Treatment of localized periodontal disease in pregnancy does not reduce the occurrence of preterm birth: results from the Periodontal Infections and Prematurity Study (PIPS).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test whether treating periodontal disease (PD) in pregnancy will reduce the incidence of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at < or = 35 weeks of gestation.

Study Design: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial was performed. Subjects with PD were randomized to scaling and root planing (active) or tooth polishing (control).

Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: is there an association?

Objective: We assessed the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth [PTB], preeclampsia [PRE], fetal growth restriction [FGR], or perinatal death) in women with periodontal disease (PD) compared to those without.

Study Design: A multicenter prospective cohort study enrolled women from 3 sites between 6 and 20 weeks' gestation. The presence of PD was defined as periodontal attachment loss > or = to 3 mm on 3 or more teeth.

Characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women asymptomatic for bacterial vaginosis.

Study Design: To determine the clinical, behavioral or demographic factors associated with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV) and to examine if women with asymptomatic BV had a higher risk of a variety of pregnancy outcomes compared to symptomatic BV positive women. For this study, 1916 pregnant women who were 12 weeks' gestation or less were enrolled. Interviewers facilitated vaginal swab collection for BV assessment, and completed the baseline questionnaire.

A polymorphism in the promoter region of TNF and bacterial vaginosis: preliminary evidence of gene-environment interaction in the etiology of spontaneous preterm birth.

Objective: The rarer of 2 alleles of a polymorphism in the promoter of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (TNF) has been associated with spontaneous preterm birth following preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes in some populations. The aim of this study was to assess if the presence of symptomatic bacterial vaginosis amplifies the risk of spontaneous preterm birth in those with a "susceptible" TNF genotype.

Study Design: A case-control study was performed at our institution.

Duration of antibiotic therapy after preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of 3 days versus 7 days of ampicillin in prolonging gestation for at least 7 days in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

Study Design: We performed a randomized clinical trial comparing 3 days of ampicillin with 7 days ampicillin in patients with PPROM. Our primary outcome was the prolongation of pregnancy for at least 7 days.