Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a clinically relevant marker of trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic malignancies. In the present studies, in addition to determining serum hCG, we investigated the presence and properties of hCG immunoreactivity in ascites of patients with nontrophoblastic malignant tumors and, for comparison, in ascites caused by cirrhotic liver disease. Total hCG immunorea...

Leptin, the product of the ob gene, has emerged recently as a pivotal signal in the regulation of fertility. Although the actions of leptin in the control of reproductive function are thought to be exerted mainly at the hypothalamic level, the potential direct effects of leptin at the pituitary and gonadal level have been poorly characterised. In the present study, we first assessed the ability...

Discordance has been reported in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) concentrations measured by different immunoassay kits. We examined the results for 40 serum samples assayed with 10 different hCG immunoassay kits. Results varied considerably. Individual sample results varied by as much as 58-fold. Average results for different kits varied by as much as 1.4-fold for pregnancy (20 samples) and ...

BACKGROUND Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone that exists in multiple forms. Immunoassays commonly used in clinical laboratories measure intact hCG, total beta hCG (intact hCG + hCG free beta-subunit), and/or hCG free beta-subunit. Measurement of serum concentrations of hCG is useful for confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy, diagnosis of trophoblastic...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess whether the cessation of progesterone (P) supplementation during early pregnancy after GnRH antagonist cycles is not inferior to its continuation in terms of pregnancy rates beyond 12 weeks of gestation METHODS There were 200 patients, with a positive β-hCG test (followed by a doubling in β-hCG levels 48 h later) after a fixed recombinant FSH (re...

In addition to the regulation of FSH secretion, it has been clearly shown that inhibin and activin have paracrine/autocrine effects in the gonads. We have studied the effect of human recombinant inhibin A and human recombinant activin A on immature porcine Leydig cells in vitro. Leydig cells were prepared by collagenase digestion of testes from 3-week-old piglets, purified on Percoll gradient, ...

We have studied the concentrations of intact human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and the free hCG beta-subunit in blood samples from singleton pregnancies at risk for habitual or threatened abortion. The samples were obtained weekly between the 6th and 12th weeks and in the 14th and 16th weeks of gestational age. The concentrations of intact hCG, of the free hCG beta-subunit, and of "total" hCG (i.e...

INTRODUCTION AND AIM About 3 million men take testosterone in the United States with many reproductive-age men unaware of the negative impact of testosterone supplementation on fertility. Addressing this population, we provide an early report on the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-based combination therapy in the treatment of a series of men with likely testosterone-related azoospermi...