Mast cell involvement in human cervical ripening.

Objective: Cervical ripening resembles an inflammatory process in many aspects, involving invasion of inflammatory cells, collagen breakdown and remodelling of the extracellular matrix. Mast cells produce a variety of inflammatory agents and are attributed a functional role in cervical ripening. The aim of this study was to examine if cervical mast cells are increased in number and stimulated during pregnancy.

Low Prevalence of Active Tuberculosis among High-Risk Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Sweden: A Retrospective Epidemiological Cohort Study Using and Evaluating TST as Screening Method.

Objective: Studies on the prevalence of active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among high-risk pregnant and postpartum women are few and prevalence is not well known. The methods used for diagnosing and treating TB and LTBI also differ both within and between countries. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of TB and LTBI among high-risk pregnant and postpartum women in a Western Region of Sweden using tuberculin skin test (TST) as screening method.

A Case of Chronic Ectopic Pregnancy Manifested by Rectal Bleeding.

Ectopic pregnancy resulting in perforation of the rectum and rectal bleeding is clinically rare. We report an extremely rare case of chronic ectopic pregnancy with decreasing low levels of serum -HCG resulting in rectal bleeding. A 31-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 3, with moderate abdominal pain and rectal bleeding was diagnosed with a tubal pregnancy.

Cervical tissue changes in women with miscarriage: a morphological and biochemical investigation.

Objective: To evaluate morphological and inflammatory events in the uterine cervix in first trimester miscarriages.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Cervical priming in the first trimester: morphological and biochemical effects of misoprostol and isosorbide mononitrate.

Objective: To evaluate morphological changes and inflammatory events in the uterine cervix following presurgical treatment with the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol or the nitric oxide donor isosorbide mononitrate (IMN).

Design: Experimental study.

Settings: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.