OBJECTIVE Hyperchromatic crowded groups (HCG), a term first introduced into the cytology literature by DeMay in 1995, are commonly observed in Pap tests and may rarely be associated with serious but difficult to interpret lesions. In this study, we specifically defined HCG as dark crowded cell groups with more than 15 cells which can be identified at 10x screening magnification. METHODS We ev...

A crude hCG with an activity of about 3,000 IU per mg was purifed to 10,000--15,000 IU per mg of dry weight using Amberlite CG-50 chromatography combined with DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-75. The alpha and beta subunits of hCG were prepared by urea-treatment of the hormone and isolated by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography. Further purification of the subunits was achieved by gel filtration...

STUDY QUESTION Can independent predictors of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels be identified in a group of women who conceived following IVF/ICSI? SUMMARY ANSWER The significantly decreased PAPP-A level in IVF and ICSI pregnancies compared with non-IVF/ICSI pregnancies was correlated strongly with the serum estradiol (E2) level at ovulation triggering. WHAT IS KNOWN ALRE...

The microheterogeneity property of hCG with regards to its sialic acid contents resulted in variable mobility of the glycoprotein in SDS-PAGE. The intact hCG molecule is composed of two dissimilar subunits, namely alpha- and beta-subunits. The identification of hCG bands in SDS-PAGE was accomplished by the immunoblotting experiment, whereby the antibody directed toward the specific region of be...

The uterorelaxant effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is regarded as an important mediator in maintenance of uterine quiescence during pregnancy with clinical potential for tocolysis, the mechanisms of which are unknown. The large conductance calcium-activated K(+) channel (BK(Ca)) is ubiquitously encountered in human uterine tissue and plays a significant role in modulating myometrial...

Single particle tracking was used to evaluate lateral motions of individual FLAGtagged human luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors expressed on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and native LH receptors on both KGN human granulosa-derived tumor cells and M17 human neuroblastoma cells before and after exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Compared to LH receptors on untreated cells, LH rec...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of choriocarcinoma-like human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) isoforms during first trimester pregnancy and their relationship with in-vitro HCG bioactivity. This was done by means of a retrospective analysis of patients' sera with first trimester normal intrauterine and abnormal (ectopic) pregnancies. Serum samples were obtained from 3...

STUDY QUESTION What is the in situ localization and function of hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG-H) in first trimester pregnancy tissues? SUMMARY ANSWER HCG-H localizes to the syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast and invasive extravillous trophoblast within the maternal decidua and promotes invasion during the first trimester of pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Serum levels of hCG-H decline drama...

Intact human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), hyperglycosylated hCG, and the free subunit are the forms of hCG produced by healthy tissues and tumors (1 ). Intact hCG is the predominant form in serum and plasma in pregnancy and trophoblastic disease, hyperglycosylated hCG in choriocarcinoma and testicular cancer, and the free subunit in nongestational malignancy. Proteases present in macrophages a...