Background It is well known that the maternal cardiovascular system undergoes profound alterations throughout pregnancy. Interest in understanding these changes has led investigators to use evolving and increasingly sophisticated techniques…
Background Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is used as a biomarker for preterm delivery. Currently, its use is discouraged if there has been vaginal manipulation in the previous 24 hours. Objective Our…
Background Both maternal mortality rate and severe maternal morbidity rate have risen significantly in the United Sates. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced International Classification of Diseases,…
Background Adverse neonatal outcomes in multiple pregnancies have been documented extensively, in particular those associated with the increased risk of preterm birth. Paradoxically, much less is known about adverse maternal…
Background Cesarean delivery in the second stage of labor is common, whereas the frequency of operative vaginal delivery has been declining. However, data comparing outcomes for attempted operative vaginal delivery…
Materials and Methods Subjects The Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Risk (PAPR) study was conducted under a standardized protocol at 11 Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved sites across the United States (…
Background The analysis of circulating microparticles in pregnancy is of revolutionary potential because it represents an in vivo biopsy of active gestational tissues. Objective We hypothesized that circulating microparticle signaling will…
Background Placental lesions consistent with maternal vascular underperfusion (MVU) are thought to be pathogenically linked to preeclampsia, small-for-gestational-age newborns, fetal death, and spontaneous preterm labor and delivery; yet, these lesions…
Materials and Methods Subjects The gravidae provided consent from 2009 to 2012 under a protocol approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio (09105-09-067) and…
Background Preeclampsia (PE) affects 2–3% of all pregnancies and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The traditional approach to screening for PE is to use…
