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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 35-41 PubMed PMID: 15735584 Citation  Keywords:  Female, Humans, Obstetric Labor, Premature:diagnosis, Pregnancy,.   

: Preterm birth is a major public health problem, affecting up to 10% of pregnancies. The cause of premature labour in humans is not known, although some risk factors have been identified. Currently it is not possible to predict which women will go into labour prematurely or deliver preterm. New possible methods for the detection of premature labour are the measurement of biochemical markers in cervical or vaginal secretions, the measurement of collagen in cervical tissue and the recording of electrical properties of contractions of the uterus. Agents used to prevent premature labour include beta-agonist drugs, magnesium sulphate, calcium channel blockers, nitric oxide donors and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. A new approach is the use of oxytocin antagonists. Premature labour is still not completely understood, but some advances are being made, arising from basic research....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(5): 373-380 PubMed PMID: 15580173 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents:therapeutic use, Combined Modality Therapy, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Obstetric Labor, Premature:therapy, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Tocolysis, Treatment Outcome,.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine: a) to what extent application of antibiotics enhances efficiency of tocolysis; b) whether the duration of antibiotic treatment influences its efficacy; c) what criterion is decisive for efficacy of tocolysis assisted by antibiotic therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 223 successive women with unifetal pregnancies, aged 17 to 42 (average age 27.3), admitted to the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the JU Medical College in the period from January 1, 1999 to September 9, 2001, were enrolled in the study. Using clinical methods such as: assessment of contractile activity of the uterus, of uterine cervix and membranes, presence of bleeding and other clinical symptoms, these women were diagnosed with imminent preterm labour.

CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic treatment enhances the efficacy of tocolysis, influencing the time of prolonging pregnancy in imminent preterm delivery. This synergistic effect is clinically crucial as in this way significantly larger number of children will be born at term and also a number of premature neonates who survive may be increased....

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