Objective: The aim of this study was to see the maternal and fetal outcome of preterm pre labor rupture membrane and to identify the risk factors for preterm pre labor rupture membrane. Methods and Material: This was a cross-sectional descriptive type study carried out in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, during April to September, 2005 (6months) in the Department of Obstetric and Gynecology. 50 pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of the membrane (gestational age 29-0 to 36-6 weeks) were included in this study. Results: The mean age of the women was 27.24±6.28years and 36% of them more than 30 years old. Sixty two percent women were multi gravid .Socio-economic condition, level of education and antenatal care of the women was low. Median gestational age of the patient was 35 weeks. Fifty six percent had previous history of PROM, preterm delivery, abortion, MR and dilatation and curettage. Sixty two percent women had history of sexual activity between 2 to 7days. Seventy two percent women had UTI, anaemia, and lower genital tract infection. Mean duration of the latent period was 18.87 ±16.17hours and time interval of rupture membrane and delivery was 27.60 ± 21.127 hours. Eighty four percent patient delivered by vaginal route and Fifty four percent delivered within 24 hours of ruptured membrane. Forty two percent newborn suffered from neonatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal jaundice and neonatal sepsis. Thirty two percent women suffered from chorioamnionitis, abruptio placent and endometritis.Conclusion: PPROM is malnutrition and poverty related disease. Antenatal care is an important tool to prevent PPROM by identifying the risk factors and its management. Steroid for fetal lung maturity, antibiotics to prevent fetal and maternal infection and induction and /or augmentation of labor will speeded delivery and reduce hospital stay and infection. Key words: Premature rupture of the membrane; maternal and neonatal outcome; risk factors. DOI: 10.3329/jbcps.v28i1.4639 J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2010; 28: 17-23

BackgroundCalcium and vitamin D are two important micronutrients required for maintaining proper bone health. Previous works intended to determine the status of these micronutrients in local population have reported that the people in Bangladesh are at high risk of calcium insufficiency and hypovitaminosis D related health complications. Lack of awareness and insufficient knowledge of the essentiality of these two nutrients are assumed to cause this problem in Bangladesh. The present study was designed and conducted to establish a basic understanding on the level of gap of knowledge and awareness among pharmacy students at undergraduate level in Bangladesh.FindingsA total of 713 students of Bachelor of Pharmacy course participated in the study. The students were asked about basic idea related to calcium and vitamin D and the disorders due to their deficiency, name of common foods containing calcium and vitamin D, their perception regarding the essentiality of the said nutrients etc. It was found that most of the students were familiar with the importance of calcium (98.9%) and vitamin D (99.3%) in bone health. 82.2% students know about the term osteoporosis. Unfortunately, 10.7% and 18.8% students failed to mention at least one food that is rich in calcium and vitamin D, respectively. Most of the students got familiar about the nutrients from their teachers (48.9%) and textbooks (32.8%).ConclusionBeing a student of pharmacy, the students should have more comprehensive knowledge about calcium and vitamin D. The present study indicates that the pharmacy students have lack of knowledge about calcium and vitamin D and thus it can be clearly predicted that the condition of general people may be worse.

Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) is a native Australian fruit. Industrial processing of T. ferdinandiana fruits into puree generates seeds as a by-product, which are generally discarded. The aim of our present study was to process the seed to separate the kernel and determine its nutritional composition. The proximate, mineral and fatty acid compositions were analysed in this study. Kernels are composed of 35% fat, while proteins account for 32% dry weight (DW). The energy content and fiber were 2065 kJ/100 g and 21.2% DW, respectively. Furthermore, the study showed that kernels were a very rich source of minerals and trace elements, such as potassium (6693 mg/kg), calcium (5385 mg/kg), iron (61 mg/kg) and zinc (60 mg/kg) DW, and had low levels of heavy metals. The fatty acid composition of the kernels consisted of omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid (50.2%), monounsaturated oleic acid (29.3%) and two saturated fatty acids namely palmitic acid (12.0%) and stearic acid (7.2%). The results indicate that T. ferdinandiana kernels have the potential to be utilized as a novel protein source for dietary purposes and non-conventional supply of linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids.