ABSTRACT
Plants produce a diverse nature of secondary metabolites having different biological activity. Some of these chemicals exhibit antimicrobial activity. In the present study the plant extracts of Vitex negundo, Duranta repens, Acorus calamus and Piper nigrum were tested individually as well as synergistically for antibiotic/ antibacterial activities. It was found that the plant extract of V. negundo was most effective against both S. mutans MTCC 890(MIC value 0.37) and P. aeruginosa MTCC 0741 (MIC value 0.75) than other three extracts of D. repens, P. nigrum, A. calamus whereas the plant extract of P. nigrum was least effective against both S. mutans MTCC 890(MIC value 3.12) and P. aeruginosa MTCC 0741(MIC value 6.25).
ABSTRACT
The present study was doen to investigate the reliability of maternal serum Creatinine Phosphokinase (CPK) in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.100 consecutive women with documented tubal pregnancies (Group A) and 50 women with normal intra-uterine pregnancy (Group B) were prospectively studied. Women matched for age, gestational age and parity were included in both groups. Serum CPK levels of both groups were analyzed and plotted. The mean CPK levels in the study group (103 ± 50.3 IU/L) were significantly higher than the mean CPK levels of control group (52.4 ± 10.9 IU/L). The mean CPK levels in the study group showed gradual increment with increase in the gestational age, unlike the control group. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CPK level at 70 IU/L was 95% and 98% respectively. The positive predictive value was 99% and the negative predictive value 90.7% for the diagnosis of tubal pregnancy.Hence, serum CPK levels are significantly higher in women with tubal pregnancy that may or may not have ruptured and are reliable in the diagnosis of a tubal pregnancy.