In cystic fibrosis (CF), large amounts of free leucocyte proteases are present in bronchial secretions, contributing to progressive lung damage. Recombinant, human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) is a new therapeutic agent that decreases sputum viscosity. However, deoxyribonuclease has been shown, in vitro, to release cationic enzymes from complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The present stu...

BACKGROUND Linking population health data to pathology data is a new approach for the evaluation of predictive tests that is potentially more efficient, feasible and efficacious than current methods. Studies evaluating the use of first trimester maternal serum levels as predictors of complications in pregnancy have mostly relied on resource intensive methods such as prospective data collection ...

Gonadotropic hormones PMSG (15 IU/rat), FSH (3 micrograms/rat), LH (9 micrograms/rat) and hCG (3 micrograms/rat) were shown to decrease the free cytosolic lysosomal enzymes during the acute phase of hormone action in rat ovaries. When isolated cells from such rats were analyzed for the cathepsin-D activity, the granulosa cells of the ovary showed a reduction in the free as well as in the total ...

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there was an association between fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and the serum markers plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) measured by first-trimester screening test, as well birth weight hypertension. 454 pregnant women who had undergone test for Down syndrome were included in study. All measurements values of N...

OBJECTIVE(S) To investigate the relationship between premature progesterone (P) rise and serum estradiol (E(2)) levels and the number of follicles in GnRH antagonist/rec-FSH stimulated cycles. STUDY DESIGN Two hundred and seven patients treated by IVF/ICSI at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Dutch-Speaking Brussels Free University were included in this observational study. They rec...

The ability of a vaccine linking beta hCG to a carrier to generate antibodies against hCG, its reversibility and safety was established by Phase I clinical trials conducted in India, Finland, Sweden, Chile and Brazil. Employing a hetero-species dimer (beta hCG-αoLH) linked to tetanus toxoid further improved the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Phase II clinical trials showed that anti-hCG titres ...

STUDY QUESTION Do number of cells in the transferred cleavage stage embryo and number of oocytes retrieved for IVF influence maternal hCG concentrations in early pregnancies? SUMMARY ANSWER Compared with transfer of a 2-cell embryo, transfer of a 4-cell embryo results in higher hCG concentrations on Day 12 after transfer, and more than 20 oocytes retrieved were associated with low hCG concent...

BACKGROUND When exogenous testosterone or treatments to elevate testosterone (human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] or Clomid) are prescribed for men who have antecedent thrombophilia, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism often occur and may recur despite adequate anticoagulation if testosterone therapy is continued. CASE PRESENTATION A 55-year-old white male was referred to us because ...