Publications: PROF Steve Thornton

Thornton S, Quenby S, Simpson NAB, Shennan A, Bennett P, Williamson C, David AL ( 2025 ) . Revolution in academic medicine: reducing bureaucratic barriers . The BMJ vol. 388 ,

Thornton S ( 2024 ) . Does calcium prevent pre‐eclampsia? . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 131 , ( 11 ) 1530 - 1531 .

Meagher NS, Hamilton P, Milne K, Thornton S, Harris B, Weir A, Alsop J, Bisinoto C et al. ( 2022 ) . Profiling the immune landscape in mucinous ovarian carcinoma . Gynecologic Oncology vol. 168 , 23 - 31 .

David AL, Ahmadzia H, Ashcroft R, Bucci-Rechtweg C, Spencer RN, Thornton S ( 2022 ) . Improving Development of Drug Treatments for Pregnant Women and the Fetus . Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science vol. 56 , ( 6 ) 976 - 990 .

Norman JE, Norrie J, MacLennan G, Cooper D, Whyte S, Chowdhry S, Cunningham-Burley S, Neilson AR et al. ( 2022 ) . The Arabin Pessary to Prevent Preterm Birth in Women With a Twin Pregnancy and a Short Cervix: The STOPPIT 2 RCT . Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey vol. 77 , ( 1 ) 1 - 3 .

Spencer RN, Hecher K, Norman G, Marsal K, Deprest J, Flake A, Figueras F, Lees C et al. ( 2021 ) . Development of standard definitions and grading for Maternal and Fetal Adverse Event Terminology . Prenatal Diagnosis vol. 42 , ( 1 ) 15 - 26 .

Powell M, Saade GR, Thornton S, Pimenta JM, Haque N, Miller D, Beach KJ, Snidow J et al. ( 2021 ) . Safety and Outcomes in Infants Born to Mothers Participating in Retosiban Treatment Trials: ARIOS Follow-up Study . American Journal of Perinatology vol. 40 , ( 10 ) 1135 - 1148 .

Saade G, Shennan A, Beach K, Hadar E, Parilla B, Snidow J, Powell M, Montague T et al. ( 2021 ) . Erratum: Randomized Trials of Retosiban versus Placebo or Atosiban in Spontaneous Preterm Labor . American Journal of Perinatology vol. 38 , ( S 01 ) e370 - e370 .

Norman JE, Norrie J, MacLennan G, Cooper D, Whyte S, Chowdhry S, Cunningham-Burley S, Neilson AR et al. ( 2021 ) . The Arabin pessary to prevent preterm birth in women with a twin pregnancy and a short cervix: the STOPPIT 2 RCT . Health Technology Assessment vol. 25 , ( 44 ) 1 - 66 .

Norman JE, Norrie J, MacLennan G, Cooper D, Whyte S, Chowdhry S, Cunningham-Burley S, Mei XW et al. ( 2021 ) . Evaluation of the Arabin cervical pessary for prevention of preterm birth in women with a twin pregnancy and short cervix (STOPPIT-2): An open-label randomised trial and updated meta-analysis . PLOS Medicine vol. 18 , ( 3 )

Poon LC, Wright D, Thornton S, Akolekar R, Brocklehurst P, Nicolaides KH ( 2020 ) . Mini-combined test compared with NICE guidelines for early risk-assessment for pre-eclampsia: the SPREE diagnostic accuracy study . Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation vol. 7 , ( 8 ) 1 - 156 .

Spencer R, David AL ( 2020 ) . VP22.01: Delphi consensus on adverse event severity grading for clinical trials of maternal and fetal therapies . Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 56 , ( S1 ) 148 - 148 .

Allen M, Villeneuve E, Pitt M, Thornton S ( 2020 ) . How can consultant-led childbirth care at time of delivery be maximised? A modelling study . BMJ Open vol. 10 , ( 7 )

Shennan A, Chandiramani M, Bennett P, David AL, Girling J, Ridout A, Seed PT, Simpson N et al. ( 2020 ) . MAVRIC: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Transabdominal vs Transvaginal Cervical Cerclage . Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey vol. 75 , ( 7 ) 392 - 394 .

Saade G, Shennan A, Beach KJ, Hadar E, Parilla BV, Snidow J, Powell M, Montague TH et al. ( 2020 ) . Randomized Trials of Retosiban Versus Placebo or Atosiban in Spontaneous Preterm Labor . American Journal of Perinatology

Norman JE, Norrie J, MacLennan G, Cooper D, Whyte S, Chowdhry S, Cunningham-Burley S, Mei X et al. ( 2020 ) . LB 1: Randomized controlled trial: Arabin pessary to prevent preterm birth in twin pregnancies with short cervix . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 222 , ( 1 )

Shennan A, Chandiramani M, Bennett P, David AL, Girling J, Ridout A, Seed PT, Simpson N et al. ( 2019 ) . MAVRIC: a multicenter randomized controlled trial of transabdominal vs transvaginal cervical cerclage . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 222 , ( 3 ) 261.e1 - 261.e9 .

Norman JE, Marlow N, Messow C-M, Shennan A, Bennett PR, Thornton S, Robson SC, McConnachie A et al. ( 2019 ) . Corrigendum: Does progesterone prophylaxis to prevent preterm labour improve outcome? A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial (OPPTIMUM) . Health Technology Assessment vol. 22 , ( 35 ) 305 - 334 .

Norman JE, Norrie J, Maclennan G, Cooper D, Whyte S, Burley SC, Smith JBE, Shennan A et al. ( 2018 ) . Open randomised trial of the (Arabin) pessary to prevent preterm birth in twin pregnancy with health economics and acceptability: STOPPIT-2-a study protocol . BMJ Open vol. 8 , ( 12 )

Villeneuve E, Landa P, Allen M, Spencer A, Prosser S, Gibson A, Kelsey K, Mujica-Mota R et al. ( 2018 ) . A framework to address key issues of neonatal service configuration in England: the NeoNet multimethods study . Health and Social Care Delivery Research vol. 6 , ( 35 ) 1 - 160 .

Norman JE, Marlow N, Messow C-M, Shennan A, Bennett PR, Thornton S, Robson SC, McConnachie A et al. ( 2018 ) . Does progesterone prophylaxis to prevent preterm labour improve outcome? A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial (OPPTIMUM) . Health Technology Assessment vol. 22 , ( 35 ) 1 - 304 .

Dowell J, Cleland J, Fitzpatrick S, McManus C, Nicholson S, Oppé T, Petty-Saphon K, King OS et al. ( 2018 ) . The UK medical education database (UKMED) what is it? Why and how might you use it? . BMC Med Educ vol. 18 , ( 1 ) 6 - 14 .

Shennan AH, Chandiramani M, Bennett P, David AL, Girling J, Ridout A, Seed PT, Simpson N et al. ( 2018 ) . MAVRIC: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial of Transabdominal versus Transvaginal Cervical Cerclage .

Thornton S, Valenzuela G, Baidoo C, Fossler MJ, Montague TH, Clayton L, Powell M, Snidow J et al. ( 2017 ) . Treatment of spontaneous preterm labour with retosiban: a phase II pilot dose‐ranging study . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology vol. 83 , ( 10 ) 2283 - 2291 .

Thornton S ( 2017 ) . UK Medical Education Database: an issue of assumed consent . Clinical Medicine vol. 17 , ( 2 )

Knight B, Smith H, Tregarthen A, Lapointe J, Shennan A, Taylor MJO, Thornton S ( 2016 ) . Quantitative fetal fibronectin as a predictor of time to delivery in women undergoing induction of labour: a pilot study . BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY vol. 123 , ( 13 ) E5 - E5 .

Norman JE, Marlow N, Messow C-M, Shennan A, Bennett PR, Thornton S, Robson SC, McConnachie A et al. ( 2016 ) . Vaginal Progesterone Prophylaxis for Preterm Birth (the OPPTIMUM Study) . Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey vol. 71 , ( 9 ) 517 - 518 .

Norman JE, Marlow N, Messow C-M, Shennan A, Bennett PR, Thornton S, Robson SC, McConnachie A et al. ( 2016 ) . Vaginal progesterone prophylaxis for preterm birth (the OPPTIMUM study): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial . Lancet vol. 387 , ( 10033 ) 2106 - 2116 .

Norman JE, Messow CM, Shennan A, Bennett P, Thornton S, Robson SC, Marlow N, Norrie J et al. ( 2016 ) . LB2: Opptimum . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 214 , ( 1 ) s452 - s453 .

Norman JE, Messow CM, Shennan A, Bennett P, Thornton S, Robson SC, Marlow N, Norrie J et al. ( 2016 ) . Opptimum . AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY . vol. 214 , S452 - S453 .

Kim SH, MacIntyre DA, Hanyaloglu AC, Blanks AM, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V ( 2015 ) . The oxytocin receptor antagonist, Atosiban, activates pro-inflammatory pathways in human amnion via Gαi signalling . Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology vol. 420 , 11 - 23 .

Thornton S, Miller H, Valenzuela G, Snidow J, Stier B, Fossler MJ, Montague TH, Powell M et al. ( 2015 ) . S. Thornton et al . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology vol. 80 , ( 4 ) 740 - 749 .

KAY O, HUGHES A, SAADE G, BENNETT P, TERZIDOU V, THORNTON S ( 2015 ) . RECENT ADVANCES IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PRETERM LABOUR: OXYTOCIN ANTAGONISTS AND THE SILICONE (ARABIN) PESSARY . Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review vol. 25 , ( 2 ) 134 - 145 .

Kim SH, Tulsyan S, Da Silva FMA, Blanks A, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V ( 2015 ) . The proinflammatory effects of oxytocin in human myometrium require both Gaq and Gai proteins and are not inhibited by the oxytocin receptor antagonist- atosiban . BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY vol. 122 , 356 - 356 .

Kim SH, MacIntyre DA, Da Silva MF, Blanks AM, Lee YS, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V ( 2014 ) . Oxytocin activates NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways in human gestational tissues . Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology vol. 403 , 64 - 77 .

McCloskey C, Rada C, Bailey E, McCavera S, van den Berg HA, Atia J, Rand DA, Shmygol A et al. ( 2014 ) . The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy . EMBO Molecular Medicine vol. 6 , ( 9 ) 1161 - 1174 .

Kim S, Blanks A, Thornton S, Bennett P, Terzidou V ( 2014 ) . 6.2 Atosiban activates NF-κB and pro-inflammatory pathways in human amnion via Gαi signalling . Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal & Neonatal vol. 99 , ( Suppl 1 )

Duckitt K, Thornton S, O'Donovan OP, Dowswell T ( 2014 ) . Nitric oxide donors for treating preterm labour . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews vol. 2014 , ( 5 )

Allen M, Thornton S ( 2014 ) . Providing One-to-One Care in Labor. Analysis of “Birthrate Plus” Labor Ward Staffing in Real and Simulated Labor Ward Environments . Obstetric Anesthesia Digest vol. 34 , ( 1 ) 35 - 36 .

Hughes A, Greisen G, Arce J-C, Thornton S ( 2014 ) . Late preterm birth is associated with short-term morbidity but not with adverse neurodevelopmental and physical outcomes at one year . BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY vol. 121 , ( 7 ) E6 - E6 .

Kim SH, Blanks A, Thornton S, Bennett PR, Terzidou V ( 2014 ) . Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist, Atosiban, Drives Proinflammatory Effects in Human Amnion Via G_ai Signaling . REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES vol. 21 , ( 3 ) 111A - 111A .

Hughes A, Greisen G, Arce J, Thornton S ( 2013 ) . Late preterm birth is associated with short‐term morbidity but not with adverse neurodevelopmental and physical outcomes at 1 year . Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica vol. 93 , ( 1 ) 109 - 112 .

Hyde C, Thornton S ( 2013 ) . Does screening for pre‐eclampsia make sense? . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 120 , ( 10 ) 1168 - 1170 .

Snidow J, Miller H, Valenzuela G, Thornton S, Stier B, Clayton L, Fossler M, Montague T et al. ( 2013 ) . 350: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of retosiban, a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist, for the management of preterm labor . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology . vol. 208 ,

Kim SH, Blanks A, Thornton S, Johnson M, Bennett PR, Terzidou V ( 2013 ) . Activation of NF-κB in Human Amnion Is Mediated through G_ai and Is Mimicked by the Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist - Atosiban . REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES . vol. 20 , 122A - 122A .

Bru-Mercier G, Gullam JE, Thornton S, Blanks AM, Shmygol A ( 2012 ) . Characterization of the tissue‐level Ca2+ signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium . Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine vol. 16 , ( 12 ) 2990 - 3000 .

Allen M, Thornton S ( 2012 ) . Providing one‐to‐one care in labour. Analysis of ‘Birthrate Plus’ labour ward staffing in real and simulated labour ward environments . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 120 , ( 1 ) 100 - 107 .

Norman JE, Shennan A, Bennett P, Thornton S, Robson S, Marlow N, Norrie J, Petrou S et al. ( 2012 ) . Trial protocol OPPTIMUM– Does progesterone prophylaxis for the prevention of preterm labour improve outcome? . BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth vol. 12 , ( 1 )

Khanjani S, Terzidou V, Lee YS, Thornton S, Johnson MR, Bennett PR ( 2011 ) . Synergistic Regulation of Human Oxytocin Receptor Promoter by CCAAT/ Enhancer-Binding Protein and RELA1 . Biology of Reproduction vol. 85 , ( 5 ) 1083 - 1088 .

Bailey E, Quenby S, Thornton S, Blanks A ( 2011 ) . An investigation into the combination of nifedipine with potassium channel openers as potential tocolytic therapy for preterm labour . Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal & Neonatal vol. 96 , ( Suppl 1 )

Shennan AH, Thornton S ( 2011 ) . Clinical research networks and clinical study groups . Obstetrics Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine vol. 21 , ( 4 ) 118 - 119 .

Norman JE, Mackenzie F, Owen P, Mactier H, Hanretty K, Cooper S, Calder A, Mires G et al. ( 2009 ) . Progesterone for the Prevention of Preterm Birth in Twin Pregnancy (STOPPIT): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study and Meta-Analysis . Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey vol. 64 , ( 10 ) 646 - 648 .

Norman JE, Mackenzie F, Owen P, Mactier H, Hanretty K, Cooper S, Calder A, Mires G et al. ( 2009 ) . Progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancy (STOPPIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and meta-analysis . The Lancet vol. 373 , ( 9680 ) 2034 - 2040 .

Bundy C, Hackland B, Comaroff J, Mawby AA, Mahood MM, Inskeep RR, Burman S, Beinart W et al. ( 2007 ) . Books reviewed . Journal of Southern African Studies vol. 5 , ( 2 ) 255 - 268 .

Fernandes MS, Pierron V, Michalovich D, Astle S, Thornton S, Peltoketo H, Lam EW-F, Gellersen B et al. ( 2005 ) . Regulated expression of putative membrane progestin receptor homologues in human endometrium and gestational tissues . Journal of Endocrinology vol. 187 , ( 1 ) 89 - 101 .

Irons DW, Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 2005 ) . A randomised trial of 45 minute and 15 minute incremental oxytocin infusion regimes for the induction of labour in women of high parity . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 101 , ( 1 ) 86 - 86 .

THORNTON S, DAVISON JM, BAYLTS PH ( 2005 ) . Amniotomy‐induced labour is not mediated by endogenous oxytocin . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 96 , ( 8 ) 945 - 948 .

Irons DW, Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 2005 ) . Oxytocin infusion regimens: time for standardisation? . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 100 , ( 8 ) 786 - 787 .

Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 2005 ) . Serial oxytocin levels in amniotic fluid and maternal plasma during normal and induced labour . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 96 , ( 3 ) 370 - 371 .

Patient C, Davison JM, Charlton L, Baylis PH, Thornton S ( 2005 ) . The effect of labour and maternal oxytocin infusion on fetal plasma oxytocin concentration . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 106 , ( 12 ) 1311 - 1313 .

Thornton S, Gillespie JI, Anson LC, Greenwell JR, Melin P, Dunlop W ( 2005 ) . The effect of the oxytocin antagonists, CAP 476 and F327, on calcium mobilisation in single cultured human myometrial cells . BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology vol. 100 , ( 6 ) 581 - 586 .

Duckitt K, Thornton S ( 2002 ) . Nitric oxide donors for the treatment of preterm labour . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , Wiley

Alsalili M, Thornton S, Fleming S ( 1997 ) . The effect of the anaesthetic, Propofol, on in-vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization and cleavage in mice . Human Reproduction vol. 12 , ( 6 ) 1271 - 1274 .

Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 1992 ) . Plasma oxytocin during the first and second stages of spontaneous human labour . European Journal of Endocrinology vol. 126 , ( 5 ) 425 - 429 .

Thornton S, Gillespie JI, Greenwell JR, Dunlop W ( 1992 ) . Mobilization of calcium by the brief application of oxytocin and prostaglandin E2 in single cultured human myometrial cells . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and Cognate Medical Sciences vol. 77 , ( 2 ) 293 - 305 .

Fisher BM, Thornton S, Hepburn DA, Morton JJ, Baylis PH, Beastall GH, Gray CE, Frier BM ( 1991 ) . Effect of α-adrenergic blockade on pituitary hormonal responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in humans . European Journal of Endocrinology vol. 125 , ( 4 ) 372 - 377 .

Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 1990 ) . Effect of human pregnancy on metabolic clearance rate of oxytocin . American Journal of Physiology vol. 259 , ( 1 ) r21 - r24 .

FISHER BM, BAYLIS PH, THORNTON S, FRIER BM ( 1989 ) . Arginine Vasopressin and Oxytocin Responses to Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia in Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent) Diabetes* . The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism vol. 68 , ( 3 ) 688 - 692 .

Thornton S, Davison J, Burd J, Baylis P ( 1988 ) . Degradation of Oxytocin by Human Non-Pregnant, Pregnant and Post Natal Plasma . Clinical Science vol. 75 , ( s19 ) 17p - 17p .

Thornton S, Davison JM, Baylis PH ( 1988 ) . Plasma oxytocin during third stage of labour: comparison of natural and active management . The BMJ vol. 297 , ( 6642 )

Thornton S, Davison J, Baylis P ( 1988 ) . Leupeptin Does not Prevent Oxytocin Degradation by Oxytocinase . Clinical Science vol. 74 , ( s18 ) 23p - 23p .

Thornton S, Davison J, Baylis P ( 1988 ) . Pethidine and Epidural Analgesia Reduce Oxytocin during Human Labour . Clinical Science vol. 74 , ( s18 ) 23p - 23p .

Thornton S, Davison J, Burd J, Baylis P ( 1987 ) . A Novel Strategy for Inhibition of Oxytocinase Activity During Frequent Blood Sampling . Clinical Science vol. 73 , ( s17 ) 13p - 13p .

Thornton S, Davison J, Baylis P ( 1987 ) . Plasma Oxytocin in the Third Stage of Human Labour with and without Syntometrine . Clinical Science vol. 73 , ( s17 ) 2p - 2p .

Knight HE, van der Meulen JH, Gurol-Urganci I, Smith GC, Kiran A, THORNTON S, Richmond D, Cameron A et al. . Birth 'out-of-hours': an evaluation of obstetric practice and outcome according to the presence of senior obstetricians on the labour ward . PLoS Medicine