Active clinical trials for "Obstetric Labor, Premature"

The purpose of this study is to clinically validate the predictive performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the PrediMAP in-vitro diagnostic medical device to predict delivery within 7 days in the target population of women consulting obstetric emergencies for preterm labor (PTL).

Preterm birth (PTB) is a major challenge to perinatal health. It accounts for 75% of perinatal deaths and more than 50% of long-term neurological disabilities. Neonates born preterm are also at risk of significant comorbidities, for example respiratory distress syndrome, chronic lung disease, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular haemorrhage and sepsis in the short term, as well as cerebral palsy, motor and sensory impairment, learning difficulties, and increased risk of chronic disease in long run. Twin pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of PTB when compared to singleton pregnancy. The National Vital Statistics reveals the PTB rate is 8.2% and 60.3% in singleton and twin pregnancy respectively in 2018. The mechanism of PTB in twin pregnancy is not completely understood and may be different from that of singleton pregnancy. At present, there are no good strategies to prevent PTB in twin pregnancy. In singleton pregnancy, metformin has been used for the treatment of gestational diabetes in pregnant women with obesity/ overweight or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The rate of PTB of pregnant women with PCOS is significantly lower after using metformin. A decreasing trend of PTB is also noted after metformin use in obese pregnant women without PCOS. There is no study to investigate the effect of metformin in twin pregnancy. Premature uterine and amnion stretching in twin pregnancy can trigger preterm labour by increased prostaglandin synthesis and interleukin-1, activation of activator protein-1, expression of connexin-43 and stimulation of stretch dependent focal adhesion signaling. Inflammation is another risk factor for PTB. Metformin is an anti-inflammatory agent which can suppress inflammatory cytokines production and downregulate AMP-activated protein kinase medicated connexin-43 and nuclear factor κB activation. Anti-inflammatory actions of metformin can also reduce production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines through inhibition of NFκB activation in macrophages. Another possible mechanism to prevent PTB is the inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1,which has a role in the timing of birth, by AMP-activated protein kinase. Therefore, metformin can be potentially used to prevent PTB in twin pregnancy. However, its effect in twin pregnancy has not been studied. The objective of the study is to determine if the use of metformin in twin pregnancy can prevent PTB.

The goal of this observational prospective study is to explore the feasibility of measuring fetal and neonatal brain growth using 2D and 3D ultrasound in fetuses exposed to threatened preterm labor (TPTL) and antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) compared to non-exposed fetuses. Patients with singleton pregnancies on our site with repeated ultrasound measurements every 4 weeks will be evaluated for fetal brain development. The exposed group is defined as patients with a dual exposure of TPTL and ACS. The non-exposed group will be composed of patients who did not have TPTL and ACS. Therefore, patients will have a maximum of 5 additional visits (4 that will occur prenatally and 1 postnatal visit).

The purpose of this study is to identify and elucidate the pattern and perhaps role of atypical proteins, cytokines and vaginal microbial flora in the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of vulvodynia, recurrent fungal and bacterial vaginosis and preterm labor.

Globally, preterm birth (15 mill. per year) is the leading cause of under-5 child mortality (1 mill. per year) and morbidity. Important pathways include preterm labor contractions, Preterm Prelabor Rupture of the Fetal Membranes (PPROM), and iatrogenic delivery. At labor, the fetal amniochorionic membrane undergoes a cellular senescence and shed fetal amniochorionic membrane cells (ACM cells) to the maternal circulation. In collaboration with the private firm ARCEDI Biotech and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Aarhus University has identified specific antibodies, which can be used to isolate ACM cells from maternal blood. Thus, the aim of this study is 1) to characterize ACM cells by histological and immunological techniques, and 2) in a cohort assess their performance as biomarkers of amniochorionic membrane dysfunction, including early detection of threatening preterm birth. In perspective, the findings are expected to improve the diagnostics and treatment of preterm birth.

Currently, transvaginal cervical length measurement is used to screen in asymptomatic pregnant women with a history of PTB. In symptomatic women, presenting with threatened PTB cervical length in combination with the fibronectin test is used to identify women at high risk to deliver preterm. However, the predictive capacity of transvaginal cervical length measurement is limited. In pregnant women with a history of PTB, it only identifies a proportion of women who will have recurrent PTB. For symptomatic women, 30-60% of these women admitted to the hospital, do not deliver within seven days, leading to overtreatment of these women. Cervical softening is precursor of cervical shortening, effacement and dilatation and therefore cervical softening is a promising new marker that is based on tissue elasticity. However, the predictive value of cervical softening and the relation with spontaneous PTB still has to be determined. With the newly developed Pregnolia® System cervical softness could be measured on a standardized and safe manner. This study could help to improve care for women with a history of spontaneous PTB.

The goal of the Tiny Baby Collaborative Multicenter Inventory of Neonatal-Perinatal Interventions (MINI) minimum dataset is to serve as a registry detailing the outcomes and practices for all deliveries and infants admitted to intensive care at 22-23 weeks' gestation at participating hospitals.

Tocolytic agents are used for the treatment of preterm labor. It is unclear whether combination treatments of two tocolytic agents are more effective in stopping preterm labor compared to one. Therefore, the investigators propose a comparative effective trial of nifedipine plus indomethacin vs. nifedipine alone for the treatment of preterm labor

In women with singleton gestations, to contemporarily assess the efficacy of oral nifedipine versus intravenous magnesium sulfate in the acute management of preterm labor in terms of defined early and late neonatal measures

The study's primary objective is to demonstrate the superiority of retosiban to prolong pregnancy and improve neonatal outcomes compared with placebo. It is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study and will be conducted in approximately 900 females, aged 12 to 45 years, with an uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy and intact membranes in preterm labor between 24^0/7 and 33^6/7 weeks of gestation. Eligible maternal subjects will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either retosiban IV infusion or placebo IV infusion over 48 hours. If not previously administered, antenatal corticosteroid treatment should be administered as either (1) two 12-mg doses of betamethasone given intramuscularly 24 hours apart or (2) four 6-mg doses of betamethasone administered intramuscularly every 12 hours. A single rescue course of antenatal corticosteroids is permitted if the antecedent treatment was at least 7 days prior to study enrolment. Investigators have discretion to use a standardized regimen of magnesium sulphate, as well as intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for perinatal group B streptococcal infection. Prior to randomization, each subject will be stratified by progesterone treatment and gestational age. The progesterone strata will consist of subjects on established progesterone therapy or subjects not on established progesterone therapy at Screening. The study will comprise 6 phases: Screening, Inpatient Randomized Treatment, Post Infusion Assessment, Delivery, Maternal Post-Delivery Assessment, and Neonatal Medical Review. The duration of any subject's (maternal or neonatal) participation in the study will be variable and dependent on gestational ages (GA) at study entry and the date of delivery.