Abstract Preterm birth (PTB) complicates 5–18% of pregnancies globally and is a leading
cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Most PTB is spontaneous and idiopathic …

Term labour is a state of physiological inflammation orchestrated by multiple uterine tissues
(both fetal and maternal). This physiological inflammation preceding and accompanying …

Age-associated myometrial dysfunction can prompt complications during pregnancy and
labor, which is one of the factors contributing to the 7.8-fold increase in maternal mortality in …

Normal pregnancy is associated with dramatic increases in uterine blood flow to facilitate the
bidirectional maternal–fetal exchanges of respiratory gases and to provide sole nutrient …

Successful pregnancy necessitates that the uterus is maintained in a relaxed, quiescent
state for the majority of pregnancy, before being transformed to a contractile and excitable …

Preterm birth worldwide remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet
the exact mechanisms of preterm parturition remain unclear. Preterm birth is not a single …

During pregnancy, the primary function of the uterus is to be quiescent and not contract,
which allows the growing fetus to develop and mature. A uterine muscle layer, myometrium …

Heat shock proteins are involved in the response to stress including activation of the
immune response. Elevated circulating heat shock proteins are associated with …

The microenvironment and cell populations within the myometrium play crucial roles in
maintaining uterine structural integrity and protecting the fetus during pregnancy. However …

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signaling molecule produced in the body by three
enzymes: cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3 …