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C Lowings

Publications and source records attributed to C Lowings.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Relationship between blood and urine concentrations of intact human chorionic gonadotropin and its free subunits in early pregnancy.

Paired blood and urine samples were obtained from patients between the sixth and 14th weeks of normal pregnancy. The levels of intact human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and of the free alpha and beta subunits, were measured by specific immunoassays. There was a close association between blood and urine levels of intact hCG and of the alpha subunit of hCG, but no relation between the levels of beta subunit in these sites. These findings suggest that the use of "beta subunit" assays may give discrepant results according to the fluid examined. By contrast, measurement of intact hCG appears to give similar results in blood and urine.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Human chorionic gonadotrophin and subunits--heterogeneity in serum of male patients with tumours of the genital tract.

The pattern of secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and its subunits in male subjects with tumours of the genital tract was examined by gel filtration, radioimmunoassay, immunoradiometric assay, bioassay and binding to Concanavalin A. The predominant form of hCG was the intact molecule but all patients had increased levels of free beta subunit. The intact hCG was active in a mouse Leydig cell bioassay and was normally glycosylated. High concentrations of free alpha subunit were not found and the ratio of alpha subunit: beta subunit was less than that in normal pregnancy. It is concluded that hCG-secreting tumours of the male genital tract are similar to choriocarcinoma in the female in that large quantities of intact hormone are produced with a disproportionate increase in free beta sub-unit.

Adult↗