American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Jan 1994
Fetal fibronectin in patients at increased risk for premature birth.
The objective of this study was to evaluate fetal fibronectin as a screening test for subsequent preterm birth in asymptomatic pregnant women. ⋯ Fetal fibronectin in the cervicovaginal secretions of asymptomatic patients has potential value as a screening test in the identification of patients at risk for preterm birth. This test had equally high sensitivity and negative predictive value for birth before 37 weeks.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Dec 1993
Peritoneal fluid concentrations of the cytokine RANTES correlate with the severity of endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disorder in which the concentration and activation of peritoneal macrophages are increased. The goal of this study was to quantify pelvic fluid concentrations of two cytokines involved in macrophage recruitment and activation. ⋯ The findings indicate that RANTES, a cytokine with potent chemotactic activity for human monocytes, may play an important role in the recruitment of peritoneal macrophages in endometriosis.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Nov 1993
Do survival and morbidity of very-low-birth-weight infants vary according to the primary pregnancy complication that results in preterm delivery?
This retrospective study was conducted to determine whether predischarge survival and morbidity of very-low-birth weight infants varied according to the principal pregnancy complication that led to preterm delivery. ⋯ The principal pregnancy complication that led to preterm delivery significantly influenced predischarge morbidity but not the predischarge survival of live-born infants.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Nov 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPlymouth randomized trial of cardiotocogram only versus ST waveform plus cardiotocogram for intrapartum monitoring in 2400 cases.
The physiology of changes in the ST waveform of the fetal electrocardiogram has been elucidated in extensive animal and human observational studies. A combination of heart rate and ST waveform analysis might improve the predictive value of intrapartum monitoring. Our purpose was to compare operative intervention and neonatal outcome in labors monitored by the conventional cardiotocogram with those monitored by ST waveform plus the cardiotocogram. ⋯ ST waveform analysis discriminates cardiotocogram changes in labor, and the protocol for interpretation is safe. Further randomized studies are warranted.
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The role of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in human reproduction and reproductive disorders is reviewed. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs inhibit the biosynthesis of prostanoids and can cross the placental barrier into the fetal circulation. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are the treatment of choice in primary dysmenorrhea and intrauterine contraceptive device-induced dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. ⋯ Prostaglandin inhibition with some nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs appear promising in the relief of some premenstrual symptoms and in the prevention of postoperative pelvic adhesion formation, but more studies are needed in women. Whereas implantation and tubal mobility are mediated by local prostaglandins, the potential use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to suppress prostaglandin in these reproductive processes for enhancing or reducing fertility warrants further studies. In the last 2 decades nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have been used increasingly in the treatment of some reproductive disorders and are promising for many others.