Comparison of serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels between preterm and term births.

Objective: Preterm birth (PTB) is the major obstetric problem in developed countries, accounting for the majority of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a hematopoietic cytokine that mediates the increase in leukocytes in pregnancy and may play a role in placentation. We aimed to investigate the differences of serum G-CSF levels between subsequent spontaneous PTB and term-delivered healthy pregnant women.

Low VEGF expression in conceptus material and maternal serum AFP and β-hCG levels as indicators of defective angiogenesis in first-trimester miscarriages.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between early miscarriages and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and to determine the serum levels of first-trimester maternal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) as markers of angiogenesis and predictors of abortion and intrauterine fetal loss.

Material And Methods: The present study was a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial. Ninety-five women who were 6-10 weeks pregnant between May and June 2010 were included in the study.