Scientists find clues to mystery of preterm delivery
February 11th, 2011 - 4:53 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Feb 11 (ANI): Scientists have found that excessive formation of calcium crystal deposits in the amniotic fluid may be a reason why some pregnant women suffer preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) leading to preterm delivery.
The new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine is a key breakthrough in solving the mystery of preterm birth, a leading cause of death and permanent disability in newborns.
Infection, maternal stress and placental bleeding can trigger some preterm deliveries, but the cause of many other preterm deliveries remains unknown.
In these cases, women experience early contractions, cervical dilation and a torn amniotic sac.
Yale researchers investigated the idea that calcification-excessive buildup of calcium-of the fetal membranes may lead to PPROM and preterm birth.
Scientists know that calcifying nanoparticles are involved in many degenerative conditions including arthritis and atherosclerosis.
“We wondered whether they could also be responsible for damage to the fetal membranes in pregnant women,” first author Lydia Shook said.
Shook and her co-authors used a stain to look for calcium deposits in placental and fetal membrane tissue from patients with PPROM and preterm birth, as well as full-term deliveries.
They used a sterile culture technique to determine whether amniotic fluid can form nanoparticles. They then exposed fetal membranes to the cultured nanoparticles to determine their ability to induce cell dysfunction, damage and cell death.
The team found evidence of calcification of fetal membranes collected from preterm deliveries. Fetuin, one of the major proteins involved in nanoparticle formation, was found in these deposits.
Levels of fetuin in amniotic fluid were lower in women who delivered with PPROM compared to those who delivered early with intact membranes.
“This preliminary evidence suggests that amniotic fluid has the potential to form nanoparticles and deposit them in the fetal membranes,” said Shook.
The findings will be presented in an abstract at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Scientific Sessions on February 10 in San Francisco, California. (ANI)
- How hormone progesterone acts to prevent preterm birth - Feb 06, 2010
- Alcohol-free antibacterial mouth-rinse cuts incidence of preterm birth - Feb 12, 2011
- 'Half of all child deaths in India due to pre-term births' - May 02, 2012
- Toxic chemicals found in pregnant women: US study - Jan 15, 2011
- Extra calcium may not prevent premature birth - Oct 09, 2011
- Pregnant women less able to fight infections - May 02, 2011
- Bacteria linked to preterm births, developmental problems in newborns - Jan 28, 2011
- Link between low birth weight and H1N1 flu revealed - May 03, 2011
- Cervical length screening in women could reduce preterm birth - Feb 06, 2010
- Genes linked to preterm birth risk identified - Feb 05, 2010
- Kristine Casey gives birth to her own grand-son - Feb 14, 2011
- Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring lowers rate of infant mortality - Feb 13, 2011
- Moms-to-be who exercise help strengthen child's heart health after birth - Apr 08, 2011
- Mussel-inspired "glue" shows promise in fetal membrane repair - Jan 23, 2010
- Summer heat ups risk of amniotic fluid level deficiency in pregnant women - Jul 31, 2009
Tags: amniotic fluid, amniotic sac, calcification, calcium deposits, cell death, cell dysfunction, cervical dilation, contractions, crystal deposits, culture technique, degenerative conditions, fetal membrane, fetal membranes, maternal stress, nanoparticles, premature rupture, preterm deliveries, school of medicine, yale researchers, yale school of medicine