PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND PREMATURITY PROTOCOL

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。本研究假设牙周病相关的微生物和免疫因素与早产（<37周）呈正相关，独立于已知的危险因素。早产是围产期预后不良的一个主要原因。大约7-10%的孕妇在妊娠36周之前分娩。这些早产是由多种因素造成的。本研究的目的如下：1)确定孕妇宫颈和阴道样本中的牙周病原体与早产之间的关系。2)测量这些样本中产前、母体IgG水平与早产的关系。3)建立口腔、宫颈、阴道牙周病原体、病原体特异性IgG水平与早产的相关性。终点是IgG与六种特定牙周病原体的特异性细胞表面抗原的棋盘DNA（成本决定），分娩日期（妊娠持续时间）。该方案遵循嵌套病例对照设计，是对一种可能对大量人口产生影响的简单预防措施的研究。此外，这是一项跨部门、跨学校的合作努力。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study hypothesizes that periodontal disease-related microbiological and immunological factors are positively associated with preterm (<37 weeks) delivery independent of known risk factors. Preterm delivery is a major cause of poor perinatal outcomes. Approximately 7-10% of pregnancies deliver prior to 36 weeks gestation. These preterm deliveries are due to multifactor causes. The study's objectives are as follows: 1) Determine the association between periodontal pathogens in cervical and vaginal samples of pregnant women and preterm birth. 2) Measure the association between prenatal, maternal IgG levels in these samples and preterm birth. 3) Establish the correlation between periodontal pathogens in oral, cervical, vaginal samples, pathogen-specific IgG levels and preterm birth. The endpoints are checkerboard DNA for IgG vs. specific cell surface antigens of six specific periodontal pathogens (cost decision), delivery date (gestational duration). The protocol, which follows a nested case-control design is a study of a potentially simple preventive measure with impact on large populations. Moreover, it is a collaborative, cross-departmental, cross-school effort.