scholarly journals Tensile Mechanical Properties and Dynamic Collagen Fiber Re-Alignment of the Murine Cervix Are Dramatically Altered Throughout Pregnancy

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie E. Barnum ◽  
Jennifer L. Fey ◽  
Stephanie N. Weiss ◽  
Guillermo Barila ◽  
Amy G. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Collagen Fiber ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Tensile Load ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth

The cervix is a unique organ able to dramatically change its shape and function by serving as a physical barrier for the growing fetus and then undergoing dramatic dilation allowing for delivery of a term infant. As a result, the cervix endures changing mechanical forces from the growing fetus. There is an emerging concept that the cervix may change or remodel “early” in many cases of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). However, the mechanical role of the cervix in both normal and preterm birth remains unclear. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the mechanical and structural responses of murine cervical tissue throughout a normal gestational time course. In this study, both tissue structural and material properties were determined via a quasi-static tensile load-to-failure test, while simultaneously obtaining dynamic collagen fiber re-alignment via cross-polarization imaging. This study demonstrated that the majority of the mechanical properties evaluated decreased at midgestation and not just at term, while collagen fiber re-alignment occurred earlier in the loading curve for cervices at term. This suggests that although structural changes in the cervix occur throughout gestation, the differences in material properties function in combination with collagen fiber re-alignment as mechanical precursors to regulate term gestation. This work lays a foundation for investigating cervical biomechanics and the role of the cervix in preterm birth.

Eligibility, Utilization, and Effectiveness of 17-Alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (17OHPC) in a Statewide Population-Based Cohort of Medicaid Enrollees

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wang ◽  
Stephanie M. Garcia ◽  
Katherine S. Kellom ◽  
Rupsa C. Boelig ◽  
Meredith Matone
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Birth Certificates ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Initiation Rate ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate ◽  
Comparison Groups

Objectives The primary objective was to estimate the initiation and adherence rates of 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) among eligible mothers in a statewide population-based cohort of Medicaid enrollees. The secondary objectives were to (1) determine the association of maternal sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with 17OHPC utilization and (2) assess the real-world effectiveness of 17OHPC on recurrent preterm birth prevention and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study using a linked, longitudinal administrative dataset of birth certificates and medical assistance claims. Medicaid-enrolled mothers in Pennsylvania were included in this study if they had at least one singleton live birth from 2014 to 2016 following at least one spontaneous preterm birth. Maternal Medicaid claims were used to ascertain the use of 17OHPC from various manufacturers, including compounded formulations. Propensity score matching was used to create a covariate balance between 17OHPC treatment and comparison groups. Results We identified 4,781 Medicaid-covered 17OHPC-eligible pregnancies from 2014 to 2016 in Pennsylvania, 3.4% of all Medicaid-covered singleton live births. The population-based initiation rate was 28.5% among eligible pregnancies. Among initiators, 50% received ≥16 doses as recommended, while 10% received a single dose only. The severity of previous spontaneous preterm birth was the strongest predictor for the initiation and adherence of 17OHPC. In the matched treatment (n = 1,210) and comparison groups (n = 1,210), we found no evidence of 17OHPC effectiveness. The risks of recurrent preterm birth (relative risk [RR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97–1.24) and births admitted to NICU (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.84–1.18) were similar in treated and comparison mothers. Conclusion The 17OHPC-eligible population represented 3.4% of singleton live births. Less than one-third of eligible mothers initiated treatment. Among initiators, 50% were treatment adherent. We found no difference in the risk of recurrent preterm birth or admission to NICU between treatment and comparison groups. Key Points

The Anisotropy and Tension/Compression Behavior of Human Cervical Tissue

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin M. Myers ◽  
Anastassia Paskaleva ◽  
Michael House ◽  
Simona Socrate
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Cervical Tissue ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Compression Behavior ◽  
Healthy Pregnancy ◽  
Mechanical Barrier

The cervix plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy, acting as a mechanical barrier to hold the fetus inside the uterus during gestation. Altered mechanical properties of the cervical tissue are suspected to play an important role in spontaneous preterm birth. However, not much is known about the mechanical properties of human cervical tissue and the etiology of spontaneous preterm birth.

scholarly journals Stress Pathways to Spontaneous Preterm Birth: The Role of Stressors, Psychological Distress, and Stress Hormones

2009 ◽  
Vol 169 (11) ◽  
pp. 1319-1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Kramer ◽  
J. Lydon ◽  
L. Seguin ◽  
L. Goulet ◽  
S. R. Kahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth

scholarly journals Vaginal progesterone in prevention of preterm labour

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 449-454
Author(s):  
Dr. Prativa Sahoo ◽  
◽  
Dr. Nayan Kumar Patel ◽  
Dr. Ojaswini Patel ◽  
Dr. A.K Panigrahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Preterm Labour ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Vaginal Progesterone ◽  
History Of ◽  
Secondary Objective

Introduction: Preterm birth, defined as childbirth occurring at less than 37 completed weeks or 259days of gestation since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period, is one of the leading causesof neonatal morbidity and mortality. Across 184 countries, the rate of preterm birth ranges from 5%to 18% of babies born. Out of 27 million babies born every year (2018 data ) in India, 3.5 millionbabies born are premature. Recent literature review has shown that the use of Progesterone reducesrisk of preterm birth. But there is little information available regarding the role of Progesterone inpreventing preterm labour. Objectives: Primary objective of the study is to find out the incidence ofpreterm labour among pregnant women taking vaginal progesterone. Secondary objective istoassess the safety and efficacy of progesterone in feto-maternal outcome. Methods: This is a crosssectional study where100 prescriptions from IPD of Dept of O&G, VIMSAR, Burla of women who hadrecently undergone labour with singleton gestation and with previous history of preterm labour wereanalysed. Incidence of preterm labour among those taking and not taking vaginal progesterone werecompared. Results: There was decreased incidence of preterm labour as there is prolongation meanGestational age by 9.383 weeks among pregnant women taking vaginal progesterone. Conclusions:In the present study, women taking vaginal progesterone had significantly lowered incidencepreterm birth rate.

scholarly journals Maize brace root biomechanics are determined by geometry within a genotype and material properties between genotypes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Erndwein ◽  
Elahe Ganji ◽  
Ashley N. Hostetler ◽  
Adam Stager ◽  
Megan L. Killian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Zea Mays ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Bending Tests ◽  
Bending Modulus ◽  
Root Biomechanics

ABSTRACTCrop plants are susceptible to yield loss by mechanical failure, which is called lodging. In maize (Zea mays), aerial nodal brace roots impart mechanical stability to plants, with previous studies showing that the lowest whorl of brace roots contributes the most. The features of brace roots that determine their contribution to mechanical stability are poorly defined. Here we tested the hypothesis that brace root mechanical properties vary between whorls, which may influence their contribution to mechanical stability. 3-point bending tests were used to determine that brace roots from the lowest whorl have the highest structural mechanical properties regardless of growth stage, and that these differences are largely due to brace root geometry within a genotype. Analysis of the brace root bending modulus determined that differences between genotypes are attributable to both geometry and material properties. These results support the role of brace root biomechanics to determine the brace root contribution to mechanical stability.HIGHLIGHTBrace root biomechanics vary within and between genotypes. These results support the importance of biomechanics to define the contribution of brace roots to mechanical stability.

scholarly journals Analysis of Woven Fabric at the Place of the Sewn Seam

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beti Rogina-Car ◽  
Ivana Schwarz ◽  
Stana Kovačević
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Breaking Force ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Elongation At Break ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
Stretching Intensity

Abstract Key importance and the role of sewn seam in the woven fabric are presented. Fabric properties in the places joined with the sewn seam on which garment durability, applicability, appearance and quality depend are highlighted. Seam location is usually the weakest spot on the garment, especially when the great loads are present at these places. Mechanical properties of the sewn fabrics were investigated in different test conditions. The influence of the load on the sewn seam is analyzed in time intervals. Sample with seam have approximately 70% lower breaking properties (breaking force and elongation at break) than the sample without seam. By preloading the seam fabrics with 30%, 50% and 70% of elongation at break, for a 3-h period, the effect on mechanical properties were tested and the differences in pre-stretching intensity were observed. By conducting such test, it is expected that the fabric experience further degradation and that breaking properties further reduce, but the exact opposite occurred (breaking properties, by increasing the preload, increase even more), because of various material properties (structural fabric properties, raw material characteristics, seam characteristics).

scholarly journals IL-37 Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Fetal Membranes of Spontaneous Preterm Birth via the NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Lulu Wang ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Dongni Huang ◽  
Yuxin Ran ◽  
Hanwen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Fetal Membranes ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Stat3 Signaling ◽  
Stat3 Signaling Pathway ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is thought to be a multifactorial syndrome. However, the inflammatory imbalance at the maternal-fetal interface promotes excessive secretion of inflammatory factors and induces apoptosis and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which can subsequently lead to preterm birth. As an anti-inflammatory molecule in the IL-1 family, interleukin-37 (IL-37) mainly plays an inhibiting role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. However, as a typical inflammatory disease, no previous studies have been carried out to explore the role of IL-37 in sPTB. In this study, a series of molecular biological experiments were performed in clinical samples and human amniotic epithelial cell line (Wistar Institute Susan Hayflick (WISH)) to investigate the deficiency role of IL-37 and the potential mechanism. Firstly, the results indicated that the expression of IL-37 in human peripheral plasma and fetal membranes was significantly decreased in the sPTB group. Afterward, it is proved that IL-37 could significantly suppress the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in WISH cells. Simultaneously, once silence IL-37, LPS-induced apoptosis and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 were significantly increased. In addition, the western blot data showed that IL-37 performed its biological effects by inhibiting the NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that IL-37 limits excessive inflammation and subsequently inhibits ECM remodeling and apoptosis through the NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in the fetal membranes.

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