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NICHD Genomic and Proteomic Network for Preterm Birth Research (GPN)

We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to study the Spontaneous Preterm birth (SPTB).

Maternal and neonatal DNA from 743 SPTB (20 to and less than 34 weeks), and 752 controls (39 to and less than 42 weeks) who fully consented for public research usage were collected from participants in several clinical centers in Alabama, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah. Cases were 1:1-matched with controls according to race/ethnicity (White, Hispanics, African Americans, and Others), maternal age (<20, 20-29, 30-39, 40+), and parity (yes or no). To determine the case-control status for each participant, a Gestational Age (GA) was determined.

DNA samples were taken from blood or saliva if blood was not available. Automated DNA extractions were performed on the Qiagen M48 robot, and samples were organized in 96-well plates with barcoding and sample tracking systems. Subsequent manipulations were performed on the Biomek FX liquid handling workstation with 96-channel pipetting. DNA quantitation was performed by dye-based assay on a Molecular Devices SpectraMax Plus plate reader. Samples were genotyped using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0. This work was conducted at the Microarray Facility at the University of Pennsylvania.

Patient data were collected through chart reviews and patient interviews, which included Demographic information (parental age, race, ethnicity, etc.); Medical history (pre-pregnancy weight, height, medications, STD history, medical conditions, etc.); Social history (marital status, years of education, alcohol use and tobacco use); Obstetrical history including outcome of all prior pregnancies and dates of termination; History of preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes symptoms, evaluation or hospitalization for those symptoms in current pregnancy; Medications taken during current pregnancy; History of cervical evaluation (manually or ultrasonographically) or fetal fibronectin measurements; Pregnancy complications; Labor (type, indications, membrane status, and induction method); Delivery type and indications for cesarean section; Neonatal outcome (sex, weight, length, Apgar score, neonatal complications, admission to intensive care unit, etc.); and Maternal family history of SPTB.