This study was conducted to evaluate the preimplantation embryonic potential of adult somatic cells from an infertile man using an interspecies bioassay for quality control and also to create human embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Skin tissue was biopsied from infertile man to obtain fibroblast cells. These cells were fused with both enucleated bovine oocytes obtained commercia...

Sir, We would like to thank Dr Manno for the comments regarding pre-ovulatory progesterone levels in our paper on controlled ovarian stimulation with hCG supplementation (Thuesen et al., 2012). Dr Manno concluded that our study was another study denying a prognostic value to pre-triggering P4 levels. We think that our study should not be used to clarify a possible role of elevated progesterone ...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) profile following preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is lower than that of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS A total of 129 PGD cycles and 1,161 age-matched ICSI cycles, which resulted in pregnancy (serum β-hCG≥5 mIU/mL) on post-ovulation day (POD) 12 were included. We compared the mean se...

OBJECTIVES The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is an established method for termination of pregnancy. However, there is no general agreement about how best to evaluate the treatment outcome. STUDY DESIGN In 217 women with an unwanted pregnancy below 49 days of amenorrhoea, ultrasound examination and serum hCG test were performed before treatment and at follow-up. RESULTS Treatme...

Leydig cells isolated from the testes of rats treated with intravenous exogenous gonadotropin (hCG) or subcutaneous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) show markedly decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors and a partial block in testicular 17,20 desmolase activity. In contrast, Leydig cells from animals with equivalent degrees of LH receptor loss induced by subcutaneous hCG treatment sho...

In this research work, we present a simple and efficient passive microfluidic device for plasma separation from pure blood. The microdevice has been fabricated using conventional photolithography technique on a single layer of polydimethylsiloxane, and has been extensively tested on whole blood and enhanced (upto 62%) hematocrit levels of human blood. The microdevice employs elevated dimensions...

In this work, a simple electrochemical immunoassay based on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using open circuit potential (OCP) detection was developed. The detection of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) as a model analyte, was demonstrated by direct electrical detection of PtNPs in hydrazine solution using OCP measurement without any application of either potential or current to the sys...

The conserved family of AMT/Rh proteins facilitates ammonium transport across animal, plant, and microbial membranes. A bacterial homologue, AmtB, forms a channel-like structure and appears to function as an NH3 gas channel. To evaluate the function of eukaryotic homologues, the human RhCG glycoprotein and the tomato plant ammonium transporter LeAMT1;2 were expressed and compared in Xenopus ooc...

We report the development and characterization of an IRMA for the direct measurement of nicked human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGn) in blood and urine. hCGn derived from a reference preparation of hCG used as an immunogen elicits monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with enhanced recognition of human luteinizing hormone epitopes. The most specific assay for pregnancy hCGn is an IRMA composed of one mAb ...

Objective. To test if serum hCG levels the morning after the ovulatory hCG injection correlate with (1) retrieval efficiency, (2) oocyte maturity, (3) embryo quality, (4) pregnancy, and/or (5) time to implantation in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Design. Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting. University-based IVF clinic. Patient(...