Henna through the centuries: a quick HPTLC analysis proposal to check henna identity

Henna leaves are the raw material of commercial body and hair dyes. According to historical and ethnobotanical information, henna was one of the first plants used for such purpose. However, differences can be observed between henna products by the origin of the raw material, the presence of other plants, or the addition of various contaminants that may cause allergies and permanent scarring. Nowadays henna is used everywhere but it lacks the necessary controls. We report a pharmacognostic study focused on quality control of henna's raw materials from different countries or based on other plants. The analytic approach based on High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was proposed as a reliable technique to evaluate natural products complex mixtures, as it is also the case of derived botanical marketed products.

Maternal and foetal complications in neglected transverse lie

To see the frequency of foetal and maternal complications of neglected transverse lie at a tertiary care hospital. This prospective study was conducted at Gynae B Unit Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan, from 1st January I997, to 31st December I997. Eighty-seven Patients presenting with neglected transverse lie were included in this study. Detail information regarding name, age, address, parity, past history, physical, abdominal and vaginal examination findings, general management and specific managements like internal podalic version, caesarean section, foetal complications and maternal complications of neglected transverse lie were entered into a predesigned proforma for the purpose. The maternal complications in order of frequency were dehydration 86.5% [n=77], pyrexia 41.37% [n=36], wound sepsis 31.03% [n=27], antepartum haemorrhage [APH] 16.09% [n=14] and postpartum haemorrhage [PPH] 14.94% [n=13] and maternal death 1.14% [n=1]. The foetal complications of neglected transverse lie were fresh stillbirth 55.17% [n=48], prematurity 14.94% [n=13], alive with poor Apgar score 10.34% [n=9], macerated stillbirth 8.04% [n=7], neonatal death 3.44% [n=3], post mature and alive 2.29% [n=2] and congenital malformation 2.29% [n=2]. Emergency lower segment caesarean section was done in 58 [66.7%] cases, while internal podalic version followed by breech extraction was done in 21 [24.1%] cases. Neglected transverse lie is associated with various maternal and foetal complications. Prenatal examinations are essential to reduce the unfortunate complications of transverse lie

Diagnosis of enlarged thyroid - an analysis of 250 cases

Thyroid enlargement is a common problem faced both by clinicians and histopathologists. In an effort to determine the incidence of its various causes in our population, 250 cases were analyzed. There was a marked female preponderance [M:F ratio 1:3.8]. Multinodular goiter was the commonest final diagnosis whereas 4 cases showed malignant thyroid neoplasms. Microscopic examination remained the golden path to the final diagnosis. The results as well as the relative efficacy of the various diagnostic modalities are discussed

Role of dilatation and curettage and interpretation of endometrial biopsy in gynaecological cases

310 Cases of diagnostic D and C were collected randomly from Gynae unit of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from January 1990 to January 1991. These were cases of infertility 49.26%, menorrhagia 13.22%, irregular bleeding 29.67%, Postmenopausal bleeding 5.164%, primary and secondary infertility 30.96% and 18.38% respectively. Various aspects like age, parity, marital status, clinical features and histopathological results were analysed 6.45% were below the age of 20 years. 63.22% between 21 to 40 years, 25.16% between 40-50 years and 5.16% were above the age of 50 years. 16.45% patients were nullipara. 15.48% Primipara and 37.09% and 30.96% were multipara and grand multipara respectively. 0.64% patients were un-married, 84.83% were married and 40.51% were widows. Results of endometrial biopsies were as follows. Proliferative phase 47.74%. Secretory phase 35.48%, tuberculous endometritis 1.93%, cystic endometrial hyperplasia 8.38%, Adenomatus hyperplasia 1.29% and adenocarcinoma 0.96%