The global impact of preterm birth / Jennifer Harris Requejo and Mario Merialdi -- Preterm birth : a complex disease / Eric J. Hodgson and Charles J. Lockwood -- Why prevention? / Jason K. Baxter -- The epidemiology of preterm birth / Robert L. Goldenberg and Elizabeth M. McClure -- Genetics of preterm birth / Heidi L. Thorson and Hyagriv N. Simhan -- The cervix / Vincenzo Berghella -- Inflammation and infection / Roberto Romero ... [et al.] -- The endocrine regulation of human labor / Roger Smith, Julia I. Smith and Andrew Bisits -- Preventive issues for all gravidas / Priyadarshini Koduri -- Tobacco and preterm birth / Jeroen P. Vanderhoeven and Jorge E. Tolosa -- Care for women with prior preterm birth / Jay D. Iams -- Short cervical length / Timothy J. Rafael -- Fetal fibronectin / Maria Bisulli -- Bacterial vaginosis / Nancy W. Hendrix -- Sexually transmitted infections / Neil S. Seligman -- Multiple gestations : preventing and managing preterm birth / Edward J. Hayes and Suneet P. Chauhan -- Asymptomatic manual cervical changes / Leonardo Pereira -- Preterm labour / Amen Ness, Yair Blumenfeld and Joyce F. Sung -- Preterm premature rupture of the membranes / Brian M. Mercer -- Promotion of fetal maturation / Kellie E. Murphy -- Location, mode of delivery and intrapartum issues for the preterm gestation / Dana Figueroa and Dwight J. Rouse -- Perinatal care and long-term implications / Janet E. Larson, Shobhana A. Desai and William McNett -- Ethical issues related to preterm birth / Frank A. Chervenak and Laurence B. McCullough -- Future research / Cathy Y. Spong