...................................................................................................... 7 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

BACKGROUND Glycodelin A (GdA), also known as placental protein 14 (PP14), has been detected in endometrial, cervical and ovarian carcinoma cells. It is suspected to be a marker of human ovarian cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated serum, tissue and cyst fluid samples of patients with an ovarian carcinoma in contrast to patients with benign and malignant diseases such as uteri...

Proteins are biomolecules responsible for a vast range of functions within living cells and tissues. Over 150 different proteins are present in the fluid of the oviduct, where mammalian oocytes are fertilized and zygotes start to develop. Although fertilization can be achieved in vitro without any contributions from the oviduct or oviductal proteins, some of these proteins play crucial or yet u...

Spontaneous preterm birth significantly contributes to the overall neonatal morbidity associated with preterm deliveries. Nearly 50% of cases are associated with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity followed by an inflammatory response. Robust diagnostic tools for neonates jeopardized by infection and inflammation may thus decrease the overall neonatal morbidity substantially. Amniotic flu...