Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. Asymptomatic colonisation of the vagina and rectum with Group B streptococci is common in pregnancy. Maternal colonisation of GBS can vary depending on ethnicity and geographical distribution. Vertical transmission of this organism from mother to foetus may lead to neonatal GBS disease. Intra-partum use of antibiotics in these women has led to a decrease in the rate of early onset but not late onset GBS disease. Identification of women with GBS is the key factor in the prevention of perinatal GBS disease. There are different screening strategies available to identify women at risk of perinatal GBS disease. Clinicians continue to face the challenge of choosing between preventive strategies to reduce the impact of perinatal GBS disease. Controversy exists regarding the ideal preventive strategy. In India, the mortality and morbidity associated with the GBS disease remains largely a under-recognised problem. This comprehensive review summarises the salient features of GBS disease and discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, screening strategies, intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis with an Indian perspective and how it compares with the Western nations.

Aim: To study the pattern of cutaneous adverse drug reactions presenting to general practitioners in a semi urban area.  Methodology and Results: This study was conducted among general practitioners of Villupuram, a semi urban area in Tamilnadu State. During the study, a total of 60 CADRs were reported. Data were collected using standard CDSCO ADR form. The majority of CADRs were observed in the age group of 20-40 years. According to WHO causality assessment, 48 were probable and 12 were possible. The severity assessment using modified hartwig and seigel revealed 18 mild, 41 moderate and one severe CADRs. The common drug groups implicated are antibiotics followed by NSAIDS and anticonvulsants. Maculopapular rash was the most common presentation of CADRs.Conclusion: Among the various types of CADRs seen in this study, Maculopapular rash was the most common followed by fixed drug eruption. studies antimicrobials were the most common causative agent followed by NSAIDs and anti- convulsants. This study on CADRs gains importance as the pattern of drug use is changing periodically and everyday many new drugs enter the market.

Introduction: Autoimmunity is a condition in which the body's own cells which are immunocompetent and the antibodies, acts against its own self-antigen which will result in structural and functional damage to the body. The diseases caused by this phenomenon are called Autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are more commonly seen in females. Hundred thousands of individuals in the Western countries are affected. The diagnosis is made from the clinical presentation of the patient with which a differential diagnosis is made, following which various tests both phenotyping methods and genotyping methods are carried out to conclude the nal diagnosis. Conclusion: The genotyping methods play the most important role in the laboratory diagnosis of systemic immune diseases.

BACKGROUND Maternal infections play a crucial role in pregnancy wastage, which are transmitted in utero during pregnancy. The TORCH infections are the most significant of all infections causing morbidity and mortality. Primary infection with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common congenital viral infections. Although, 90% of congenital infections are asymptomatic, 5 to 17% of infants born to mothers with primary CMV infection will be overtly symptomatic and have a mortality rate of 30% and severe neurological morbidity occurs in 90% of survivors. Acute CMV infection can be diagnosed by detection of antibodies by serology and by detection of CMV genomic sequences by RT-PCR. Seroconversion or significant rise in the titre of CMV IgM indicates recent CMV infection and may still be detected upto one year even if the individual presents after the symptoms have subsided. Hence, the present study was carried out. This study aims to screen antenatal women for IgM antibodies to CMV by ELISA and to study the seroprevalence of CMV in antenatal women. Further, the seropositivity was correlated with bad obstetric history cases in antenatal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a Government Maternity Hospital, Tirupathi, for a period of one year. By using a convenient sampling method, a total of 186 blood samples were collected from antenatal women with bad obstetrics history who attended during the period of July 2011 to Jan 2012. All samples collected were processed and screened for CMV specific IgM antibodies by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) using "Anti-CMV IgM ELISA" kit of Euroimmune following the manufacturer's instructions. Chi-square test was applied to check the significance level. Finally, results were displayed in terms of percentages, bar diagrams, pie diagrams and tables. RESULTS A total number of 186 blood samples were collected and processed. Samples were screened for IgM antibodies against CMV using Anti-CMV IgM kit by ELISA as per the manufacturer's instructions. Of the 186 samples tested, 156 were from antenatal women with BOH (test group) and the remaining 30 were from the women with previous normal deliveries (control group). Of the test group, 12 (7.69%) serum samples were found to be positive for IgM antibodies to CMV. Among the control group, no sample was found to be positive for IgM antibodies to CMV. CONCLUSION It is concluded that CMV infections are responsible for some obstetrical losses. There is no vaccine for prevention and there is no way to prevent foetuses from being infected once the mother acquires the infection. It is suggested that women in the reproductive age group should be screened for CMV infections. It is observed that universal screening of pregnant women for CMV infection during an early prenatal visit is not yet recommended worldwide.