Maternal serum beta-HCG and alpha-fetoprotein concentrations in singleton pregnancies following assisted reproduction

BACKGROUND: The reason for the elevated levels of HCG in assisted reproduction pregnancies remains unknown. Our hypothesis was that this increase is caused by the ovarian superovulation therapy. METHODS: We compared the beta-HCG and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) multiples of the median (MoM) in singleton pregnancies after IVF or ICSI with those achieved by frozen embryo transfer (FET) in spontaneous cycles. RESULTS: The HCG and AFP MoMs (plus minus SEMs) of 59 FET pregnancies were compared with 144 IVF (including 48 ICSI) pregnancies. The maternal HCG of pregnancies following ovarian stimulation was 1.31 plus minus 0.08 MoM compared with 1.35 plus minus 0.12 MoM in the unstimulated ones. The values for AFP were 1.06 plus minus 0.05 versus 1.11 plus minus 0.05 respectively. No significant differences could be observed between pregnancies following stimulated IVF/ICSI and unstimulated FET cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that second trimester maternal serum HCG is also elevated in singleton pregnancies following spontaneous FET cycles. The increased maternal serum HCG in IVF pregnancies is thus not related to superovulation therapy. Because of the elevated maternal serum HCG levels, serum screening cannot be performed reliably in pregnancies following assisted reproduction technology. Ultrasonographic detection of the nuchal translucency is unaffected and should be used for this group of women undergoing assisted reproduction.     

Does ICSI affect early serum beta-HCG in pregnancies achieved after IVF?

This study was conducted to compare early serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentrations in singleton pregnancies achieved after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with those achieved after conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Early serum HCG, 14-16 days after embryo transfer, was analysed in 99 IVF pregnancies achieved after ICSI (group A), and compared to 105 conventional IVF pregnancies (group B). All women were treated at the IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital. Records were studied retrospectively. The mean +/- SE serum HCG concentration on day 14 after embryo transfer in group A was 190.5 +/- 17.4 mIU/ml, compared to 195.7 +/- 14.03 mIU/ml in group B. HCG concentration 14 days after embryo transfer in both groups A and B was higher in women with mechanical factor than in couples with male factor infertility or unexplained infertility (246 +/- 31.4, 183.3 +/- 16.4, 177.98 +/- 14.3 mIU/ml respectively). On the 16th day after embryo transfer, the HCG concentration increased, and the difference between the groups was maintained. Only in the subgroup of unexplained infertility did we find a difference in concentrations of HCG between ICSI and conventional IVF: on the 16th day following embryo transfer in this group there was a significant difference in HCG concentrations (395. 8 +/- 21 and 545.6 +/- 45.7 respectively; P = 0.04). HCG concentrations did not differ overall in the conventional IVF pregnancies compared with those achieved by ICSI. However, a statistical difference in early serum HCG concentrations was found in relation to the aetiology of infertility.     

Dustborne and airborne fungal propagules represent a different spectrum of fungi with differing relations to home characteristics

BACKGROUND: Exposure to fungi is often assessed by culturing floor dust or air samples. Our objective was to evaluate the relationships between dustborne and airborne fungi and to identify factors that modify these relationships. METHODS: From November 1994 to September 1996 sequential duplicate 45-l air samples were collected in bedrooms of 496 homes in the Boston area, using a Burkard culture plate sampler. After air sampling, bedroom floors were sampled with a vacuum cleaner that was modified to collect dust in a cellulose extraction thimble. Dust was sieved, and the fine dust was dilution-plated onto DG-18 media. RESULTS: Concentrations of total culturable fungi per gram of bedroom-floor dust were correlated weakly, but significantly, with those of indoor air (r = 0.13, P < 0.05). Concentrations of some individual taxa in the dust and indoor air were also weakly associated. Adjusting for the concentrations of fungi in outdoor air, dustborne fungal concentrations were positively associated with those in indoor air for the taxa Cladosporium and Penicillium, but not for total fungi. The indoor air fungal levels were often predicted by different covariates to those predicting fungal levels in dust. The type of housing (house or apartment) and the presence of carpeting were often predictive factors for dust fungi. In contrast, outdoor fungal levels were often predictive of the indoor air fungal levels. CONCLUSIONS: Because our data do not indicate a strong overall relationship between culturable fungi in dust and indoor air, the results from these two methods (dust and air sampling) likely represent different types of potential fungal exposures to residents. It may be essential to collect both air and dust samples, as well as information on housing characteristics, as indicators for fungal exposure.     

Monoclonal antibodies to the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin

Research Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Research Institute of Clinical Oncology, All-Union Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 106, No. 12, pp. 693–695, December, 1988.     

Anti-CD3 induces bi-phasic apoptosis in murine intestinal epithelial cells: possible involvement of the Fas/Fas ligand system in different T cell compartments

Recent studies have suggested that Fas-mediated apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal injury. In this study, we determined the role of Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions in different T cell compartments using a murine model of small intestinal injury. An intraperitoneal injection of 145-2C11 (anti-CD3) antibody into C3H/HeN, BALB/c and MRL mice induced mucosal flattening and rapid, bi-phasic intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) apoptosis, which was detected by conventional light and electron microscopy and by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. In the first, early phase, villous apoptosis was observed up to 4 h after injection, and in the second, later phase, apoptotic crypt cells gradually accumulated for up to 24 h. The early and later phases of apoptosis were reduced in lpr/lpr and nude mice compared with those in control strains. In addition, the kinetics of Fas-mediated killer activity induced by the antibody injection were different between intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and splenocytes (SPL) and seemed to correlate with the bi-phasic occurrence of the apoptosis. Finally, the transfer of intestinal IEL from euthymic to nude mice induced both phases of apoptosis, whereas SPL induced the second phase's crypt apoptosis only by the antibody injection. Together, these results suggest the involvement of Fas-mediated killer activity of thymus-derived T cells in different compartments. Namely, T cell populations in different compartments are differentially involved in the induction of IEC apoptosis and contribute to the complex pathogenesis of immune-mediated intestinal injury in which Fas/FasL interactions may play a critical role.     

Controversies in plastic surgery: Suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) and the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) protocol for obesity treatment

The advent of SAL (suction-assisted lipectomy) has dramatically increased the number of obese patients coming to our consultation offices. Despite several articles suggesting a conservative approach to fat suction, some reports insinuate that SAL might be a useful tool for obesity treatment. This hypothesis is refuted by a vast body of evidence that concludes that the adipose tissue may regenerate in adult humans. Therefore, surgical procedures are not advised as the method of choice to manage the disease. On the other hand, the terms obesity and being overweight may not be interchangeable. Obesity may be a disease whereas being overweight is asign of the disease. Consequently, proper preoperative selection of candidates for SAL becomes mandatory. The hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) method for obesity treatment appears to be a complete program for the management of obesity. It contains pharmacologic, dietetic, and behavior modification aspects in a 40-day course of treatment. Some data suggest hCG to be lipolytic, thus explaining former clinical observations regarding body fat redistribution in treated patients. hCG commercial preparations contain -endorphin, an opioid peptide linked to mood behavior. This article speculates on the possible actions of the complex hCG -endorphin in the neuromodulation of mood and energy metabolism. The method comprises a behavior modification that helps in handling the patient better. There are some correlations between a current behavior modification program and the basic guidelines contained in the hCG protocol. Thus, the hCG method appears to be a reasonable alternative in the management of a long-standing, unsolved problem of human metabolism.     

2018年四川省成人糖尿病流行现状及其影响因素分析

目的 了解四川省成人常住居民糖尿病患病情况及其影响因素,为有效预防糖尿病,降低发病风险提供科学的依据。方法 2018年采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,抽取四川省18岁及以上常住居民进行身体测量、问卷调查、实验室检测。采用SAS 9.4分析四川省成人糖尿病流行情况和患病影响因素。结果 2018年四川省成人糖尿病患病率12.94%,其中男性患病率为13.09%,女性患病率为12.79%,差异无统计学意义(χ²=3.964,P=0.460); 年龄增长(与18～44岁组相比,75岁及以上OR=6.070,95%CI:3.792～9.716)、职业(与农业生产人员相比,离退休人员OR=1.781,95%CI:1.277～2.484)、锻炼频率(与每周0次相比,每周1～3次OR=0.439,95%CI:0.281～0.686)、血脂异常(OR=2.069,95%CI:1.693～2.528)、中心性肥胖(OR=1.938,95%CI:1.619～2.320)、高血压(OR=2.031,95%CI:1.583～2.606)、糖尿病家族史(OR=2.825,95%CI:1.658～4.813)是糖尿病患病的影响因素。结论 四川省糖尿病患病率处于较高水平,每周锻炼1～3次是预防糖尿病的保护因素,年龄增加、离退休人员、血脂异常、中心性肥胖、高血压、糖尿病家族史是糖尿病患病的危险因素,应进一步开展针对性的预防干预措施。     

福建省城乡人群恒牙龋病流行病学抽样调查报告

目的：了解福建省居民口腔健康状况及流行趋势,为今后进行口腔健康教育、开展口腔保健项目提供依据。方法：采用多阶段、分层、整群随机抽样的方法对福州市、泉州市、南平市的5,12,15,18,35－44及65－74岁年龄组的城乡人群12792人（男女各半）进行口腔检查。结果：随着年龄的增大,龋均、患龋率、充填率呈上升趋势（P＜0．01）。35－44岁、65－74岁年龄组龋均、患龋率城市高于农村（P＜0．01）,其他年龄组城乡之间差别无显著性（P＞0．05）。各年龄组充填率城市均高于农村（P＜0．01）。福建省城乡居民的恒牙患龋率、龋均高于全国平均水平。结论：应从小进行口腔健康教育,增强口腔健康意识,加大实施口腔预防保健措施的力度。     

关于中药新药用饮片取样法的探讨

从药材及饮片（植物药）的包件取样、包件内取样及试验样品制备等方面对《中国药典》（Chinese Pharmacopoeia,ChP）、《欧洲药典》（European Pharmacopoeia,EP）、《英国药典》（British Pharmacopoeia,BP）及《美国药典》（United States Pharmacopoeia,USP）进行对比,结合新药用饮片检验的要求,就中药新药用饮片取样法存在的问题进行探讨,并提出以下建议：（1）相关部门组织专家起草中药新药用饮片取样的指导原则或技术要求。（2）暂时参照EP、BP的取样法对中药新药用饮片进行研究,并关注饮片取样对检验结果的影响。（3）根据试验样品的特点研究确定其处理方法。如饮片的不同药用部位或位置的质量差异大,可采用分层抽样的方法,减少取样误差。（4）加强药材的源头管理,减少药材质量差异。（5）在新药用饮片的生产过程中采用混合步骤提高同批饮片的同质性。（6）在ChP“中药材及饮片取样办法”中增加：待检批次饮片应具有较好的同质性;有些样品或试验需要采用更严格的取样方法,包括更多取样包件数或包件内取样量;此外,可对包件内抽取的位...