Haemoglobin A2 (HbA2) levels were determined on 25 beta-thalassaemia carriers by the microcolumn method and were found to range from 4.5-7.2 per cent (mean 5.2 +/- 0.82 S.D.). The haemoglobin level (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), plasma ferritin and HbA2 levels were measured on a further 299 consecutive Chinese pregnant women at a gestation of less than 24 weeks. 18 patients (6 per cent) had HbA2 level greater than 4.5 per cent and were diagnosed to be beta-thalassaemic carriers. It was observed that all these patients had a MCV below 75 fl. If this level is selected in a screening procedure based on measurement of MCV alone all beta-thalassaemia carriers could be detected and 11 per cent of the population screened would require HbA2 estimation. At a lower cut-off level of 70 fl, 8 per cent of the population screened would require HbA2 measurement (a decrease of 27 per cent) but the detection rate will be lowered considerably (83 per cent). The high false positive rate at all cut-off levels of MCV was largely due to the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in the population. Estimation of plasma ferritin level in patients with low MCV will reduce this false positive rate, but there will be a considerable delay in diagnosis in patients with concomitant iron deficiency and beta-thalassaemia. The presence of iron deficiency in beta-thalassaemia carriers did not reduce their HbA2 level below the diagnostic range in this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Erythrocyte Indices↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Justification of maternal serum alphafetoprotein screening in a population with low incidence of neural tube defects.

A prospective study of maternal serum alphafetoprotein (alpha-FP) screening of 9838 women in an area with low prevalence of neural tube defects and predominance of anencephalics revealed that an intervention point of single serum alpha-FP level above 2.8 times the median was appropriate for this population. Ninety per cent of anencephalics and all fetuses with anterior abdominal wall defects were detected. There was no spina bifida among the population screened. Two per cent of the population screened had serum alpha-FP level above this cut-off level. Thirty-two per cent of twin pregnancies, 7 per cent of small-for-gestational age infants and 9 per cent of pregnancies which ended in either abortion or perinatal death in the population screened also had one serum alpha-FP level above this intervention point. The false positive rate was 66 per cent. This false positive rate was only reduced to 63 per cent if instead of one, two serum alpha-FP level above this intervention point was considered abnormal. Using this strategy there was no significant reduction in the detection rate of fetal anomalies and other pregnancy complications. Because of the predominance of anencephalics in this population the diagnosis of fetal anomaly in women with abnormal serum alpha-FP level was made by ultrasound examination alone. The reason amniocentesis was not performed in these patients was to avoid unnecessary loss of normal pregnancies which may result from this procedure.

Anencephaly↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal helminths in pregnant Vietnamese refugees.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mixed lymphocyte reaction in hydatidiform mole.

One-way wife-husband and wife-donor mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) were performed in ten patients with hydatidiform moles and ten age- and maturity-matched pregnant controls. The MLR response in patients with hydatidiform moles was similar to that of normal pregnant subjects and the maternal plasma did not affect the response. In the two patients who subsequently required chemotherapy because of persistent elevation of serum human chorionic gonadotrophin, the maternal plasma taken just before chemotherapy suppressed the maternal MLR response to paternal lymphocytes but not that to unrelated donors' lymphocytes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors affecting the success of artificial insemination by frozen donor semen.

The records of 227 couples who received artificial insemination by frozen donor semen in 984 treatment cycles were analysed to find out the factors affecting the pregnancy rates. The cumulative pregnancy rate at 6 months was 46.8% and the pregnancy rate per cycle was 10%. The pregnancy rates were adversely affected by (1) increase in the recipient age above 30 years, (2) irregularity of menstrual cycles, (3) the use of clomiphene citrate for induction of ovulation, and (4) low cervical mucus scores. Among our donor semen samples selected with a set of criteria, the sperm counts and initial and post-thaw motility did not affect the pregnancy rates.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum immunoreactive beta-endorphin in the human ovulatory cycle.

Daily serum immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR-beta-EP) levels, in conjunction with luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, 17 beta-oestradiol, progesterone, and prolactin, were measured during the ovulatory cycle in five healthy Chinese women. Standardization of raw data by conversion to the statistical "Z scores" and composite plot of the five cycles showed that serum IR-beta-EP levels fluctuated during the follicular, late luteal, and menstrual phases. A preovulatory rise occurred two to three days prior to the luteinizing hormone surge, followed by a postovulatory dip for two to three days. The concentrations of IR-beta-EP were (mean +/- S.E.M.): 85.5 +/- 10.5 pg/mL (n = 36) in the follicular phase; 92.4 +/- 36.5 pg/mL (n = 5) in the ovulatory phase; 72.3 +/- 16.6 pg/mL (n = 7) in the early luteal phase; 100.0 +/- 10.7 pg/mL (n = 38) in the late luteal phase. The values in the luteal phase were the highest of any in the ovulatory cycle. The findings suggest that the fluctuation of endogenous beta-EP is under the influence of, among other factors, ovarian sex steroids. The significance of beta-EP in the regulation of gonadotropin release during normal menstrual cycles is discussed.

Adult↗