We examined whether the 33-kDa serine protease prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is present in amniotic fluid and, if so, whether its concentration changes with gestational age. Analyzing 115 amniotic fluids with a highly sensitive immunofluorometric procedure, we found PSA in all the amniotic fluids examined and established that its concentration increases with increasing gestational age from 11...

Fetal fluid was studied in mice of the Q, C57BL/McL, C3H/Bi/McL and JU/Fa strains. The amount increases to day 16 of gestation, and then decreases. Amniotic fluid and fetal plasma contain three transferrins, five alpha-fetoproteins and albumin. Protein concentration in both increases during gestation; glucose decreases in amniotic fluid although it rises in fetal plasms; urea levels remain cons...

BACKGROUND Oligohydramnios (reduced amniotic fluid) may be responsible for malpresentation problems, umbilical cord compression, concentration of meconium in the liquor, and difficult or failed external cephalic version. Simple maternal hydration has been suggested as a way of increasing amniotic fluid volume in order to reduce some of these problems. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review w...

Kisspeptin is the product of the KISS1 (KiSS-1 metastasissuppressor) gene and is the ligand for the G-protein– coupled receptor, now known as the KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) (1 ). Both kisspeptin and KISS1R play a crucial role in the regulation of reproduction and puberty (1 ). The KISS1 gene encodes a precursor peptide of 145 amino acid residues, which undergoes proteolytic processing to generate ...

Potential limitations of prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia B, as compared to hemophilia A, include (1) occurrence of far more frequent defects with abnormal circulating antigen, (2) lower levels of factor IX in fetal plasma at 16 to 20 weeks gestation, and (3) the presence of factor IX antigen in amniotic fluid. In addition, proteolysis could occur, especially with amniotic fluid contamination o...

results afscs have the potential to be used in tissue repair and regeneration of bladder and kidney injuries, for the treatment of congenital anomalies like tracheal anomalies and spina bifida therapy etc. however, like other treatment, afscs also have some limitations such as low rate of differentiation of transplanted afscs and immune rejection. conclusions afscs have great therapeutic potent...

A glycoprotein immunologically related to plasma cold-insoluble globulin (CIG) and fetal skin fibroblast fibronectin has been purified from second-trimester human amniotic fluid. This protein (amniotic fluid fibronectin) migrated more slowly than CIG on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and showed greater polydispersity which could result, at least in part, from heterogeneity in glycos...

Amniotic fluid is a dynamic and complex mixture that reflects the physiological status of the developing fetus. In this study, the human amniotic fluid (AF) proteome of a 16–18-week normal pregnancy was profiled and analyzed to investigate the composition and functions of this fluid. Due to the complexity of AF, we utilized three different fractionation strategies to provide greater coverage. T...

OBJECTIVE To investigate methionine metabolism during normal human embryonic development by measuring levels of methionine and total homocysteine in samples of maternal serum, extra-embryonic coelomic fluid, and amniotic fluid. DESIGN Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING Collaboration between St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and the University Hospital of Nijmegen in The Netherlan...

OBJECTIVE Prenatal androgen exposure has been suggested to play a role in polycystic ovary syndrome. Given the limited information on what maternal characteristics influence maternal testosterone levels, and the even less explored routes by which female fetus androgen exposure would occur, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of maternal age, BMI, weight gain, depressed mood and ...