Preterm birth remains the largest single cause of neonatal death and morbidity. Infection and/or inflammation are strongly associated with preterm delivery. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is known to be a crucial mediator of inflammation homeostasis. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of spontaneous human labour in foetal membranes and myometrium on GSK3α/β expression, and t...

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Despite the current treatment procedures, the incidence of PTB has not changed in the past thirty years. Incomplete understanding of the biological and patophysiological mechanisms underlying preterm delivery is the major obstacle to prevent PTB. Cervical ripening is necessary for vaginal delivery and understanding of...

Improving our understanding of the initiation of labour is a major aim of modern obstetric research, in order to better diagnose and treat pregnant women in which the process occurs abnormally. In particular, increased knowledge will help us identify the mechanisms responsible for preterm labour, the single biggest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Attempts to improve our understanding...

BACKGROUND Multiple pregnancy still warrants special attention as it is associated with increasing risk for mother and foetus. Preterm delivery increases the risk for baby. This study was conducted to evaluate the risks of pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcome in women with twin pregnancy. METHODS It was 2 years observational study from July 2007 to July 2009 at Department of ...

Preterm labour, (PTL) defined as labour after 28 weeks but before 37 completed week of gestation, is an ill omen for our country as the incidence is 5-10% leading to 70-80% of perinatal deaths. Besides varied etiology, it may be due to alteration in basic biochemical functions of the body at cellular level stating emphasis to trace elements, of which magnesium, being one of them, is subject of ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Maternal infections are one of the main causes of adverse developmental outcomes including embryonic resorption and preterm labour. In this study a mouse model of inflammation-associated preterm delivery was developed, and used to study the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The murine model of preterm labour was achie...

A modified life events inventory was presented over a four-month period to 132 consecutive women going into spontaneous labour in Hull and Manchester. Three study groups were identified according to the duration of pregnancy. The levels of psychosocial stress in pregnancy were found to be particularly high in the mothers whose babies were born preterm. Stressful events may precipitate preterm l...

A specific pathogenic process of premature delivery represents the inflammation. Birth canal infections seem to play a key role in the ethiopathogenesis of premature delivery; the related biochemical changes significantly affect perinatal morbidity and mortality. Other potential causes, particularly hormone metabolism disorders or uteroplacental ischaemia have been intensively studied. This pro...

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the literature assessing foetal and maternal pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS who used metformin during pregnancy. Study Design: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, with analysis of 25 studies that recorded neonatal and maternal outcomes in women who used metformin during pregnancy. The outcomes assessed in this review includ...

Thank you for asking us to comment on the issues raised by Professors Åkerlund and Mars̆ál. We would like to thank them for their interest and comments. We agree that in some cases of preterm labour, tocolysis is contraindicated. In particular, if there is significant fetal distress it would be unwise to delay delivery. Since preterm labour is multifactorial, there are a range of precipitating c...