Single step, pH induced gold nanoparticle chain formation in lecithin/water system.

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) chains have been formed by a single step method in a lecithin/water system where lecithin itself plays the role of a reductant and a template for AuNP chain formation. Two preparative strategies were explored: (1) evaporating lecithin solution with aqueous gold chloride (HAuCl4) at different pHs and (2) dispersing lecithin vesicles in aqueous HAuCl4 solutions of various pHs in the range of 2.5-11.3. In method 1, at initial pH 2.5, 20-50 nm AuNPs are found attached to lecithin vesicles. When pH is raised to 5.5 there are no vesicles present and 20 nm monodisperse particles are found aggregating. Chain formation of fine nanoparticles (3-5 nm) is observed from neutral to basic pH, between 6.5-10.3 The chains formed are hundreds of nanometers to micrometer long and are usually 2-3 nanoparticles wide. On further increasing pH to 11.3, particles form disk-like or raft-like structures. When method (ii) was used a little chain formation was observed. Most of the nanoparticles formed were found either sitting together as raft like structures or scattered on lecithin structures.

Comparison of mifepristone combination with misoprostol and misoprostol alone in the management of intrauterine death: condensation - misoprostol and mifepristone combination is more effective than misoprostol alone in the management of intrauterine death.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of misoprostol and mifepristone combination with misoprostol alone in management of intrauterine death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study carried out in 40 pregnant women admitted with intrauterine death after 28 weeks of gestation at a tertiary care referral centre divided into two groups of 20 each. Every alternate patient was assigned Group I and Group II. Group I (combination group) - the women received 200 mg of mifepristone; and after 36 hours, misoprostol was administered orally (100 µg if pregnancy was <37 weeks and 50 µg if pregnancy was >37 weeks) for every 3 hour till they went into active labor for a maximum of four doses. Group II (misoprostol group) - Women received oral misoprostol (100 µg if pregnancy was <37 weeks and 50 µg if pregnancy was >37 weeks) for every three hours till she went into active labor for maximum of four doses. Primary outcome measures were achievement of successful induction and induction delivery interval (IDI). Women who did not deliver after four doses of misoprostol were considered as failure. In all the women, bishop score before the start of mifepristone and misoprostol, induction delivery interval, and adverse effect of the drug were noted. Data were analyzed by using Student t test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: In the Group I, 60% of women, delivered with mifepristone alone. The rest of the patients [8 (40%)] had significant improvement of the bishop score after 36 hour. Parity, gestation, and bishop score did not affect the success of induction in the Group I. IDI was significantly less in the Group I (6.72 ± 3.34) as compared with that of the Group II (11.81 ± 6.33). Parity, gestation, and bishop score did not affect the IDI in the two groups. Number of doses of misoprostol required were significantly less in patients who were pretreated with mifepristone. CONCLUSION: Combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is more effective than the misoprostol alone for induction of labor in women with intrauterine death.

A biologically friendly approach for silver nanoparticle formation and their in situ attachment to lecithin vesicles.

There has been a keen interest for developing a biologically friendly approach for the preparation of silver nanoparticles for their application reasons. A biocompatible, single step method is established for the preparation of silver nanoparticles in lecithin (Egg phosphatidylcholine)/water systems where lecithin itself acts as a reductant for silver nitrate to form the silver nanoparticles. In another attempt, silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized inside the lecithin vesicles and were found attached to the bilayers of lecithin vesicles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where a biological surfactant has acted as a mild reducing agent for silver nitrate by itself to form silver nanoparticles.

A biologically friendly single step method for gold nanoparticle formation.

There has been a keen interest for developing a biologically friendly approach for the preparation of gold nanoparticles for their application reasons. A biocompatible, quick and single step method is established for the preparation of gold nanoparticles in lecithin (Egg phosphatidylcholine)/water systems where lecithin itself acts as a reductant for hydrogen tetrachloro aurate (HAuCl(4)) to form the gold nanoparticles. Small gold nanoparticles (5-7 nm in diameter) were prepared in lamellar phases formed by lecithin within 6-7h of HAuCl(4) addition. Sonication of aqueous mixture of lecithin/HAuCl(4) reduces the time of reduction process to seconds when a sonicator with probe (100 W) is used. Most of the particles are found attached to lecithin structures and are comparatively large in size. Some 10nm particles are found attached to small lecithin vesicles (∼100 nm) formed during sonication. The nanoparticles formed were stabilized by an anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) which proved to be a good stabilizer, the nanoparticles being stable up to six months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where a biological surfactant lecithin itself has acted as a reductant and no other chemical reductants were required for the gold nanoparticle formation. Particles were characterized by Uv-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Lamellar phases were characterized by a polarizing microscope.

Diagnostic laparoscopy in chronic pelvic pain.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy, because of its availability and safety, provides a valuable tool in the evaluation of undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain. It is a simple and definitive means of establishing the presence or absence of pelvic pathology without resorting to major abdominal surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the causes of chronic pelvic pain using laparoscopy and to correlate between clinical examination, ultrasonography, and laparoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present prospective study was done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Pt. BD Sharma, PGIMS Rohtak. Fifty cases of chronic pelvic pain attending gynae OPD were included in the study. After detailed history, examination, investigations, and ultrasonography, the patients were subjected to laparoscopy. RESULTS: The mean age and parity of the patients with CPP was 30.88 ± 7.71 years and 1.74 ± 1.38, respectively. The mean duration of pain was 2.8 years (6 months-8 years). The commonest finding on laparoscopy was adhesions in 40%, endometriosis in 18%, and pelvic congestion syndrome in 20%, while 10% of the patients had normal pelvis. Laparoscopic findings were taken as gold standard and pelvic examination and ultrasonographic findings were compared with it. CONCLUSION: Clinical examination and ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 8.1 and 2%, respectively. Laparoscopy helps in detecting many causes of CPP which clinical methods and ultrasonography fail to identify. This enforces the position of laparoscopy as a gold standard in evaluation of this condition.

Sublingual misoprostol in management of missed abortion in India.

This prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital on 50 women with missed abortion up to 13 weeks who were given 600 mug misoprostol sublingually every 3 h for a maximum of three doses. Success rate was 86% (up to 72 h), and the acceptability of the method was 69.7%. Sublingual misoprostol is a non-invasive, effective and safe medical method for completion of abortion in missed abortion.

Superfetation in uterus pseudo didelphys: an unreported event.

A 20-year-old primigravida initially diagnosed at 28 weeks to have superfetation in a case of a bicornuate uterus was subsequently found to have uterus pseudo didelphys during a cesarean section at 35 weeks. This type of uterine anomaly with twin gestation has been previously reported in five case reports, but superfetation with such müllerian abnormality has not been previously described.

Pregnancy in asymmetric blind hemicavity of Robert's uterus--a previously unreported phenomenon.

An 18-year-old primigravida presented following recurrent failed attempts at pregnancy termination for intra-uterine fetal death. Clinical examination aroused suspicion of non-communicating uterine horn with bicornuate uterus. Examination under anaesthesia and laparotomy revealed a partial vaginal septum, complete septate uterus with septum deviated to one side and fetus lying in the non-communicating right blind hemicavity (Robert's uterus). Hysterotomy and ipsilateral tubal ligation were performed.