Management of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection should be conducted by a multidisciplinary team within the framework of an individualized patient approach for favorable outcomes.

Objective To evaluate the course and effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on pregnant women followed up in a Turkish institution. Methods A prospective, single tertiary pandemic center cohort study was conducted on pregnant women with confirmed or suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Positive diagnosis was made on a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay of a nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimen. Demographic features, clinical characteristics, and maternal and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. Results SARS‐CoV‐2 was suspected in 100 pregnant women. Of them, 29 had the diagnosis confirmed by RT‐PCR. Eight of the remaining 71 cases had clinical findings highly suspicious for COVID‐19. Ten (34.5%) of the confirmed cases had co‐morbidities. Cough (58.6%) and myalgia (51.7%) were the leading symptoms. COVID‐19 therapy was given to 10 (34.5%) patients. There were no admissions to the intensive care unit. Pregnancy complications were present in 7 (24.1%) patients. Half of the births (5/10) were cesarean deliveries. None of the neonates were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Samples of breastmilk were also negative for the virus. Three neonates were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusion The clinical course of COVID 19 during pregnancy appears to be mild in the present study.

Objective To investigate the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity in asymptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospital for delivery in a Turkish pandemic center. Study Design This prospective cohort study was conducted in Ankara City Hospital between April, 15, 2020 and June, 5, 2020. A total of 206 asymptomatic pregnant women (103 low-risk pregnant women without any defined risk factor and 103 high-risk pregnant women) were screened for SARS-CoV-2 positivity upon admission to hospital for delivery. Detection of SARS-CoV2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples was performed by Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method targeting RdRp (RNA dependent RNA polymerase) gene. Two groups were compared in terms of demographic features, clinical characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Results Three of the 206 pregnant women participating in the study had positive RT-PCR tests (1.4 %) and all positive cases were in the high-risk pregnancy group. Although, one case in the high-risk pregnancy group had developed symptoms highly suspicious for COVID-19, two repeated RT-PCR tests were negative. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity rate was significantly higher in the high-risk pregnancy group (2.9 % vs 0%, p = 0.04). Conclusion Healthcare professionals should be cautious in the labor and delivery of high-risk pregnant women during the pandemic period and universal testing for COVID-19 may be considered in selected populations.

Aim: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the CoronaVac vaccine in patients with cancer receiving active systemic therapy. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted with 47 patients receiving active systemic therapy for cancer. CoronaVac was administered as two doses (3 μg/day) on days 0 and 28. Antibody level higher than 1 IU/ml was defined as ‘immunogenicity.’ Results: The immunogenicity rate was 63.8% (30/47) in the entire patient group, 59.5% (25/42) in those receiving at least one cytotoxic drug and 100% (five of five) in those receiving monoclonal antibody or immunotherapy alone. Age was an independent predictive factor for immunogenicity (odds ratio: 0.830; p = 0.043). Conclusion: More than half of cancer patients receiving active systemic therapy developed immunogenicity.

The aim was to investigate the association of the delivery mode and vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) through the samples of vaginal secretions, placenta, cord blood, or amniotic fluid as well as the neonatal outcomes. This cross‐sectional study presents an analysis of prospectively gathered data collected at a single tertiary hospital. Sixty‐three pregnant women with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) participated in the study. Vertical transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 was analyzed with reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) tests and blood tests for immunoglobulin G (IgG)–immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. All patients were in the mild or moderate category for COVID‐19. Only one placental sample and two of the vaginal secretion samples were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Except for one, all positive samples were obtained from patients who gave birth by cesarean. All cord blood and amniotic fluid samples were negative for SARS‐CoV‐2. Two newborns were screened positive for COVID‐19 IgG–IgM within 24 h after delivery, but the RT‐PCR tests were negative. A positive RT‐PCR result was detected in a neof a mother whose placenta, cord blood, amniotic fluid, and vaginal secretions samples were negative. He died due to pulmonary hemorrhage on the 11th day of life. In conclusion, we demonstrated that SARS‐CoV‐2 can be detectable in the placenta or vaginal secretions of pregnant women. Detection of the virus in the placenta or vaginal secretions may not be associated with neonatal infection. Vaginal delivery may not increase the incidence of neonatal infection, and cesarean may not prevent vertical transmission. The decision regarding the mode of delivery should be based on obstetric indications and COVID‐19 severity.

Introduction The possibility of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the mother to the fetus is one of the most crucial issues regarding the COVID-19 effects on pregnancy. In this study, we aimed to explore the risk of maternal-fetal transmission before 24 weeks of gestation, through analysis of abortion materials collected from PCR-positive women with pregnancy loss. To the best of our knowledge, apart from case reports, this study is the first prospective work on the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy. Methods The patients who had attended our clinic with the diagnosis of pregnancy loss before 24 weeks of gestation were screened for COVİD-19. Vertical transmission in PCR-positive women was assessed through the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in fetal-placental tissues by rt-PCR test. Results 24 of 210 (%11,4) pregnant women participating in the study had positive rt-PCR results. Placenta and curettage material samples of these PCR-positive patients were analyzed and all valid test results (21 samples) were negative for SARS CoV-2 RNA. In three cases, the rt-PCR results were invalid due to failed internal controls.

the causative agent was identified as a new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which had not previously been detected in humans [1]. Later, the name of 2019-nCoV disease was accepted as COVID-19, and the virus was named SARS-CoV-2 because of its close resemblance to SARS CoV. After this date, the number of patients increased rapidly, and the WHO declared an "International Public Health Emergency" regarding the coronavirus outbreak at its meeting on January 30, 2020.Although the world was caught unprepared to the sudden emergence and rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, Turkey managed to postpone the emergence of the disease within its borders through the implementation of effective preventive measures until March 11, 2020, when the first case was detected. After cases seen in China, Italy, and Spain starting from January, Turkey executed a meticulous monitoring and evaluation process to decide, implement, and follow up with comprehensive and timely measures. These measures have given time to be prepared for both the community and the healthcare system in this pandemic. Furthermore, since the beginning of the pandemic, Turkish citizens infected with COVID-19 have Background/aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and parameters that determined the clinical course and prognosis of the COVID-19 patients admitted to Ankara City Hospital during the first month of the pandemic in Turkey.Materials and methods: SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients who were hospitalized between March 10 and April 10, 2020 were included.Results: Among 222 patients, mean age was higher in severe acute respiratory illness (SARI)/critical disease group (P < 0.001). Median time from illness onset to admission and presence of comorbidity, especially coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were significantly higher in the SARI/critical disease group (P < 0.05). Cough and fever were the most common symptoms, while anosmia and loss of taste were observed in 8.6% and 7.7% patients, respectively. The mortality rate was 5.4%. A high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; low lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet count; elevated liver enzymes; low GFR; and high levels of muscle enzymes, ferritin, and IL-6 on admission were found to be associated with SARI/critical disease (P < 0.05). Bilateral ground-glass opacity and patchy infiltration were more frequently seen in the SARI/critical disease group (P < 0.001). Patients older than 65 years had an 8-fold increased risk for development of SARI/critical disease. Conclusion:This cohort study regarding COVID-19 cases in Turkey reveals that older age, presence of comorbidity, bilateral infiltration on CT, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, low monocyte and platelet count, elevated liver enzymes, low GFR, high levels of muscle enzymes, and high levels of ferritin and IL-6 on admission are predictors of SARI and severe disease.

SARS-CoV-2 is a human pathogen and the main cause of COVID-19 disease, announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is characterized by severe conditions, and early diagnosis can make dramatic changes for both personal and public health. Low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic capabilities can have a very critical role in controlling the transmission of the disease. Here, we are reporting a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool developed with an in vitro synthetic biology approach by employing engineered de novo riboregulators. Our design coupled with a home-made point-of-care device can detect and report the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific genes. The presence of SARS-CoV-2-related genes triggers the translation of sfGFP mRNAs, resulting in a green fluorescence output. The approach proposed here has the potential of being a game changer in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics by providing an easy-to-run, low-cost diagnostic capability.