Preterm birth (PTB) refers to the birth of infants before 37 weeks of gestation and is a
challenging issue worldwide. Evidence reveals that PTB is a multifactorial dysregulation …

OBJECTIVE An emergency (rescue) cervical cerclage can be offered to pregnant women
presenting with dilatation and prolapsed membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy …

Problem The immune cellular composition of amniotic fluid is poorly understood. Herein, we
determined: 1) the immunophenotype of amniotic fluid immune cells during the second and …

Objective Amniotic fluid cytokines have been implicated in the mechanisms of preterm labor
and birth. Cytokines can be packaged within or on the surface of extracellular vesicles. The …

Objective Here, we investigated whether cytokines in the cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) can be
predictive markers of preterm birth (PTB). Methods A multi-center prospective cohort study …

The existence of an amniotic fluid microbiota (ie, a viable microbial community) in mammals
is controversial. Its existence would require a fundamental reconsideration of fetal in utero …

Problem Neutrophils are capable of performing phagocytosis, a primary mechanism for
microbial killing. Intra‐amniotic infection is characterized by an influx of neutrophils into the …

Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Inflammation is causally linked to preterm birth; therefore, finding an intervention that …

Problem Human β‐defensins (HBD s) are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the
soluble innate immune mechanisms against infection. Herein, we determined whether HBD …

Abstract Objective: Human β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial
activity, and activity and, therefore, plays a central role in host defense mechanisms against …