A total of 563 white primigravid patients at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, were recruited in a prospective study to examine the association between maternal height, shoe size, and the outcome of labour. There was a significantly increased caesarean section rate in women of short stature but no association between mode of delivery and shoe size. Babies born vaginally had heavier birth weights with increasing height and shoe size. Babies born by caesarean section were heavier than those born vaginally, but their birthweight showed no relation with either height or shoe size.Shoe size is not a useful clinical predictor for the probability of cephalopelvic disproportion, and, although maternal height is a better clinical guide to pelvic adequacy in labour, 80% of mothers less than 160 cm tall delivered vaginally. A well conducted trial of labour should be considered in all primigravid patients with cephalic presentation irrespective of maternal height or shoe size if no obstetric complication exists.
In our present investigation, the crude methanol extract and chloroform fraction of the whole plant of Physalis minima Linn (Solanaceae) was investigated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities in NMRI mice and Wistar rats of either sex at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Various established in-vivo model's were used during the study. Both crude extract and chloroform fraction showed marked anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as compared to a control at tested doses. The antipyretic potential of the crude extract and chloroform were insignificant in the Brewer's yeast fever model. Therefore, the whole plant of Physalis minima Linn could be considered as a potential candidate for bioactivity-guided isolation of natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.
The methanol extract of the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Excellent antifungal sensitivity was expressed by the n-butanol fraction against Candida albicans and Candida glaberata (up to 90%) and against Trichophyton longifusus (78%) followed by the chloroform fraction against Microsporum canis (80%). In the antibacterial bioassay, the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate antibacterial activities. Chloroform fraction displayed highest antibacterial sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureous (88%) followed by the crude extract (59%). The total phenol content of the crude extract and fractions of the plant expressed no significant correlation with the antimicrobial activities.
Objective
To compare conservative versus prostaglandin management of prelabour rupture of the membranes (PROM) in healthy primigravid women at term.
Design
A prospective randomized study.
Setting
Labour Ward, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
Subjects
230 primigravidae at term with PROM, 115 allocated to be treated conservatively and 115 to be managed with prostaglandin treatment.
Interventions
In the conservatively managed group the women were observed for up to 24 h after hospital admission with PROM. The actively managed group had PGE2 gel (2 mg) instilled into the posterior fornix and if contractions had not commenced, a further dose of PGE2 gel (1 mg) was instilled 6 h later. In both groups, if labour had not established 24 h after admission, intravenous oxytocin was given in escalating doses.
Main outcome measures
PROM to delivery interval, oxytocin augmentation, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal infective morbidity.
Results
There was a significant reduction in the PROM to delivery interval in the women managed actively with PGE2 gel and fewer women in the PGE2 group required oxytocin augmentation (31%vs 51%). The two managements groups were comparable for intrapartum analgesia, antibiotic treatment, babies requiring admission to the special care nursery unit and delivery by caesarean section.
Conclusion
The early use of prostaglandin is associated with a significant reduction in PROM to delivery interval without a significant increase in infective morbidity or caesarean section rate. However, the advantages of the conservative approach should not be overlooked. More work is still needed in the management of those women where uterine activity fails to establish within 24 h after PROM.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.