Increased cell adherence of group B streptococci from preterm infants with neonatal sepsis.

Most women with group B streptococcus cervical colonization have uncomplicated pregnancies, but about 1% experience preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) followed by neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis. In such cases, streptococcal adherence to and penetration of the membranes may be an important step in the pathogenesis. In the present study, chorionic epithelial cells were incubated with group B streptococci isolated from either children developing sepsis after preterm PROM (complicated pregnancies) or from uncomplicated pregnancies.

Biomechanical analysis of human chorioamniotic membranes.

The biomechanical properties of human fetal membranes were analyzed by means of a materials testing machine. Special attention was paid to the biomechanical properties of the intact chorioamniotic membrane and the amniotic and chorionic components, separately, and thickness and storage of membrane samples. The load-strain and stress-strain relationships, and parameters calculated from the curves: extensibility, strength, elastic stiffness and failure energy, express the visco-elastic behavior of these membranes.

The concentration of collagen and the collagenolytic activity in the amnion and the chorion.

Fetal membranes obtained from second-trimester abortions, elective Caesarean sections and after normal deliveries were studied. The hydrolytic activity against a DNP-peptide expressing the collagen turn-over was found to be very high in the second trimester and relatively high at term of pregnancy. The activity in the chorion was twice that in the amnion.