Hormonal monitoring of ovarian activity using the Ovarian Monitor, Part I. Validation of home and laboratory results obtained during ovulatory cycles by comparison with radioimmunoassay

Ovulation, A Sign of Health

“…LH and progesterone trigger follicular-wall degradation by proteases, prostaglandins, and other compounds (Stouffer 2003), resulting in release of the oocyte which normally survives 12 to 24 hours (Ferin, Van Vught, and Wardlaw 1984). After ovulation, LH contributes to the development of the corpus luteum (Misao et al 1998), which continues to produce progesterone and estrogen during the luteal phase (Blackwell et al 2003). Progesterone modifies the endometrial lining from proliferative to secretory type and changes the cervical mucus from estrogenic to progestational.…”

Usefulness of Monitoring Fertility from Menarche

“…29 To date a total of 20 distinct mucin genes have been identified. 30 Mucins are categorized into 3 groups on the basis of their structural properties such as transmembrane mucin (MUCs 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17), gel-forming mucin (MUCs 2, 5AC, 5B, 6) and soluble mucin ( MUCs 7,9,11,14) and others that have not yet been categorized (MUCs 8, 10, 18, 19, and 20). 30 The four large gel-forming mucin genes are located on chromosome 11.p15.5.…”

Clearing of Suspensions ofMicrococcus lysodeikticusCatalysed by Lysozymes from Hen, Goose, and Turkey Egg Whites, Human Milk, and Phage T4. Assessment of Potential as Signal Generators for Homogeneous Enzyme Immunoassays for Urinary Steroids

“…In particular, estrone glucuronide (E1G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) conjugates of lysozyme have been used in the Ovarian Monitor [1] to monitor the main urinary estradiol and progesterone metabolites and, thus, define the fertile period of the human menstrual cycle. [1 -3,7] The most readily acylated lysine residues in HEWL (K33, K97 and K116) are all situated close to its welldefined active site cleft [4,5] and HEWL is relatively small compared to its bacterial cell substrate Micrococcus lysodeikticus (M. lysodeikticus).…”

“…The inhibition of the HEWL-E1G and HEWL-PdG conjugate lytic activity is prevented in a dose-dependent manner by pre-incubation of the antibody with the appropriate free hapten from either standards or from urine samples. [1] Thus, there is a direct relationship between the lytic activity of the assay system and the steroid glucuronide concentration in a sample. The Monitor utilises an endpoint assay for measurement of E1G which is calculated from the difference in transmission values (DT) taken 20 minutes apart [1 -3,5,7] as the suspension of M. lysodeikticus clears during the lytic reaction.…”

“…The Monitor utilises an endpoint assay for measurement of E1G which is calculated from the difference in transmission values (DT) taken 20 minutes apart [1 -3,5,7] as the suspension of M. lysodeikticus clears during the lytic reaction. From a simple measurement of DT over 20 minutes, the accurate E1G excretion rate [1] can be obtained by reference to the appropriate standard curve.…”