OBJECTIVE Idiopathic vaginal bleeding, a common complication of pregnancy, increases the risk of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonate, preeclampsia and preterm delivery and can be the only clinical manifestation of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI). Placenta previa is thought to be protective against ascending intrauterine infection, yet an excess of histologic chorioamnioni...

RATIONALE Chorioamnionitis is associated with preterm delivery and involution of the fetal thymus. Women at risk of preterm delivery receive antenatal corticosteroids which accelerate fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcome. However, the effects of antenatal corticosteroids on the fetal thymus in the settings of chorioamnionitis are largely unknown. We hypothesized that intra-amnioti...

This article explores the potential benefits and challenges of using amniotic membrane in surgical procedures. Amniotic membranes have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, antimicrobial properties, which can promote wound healing tissue regeneration. They be utilized a variety settings, including ophthalmology, plastic surgery, orthopedics. However, use also poses certain lim...

UNLABELLED The new defined anatomical and functional complex conjunctiva-limbus-cornea is a new concept, which helps clinicians better understand and treat ocular surface pathologies. The management of the ocular surface disease has changed dramatically over the years, with spectacular improvements of techniques, and of course, results. The amniotic membrane, used as a graft or as a substrate f...

Denuded human amniotic membrane is widely proposed to be used for retinal pigment epithelial cell transplantation. Notch signaling though important and known to have role in both health and disease of retinal pigment epithelial cells; is not well studied for retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured on denuded human amniotic membrane. The outcome of Notch signals is strictly dependent on the ce...

The aims of this study were to determine whether sonographically measured cervical length is of value in the identification of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and to compare its performance with maternal blood C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and amniotic fluid (AF) WBC. This prospective observational ...

Human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC) are formed from epiblasts on the 8th day after fertilization. Because they lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen, human amniotic tissue transplantation has been used for allotranplantation to treat patients with lysosomal diseases. We have provided evidence that HAEC have multiple functions such as synthesis and release of acetylcholine (ACh)...

Objectives: To confirm three point of care commercial tests for rupture of membranes consistently and accurately detect amniotic fluids from pregnant women, and they are practical and easy to use. Methods: Samples of fresh amniotic fluid were collected in a syringe taken at time of Csection and run on kits (ActimTMPROM, AmniSure®, and ROM +plus®) from three commercially available point of care ...