ABSTRACT
Background: This prospective research was designed to evaluate changes in levels of salivary Estriol and Progesterone in preterm labor in comparison to normal pregnancy. Spontaneous onset of labor at term is produced by definite increase in estriol and fall in progesterone. This rise in free estrogen should precede the onset of labor according with the known effect of estrogen and progesterone on myometrial activity. Concentration of steroid in saliva reflect unbound unconjugated and biologically active fraction.Methods: The present study was carried for duration of one year enrolling 115 antenatal women between 28 and < 37 weeks of gestation with or without labour pains attending the antenatal clinic in KGMU, Lucknow and those admitted in Queen Mary’s Hospital Lucknow. 5 ml of saliva was collected in cryovials from each patient to estimate estriol and progesterone. The estimation of saliva progesterone and estriol was done by immunoenzymatic colorimetric method of the supernatant of sample.Results: In our study mean value of saliva progesterone levels of pregnant women with preterm delivery (study group IIA) was lower than the control group (Group l) but the difference was not significant (3814.46±751.14 pg/ml versus 3945.16±577.11 pg/ml, p = 0.351). Mean value of estriol study group who delivered preterm (3512.85±586.16 pg/ml) was higher as compared to the mean value of control group (2691.72±681.08 pg/ml) and difference was significant (p value < 0.001).Conclusions: Thus, there is significant rise in level of saliva estriol, it can be used as a predictor for detecting symptomatic and asymptomatic women at risk for preterm birth.
ABSTRACT
Aims: The objective of the present experiment was to synthesise ZnO nanoparticles by the environmental friendly process of bioreduction of ZnO salt with Camellia sinensis crop shoot extract and post synthesis to characterise and check their antibacterial potentiality and cytotoxicity. Place and Duration of Study: Fermentation technology lab, School of biosciences and technology, VIT University, Vellore between July 2013 to December 2013. Methodology: Green tea leaf extract (5%, 10% and 15%) and ZnO salt solution (0.1 M and 0.01 M) were prepared in different concentrations and mixed in three volumetric ratios (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) to make a total of 18 combinations. The mixtures were incubated in a rotary shaker for 24-48 h. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised subsequently by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), particle size analysis, Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Upon characterization antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles were tested on three gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp.) and two gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp.) bacteria. Finally haemolytic activity of the ZnO nanoparticles were compared with bulk ZnO salt and plant extract on RBC. Results: The 370 nm peak obtained in UV-Vis spectrophotometer confirmed about the synthesis in case of only 15% extract. The AFM and particle size analysis revealed size of the nanoparticles at about 70 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed identical functional groups like tea leaf extract. Finally the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles were evident from XRD experiment. Antibacterial assay revealed inhibitory effect of the nanoparticles on all the five bacterial strains by producing prominent zone of inhibition. From the haemolytic assay the synthesised ZnO nanoparticles were found out to be biocompatible and non-toxic up to a conc. of 60 μg/ml. Conclusion: The present experiment provided a simple, rapid and environmentally benign technique of synthesising spherical to elliptical ZnO nanoparticles having efficient antibacterial activity and non-toxicity which can be used for developing a successful drug delivery system.