Researchers at the University of Copenhagen demonstrated a link between prenatal inflammation and postnatal immune status and organ function in preterm pigs, suggesting that early intervention (eg, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs) may be warranted for infants born preterm with signs of inflammation of fetal membranes.

Structure and Properties of the Placenta and Fetal Membranes

According to our findings, when the swabs taken from the agar surface below the fetal membrane as well as the marginal inhibition zone, were cultured on a new agar plate, no bacterial growth was observed.

When the root of umbilical cord and fetal membrane are attached mutually; there is no insertion at the placenta, and three umbilical cord vessels starts from insertion through amnion and chorion, finally deep into the placenta, it is called velamentous insertion of umbilical cord.

In species such as humans and rodents, the fetal membranes invade, or implant, into the submucosa of the uterine epithelium.

Any pregnant woman with an infection of the fetal membrane or uterus, or whose "water breaks"--meaning the membrane has ruptured--should be treated promptly with antibiotics or induced to deliver if she is close to term, he says.

The fetal membranes and their functions include (for a more detailed description, see Pond et al., 1991): (1) Yolk sac--this serves mainly in very early embryonic life by carrying nutrients to the embryo.

A short time later, however, she experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, Two weeks later, she was admitted to a hospital, where it was discovered that her fetal membrane had ruptured.

This fetal membrane consists of an epithelial layer, formed by a monolayer of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), and a collagen-rich mesenchymal layer, in which the human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) are embedded.

Messersmith has created new materials that mimic mussel adhesive proteins for three medical applications: sealants for fetal membrane repair, self-setting antibacterial hydrogels, and polymers for cancer drug delivery and thermal destruction of cancer cells.

MMP-9 chews up the collagen that holds together the fetal membrane, causing the sac to rupture, the group suggests.

Ringden, "Stromal cells from term fetal membrane are highly suppressive in allogeneic settings in vitro," Clinical and Experimental Immunology, vol.

The placenta was grossly infected; chorioamnionitis with necrosis of the fetal membrane and group B strep were confirmed.