An estimated 215 million women in developing countries wish to

limit their fertility but do not have access to effective contraception. In the United States, half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Voluntary prevention of unplanned pregnancies is a cost-effective, humane way to limit population growth, slow environmental degradation, and yield other health and welfare benefits. Family planning should be a top priority for our specialty. (Obstet Gynecol 2011;117:1394-8) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31821a1411″
“Objective. The dual actions of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase comprise reduction of S-nitrosoglutathione, a potent endogenous airway smooth muscle relaxant that is depleted in asthmatics, Smoothened Agonist inhibitor and detoxification of formaldehyde to formate. Airway formate production is increased in children with asthma, suggesting increased activity of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase. We determined formate in exhaled breath condensate from adult atopic asthmatics with asthma exacerbation produced by inhaled allergen in vivo, Methods. Twenty-two adult atopic asthmatics underwent inhaled

allergen challenge using specific allergen. Exhaled breath condensate was collected at baseline, 1 h after inhalation of the provocative dose of allergen, and then every 2 h for 8 h during the challenge. Formate was buy Apoptosis Compound Library analyzed by ion chromatography, Results. Eleven asthmatics developed an isolated early airway response, and another 11 volunteers early response followed by late airway response (dual response). Formate concentrations doubled 1 h post-challenge in asthmatics with dual-airway response but essentially unchanged in patients with an isolated early reaction, Conclusions. Dual-airway response to allergen in atopic asthmatics could be associated with increased

activity of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase GDC-973 as suggested by greater concentrations of formate in exhaled breath condensate. Measurement of formate in exhaled breath condensate could serve as a noninvasive biomarker of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase activity in vivo. Our results need to be confirmed in a larger group of asthmatics.”
“The Cacna1a gene encodes the alpha(1A) subunit of voltage-gated Ca(V)2.1 Ca2+ channels that are involved in neurotransmission at central synapses. Ca(V)2.1-alpha(1)-knockout (alpha 1KO) mice, which lack Ca(V)2.1 channels in all neurons, have a very severe phenotype of cerebellar ataxia and dystonia, and usually die around postnatal day 20. This early lethality, combined with the wide expression of Ca(V)2.1 channels throughout the cerebellar cortex and nuclei, prohibited determination of the contribution of particular cerebellar cell types to the development of the severe neurobiological phenotype in Cacna1a mutant mice.

Serum sodium level of < 130 mEq/L and an increased MELD score are significant predictors of early mortality in patients listed for liver transplantation.”
“Electrical properties of AlxGa1-xN/GaN heterostructures with an Al content below 15% and carrier concentrations as low

as 1.0 x 10(12) cm(-2) were investigated by Hall effect measurements and capacitance-voltage profiling. The nominally undoped GaN capped structures were grown by low-pressure metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. The threshold voltage of transistor devices follows the trend already CB-839 supplier found for high Al-containing structures, which are described by a model indicating a surface potential independent of Al content. Photoreflectance spectroscopy confirms the results for as-grown heterostructures. The Hall effect measured on the as-grown samples, however, shows a stronger decrease in carrier concentration than expected from the effect of polarization and constant surface potential. In contrast, Hall effect data determined on samples with Ni Schottky contacts and capacitance-voltage profiling on as-grown samples yield the expected behavior, with surface potentials of 0.86 eV and 0.94

eV, respectively. The inconsistency is eliminated by describing the results of the Hall effect on as-grown samples by a VX-689 in vitro two-carrier model. Self-consistent Schrodinger-Poisson calculations support these considerations if we take into account a transition range at the AlxGa1-xN/GaN interface. (C) 2011 see more American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3553866]“
“The idea of “”date” and “”party” hubs has been influential in the study of protein-protein interaction networks. Date hubs display low co-expression with their partners, whilst party

hubs have high co-expression. It was proposed that party hubs are local coordinators whereas date hubs are global connectors. Here, we show that the reported importance of date hubs to network connectivity can in fact be attributed to a tiny subset of them. Crucially, these few, extremely central, hubs do not display particularly low expression correlation, undermining the idea of a link between this quantity and hub function. The date/party distinction was originally motivated by an approximately bimodal distribution of hub co-expression; we show that this feature is not always robust to methodological changes. Additionally, topological properties of hubs do not in general correlate with co-expression. However, we find significant correlations between interaction centrality and the functional similarity of the interacting proteins. We suggest that thinking in terms of a date/party dichotomy for hubs in protein interaction networks is not meaningful, and it might be more useful to conceive of roles for protein-protein interactions rather than for individual proteins.

Therefore, we conducted a study to investigate the risk factors for and the course of SCI after TEVAR and OSR.

We studied a series of 414 OSR and 94 TEVAR patients prospectively. Postoperative motor function, sensory disturbance, and bladder disturbance were assessed daily to evaluate the course of SCI. Previously reported risk factors for SCI were investigated.

Spinal cord ischemia occurred in 6 patients (6.4 %) in the TEVAR group, and in 18 patients (4.3 %) in the OSR group, resulting in no significant selleck chemicals llc difference (p = 0.401). A greater percentage of patients (n = 4, 66.7 %) with SCI in the TEVAR group had a delayed onset, compared with 16.7 % (n = 3) in the OSR group

(p = 0.038). The rate of recovery of walking function after SCI and the incidence of sensory disturbance and bladder dysfunction was similar in the two groups.

Multivariate analysis demonstrated that, in the TEVAR group, the stent length of aortic coverage was a significant risk factor for SCI.

The incidence of SCI was similar in the OSR and TEVAR groups, but delayed SCI occurred more frequently in the TEVAR group. Except for the delayed onset of SCI, SCI showed a similar course of recovery in the two groups.”
“SZ117 is a monoclonal antibody against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and exhibits anti-tumor angiogenic RG-7388 inhibitor effect. In this study, we observed that SZ117 bound to a 280 kDa protein, which was detected in tumor cell-derived Matrigel and various tumor cells. Using immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry analysis, and Western blot analysis, we identified the 280 kDa protein as filamin A and found that filamin A and its degraded products, notably a 53 kDa fragment, were released from a variety of tumor cells. This suggests that SZ117 is useful in the study of the pathogenesis of filamin A and that blockage of filamin A by SZ117 might contribute to the antitumor angiogenic

check details effect of the monoclonal antibody.”
“Once a woman is delivered by cesarean, her options in a subsequent pregnancy are either a planned trial of labor or a planned elective repeat cesarean. There are no randomized trials comparing these two choices to definitively guide patients and physicians. The primary cesarean rate is increasing and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) rates are decreasing. Nonmedical factors have had a major effect on these trends. The 2010 Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Conference on VBAC, after presenting a detailed analysis of benefits compared with risks, recommended that measures should be taken to assure women that VBAC is available to them. This will require an organized and concerted effort on the part of patients, physicians, and hospitals. To meet patient expectations for a safe and successful outcome with a trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC), specific management plans, checklists, practical coverage arrangements, and simulation drills are necessary. (Obstet Gynecol 2011;118:342-50) DOI: 10.

0 months following revision, decreased to a mean of 1.61 ng/mL, and chromium levels were similar to prerevision levels. One patient with moderate hip abductor muscle necrosis developed recurrent instability after revision and required selleck products a second revision arthroplasty.

Conclusions: Adverse local tissue reactions can occur in patients with a metal-on-polyethylene bearing

secondary to corrosion at the modular femoral head-neck taper, and their presentation is similar to the adverse local tissue reactions seen in patients with a metal-on-metal bearing. Elevated serum metal levels, particularly a differential elevation of serum cobalt levels with respect to chromium levels, can be helpful in establishing this diagnosis.”
“A multiscale modeling, involving molecular dynamics and finite element calculations, of the degradation of the thermal conductivity

of polycrystalline silicon carbide due to the thermal (Kapitza) resistances of grain boundaries is presented. selleck kinase inhibitor Molecular dynamics simulations focus on the < 111 > family of tilt grain boundaries in cubic SiC. For large tilt angles a simple symmetry and shift procedure is used to generate the grain boundaries while for small angles the boundary structure is obtained by inserting arrays of edge dislocations. The energy and thermal resistances of the grain boundaries are presented. The latter are fed into a finite element homogenization procedure, which enables to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of the SiC polycrystal as a function of its average grain size. The decrease in the thermal conductivity of a polycrystal as a function of its grain size is qualitatively reproduced. However, available experimental values of the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline SiC tend to indicate that the present Kapitza resistances cannot be directly used for prediction of the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline silicon carbide. We suggest possible explanations for this discrepancy, which seems rather common to Kapitza resistances calculated with molecular dynamics simulations. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3240344]“
“Synthesis

of a m/p-cresol-based novolac resin and its subsequent esterification using di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (t-BOC) is described. The product has been characterized using techniques of FTIR spectroscopy, S63845 mouse one dimensional (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and DEPT-135 spectra. Two dimensional NMR experiments like, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC have been used for exhaustive probing of the microstructural details of the derivatized copolymer. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 2166-2172, 2009″
“Background: Intraoperative analysis of frozen tissue samples has been used to diagnose periprosthetic joint infection in revision total knee arthroplasty, but the precision and reliability of this test throughout staged revision arthroplasty have not been well characterized.

(c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Objective: Lean mass is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in athletes, attributable to the anabolic pull of muscle on bone. Fat mass is also important, and subcutaneous fat positively and visceral fat negatively correlates with BMD in obese adolescents. The contribution of regional body composition to low BMD in amenorrheic athletes

(AA) has not been elucidated. We hypothesized that in adolescent athletes (runners), BMD is associated positively with total fat (surrogate for subcutaneous fat) and lean mass, and inversely with percent trunk fat and trunk-to-extremity fat ratio (surrogates for visceral fat).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects and methods: We examined BMD and body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in www.selleckchem.com/products/BI-2536.html 21 AA and 19 eumenorrheic athletes (EA) (12-18 Proteasomal inhibitors years) (runners). We report total hip and height-adjusted BMD [lumbar bone mineral apparent density (LBMAD) and whole body bone mineral content/height (WBBMC/Ht)].

Results:

AA had lower BMD than EA. Lean mass was less strongly associated with hip BMD in AA than EA; fat mass was positively associated with LBMAD in EA. Percent trunk fat and trunk-to-extremity fat ratio were inversely associated with lumbar and WB measures in AA. In a regression model, lean and fat mass were positively, and percent trunk fat and trunk-to-extremity fat ratio negatively associated with LBMAD and WBBMC/Ht for all athletes, even after controlling for serum estradiol.

Conclusions: DXA surrogates for visceral fat are inversely associated with bone JQ-EZ-05 molecular weight density in athletes.”
“The Great Slaty Woodpecker

(Mulleripicus pulverulentus) of South and Southeast Asia, the third largest woodpecker species in the world, is currently in the IUCN Red List category of Least Concern. This woodpecker appears associated with old-growth forests, and the rapid reductions in forest cover and old-growth area in Southeast Asia urged examination of its global population trends. We assessed population densities, tree diameter use by the woodpecker, and logging disturbance at 21 transects in four regions across the range of the species: west Borneo, Lingga Island (Riau Archipelago, Indonesia), Tenasserim (Myanmar), and west-central Myanmar. Transect survey effort was 937 km. We assessed rates of deforestation and loss of old-growth forest in the range of the species from expert review reports. By combining population density and forest cover data sets we calculated the global population trend of the species. We found a preference for large diameter trees by foraging and nesting Great Slaty Woodpeckers, and a reduction of the frequency of such trees in logged forests. Across the four study regions, between old-growth forests and logged forests, densities of Great Slaty Woodpeckers were reduced by 80-94%.

All treatments increased the bioaccessibility of the antioxidant activity (IC(50)), minerals (dialysis and solubility) and starch (resistant and digestible) compared to the untreated sample. Bioaccessibility of calcium, iron and zinc in the treated sample for 500 MPA at 10 min, expressed as percentage solubility, was several-fold higher (three, three and five times, respectively)

than in the Selleck AZD6738 untreated sample. Similar effect was observed in IC(50) value, algarrobo seed untreated sample exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity (0.11 +/- 0.005 mg/ml), and followed by all treated samples (500 MPa at 2, 4, Sand 10 min) which showed the strongest activity.

In summary, the antioxidant capacity, mineral and starch content of the seed may be underestimated in the literature because the extraction solvents usually used do not allow a complete release of antioxidant compounds and, additionally, non-extractable polyphenols with a high

antioxidant capacity are ignored. This correspondingly applies to the starch and mineral content. On the other hand, the analysis of in vitro digestive enzymatic extracts suggests that the antioxidant activity, minerals and starch of seed in the human gut may be higher than what might be expected from literature data based on measurements of aqueous-organic extracts. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights GSK1210151A purchase reserved.”
“Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been shown to induce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation, and BR-induced H2O2 up-regulates antioxidant defence systems in plants. However, the mechanisms by which BR-induced H2O2 regulates antioxidant defence systems in plants remain to be determined. In the present study, the role of ZmMPK5, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, in BR-induced anitioxidant defence and the Tubastatin A concentration relationship between the activation of ZmMPK5 and H2O2 production in BR signalling were investigated in leaves of maize (Zea mays) plants. BR treatment activated ZmMPK5, induced apoplastic and chloroplastic H2O2 accumulation, and enhanced the total activities of antioxidant enzymes. Such enhancements were

blocked by pre-treatment with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) inhibitors and H2O2 inhibitors or scavengers. Pre-treatment with MAPKK inhibitors substantially arrested the BR-induced apoplastic H2O2 production after 6 h of BR treatment, but did not affect the levels of apoplastic H2O2 within 1 h of BR treatment. BR-induced gene expression of NADPH oxidase was also blocked by pre-treatment with MAPKK inhibitors and an apoplastic H2O2 inhibitor or scavenger after 120 min of BR treatment, but was not affected within 30 min of BR treatment. These results suggest that the BR-induced initial apoplastic H2O2 production activates ZmMPK5, which is involved in self-propagation of apoplastic H2O2 via regulation of NADPH oxidase gene expression in BR-induced antioxidant defence systems.

Artesunate Angiogenesis inhibitor had the most rapid parasitocidal effect. All three drugs caused structural changes within the parasite, including dilatation of the parasitophorus vacuole membrane, depletion of ribosomes, mitochondrial swelling, and decreased formation of hemozoin crystals. The structure of surface knobs and Maurer’s

clefts were similar to controls but reduced in number. Only depletion of free ribosomes correlated with antimalarial drug exposure. Drug treatment decreased movement of hemozoin granules within parasites on real-time microscopy, before recognizable morphological changes of parasite death.”
“Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a burgeoning public health concern in westernized nations. The obesity-related disorder is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver failure. Although the underlying pathogenesis of NAFLD is unclear, increasing evidence suggests that excess saturated fatty acids presented to or stored within the liver may play a role in both the development and progression of the disorder. A putative mechanism linking saturated fatty acids to NAFLD may be endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Specifically, excess saturated fatty acids may

induce an ER stress response that, if left unabated, can activate stress signaling pathways, cause hepatocyte cell death, and eventually lead to liver dysfunction. In the current review we discuss the involvement of saturated fatty acids in the pathogenesis of NAFLD with particular emphasis on the role of ER stress. (C) 2010 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.”
“We describe the successful administration Cilengitide cell line of remifentanil as part of the anesthetic technique used for cesarean section performed under general anesthesia in a 24-year-old woman with intracranial re-hemorrhage caused by re-ruptured arteriovenous malformation. A low dose of remifentanil was useful to obtund the hypertensive

response during induction and maintenance of anesthesia without neonatal respiratory depression.”
“The tubular carcinoma of the breast is an uncommon histological subtype of invasive breast cancer, which is generally associated with an excellent prognosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that this MAPK Inhibitor Library well differentiated variant is linked with a low incidence of lymph node involvement, a low rate of local recurrence and a high overall survival rate when compared to standard invasive ductal carcinoma. Due to its favorable prognosis, some studies have proposed that a diagnosis of tubular carcinoma might warrant less aggressive surgical or adjuvant treatment. Histologically, tubular carcinoma may mimic sclerosing adenoma or blunt-duct adenosis. Its ductal nature appears well confirmed by the few ultrastructural studies of this mammary cancer. Tubular carcinoma should also be distinguished from microglandular adenosis, an uncommon form of sclerosing adenosis.

Results: The questionnaire was well-accepted and completed within a few minutes. Less than 1 % values were missing with respect to individual items. 31 % of patients experienced a moderate to strong impairment of the quality of life. This impairment

involved symptoms, emotions, everyday activities, and leisure activities, whereas work and school were of minor importance. The variables age, gender, and diagnosis were of little importance.

Conclusions: The limited number of publications available necessitates a step-wise introduction of this XMU-MP-1 research buy topic into the German literature. Data on quality of life could be relevant for the inclusion of NMSC onto the list of occupational diseases in occupations with high UV exposure. Sufficient data have to be generated in follow-up studies of longitudinal design that are based on the present pilot study.”
“In a 12-member, 3-generation kindred with conjoint inheritance of G1691A factor V Leiden (FVL) and G20210A prothrombin gene (PTG) mutations, identified through a proband with amaurosis fugax and his father with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the authors’ hypothesis

was that ocular thrombosis was a diagnostic window to familial thrombophilia-thrombosis. The authors used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measures for thrombophilia (FVL, PTG, C677T-A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR], platelet glycoprotein PLA1A2) and hypofibrinolysis (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G4G). The 39-year-old white male proband, with amaurosis fugax and transient Pevonedistat chemical structure ischemic attacks (TIA), was found

to be a compound heterozygote for FVL and PTC mutations. His symptoms resolved only after coumadin. His 44-year-old brother (deep venous thrombosis [DVT]) and 46-year-old sister (DVT, pulmonary embolus [PE]) were compound FVL-PTG gene heterozygotes. Of 4 asymptomatic children born to these 3 siblings, 2 were FVL heterozygotes and 2 PTG heterozygotes. The proband’s 69-year-old father, with NAION and ischemic stroke, had PTG heterozygosity, this website familial high factor VIII, and compound MTHFR C677T-A1298C mutation with homocysteinemia. The proband’s 61-year-old aunt had PTG heterozygosity, recurrent DVT, and mesenteric artery thrombosis. The proband’s 67-year-old mother, free of thrombotic events, was a FVL heterozygote, had high factor VIII, and PAI-1 4G4G homozygosity. In this extended kindred, ocular thrombotic events (amaurosis fugax, NAION) were associated with variegated thrombotic events, including TIA, ischemic stroke, DVT, PE, and mesenteric artery thrombosis, and opened a diagnostic window to family screening and treatment for complex thrombophilias, which had previously been undiagnosed.”
“Introduction: Doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the most effective and widely used anthracycline antibiotics. However, its clinical application is hampered by toxic effects in many organs.

Longer donor ischemic time was associated with the development (p = 0.043) and size (p = 0.05) of NC-CAFs. NC-CAFs were not associated with rejection,

death, re-transplantation, or coronary revascularization, and none required intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: Fistulae from donor coronary arteries to recipient pulmonary vasculature develop frequently and early after pediatric HTx. These correlate with graft ischemic time, but are not associated with early graft loss or death. J Heart Lung Transplant 2012;31:744-9 (C) 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Objective The objective of this study is to ascertain the presence of extrauterine spread in radiologically early stage and grade endometrial cancer. This could be the basis for offering vaginal hysterectomy without salpingo-oophorectomy as an alternative option to primary radical radiotherapy in women Selleck 3Methyladenine with significant medical co-morbidities in whom laparotomy will be contraindicated.

Materials

and methods. A retrospective cohort study assessing patients with clinically early stage endometrioid Momelotinib in vitro adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, treated at the Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and James Paget University Hospital between January 2003 and July 2008. The cancer registry was reviewed, and 542 endometrial cancer cases were identified during the study period, of these 439 were endometrioid type. MR is the standard staging investigation unless there are contraindications.

Demographic, clinic-pathologic and surveillance data were collected from hospital records, operative notes and histopathology reports. The histology included tumour type, stage and grade. Post-operative histopathological findings served as a reference standard. Sensitivity and specificity of pre-operative MRI scan were assessed.

Results Of the 439 cases treated during the study periods, 415 patients had an MRI pre-operatively imaging and 14% of these cases showed signs of extrauterine spread. MRI staging was then compared with the histopathology staging; the latter was taken as the gold standard. In 8% of the cases where no spread was seen on MRI, the disease was actually spread outside uterine corpus mainly to the cervix AG-014699 clinical trial and pelvic lymph nodes. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for MRI were 56, 93, 60, and 92, respectively, while predicting early stage disease. There were three cases of adnexal metastases, where the tumour had already spread to uterine serosa. Two cases had poorly differentiated and one had moderately differentiated tumour.

Conclusions The risk of adnexal metastasis is less than 1% in clinically early stage disease and highly unlikely if MRI suggests that the disease is confined to the inner half of the myometrium and low-grade disease.

TSSC3 play an important role in the differentiation from trophoblast stem cells to progenitors and/or labyrinth trophoblast through the TSSC3/PI3K/Akt/Mash2 signaling pathway.”
“Peptic ulcer is

a chronic and recurrent disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Ulcerations can be brought about by inadequate dietetic habits leading to diminished mucosal resistance, increased acid secretion, or infection by Helicobacter pylori. Methanolic extracts from the leaves of Bauhinia purpurea, Dolichos lablab and Vitex parviflora were evaluated for their efficacy as an antiulcer PARP inhibitor agent in ethanol and aspirin-induced models in mice. All three plant extracts significantly reduced the number of ulcerations in both models of ulcer. Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and saponins were also

found in the extracts and their bioactivity could be attributed MK-1775 purchase to the presence of these secondary metabolites.”
“Blood parameters are useful to measure physiological disturbances in chelonians. Thus they can provide important information for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. The aim of this paper was to determine the reference range of plasma glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and urea levels, as well as hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell, thrombocyte and white blood cell counts for healthy Podocnemis expansa (Schweigger, 1812), bred in a turtle farm in the Amazonas State, Brazil. Plasma glucose, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume

(MCV), lymphocytes and heterophils were the parameters with the smallest variations. Significant (p < 0.001) correlations between red blood cells count and hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were found. Turtle P. expansa had lymphocytes, azurophils. heterophils, eosinophils and basophils with morphologic PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor 3 order features similar to the ones of others turtles species. No investigated blood parameter was influenced by sex. In further studies, the established reference ranges might be useful for the health assessment of this turtle species. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Aim The aim of this study was to analyze whether urocortin-1 concentration in midtrimester amniotic fluid could serve as an indicative marker of preterm labor. Material and Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Urocortin-1 concentrations in midtrimester amniotic fluid were measured in 22 pregnant women with preterm deliveries and 45 women who delivered at term using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The median amniotic fluid urocortin-1 concentration was significantly lower in the women with preterm birth (40.06pg/mL; range, 13.77-67.58pg/mL) than in the women who gave birth at term (49.56pg/mL; range, 26.25-175.9pg/mL; P=0.022). The result of receiver-operator curve analysis indicates that an amniotic fluid urocortin-1 concentration57.88pg/mL had an area under the curve of 0.673 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.78; P=0.01) with a sensitivity of 81.