Matrix metalloproteinases in the cervical mucus plug in relation to gestational age, plug compartment, and preterm labor

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and vaginal culture results

Group	n	Age, years median (range)	Gestational age weeks^days median (range)	Parity median (range)	Vaginal culture potential pathogens/total	Weight, gram mean (95% CI)
Non-pregnant CMP-dist	15	32 (20-39)	0	0	1/15	0.47 (0.34-0.60)
Early pregnant CMP-dist	15	34 (20-42)	8⁺¹ (6⁺⁴ - 11⁺⁰)	2 (1-4)	3/15	0.39 (0.25-0.52)
Term pregnant CMP-dist	15	32 (20-39)	39⁺³ (37⁺⁰ - 42⁺⁰)	1 (1-3)	5/15	0.35 (0.081-0.63)
Term labor whole CMP	15	31 (23-36)	40⁺⁰ (38⁺⁵ - 41⁺³)	1 (0-3)	not performed	7.0 (4.4-9.6)
Preterm labor whole CMP	4	29 (22-32)	36⁺⁰ (30⁺² - 36⁺⁴)	0 (0-1)	not performed	3.8 (0.75-6.9)

The weight of the samples are given in the last column. Comparisons performed by t-test showed no statistical difference in sample weights between the groups: non-pregnant CMP-dist vs. early pregnant CMP-dist (P = 0.4), non-pregnant CMP-dist vs. term pregnant CMP-dist (P = 0.4), early pregnant CMP-dist vs. term pregnant CMP-dist (P = 0.8), term labor whole CMP vs. preterm labor whole CMP (P = 0.2).

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