Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; metabolism ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Germinoma ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male

Cell Line, Tumor ; Choriocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between imbalanced synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alpha and beta subunits and the pathology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).

METHODSTotal hCG, free alphahCG and betahCG were measured in serum samples collected from 60 cases of PIH and 30 normal gravid women by radioimmunoassay. The ratio of total hCG/betahCG, betahCG/FalphahCG, (FalphahCG+betahCG)/betahCG were calculated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in 13 placenta from each group.

RESULTSIn PIH group the levels of FalphahCG, total hCG and betahCG were significantly higher than those of normal group (FalphahCG: 528 +/-421 IU/L compared with 222 +/-129 IU/L; betahCG: 39396 +/-6412 IU/L compared with 24265 +/-5575 IU/L; total hCG: 66597 +/-9294 IU/L compared with 36078 +/-4767 IU/L, all P<0.001). The betahCG/FalphahCG ratio in PIH was lower than that of normal group (91.23 +/-53.38 Compared with 119.4 +/-80.1, P<0.05); (FalphahCG+betahCG)/betahCG ratio and total hCG/betahCG ratio in two groups were (1.022 +/-0.026 compared with 1.015 +/-0.011; 1.802 +/-0.339 compared with 1.807 +/-0.258, respectively P>0.05). The immunohistochemical intensity of betahCG and FalphahCG in syncytiotrophoblast was significantly increased in 13 PIH compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggested that the imbalanced synthesis of hCG alpha and beta subunits may cause hypertension.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; biosynthesis ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; etiology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/*urine ; Diagnostic Errors ; Endometriosis/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Tests

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields (MF) exposure on HCG and progesterone secretion of human villous trophoblasts in vitro.

METHODSThe trophoblasts were isolated from human villus by trypsin digestion and incubated in DMEM medium. Then the trophoblasts were exposed to 0.2 mT, 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF for 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. Each exposure group was matched to one control group which was from the same villus and cultured with the same condition except the 50 Hz MF exposure. The concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and progesterone in the culture medium was detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Statistical significance of differences between means was determined by one way-ANOVA with P < 0.05 considered significant.

RESULTSExposure of trophoblasts to 50 Hz MF at 0.2 mT intensity within 72 h did not affect the secretion level of HCG and progesterone (compared with blank control, P > 0.05). There was also no significant change of the secretion level of HCG and progesterone when trophoblasts were exposed to 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF within 48 h (compared with blank control, P > 0.05). However, 50 Hz MF inhibited the HCG and progesterone secretion significantly with exposure for 72 h (compared with blank control, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe exposure to 50 Hz MF for long period could inhibit trophoblasts excreting the HCG and progesterone, and the threshold intensity may be between 0.2 mT and 0.4 mT.

Cells, Cultured ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; metabolism ; Trophoblasts ; metabolism ; secretion

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

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields (MF) on secretion function of primary human villous trophoblasts in vitro, and the interference effect of "noise" MF.

METHODSThe trophoblasts were isolated from human villus by trypsin digestion and incubated in DMEM medium.Then the trophoblasts were exposed to 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF and/or "noise" MF respectively for different durations. Each exposure group was matched with one control group which was from the same villus and cultured with the same condition except the MF exposure. The concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and progesterone in the culture medium were measured by immunofluorescence. Statistical significance of differences between means was determined by one way-ANOVA with P<0.05 considered significant.

RESULT50 Hz MF inhibited the HCG and progesterone secretion significantly when exposure for 72 h (compared with control group, P<0.05). There was no significant change of HCG and progesterone secretion when trophoblasts were exposed to 0.4 mT "noise" MF within 72 h (compared with control group, P>0.05). However, by superimposing the "noise" MF, the inhibition of HCG and progesterone secretion of trophoblasts induced by 50 Hz MF was eliminated.

CONCLUSIONThe exposure to 50 Hz MF for long period could inhibit trophoblasts secreting HCG and progesterone, and the "noise" MF with the same intensity could eliminate the effects induced by 50 Hz MF.

Biological Transport ; radiation effects ; Bodily Secretions ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Chorionic Villi ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; DNA ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Humans ; Noise ; Progesterone ; metabolism ; Trophoblasts ; metabolism ; radiation effects

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

An expression system is described for high-yield production of recombinant soluble human FasL (shFasL) in Dictyostelium discoideum cells. DNA encoding amino acids 141 - 281 of hFasL was PCR amplified from cDNA derived from activated human neutrophils. The resulting product was fused with a DNA fragment encoding hCG-beta signal peptide and cloned in the expression vector pMB12neo. Dictyostelium strain AX3 was transfected with this plasmid, yielding a recombinant strain called AX3-pCESFL95-H3. In order to improve the shFasL expression level, pMB12neo was optimized by replacing its transcriptional terminator/ polyadenylation segment of the 2H3 gene with an actin8 terminator/polyadenylation segment, yielding derived expression vector pMB74. The recombinant Dictyostelium strain called AX3-pLu8 was generated with this new plasmid. When the recombinant cells were cultivated in a complex HL-5C medium, a cell density of (1.5 - 2) x 10(7)/mL was reached, and the shFasL level expressed by strains AX3-pCESFL95-H3 and AX3-pLu8 was 23.5 microg/L and 206 microg/L, respectively. By using a newly developed synthetic medium called SIH as culture medium, higher cell density of (4 - 5) x 10(7)/mL was achieved. Correspondently, 111 microg/L and 420 microg/L shFasL were secreted by recombinant strains AX3-pCESFL95-H3 and AX3-pLu8, respectively.
Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; genetics ; Culture Media ; Dictyostelium ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

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