Extrapulmonary tuberculosis that is confined to the lymph nodes has no effect on obstetrical outcomes, but tuberculosis at other extrapulmonary sites does adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy.

The course of pregnancy and labour, and perinatal outcome of 182 pregnancies complicated by bronchial asthma, over a 10-year period were studied. Antiasthmatic medications included oral and/or parenteral beta 2-agonists, theophylline, aminophylline, corticosteroids, and inhaled salbutamol and beclomethasone. A control group of 364 nonasthmatic gravidas was matched for age and parity. In asthmatic gravidas, antenatal complications mean duration of pregnancy (38.5 weeks), mode of delivery, incidence of prematurity (13.2%) and low birth weight (LBW, 19.6%) and perinatal mortality (0.5%) were not significantly different compared to the controls (p > 0.05). However, uncontrolled severe asthma in 15 gravidas who required hospitalization, was associated with significant decrease in mean birth weight (2469 +/- 571 g vs 2842 +/- 494 g; p < 0.05) and a high incidence of LBW neonates (53.3% vs 20.5%; p < 0.01) at mean gestation of 38 weeks. Bronchial asthma during pregnancy, when optimally controlled does not affect the course or pregnancy and labour, and perinatal outcome. However, uncontrolled severe asthma leads to fetal growth retardation.

The ability to treat osteochondral defects is a major clinical need. Existing polymer systems cannot address the simultaneous requirements of regenerating bone and cartilage tissues together. The challenge still lies on how to improve the integration of newly formed tissue with the surrounding tissues and the cartilage-bone interface. This study investigated the potential use of different silk fibroin scaffolds: mulberry (Bombyx mori) and non-mulberry (Antheraea mylitta) for osteochondral regeneration in vitro and in vivo. After 4 to 8 weeks of in vitro culture in chondro- or osteo-inductive media, non-mulberry constructs pre-seeded with human bone marrow stromal cells exhibited prominent areas of the neo tissue containing chondrocyte-like cells, whereas mulberry constructs pre-seeded with human bone marrow stromal cells formed bone-like nodules. In vivo investigation demonstrated neo-osteochondral tissue formed on cell-free multi-layer silk scaffolds absorbed with transforming growth factor beta 3 or recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Good bio-integration was observed between native and neo-tissue within the osteochondrol defect in patellar grooves of Wistar rats. The in vivo neo-matrix formed comprised of a mixture of collagen and glycosaminoglycans except in mulberry silk without growth factors, where a predominantly collagenous matrix was observed. Immunohistochemical assay showed stronger staining of type I and type II collagen in the constructs of mulberry and non-mulberry scaffolds with growth factors. The study opens up a new avenue of using inter-species silk fibroin blended or multi-layered scaffolds of a combination of mulberry and non-mulberry origin for the regeneration of osteochondral defects.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Syzygium cymosum leaf methanol extract (SCL) against carbofuran (CF)induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague−Dawley rats, along with the identification and quantification of polyphenolic composition by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids in SCL. Similarly, HPLC analysis suggests that SCL contains some known important antioxidants, such as rutin, benzoic acid, and salicylic acid that could be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of the extract. In CFexposed rats, significant hematological alterations along with histological changes were marked by the presence of necrosis, congestion, and inflammation. CFintoxication also showed an increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in cellular antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) levels in rats compared with the control group. Furthermore, coadministration of SCL significantly ameliorated the abnormalities and improved the cellular arrangement in experimental animals. SCL also reversed the alteration of hematological and biochemical parameters and brought them back to normal levels as compared to the control group. In conclusion, S. cymosum may be one of the best sources of natural antioxidant compounds that can be used in the treatment of oxidative stress and stress-related diseases and disorders.

Unsafe abortion constitutes a major threat to the health and lives of women. This study highlights the need to focus more directly on the needs and preferences of women who seek abortion as well as on the accessibility of contraceptives and skills of the providers of abortion services, in order to improve the quality of abortion care.