title: Second trimester amniotic fluid cytokine concentrations, Ureaplasma sp. colonisation status and sexual activity as predictors of preterm birth in Chinese and Australian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study tested if second trimester amniotic fluid cytokine levels, Ureaplasma sp. colonisation and sexual activity predict preterm birth and explain the differential preterm birth rates in Chinese compared to Australian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniotic fluid was collected by amniocentesis (Chinese 480, Australian 492). Cytokines were measured by multiplex assay and Ureaplasma sp. DNA was detected by PCR analysis. Lifestyle factors, including history of smoking and sexual activity during pregnancy, were obtained through completion of questionnaires upon recruitment to the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory cytokine concentrations were poorly predictive of preterm birth. Ureaplasma sp. was detected in two of the Chinese pregnancies and none from Australia. Sexual activity was less frequent in Chinese, and was not associated with preterm birth or amniotic fluid findings in either population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Second trimester amniocentesis for measurement of inflammatory markers and Ureaplasma sp. DNA was not indicative of risk of preterm birth, at least in these populations. The lower rate of preterm birth in China was not explained by differences in amniotic fluid inflammatory markers, Ureaplasma sp. colonisation, or sexual activity.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Shaofu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dorota A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Biyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lenan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Keelan
authors.forename: Yi Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, King Edward Memorial Hospital, 374 Bagot Road, Subiaco 6008, Western Australia, Australia. john.newnham@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Newnham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003075:Coitus; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial