Relationship between metalloproteinase-2 and -9 levels in plasma and vaginal secretion with preterm birth.

Objective: To study the association of plasma and vaginal levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9), determined between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation, with preterm birth and its predictive value.

Study Design: All 129 cases of preterm birth (cases) and 258 randomly selected term patients (control group) were included in a cohort study with a nested case-control design. Inclusion criteria were living in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, and gestational age 20 to 25 at enrollment.

Weight/length ratio references and newborn body composition estimation at birth from a Brazilian cohort.

Objectives: The objective was to calculate weight/length (W/L) ratio values and percentiles by sex and gestational age (GA) to estimate fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat percentage (BF%) as well as to compare these indices in preterm, small (SGA), and large (LGA) for GA, stunted and wasted infants from a Brazilian cohort of newborns, comparing with the INTERGROWTH-21st.

Methods: Secondary, cross-sectional analysis of data obtained of 7427 live-born infants from the BRISA Cohort Study in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil in 2010. For body composition estimation, W/L ratio was used in multiple regression models.