Yim Ka Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-102). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Statement --- p.I / Abstract --- p.Ii / Acknowledgements --- p.Iv / Publications and awards --- p.Vii / General abbreviations --- p.Viii / Technical abbreviations --- p.Ix / Abbreviations of chemicals --- p.X / List of figures --- p.Xi / List of tables --- p.Xiii / Table of contents --- p.Xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Pre-eclampsia --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Inadequate Uteroplacental Circulation --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Placenta Ischaemia --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Oxidative Stress --- p.7 / Chapter 2.4 --- Systemic Inflammatory Response --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Continuum Theory of Clinical Syndromes --- p.12 / Chapter 2.6 --- Origin of Stimuli to Inflammatory Response --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Proteomic Analysis --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Methodology in Proteomic Research --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- 2D-PAGE --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Mass Spectrometry --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Peptide Mass Fingerprinting --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Product-ion Data --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Tandem Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Bioinformatics Tools --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- Applications of Proteomic Analysis --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Materials and Methods --- p.21 / Chapter 4.1 --- Overview --- p.21 / Chapter 4.2 --- Patients --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Pre-eclampsia --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Recruitment --- p.23 / Chapter 4.3 --- Stage I: Comparative Proteomic Analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Sample Processing --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Modified Bradford's Method --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Albumin Depletion --- p.25 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- Comparative Proteomic Analysis --- p.26 / Chapter 4.3.4.1 --- First Dimension: Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3.4.2 --- Reduction and Alkylation --- p.29 / Chapter 4.3.4.3 --- Second Dimension: SDS-PAGE --- p.30 / Chapter 4.3.4.4 --- Gel Imaging --- p.31 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- 2D-PAGE Data Analysis --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.5.1 --- Gaussian Spot --- p.32 / Chapter 4.3.5.2 --- Matchset --- p.33 / Chapter 4.3.5.3 --- Normalization --- p.33 / Chapter 4.3.5.4 --- Significance Analysis of Microarrays --- p.34 / Chapter 4.4 --- Stage II: Protein Identification --- p.35 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Tryptic Peptide Fingerprinting --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4.1.1 --- Removal of Silver Ions --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4.1.2 --- Reduction and Alkylation --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4.1.3 --- In-gel Digestion --- p.38 / Chapter 4.4.1.4 --- Clean up of Peptides --- p.39 / Chapter 4.4.1.5 --- Mass Spectrometric Analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Database search: Profound-Peptide Mapping --- p.40 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Database search: Mascot-MS/MS Ion Search --- p.40 / Chapter 4.5 --- Stage III: Immunoassays --- p.41 / Chapter 4.6 --- Sample Size and Power Calculations --- p.42 / Chapter 4.7 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Results --- p.43 / Chapter 5.1 --- Patients' Demographic Characteristics and Obstetric Outcomes for 2D-PAGE Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 5.2 --- Plasma Protein Quantity --- p.45 / Chapter 5.3 --- 2D-PAGE --- p.47 / Chapter 5.4 --- SAM Analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 5.5 --- Spot # 5204 and Spot # 6210 --- p.50 / Chapter 5.6 --- Protein Identification --- p.54 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- Identification of Protein Spot # 5204 --- p.54 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- Identification of Protein Spot # 6210 --- p.61 / Chapter 5.7 --- Patients' Demographic Characteristics and Obstetric Outcomes for Immunoassays --- p.68 / Chapter 5.8 --- Immunoassays --- p.70 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Discussion --- p.81 / Chapter 6.1 --- Role of ficolins and MBL in complement activation pathway --- p.82 / Chapter 6.2 --- Structure of ficolins and MBL --- p.83 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- H-ficolin --- p.85 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- L-ficolin --- p.86 / Chapter 6.3 --- Immune Response and Pre-eclampsia --- p.86 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.89 / Appendix --- p.90 / References --- p.93