Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe second-trimester maternal serum screening in twin pregnancy is still controversial, as the serum marker levels in twins are not as clear as those in singletons. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the levels of the second-trimester maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in normal twin and singleton pregnancies and to estimate feasible analysis methods for utilizing these markers in second trimester screening for twin pregnancy.

METHODSOn the basis of a prospective population-based study of second-trimester maternal serum screening, the concentrations of maternal serum AFP and free beta-HCG of 195 normal twin pregnancy and 26,512 singleton controls at gestational weeks 15 to 20 were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in one laboratory. The levels of markers were compared between the twins and singletons using weight-correction and gestational age-specific model.

RESULTSAccording to the research protocol, 95 communities were randomly sampled, which covered the whole Jiangsu province, the east of China. A total of 26 803 pregnant women (98%), from the target population accepted prenatal screening for maternal serum AFP, beta-HCG detection, and all babies were followed up for at least six months. There were 197 (0.73%) twin pregnancies, of which one case had fetal trisomy 18, and one case with fetal anencephaly. The others were normal twin pregnancy. From a total enrollment of 26 803 women participants, 26 512 women with normal singleton pregnancies were selected as the model controls. The other 291 pregnancies, including trisomy 21, neural tube defect (NTD), trisomy 18, and other fetal abnormalities, were excluded. No significant differences were found in the medians of gestational age-specific maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twin pregnancy comparing with twice those in model controls with the exception of the medians for free beta-hCG during the 16th gestational week (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONThe weight-correction and gestational age-specific levels of Chinese Han population maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twins were twice the levels as those in the singleton controls during the 17-19 gestational weeks.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Twins ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) on days 9 (d9) and 11 (d11) after fresh embryo transfer (ET) and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in predicting the pregnancy outcomes.

METHODSA total of 227 fresh ET and FET cycles performed at the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Qingyuan People's Hospital between Dec, 2012 and Feb, 2014 were analyzed. The data of serum β-HCG levels on d9 and d11 after fresh ET and FET cycles and the pregnancy outcomes were reviewed, and the ROC curve was constructed to determine the optimal cut-off level of serum β-HCG level for predicting pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTSAccording to pregnancy outcomes, the cycles were divided into non-pregnancy group (group A), biochemical pregnancy group (group B), and clinical pregnancy group (group C). Significant differences were found between the mean serum &beta;-HCG levels measured on d9 and d11 in all the 3 groups (P<0.01). The cycles in group C were further divided into 5 subgroups with single pregnancy (C1), twin pregnancy (C2), early abortion (C3), ectopic pregnancy (C4), or intrauterine pregnancy complicated with ectopic pregnancy group (C5), and all the 5 subgroups showed significant differences in &beta;-HCG measurements between d9 and d11 (P<0.01). On d9 after ET and FET, the optimal cut-off level of serum &beta;-HCG was 49.05 IU/L for predicting for clinical pregnancy, and was 105.15 IU/L for predicting twin pregnancy; the two corresponding cut-off levels of serum &beta;-HCG on d11 was 51.2 IU/L and 241.75 IU/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe absolute serum &beta;-HCG level on d9 and d11 after fresh ET and FET allows an accurate diagnosis of pregnancy and helps in the prediction of the pregnancy outcomes.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo review the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial pregnancy.

METHODSFour cases with complicated interstitial pregnancy were diagnosed and treated from January, 2004 to June, 2007 at the Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University. The clinical data and follow-up records were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSAll 4 nulliparous patients were misdiagnosed before operation. The median age was 30 years (25-34 years), and the median duration of amenorrhea was 48 days (37-58 days). The median concentrations of serum beta-hCG were 3245.5 IU/L (282-30729 IU/L). Two patients with interstitial pregnancy had high levels of beta-hCG, and were diagnosed and treated under laparoscopy. Among them one patient was underwent transcervical curettage under laparoscopic guidance,and another underwent laparoscopic salpingotomy. The remained two patients had low levels of beta-hCG, and were diagnosed and treated under hysteroscopy, 50 mg methorexate(MTX)was injected into the implanted sites under hysteroscopic guidance. The levels of serum beta-hCG in 4 patients dropped down quickly, reaching undetected levels at a mean duration of 13 days after operation. Three months postoperatively, ultrasonic examination revealed the normal contour of uterus.

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopic examination is helpful to make a correct diagnosis, and transcervical curettage (or transcatheter chemotherapy) under laparoscopic guidance (or under hysteroscopic guidance) may be a promising approach for young or nulliparous women with interstitial pregnancy who want to maintain future fertility.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Cysts ; complications ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish the median values for second trimester biomarkers in Weihai region, and to assess its value for improving the performance and efficiency of prenatal screening.

METHODSMaternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Free beta-hCG) were determined for 24 400 pregnant women at 105 to 146 gestational days. A regression equation was derived after adjusting for different gestational ages. The median values were further adjusted with body weight.

RESULTSThe median values of AFP and Free beta-hCG were respectively 6% and 24% higher than those embedded in a 2T software. After adjusting with gestational age and weight, there is a significant difference in multiple of the median (MoM) of serum biomarkers between local population and that embedded in the 2T model.

CONCLUSIONTo establish the median values for different gestational ages for local region may help to improve the efficiency of prenatal screening.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a new function method for the analysis of a-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-hCG in testicular tumors.

METHODSWe reexamined the serum levels of AFP and beta-hCG after radical orchiectomy, and calculated the measured coordinate, with the abscissa representing the number of the half-lives of tumor markers, and the ordinate representing the measured value of tumor markers. Referring to the measured value of tumor markers before surgery as a, the number of half-lives as x, and their theoretical value over a period of x elimination half-lives as y (logarithm to the base 2 of y), we calculated the predicted coordinate according to the formula y = log2(a/2x) ==> x + y = log2a (function 1). Then we assessed tumor residue and metastasis by analyzing the relationship between the measured and predicted coordinates.

RESULTSThe pathological examination of case 1 revealed a germ cell tumor of a mixed histological pattern of syncytiotrophoblast and yolk sac tumor. The measured coordinates of AFP and beta-hCG were (2.22, 6.21) and (10, 8.38), and the predicted coordinates (2.22, 6.34) and (10, 4.41) , indicating the elimination of the yolk sac tumor and metastasis of the syncytiotrophoblast tumor. Case 2 demonstrated the mixed pathological nature of teratocarcinoma and yolk sac tumor. The measured coordinates of AFP and beta-hCG were (2.67, -1.03) and (12, -3.32), and the predicted coordinates (2.67, 1.41) and (12, -5.80). But the review times of AFP and beta-hCG were out of the effective range of half-lives, with the measured values below the normal, which suggested no tumor residue or metastasis. Case 3 was found to be embryonal carcinoma. The measured coordinate of AFP was (0.22, 9.25) , and the predicted coordinate (0.22, 9.55) , indicating the elimination of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe change of the tumor markers predicted by the function method coincided with the natural course of disease in the three cases. The coincidence of the measured with the predicted coordinate after radical orchiectomy indicates no metastasis, while their disagreement suggests possible residue and metastasis of the tumor.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Orchiectomy ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo screen and diagnose Down's syndrome during mid-term pregnancy to reduce the number of babies with Down's syndrome.

METHODSWith the multi-level of stratified cluster sampling, twenty thousand and eight hundred and three women at 15-20 weeks gestation were screened by maternal serum AFP and beta-hCG using the time resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA). Then the screened high-risk women were diagnosed by amniocentesis, cell culture and chromosome analyses. The born children were diagnosed by follow-up and peripheral blood chromosome analyses.

RESULTSSix fetuses were diagnosed by serum screening and amniotic fluid chromosome analyses, and 3 born children were diagnosed by follow-up and peripheral blood chromosome analyses. Nine cases of Down's syndrome were detected in total, with the positive prenatal screen rate being 67% (6/9).

CONCLUSIONThe prenatal screening and diagnosis can reduce the birth of Down's syndrome patients and improve the population quality. However, the diagnosis accuracy still needs to be improved to further reduce the false negative rate and prevent misdiagnosis.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluoroimmunoassay ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of monitoring serum human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-HCG) level changes in early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODSTotalling 106 cases of ectopic pregnancy and 69 cases of threatened abortion were included in the study. Blood samples were collected to examine beta-HCG levels, which was repeated 2-3 days later.

RESULTSInitial serum beta-HCG levels of the women with ectopic pregnancy and different were significantly lower than those in women with threatened abortion (P<0.05), and the increment rate of serum beta-HCG in the former was also significantly lower (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with single-time serum beta-HCG detection, dynamic monitoring of serum beta-HCG provides more important and reliable evidence for early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasonography and in should also be considered in the clinical analysis.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Adult ; Choriocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed