Journal article
Human cervicovaginal fluid biomarkers to predict term and preterm labor
YJ Heng, S Liong, M Permezel, GE Rice, MKW Di Quinzio, HM Georgiou
Frontiers in Physiology | Published : 2015
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB; birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation) remains the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The current generation of biomarkers predictive of PTB have limited utility. In pregnancy, the human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) proteome is a reflection of the local biochemical milieu and is influenced by the physical changes occurring in the vagina, cervix and adjacent overlying fetal membranes. Term and preterm labor (PTL) share common pathways of cervical ripening, myometrial activation and fetal membranes rupture leading to birth. We therefore hypothesize that CVF biomarkers predictive of labor may be similar in both the term and preterm labor setting. In this r..
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Grants
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
Research work was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Development Grant (NHMRC #454451, HMG, MKWD, GER); Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research Scholarship (MKWD); NHMRC Biomedical (Dora Lush) Postgraduate Research Scholarship (#454880, YJH); Australian Postgraduate Award (Australian Government Department of Industry, SL); the Medical Research Foundation for Women and Babies; and the Shepherd Foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of research midwives (particularly Gabrielle Pell and Valery Bryant), clinical staff and patients of the Mercy Hospital for Women.