BACKGROUND Successful embryo implantation depends on a well-timed maternal-embryonic crosstalk. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secreted by the embryo is known to play a key role in this process and to trigger a complex signal transduction cascade allowing the apposition, attachment, and invasion of the embryo into the decidualized uterus. Production of hCG was reported to be dependent on bl...

OBJECTIVE To examine whether in pregnancies with fetal trisomy 21 the level of maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation is independent of the presence or absence of tricuspid regurgitation and to estimate the performance of a screening test that combines tricuspid regurgitation with f...

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between maternal serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG) in trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and euploid pregnancies at 11-13 weeks and investigate the potential value of TSH in first-trimester screening for aneuploidies. METHODS Maternal serum TSH and free β-hCG levels at 11-13 weeks in 25 trisomy 21 a...

Twenty-one of 82 human cell lines examined for production of human chorionic gonadotropin and its subunits (HCG-alpha and HCG-beta) produced either one or both subunits at some phase in their growth. Of these, 14 produced an excess amount of free alpha subunit, and seven produced HCG-beta or complete HCG without evidence for free alpha subunit synthesis. Five of the HCG-producing cell lines als...

We have studied maternal serum free beta-hCG and PAPP-A, and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) in a series of 46 cases of fetal Turner's syndrome, 13 cases of other sex chromosomal anomalies and compared these with 947 control pregnancies in the first trimester. In cases of Turner's syndrome (45,X) the median fetal NT was significantly higher than in controls (4.76 MoM), the median PAPP-A was sign...

Objective. To investigate serum levels of free β-HCG, progesterone, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and their combined use in the prediction of first trimester abortions. Methods. A total of 156 pregnant women between 5 and 13 weeks of gestational age were included in this study. At admission, serum levels of free β-HCG, progesterone, and IMA were noted and all cases were divided into two g...

Synthesis of human placental lactogen (hPL) and of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by membrane-bound and free polyribosomes from early and from full term human placentas was investigated by in vitro release of the nascent hormone peptides, followed by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, and by specific binding of 125I-labeled hPL antibody to nascent peptid...

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy uses ultrasound with serial measurements of total human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The objective of this study was to explore the possibility that an isolated measurement of hCG isoforms/subunits rather than total hCG could be used as a single test for ectopic pregnancy. METHODS Total and intact hCG, free hCG beta- and alpha-subunits (hCGbeta...

Quantitative radioimmunoassay (RIA) of the beta chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) in serum has been used to evaluate the gestational status of 99 normal early pregnancies in contrast to 29 ectopic, threatened, aborted and/or terminated cases. Quantitative measurement of serum B-hCG-RIA standardized against the second international standard (2dIS) accurately established age of normal...