Biomaterial Database

Early pregnancy factor in cervical mucus of pregnant women. 2004

Shu-Juan Cheng, and Zhen-Qun Zheng

The Institute of Geriatric Cardiology, The General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.

OBJECTIVE This study was carried out to determine the presence of early pregnancy factor (EPF) activity in cervical mucus of pregnant women and explore the relationship between EPF activity in sera suggested it and in cervical mucus. METHODS Cervical mucus and sera were collected from 60 pregnant women in different terms and 25 non-pregnant women, respectively. EPF activity was detected by rosette inhibition assay. RESULTS EPF activity did exist in cervical mucus of pregnant women and was similar both in cervical mucus and sera. CONCLUSIONS We report here for the first time the EPF activity in cervical mucus of pregnant women. The parallel change observed in sera suggested it might be another useful index in evaluating embryo viability.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011257	Pregnancy Proteins	Proteins produced by organs of the mother or the PLACENTA during PREGNANCY. These proteins may be pregnancy-specific (present only during pregnancy) or pregnancy-associated (present during pregnancy or under other conditions such as hormone therapy or certain malignancies.)	Placental Proteins,Proteins, Placental,Proteins, Pregnancy
D011259	Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic	Methods of detecting pregnancy by examining the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in plasma or urine.	Immunologic Pregnancy Test,Immunologic Pregnancy Tests,Immunological Pregnancy Tests,Pregnancy Test, Immunologic,Pregnancy Tests, Immunological,Test, Immunologic Pregnancy,Tests, Immunologic Pregnancy,Tests, Immunological Pregnancy,Immunological Pregnancy Test,Pregnancy Test, Immunological,Test, Immunological Pregnancy
D011261	Pregnancy Trimester, First	The beginning third of a human PREGNANCY, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (MENSTRUATION) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation.	Early Placental Phase,Pregnancy, First Trimester,Trimester, First,Early Placental Phases,First Pregnancy Trimester,First Pregnancy Trimesters,First Trimester,First Trimester Pregnancies,First Trimester Pregnancy,First Trimesters,Phase, Early Placental,Phases, Early Placental,Placental Phase, Early,Placental Phases, Early,Pregnancies, First Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, First,Trimesters, First
D011262	Pregnancy Trimester, Second	The middle third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 15th through the 28th completed week (99 to 196 days) of gestation.	Midtrimester,Pregnancy, Second Trimester,Trimester, Second,Midtrimesters,Pregnancies, Second Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Second,Second Pregnancy Trimester,Second Pregnancy Trimesters,Second Trimester,Second Trimester Pregnancies,Second Trimester Pregnancy,Second Trimesters,Trimesters, Second
D002582	Cervix Mucus	A slightly alkaline secretion of the endocervical glands. The consistency and amount are dependent on the physiological hormone changes in the menstrual cycle. It contains the glycoprotein mucin, amino acids, sugar, enzymes, and electrolytes, with a water content up to 90%. The mucus is a useful protection against the ascent of bacteria and sperm into the uterus. (From Dictionary of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1988)	Fern Test,Palm-Leaf Reaction,Cervical Mucus,Fern Tests,Mucus, Cervical,Mucus, Cervix,Palm Leaf Reaction,Palm-Leaf Reactions,Reaction, Palm-Leaf,Reactions, Palm-Leaf,Test, Fern,Tests, Fern
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012397	Rosette Formation	The in vitro formation of clusters consisting of a cell (usually a lymphocyte) surrounded by antigenic cells or antigen-bearing particles (usually erythrocytes, which may or may not be coated with antibody or antibody and complement). The rosette-forming cell may be an antibody-forming cell, a memory cell, a T-cell, a cell bearing surface cytophilic antibodies, or a monocyte possessing Fc receptors. Rosette formation can be used to identify specific populations of these cells.	Immunocytoadherence,Formation, Rosette,Formations, Rosette,Immunocytoadherences,Rosette Formations