus. However, monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels were significantly lower in cord blood. Irrespective of COVID-19 serostatus, CD4⁺ T helper cells (percentage of lymphocytes) were significantly higher in cord blood, while NK cells, NK-T cells, and CD8⁺ T-cytotoxic cells—percentage of lymphocytes—were significantly lower in cord blood when compared with corresponding mother's blood. Conclusion The results indicate that while COVID-19 did not impede the transfer of essential nutrients such as MUFA and PUFA from mother to fetus, or affect maternal–fetal immune cell responses, it did appear to affect the levels of vit B12, vitamin D, and adrenic acid. Key Points ^* These authors have contributed equally to the work and share senior authorship. Received: 11 July 2024 Accepted: 20 November 2024 Article published online: 24 December 2024 © 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA