Unlocking the Cervix: Biological Mechanisms and Research Gaps in Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth (PTB), defined by the WHO as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation, remains a significant global health challenge and the leading cause of neonatal mortality. Despite extensive efforts to prevent PTB, rates have remained stable, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. While research has traditionally focused on the myometrium and foetal membranes, the cervix's critical role in maintaining pregnancy and initiating labour is increasingly recognized but still often underexplored.

Variations in antenatal management and outcomes in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: an international, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Advances in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn have led to numerous treatment options. We report practice variations in the management and outcomes of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn in at-risk pregnancies.

Methods: In this international, retrospective, observational cohort study, data from cases with moderate or severe haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn were retrieved from 31 centres in 22 countries.

Repeatability of alkaline inorganic phosphate quantification in the skeletal muscle using P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T.

The detection of a secondary inorganic phosphate (Pi) resonance, a possible marker of mitochondrial content in vivo, using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-MRS), poses technical challenges at 3 Tesla (T). Overcoming these challenges is imperative for the integration of this biomarker into clinical research. To evaluate the repeatability and reliability of measuring resting skeletal muscle alkaline Pi (Pi) using with P-MRS at 3 T.

Unveiling the anti-inflammatory potential of 11β,13-dihydrolactucin for application in inflammatory bowel disease management.

Management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges, and there is a need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of the dietary sesquiterpene lactone (SL) 11β,13-dihydrolactucin, which can be found in chicory, in three distinct complementary models of intestinal inflammation (two cell models and a zebrafish model), offering comprehensive insights into its potential application for IBD treatment alternatives. In a triple cell co-culture composed of Caco-2, HT29-MTX-E12, and Raji B, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin demonstrated remarkable anti-inflammatory activity at several levels of the cellular inflammatory response.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Poretti-Boltshauser Syndrome - a Case Report of a Molar Tooth Sign Mimic.

We report the prenatal diagnosis of Poretti-Boltshauser Syndrome (PBS) in a 36-year-old primigravida woman. At 22 weeks and 6 days of gestation, fetal ultrasound revealed a normally shaped but hyperechogenic cerebellum with all supratentorial structures appearing normal. Differential diagnosis included cavernous hemangioma, capillary telangiectasia, and cerebellar hemorrhage.