A preliminary study of antiphospholipid antibodies in 50 cases of bad obstetric history.

The prevalence of the antiphospholipid antibodies in certain high risk groups like bad obstetric history is higher than previously realized. A pilot study in 50 patients of bad obstetric history, for the presence of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies was carried out to establish an association between the presence of the antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent fetal wastage. Lupus anticoagulant alone was positive in six patients (12%) and anticardiolipin antibody alone was positive in 14 patients (28%), while both lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in three patients (6%). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were not significantly prolonged. Platelet count was normal in all the patients. We conclude that lupus anticoagulant as based on kaolin clotting time and anticardiolipin antibodies are important tests to detect the etiology of fetal wastage.

Determination of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of some medicinal plants from saurashtra region, India.

Many plants used in Saurashtra folk medicine have been reported to exhibit high antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In the present study, some parts of five plants, Guazuma ulmifolia L., Manilkara zapota L., Melia azedarach L., Syzygium cumini L. and Wrightia tomentosa R.& S., were evaluated for their antibacterial activity, total phenol content, flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity and phytochemical analysis, using successive extraction by cold percolation method with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against five bacterial strains viz. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter aerogenes by agar well diffusion method. Among the plants screened, W. tomentosa leaf and fruit showed the best antibacterial activity. The Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria. Methanol extract of M. zapota showed the best 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. Highest total phenol content was shown by M. zapota and S. cumini in methanol extract, while highest flavonoid content was shown by W. tomentosa stem in petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract. In all the plants, cardiac glycosides and triterpenes were more as compared to other phytoconstituents.