Part I. Preterm labor: A challenge 1. Preterm labor: impacts on perinatal ecology -- 2. Definition and diagnosis of preterm labor -- 3. Epidemiology and incidence of preterm delivery -- Part II. Preterm labor and intrauterine infection and inflammation 4. Subclinical intrauterine infection -- 5. Clinical and subclinical intrauterine infection/inflammation -- 6. Cervical changes 1: morphological and biochemical changes -- 7. Cervical changes 2 : USG findings -- Part III. Other mechanisms related to preterm labor 8. Multiple mechanisms of preterm labor other than intrauterine infection -- 9. Abruption and preterm labor -- Part IV. Prevention, Treatment, and Management 10. Prevention and Tocolytic agents 1 -- 11. Prevention and Tocolytic agents 2 -- 12. Tocolytic agent 3 -- 13. Antibiotics for preterm labor -- 14. Probiotics for preterm labor -- 15. Progesterone -- 16. Cerclage 1: general -- 17. Cerclage 2: abdominal vs vaginal -- 18. Bacterial vaginosis -- 19. Antenatal corticosteroid -- 20. Mode of delivery of premature infants -- 21. Management of pPROM in general -- 22. Prevention of PTB: meta-analysis -- Part V. Preterm Newborn 23. The preterm newborn: Morbidity and Mortality -- Part VI. Placental Pathology 24. Placental pathology -- Part VII. Research Frontier 25. Research frontier.-.

This splendid volume presents numerous aspects of preterm labor and delivery, from its fundamental mechanism to clinically focused approaches. The incidence of preterm delivery is 6-7% in Japan, while globally up to 10% of pregnancies with preterm labor result in premature delivery. The rates of overall survival and intact survival of the premature infants are also excellent in Japan. Thus Japan's approach to preterm labor and delivery has long attracted attention. In each chapter, experts describe specific issues unique to conditions in Japan, including diagnosis, tocolytic agents, definition of clinical chorioamnionitis, treatment of bacterial vaginosis, role of amniocentesis, management of preterm premature membrane rupture and also placental pathology, presenting definitive evidence of the reduced incidence of preterm delivery in Japan. This book benefits not only obstetricians, pediatricians and gynecologist, but also midwives, nurse practitioners, and medical and associated staffs in the field of obstetrics, pediatrics, as well as neonatal and perinatal medicine who are involved in delivery.