AimTo identify characteristic risk factors of preterm birth in Central and Eastern Europe and explore the differences from other developed countries.MethodData on 33 794 term and 3867 preterm births (<37 wks.) were extracted in a retrospective study between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009. The study took place in 6 centers in 5 countries: Czech Republic, Hungary (two centers), Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Data on historical risk factors, pregnancy complications, and special testing were gathered. Preterm birth frequencies and relevant risk factors were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software.ResultsAll the factors selected for study (history of smoking, diabetes, chronic hypertension, current diabetes, preeclampsia, progesterone use, current smoking, body mass index, iron use and anemia during pregnancy), except the history of diabetes were predictive of preterm birth across all participating European centers. Preterm birth was at least 2.4 times more likely with smoking (history or current), three times more likely with preeclampsia, 2.9 times more likely with hypertension after adjusting for other covariates. It had inverse relationship with the significant predictor body mass index, with adjusted risk ratio of 0.8 to 1.0 in three sites. Iron use and anemia, though significant predictors of preterm birth, indicated mixed patterns for relative risk ratio.ConclusionSmoking, preeclampsia, hypertension and body mass index seem to be the foremost risk factors of preterm birth. Implications of these factors could be beneficial for design and implementation of interventions and improve the birth outcome.

Data discussed in recent reviews demonstrated that dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles occurs during cervical carcinogenesis and characteristic up- or downregulation of certain miRNAs might be used as biomarkers. The majority of altered miRNAs, however were found to be inconsistent upon comparison with cancerous and normal cervical epithelia in the discussed studies due to several reasons. The results obtained in this present review suggest the need for further investigations on miRNAs on larger sample sizes in order to indicate sensitivity and specificity by means of well defined, "unified" methods. In addition, obtaining further data on the clinical course and outcome of patients in comparison to the dysregulation of miRNA expression profile could turn miRNAs into prognostic and/or progression markers. Inhibition of overexpressed miRNAs, as suggested by some authors, might even serve as target for cancer therapy.

Stem cells participate in cervical carcinogenesis but their function and exact features are still not clear. One type of stem-like cells are endocervical reserve cells (RCs), and their association with other normal/altered cervical cells is not exactly known. Epithelial cells are attached to each other by tight junctions. Their dominant components are the claudin proteins, which show changed expression in cancer; however, no data are available on their pattern. Expressions of various claudins (1, 2, 3, 4, 7), occludin, cytokeratins 5/6 and 7, and p63 were analyzed in 60 paraffin-embedded cervical samples. Immunohistochemical reactions were evaluated semiquantitatively and statistically. Claudin 1 was as high in RCs as in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and higher than in suprabasal squamous epithelial cells, contrary to the negative glandular and squamous basal cells. Claudin 2 was positive in all cell types except parabasal cells, whereas claudins 4 and 7 were weakly positive and claudin 3 was negative in all cell types. Occludin was positive in RCs, basal/parabasal cells, and CIN, whereas glandular cells were negative. This is a first report that describes the intermediate claudin pattern of RCs, demonstrating that it differs from that of cervical glandular and squamous basal cells, but showing an expression similar to the strong claudin 1 expression detected in cervical neoplastic cells.