Previous kinetic studies have characterized the intracellular folding pathway of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-beta subunit in which each of the folding intermediates can be biochemically identified based on the formation of disulfide (S-S) bonds: p beta 1-early--> p beta 1-late--> p beta 2-free--> p beta 2-combined--> native hCG-alpha beta. Based on these data, we postulated that hCG-...

DNA analysis for the diagnosis of beta-thalassaemia is a relatively new technique in Malaysia. This, combined with chorionic villus sampling, has enabled us to offer prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester for this common condition. To the best of our knowledge, this has not hitherto been reported in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Polypeptide hormone Leptin suppresses inflammation in the heart muscle and protects heart from diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between leptin and troponin serum levels with cardiac involvement in patients with major beta thalassemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 70 children with major thalassemia were selected. Two ml bloo...

A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for human choriogonadotropin (hCG) has been developed using rabbit antiserum to chemical analogs of beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin prepared by controlled reduction and S-alkylation of its disulfide linkages. The assay was highly specific for hCG as the binding of [125I]-hCG to the antibody was not affected by standard human lutropin, by hu...

Immortalized cell lines have many potential experimental applications including the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying cell-specific gene expression. We have utilized a recombinant retrovirus encoding the simian virus-40 (SV-40) large T antigen to construct several immortalized cell lines of equine chorionic girdle cell lineage - the progenitor cells that differentiate into the equine ...

OBJECTIVES To use multiple regression analysis to define the contribution of maternal variables that influence the measured concentration of free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and the interaction between these covariates, in first-trimester biochemical screening for trisomy 21. METHODS This was a multicenter study of prospecti...

INTRODUCTION We report on the first successful preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in Singapore. CLINICAL PICTURE A couple who are beta-thalassaemia carriers and have an affected daughter requested for PGD. TREATMENT Two cycles of PGD were performed on the couple. Beta-thalassaemia mutations were detected using a nested PCR and minisequencing strategy, and unaffected embryos were select...

The advent of the radioimmunoassay of Beta subunit chorionic gonadotropin (BhCG) has eliminated a major problem in following the patient with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Whole hCG cross reacts with luteinizing hormone (hLH) causing difficulties when GTN patient titers fall to levels coincidental with pituitary levels of hLH. The use of the Beta subunit of hCG in radioimmunoassay ...

Downregulation of Apelin in the Human Placental Chorionic Villi from Preeclamptic 1 Pregnancies 2 3 Liliya M. Yamaleyeva, Mark C. Chappell, K. Bridget Brosnihan, Lauren Anton, David L. 4 Caudell, Sara Shi, Carolynne McGee, Nancy Pirro, Patricia E. Gallagher, Robert N. Taylor, 5 David C. Merrill, Heather L. Mertz 6 7 Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol...