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Pharmacol Rep 2019 Feb 8;71(3):466-472. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.

Background: β-Adrenergic receptor agonists are widely used agents in the treatment of asthma or preterm labor. Since prevalence of asthma was shown to be higher in patients with epilepsy and modulation of noradrenergic system activity may modify epilepsy course, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of salbutamol (SALB), one of the most commonly used β-adrenergic receptor agonist on the anticonvulsant potency of four classical antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): valproate (VPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (DPH) and phenobarbital (PB) in mice subjected to the maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures.

Methods: Seizures were caused by a current delivered through ear-clip electrodes. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 18:1-16. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

a Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research , Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services , Bethesda , Maryland , and Detroit , Michigan , USA.

Objective: Human β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, and activity and, therefore, plays a central role in host defense mechanisms against infection. Herein, we determined whether HBD-3 was a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid during midtrimester and at term and whether the concentration of this defensin was increased in amniotic fluid of women with spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes and those with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection.

Methods: Amniotic fluid was collected from 219 women in the following groups: (1) midtrimester who delivered at term (n = 35); (2) with or without spontaneous labor at term (n = 50); (3) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered at term (n = 29); (4) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered preterm with or without intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection (n = 69); and (5) pPROM with or without intra-amniotic infection (n = 36). Read More

MBio 2019 Apr 16;10(2). Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France

Mast cells (MCs) are critical mediators of inflammation; however, their microbicidal activity against invading pathogens remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a nonpreviously reported antibacterial mechanism used by MCs against , the agent of Q fever. We show that interaction with MCs does not result in bacterial uptake but rather induces the formation of extracellular actin filaments named cytonemes. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 27;14:2191-2206. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

Introduction: Targeted intervention to the uterus has great potential for the treatment of obstetric complications (eg, preterm birth, dysfunctional labor, and postpartum hemorrhage) by improving the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic compounds. In particular, targeting the oxytocin receptor (OTR) is a novel approach for drug delivery to the uterus. The aim of this study was to report the complete data set for the pharmaceutical synthesis and in vitro characterization of PEGylated liposomes conjugated with anti-OTR monoclonal antibodies (OTR-Lipo) or atosiban (ATO-Lipo, OTR antagonist). Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2019 Feb;8(2):356-360

Department of Medicine, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Background: Studies of vitamin D (VD) physiology suggest that effects of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) could be much broader than rickets including cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, infection, and allergy and pregnancy complications. Data regarding the prevalence of hypovitaminosis in pregnancy are scanty especially in north eastern part of India. Therefore, this study has undertaken with the intention to find out prevalence and outcome of hypovitaminosis of VD in pregnancy. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 14:1-161. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

a Department of Pediatrics , University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City , Kansas , USA.

Objective: Intrauterine stress can be reflected on hematological disturbance at birth. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia may be a result of exposure to maternal hypertensive disorders but may also indicate fetal inflammatory response to intrauterine infection, prompting empiric antibiotics use during the initial assessment after birth. Emerging data suggest long-term adverse health outcomes associated with antibiotics exposure early in life. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2019 Apr 12;49(5):400-409. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Central and Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Services (CNARTS), Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia,

Background And Objectives: Kidney disorders in pregnancy may be under-recognized and have variable impact on outcomes depending on diagnosis. Population-level data are limited, particularly for Australia, and comparison of impact of different kidney disorders on pregnancy has rarely been assessed. This study examined the prevalence and outcomes of varied kidney disorders using population-level perinatal data from a large cohort. Read More

Women Birth 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Maimónides Institut of Biomedic Research of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain; Department of Nursing, University of Córdoba, Spain; University Hospital Reina Sofia, Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Preterm birth and low birth weight are two public health problems worldwide associated with higher morbidity and perinatal death risk.

Aims: To determine the incidence and socio-demographic factors associated with preterm birth and low birth weight in Spanish women.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with data from women who gave birth in Spain during 2015 extracted from the Statistical Bulletin of births (National Institute Statistics). Read More

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Objective: To analyze quality improvement opportunities (QIOs) identified through review of cases of maternal death from sepsis by the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee.

Design: Qualitative descriptive design using thematic analysis.

Sample: A total of 118 QIOs identified from 27 cases of pregnancy-related deaths from sepsis in California from 2002 to 2007. Read More

Georgian Med News 2019 Feb(287):20-25

Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine.

The purpose of the study is examination the dynamics of antioxidant defense indicators and lipoperoxidation processes in women with pregnancy termination different periods. 227 pregnant women were examined, 190 of them had clinical signs of premature birth in the gestation period of 23-36 weeks. Formation of clinical groups was carried out depending on the term of pregnancy in the form of premature and timely birth. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 7:1-161. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

a Obstetrics and Gynecology Department , Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amniopatch in pregnancies associated with spontaneous preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial that involved 100 women diagnosed with PPROM between 24 and 34 weeks of gestational age. Participants were randomized equally into two groups. Read More

EXCLI J 2019 2;18:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Biotechnology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is considered as one of the most prevalent human parasitic infections that can be transmitted from mother to the fetus. The onset of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy has clinical complications including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, stillbirth and fetal abnormalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis infection in pregnant women and their infants in Lorestan province, Western Iran. Read More

Biol Reprod 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2/9) have previously been shown to be elevated in serum and amniotic fluid from women undergoing preterm birth. We performed experiments to determine the effects of MMP2/9 on uterine contraction and birth timing.

Experimental Design: Pregnant mice were injected daily with 50 mg/kg of SB-3CT or vehicle control beginning on gestational day 14-18 to determine if MMP2/9 inhibition would affect parturition timing. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 2;9(1):5519. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.

The non-canonical NF-κB signaling may be a central integrator of a placental clock that governs the length of human pregnancy. We sought to identify fetal signals that could activate this NF-κB pathway in the placenta, and in turn, contribute to the onset of labor. Proteomics analysis of exosomes purified from fetal cord arterial blood revealed a total of 328 proteins, among which 48 were more significantly abundant (p < 0. Read More

BMC Med Genomics 2019 Apr 1;12(1):53. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. General Flores 2125, C.P, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as infant delivery before 37 weeks of completed gestation, results from the interaction of both genetic and environmental components and constitutes a complex multifactorial syndrome. Transcriptome analysis of PTB has proven challenging because of the multiple causes of PTB and the numerous maternal and fetal gestational tissues that must interact to facilitate parturition. The transcriptome of the chorioamnion membranes at the site of rupture in PTB and term fetuses may reflect the molecular pathways of preterm labor. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Mar 26;236:160-165. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, affiliated with the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Medicine Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address:

Objectives: To identify risk factors and complications associated with 3 stage of labor removal of placental fragments (3 SRPF) by manual uterine revision under a strict protocol.

Study Design: Ten years retrospective register-based cohort study of vaginal deliveries. Women with 3 SRPF n = 3297 (exposed) and those without n = 97,888 (non exposed) were compared. Read More

J Med Chem 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Peptide mimicry employing a combination of aza-amino acyl proline and indolizidinone residues has been used to develop allosteric modulators of the prostaglandin F2α receptor. Systematic study of the N-terminal phenylacetyl moiety, and the conformation and side chain functions of the central turn dipeptide residue has demonstrated the sensitive relationships between modulator activity and topology. Examination of aza-Gly-Pro and aza-Phe-Pro analogs 2a and 2b in a murine preterm labor model featuring treatment with lipopolysaccharide demonstrated their capacity to extend significantly (>20 h) the average time of delivery offering new prototypes for delaying premature birth. Read More

Placenta 2019 Mar 9. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.

The role of the immune system in term (TL) and preterm labor (PTL) is unknown. Despite the fact that globally, PTL remains the most important cause of childhood mortality. Infection, typically of the fetal membranes, termed chorioamnionitis, is the best-understood driver of PTL, but the mechanisms underpinning other causes, including idiopathic and stretch-induced PTL, are unclear, but may well involve activation of the maternal immune system. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Korea.

Background: Intra-amniotic infection is present in 10% of patients with an episode of preterm labor, and is a risk factor for impending preterm delivery and neonatal morbidity/mortality. Intra-amniotic inflammation is often associated with intra-amniotic infection, but sometimes is present in the absence of detectable microorganisms. Antibiotic treatment of intra-amniotic infection has traditionally been considered to be ineffective. Read More

Biol Reprod 2019 Mar 30. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.

Introduction: Dexamethasone (Dex), a corticosteroid hormone, is used during the perinatal period to help fetal lung and other organ development. Conversely, Dex-induced cell proliferation has been associated with accelerated aging. Using primary amnion epithelial cells (AECs) from term, not in labor, fetal membranes, we tested the effects of Dex on cell proliferation, senescence, and inflammation. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(13):e15060

Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University.

The rate of preterm birth has been increasing worldwide. Most preterm babies are at increased risk of central nervous system impairments as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in preterm birth and associated factors contributing to preterm delivery in Taiwan. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Sci 2019 Mar 13;62(2):127-133. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

Objective: To assess positive culture rate and antimicrobial susceptibilities of (MH) and (UU) in symptomatic general population and pregnant women admitted with preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who have undergone culture test and antimicrobial susceptibilities at our center from January 2017 to April 2018. Patients with positive culture for MH, UU, or both were included in this study. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Sci 2019 Mar 25;62(2):93-102. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: To investigate the perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies according to maternal age.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of twin pregnancies delivered ≥24 weeks' gestation at a tertiary academic hospital from 1995 to 2016. Subjects were categorized into 5 groups according to maternal age: <25, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and ≥40 years. Read More

J Immunol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Detroit, MI 48201;

Preterm labor commonly precedes preterm birth, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most research has focused on establishing a causal link between innate immune activation and pathological inflammation leading to preterm labor and birth. However, the role of maternal effector/activated T cells in the pathogenesis of preterm labor/birth is poorly understood. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2019 ;64(2):89-93

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Ivanovo State Medical Academy" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ivanovo, Russia.

Perinatal lesions of the Central nervous system (CNS) in newborns occupy a leading place in the structure of perinatal morbidity and subsequent disability of children. To identify the features of the content of sRAGE in pregnant women with threatening preterm labor (UPR) in the period of 22-27 weeks, who subsequently gave birth to children with perinatal CNS lesion. Serum of venous blood of pregnant women with UPR at the term of 22-27 weeks was determined by ELISA once the content of sRAGE. Read More

Biol Reprod 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Mercy Perinatal Research Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, Obstetrics, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Untimely activation of the inflammatory response by sterile or infective insults in uterine tissues can result in preterm birth. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathogenic activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiates a biochemical cascade of events leading to myometrial activation and contractility, cervical dilatation, and rupture of the chorioamniotic membranes. GIT2 is a signaling protein known to play a role in innate and adaptive immunity; however, its role in the inflammatory pathways of human labor are not known. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Division of Neonatology, Maternal and Perinatal Center, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.

Congenital tuberculosis is a rare disease, especially in non-endemic countries. We present a preterm infant who developed congenital tuberculosis in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The male patient, weighing 1140 g was born by cesarean section at 26 weeks gestation. Read More

J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Staten Island University Hospital Northwell Health, Staten Island, NY, USA.

Biophysical profile (BPP) with ultrasound performed for a 32-year-old G5P3013 admitted at 31 weeks gestation with preterm, premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) noted an extracalvarial mass concerning for an encephalocele. Fetal MRI demonstrated edema over the occiput with no definable lesion visualized. Preterm labor requiring Cesarean delivery resulted in a live male neonate at 33 weeks gestation. Read More

J Chin Med Assoc 2019 Mar;82(3):248

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

J Chin Med Assoc 2019 Mar;82(3):247

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 4:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.

Objective: To evaluate fetal and neonatal safety of early-onset long-term antenatal indomethacin treatment (LIT) for short cervix.

Methods: In this cohort study, women started LIT for short cervix (<25 mm) before completing 25 weeks. They followed a standardized regiment of oral indomethacin: 100 mg loading, 50 mg qid for 48 h, 25 mg qid until delivery or at 32 weeks gestational age (GA), whichever comes first. Read More

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Obstetrics, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University Hospital of Lille, Lille 59000, France; EA 4489-Perinatal, Environment and health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lille, Lille 59000, France.

Background: Recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on gestational weight gain (GWG) for women with histories of bariatric surgery have yet to be studied.

Objectives: To describe GWG in women with histories of bariatric surgery and to investigate the relationship between GWG and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Study Design: A bicentric retrospective study on the medical charts of pregnant women with histories of bariatric surgery who delivered between 2003 and 2017 in two level III maternity units. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 03 21;10(1):1305. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.

Failure to predict and understand the causes of preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, have limited effective interventions and therapeutics. From a cohort of 2000 pregnant women, we performed a nested case control study on 107 well-phenotyped cases of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and 432 women delivering at term. Using innovative Bayesian modeling of cervicovaginal microbiota, seven bacterial taxa were significantly associated with increased risk of sPTB, with a stronger effect in African American women. Read More

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Introduction: Compared to spontaneous conception (SC), pregnancies conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) carry worse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Evidences focused on preterm births are limited. Early preterm delivery is a critical situation for medical management and parental counselling. Read More

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg 2019 Mar;25(2):154-158

Department of General Surgery, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya-Turkey.

Background: This study aimed to present to evaluate the results of two different approaches in the management of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy: immediate surgery and delayed surgery following conservative management.

Methods: In this study, 20 pregnant women who were treated in our clinic for acute cholecystitis between 2010 and 2018 were included in the analysis. Demographic characteristics, parameters related with acute cholecystitis (gallbladder wall thickness, laboratory data), duration of hospitalization, readmission rates, and preterm labor rate were retrospectively evaluated. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Mar 28:1-5. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Jichi Medical University , Shimotsuke , Tochigi , Japan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was the perinatal outcomes of patients who became pregnant after adenomyomectomy.

Study Design: The retrospective cohort study was performed involving pregnant women with a history of adenomyomectomy between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2018. At 24-26 weeks, the patients were admitted even without symptoms or signs. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the association of bidet toilet use with abnormal vaginal microbial colonization and preterm birth (PTB) in high-risk pregnancies.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 208 women, who were admitted to a high-risk pregnancy unit, due to preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of the membrane, or short cervical length, in two tertiary hospitals from April 2015 to July 2017. Responses to a questionnaire about using bidet toilet and vaginal culture were obtained upon admission. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.

Objective: To investigate whether myometrial thickness (MT) to cervical length (CL) ratio could be used in the prediction of preterm birth (PTB) in singleton pregnancies presented with threatened preterm labor (TPL).

Methods: After 48 h of successful tocolysis, MT was measured transabdominally from the fundal, mid-anterior walls and the lower uterine segment (LUS) in 46 pregnancies presented with TPL. MT measurements were divided into CL, individually. Read More

Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2019 03 15;33(2):162-163. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 03 14;3:CD004905. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

Background: Multiple-micronutrient (MMN) deficiencies often coexist among women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries. They are exacerbated in pregnancy due to the increased demands of the developing fetus, leading to potentially adverse effects on the mother and baby. A consensus is yet to be reached regarding the replacement of iron and folic acid supplementation with MMNs. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Mar 2;236:1-6. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Inserm UMR 1153 Equipe de recherche en Epidémiologie Obstétricale, Périnatale et Pédiatrique (EPOPé), Centre de Recherche Epidémiologie et Statistique Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital Trousseau, AP-HP, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.

In France, the frequency of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) is 2%-3% before 37 weeks' gestation (level of evidence [LE] 2) and less than 1% before 34 weeks (LE2). Preterm delivery and intrauterine infection are the major complications of preterm PROM (PPROM) (LE2). Prolongation of the latency period is beneficial (LE2). Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 3;11(1):e3818. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, USA.

Mucinous cystadenomas of the ovary are benign epithelial neoplasms that can grow rapidly during pregnancy. They may cause ovarian torsion, virilization, inferior vena cava syndrome, and even preterm labor and fetal growth restriction. Various theories exist regarding the pathogenesis of these tumors. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.

Objective:  To evaluate the effect of vaginal progesterone (P) administration during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on Doppler velocimetry of uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral vessels.

Study Design:  A prospective cohort study conducted on 80 women at risk for preterm labor. Uterine artery, umbilical artery, and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler indices were measured before and after 1 week of administration of 200 mg twice daily vaginal P. Read More

Clinicoecon Outcomes Res 2019 20;11:179-189. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Center for Esoteric Testing, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, USA.

Background: Vulvovaginitis (VV) is a common reason women seek medical attention in the USA. Both the non-specific clinical presentation and risk of preterm labor or delivery necessitate accurate identification of the causative agents to guide appropriate therapy. The diagnostic accuracy of amplified molecular probe testing (AMP) has been shown to exceed that of non-amplified molecular probe (NAMP) by 20%-25%. Read More

J Reprod Immunol 2019 Apr 27;132:16-20. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States. Electronic address:

Problem: Preterm birth (PTB), or the delivery of an infant prior to 37 weeks of gestation, is a major health concern. Although a variety of social, environmental, and maternal factors have been implicated in PTB, causes of preterm labor have remained largely unknown. There is evidence of effectiveness and safety of influenza vaccination during pregnancy, however fewer studies have looked at vaccination response as an indicator of an innate host response that may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Biol Reprod 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Background: Gaso-transmitters are endogenous small gaseous messengers exemplified by nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S or sulfide). Gasotransmitters are implicated in myriad physiologic functions including many aspects of reproduction.

Objective: Comprehensively review basic mechanisms and functions of gasotransmitters during pregnancy from conception to uterine involution and highlight future research opportunities. Read More

J Chin Med Assoc 2019 Jan;82(1):50-54

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Preterm labor is one of major obstetric challenges and can be predicted by cervical length at mid-trimester. In some settings, transvaginal ultrasound is not available and the screening and prevention of preterm labor will be suboptimal. We hope to find a correlation between other marker i. Read More

AJP Rep 2019 Jan 4;9(1):e44-e53. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

University of French Guiana, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana.

 Early preterm births are still represented as a major public health problem in French Guiana. The objective of the present study was to study factors associated with early preterm birth in French Guiana.  A monocentric age-matched case control study was conducted at the sole level 3 maternity in French Guiana. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Mar 5:1-6. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

c Department of Infertility , Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.

Background: Compared with vaginal delivery, early-term cesarean section (CS) is associated with an increased risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity. Given the role of steroids in lung maturation in preterm labor, few studies have investigated their effects on early-term delivery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of antenatal betamethasone on neonatal respiratory morbidity in early-term elective cesarean (37-38 weeks and 6 d). Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, China.

Purpose: Our objective was to investigate the combinatorial effect of maternal age and second-trimester maternal lipid profiles for pregnancy complications.

Methods: With 1:4 matching, this retrospective study selected 499 advanced maternal age women and 1996 younger controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation between second-trimester lipid profiles [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and pregnancy complications [gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (PIH), preterm labor (PTL), and macrosomia]. Read More