title: Raman spectroscopy provides a noninvasive approach for determining biochemical composition of the pregnant cervix in vivo.
abstract: The molecular changes that occur with cervical remodelling during pregnancy are not completely understood. This study reviews Raman spectroscopy, an optical technique for detecting changes in the pregnant cervix, and reports preliminary studies on cervical remodelling in mice that suggest that the technique provides advantages over other methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Raman spectroscopy is sensitive to biochemical changes in the pregnant cervix and has high potential as a tool for detecting premature cervical remodelling in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vargis
authors.forename: Bibhash C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Paria
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahadevan-Jansen
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020070:Cervical Ripening; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Cervical remodelling; Cervix; Parturition; Pregnancy; Preterm birth