Women with newly diagnosed PCOS may have increased prevalence and likelihood for periodontitis, with higher measures of periodontal inflammation and breakdown than those on medical treatment for PCOS and systemically healthy females. Furthermore, periodontal breakdown might depend on systemic inflammation and vice versa.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the folate, vitamin B12, fluoride and homocysteine levels in newborns with neural tube defect (NTD) and their parents. The study included 35 neonates with NTD and their parents, 31 neonates with congenital anomalies other than NTD formed control 1, 24 neonates with no anomalies, with the highest birth order and normal siblings formed control 2. These groups matched for socio-economic and nutritional status. Demographic, antenatal history, parental habits, folate (RBC, whole blood and serum), serum vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels were estimated using chemiluminescence technology. Chi-square test was used to assess association between factors and the outcome. One-way ANOVA was used to compare means in the three groups. To determine the risk factors for NTD, odds ratios (95% CI) was computed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis (STATA 9.0). No difference was found between NTD group and 'control 1' group. The fathers in NTD group had significantly lower folate and vitamin B12 and a higher homocysteine, in comparison to 'control 2' group (i.e. with normal babies). The babies with NTD had higher homocysteine while their mothers had significantly low folate levels in comparison to 'control 2' mothers. Low RBC folate, low serum vitamin B12 and high plasma homocysteine in both the parents had an association with NTD. Multivariate logistic regression revealed high homocysteine of father as the only independent significant risk factor [OR(95% CI):2.6(2.6, 226)] for NTD and also for other anomalies. NTD (and other congenital anomalies) may not only be due to nutritional deficiency in the mothers but also due to more intricate gene-nutrient interaction defects in the affected families, probably some abnormal folate-homocysteine metabolism. These defects seem to be affect the fathers more severely and in all likelihood, get transmitted to the babies from either or both the parents. The emergence of father's serum homocysteine levels as an independent risk factor for NTD and also other congenital anomalies calls for further studies to evaluate if this can be taken as a marker for congenital anomalies in the fetus during antenatal screening.

Two parallel vertical compression sutures (Hayman stitch) placed in the uterus controls bleeding effectively. The technique is easy, rapid and requires less skill and this simple procedure be tried first before other complex measures like uterine artery ligation are undertaken particularly for those obstetricians who lack sufficient training and skill.

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A prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital on 100 pregnant women admitted for induction of labour to compare the effect of misoprostol and dinoprostone on the induction of labour. The patients were divided randomly into two groups of 50 each. Group I received 25 microg misoprostol intravaginally every 3 h (maximum dose 200 microg), and Group II received 0.5 mg PGE(2) gel (dinoprostonev) intracervically every 6 h (maximum three doses in 24 h) until good uterine contractions started. The primary outcome measure was vaginal delivery occurring within 24 h of administration of the first dose of either study drug (successful induction). Statistical analysis were conducted using chi(2) test, Fisher exact test, Student's t-test and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). In the misoprostol group, more patients achieved successful inductions as compared with the dinoprostone group, 80% vs. 62% (P = 0.0473, RR 1.63, 95% CI 0.95-2.81). The mean induction to delivery interval (IDI) was shorter in the misoprostol group, 13.30+/-8.74 (3-40.15) hours, as compared with the dinoprostone group, 18.53+/-11.33 (2-48.07) hours (P = 0.011). Misoprostol was associated with significantly less oxytocin use (18% vs. 50%) as compared with dinoprostone (P = 0.001 RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.69). In conclusion, although both misoprostol and dinoprostone appear to be effective agents for labour induction, misoprostol is cheaper, stable at room temperature, has shorter IDI and requires less oxytocin. These results make misoprostol superior to dinoprostone for induction of labour especially in developing and tropical countries.