Fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid, which contains numerous cytokines and growth factors, plays a key role in gut mucosal development. Preterm birth interrupts this exposure to amniotic fluid-borne growth factors, possibly contributing to the increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. We hypothesized that supplementation of formula feeds with amniotic fluid can prov...

BACKGROUND Amniotic fluid is an indicator of placental function on the fetal development. The amniotic fluid index is the most commonly used method of measuring amniotic fluid. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of a borderline versus normal AFI. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 235 pregnant women referred ...

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic indices and predictive values by bedside assessment of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in the identification of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN One hundred twenty-four women with ...

The aim of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors in vivo and their potential ability to prevent inflammation-induced preterm delivery. Indeed, intrauterine inflammation is the major etiology of very preterm delivery, the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Intrauterine injection of Escherichia coli LPS in 15-day-pregna...

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to determine whether AFI<5 cm after preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) is associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of 95 singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) with delivery between 26 and 34 weeks gestation.Patients were categorized in t...

Prevention and treatment of preterm delivery is not one of the success stories of modern medicine, preterm birth constitutes the major determinant of perinatal mortality and morbidity, and the long-term results of being born too early often lead to a shorter, less healthy life and a more difficult school and professional career. Different methods have been introduced to predict the advent of pr...

The chemosensory system is one of the earliest emerging systems in fetal development. Smell is detected through the epithelium of the nasopharynx and taste through the tongue. Anatomical structures and innervation are already present in the first and early second trimesters. Early fetal experience with the mother's specific diet through the amniotic fluid provide for a continuous sensory enviro...

Westover AJ, Hooper SB, Wallace MJ, Moss TJM. Prostaglandins mediate the fetal pulmonary response to intrauterine inflammation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 302: L664–L678, 2012. First published January 27, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00297.2011.— Intra-amniotic (IA) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces intrauterine and fetal lung inflammation and increases lung surfactant and compliance in pre...

Introduction: Preterm labor is still a global problem because it affects perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. An increase hs-CRP pregnant women associated with the incidence of preterm labor. This study was conducted to prove that high serum levels are risk factor for labor.Method: The method used this an observational case-control study, which cases group, whe...