W R Jones’s research while affiliated with Flinders Medical Centre and other places

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was estimated by radioreceptor assay (RRA), and beta hCG and pregnancy-specific beta 1 glycoprotein(SP-1) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 48 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopy for suspected ectopic pregnancy. Twenty patients subsequently proven to have ectopic pregnancy had positive results for RIA-beta hCG, but RRA-hCG and SP-1 were negative in 3. Twenty-one nonpregnant patients had negative results for RRA-hCG and RIA-beta hCG, but one had a positive result with SP-1. Seven patients with intrauterine pregnancy had positive results in all 3 assays.

: Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was estimated by radioreceptor assay (RRA), and βhCC and pregnancy-specific β1, glycoprotein(SP-1) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 48 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopy for suspected ectopic pregnancy. Twenty patients subsequently proven to have ectopic pregnancy had positive results for RIA-βhCG, but RRA-hCG and SP-1 were negative in 3. Twenty-one nonpregnant patients had negative results for RRA-hCG and RIA-βhCG, but one had a positive result with SP-1. Seven patients with intrauterine pregnancy had positive results in all 3 assays.

Pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP-1) was measured by radioimmunoassay in patients admitted to the hospital with a clinical diagnosis of hemorrhage in early pregnancy. The results were compared with a normal range and were analyzed for their predictive value in determining prognosis. Six of the total study goup of 54 patients were subsequently proved not to be pregnant and had SP-1 levels below 10 microgram/L, the lower limit of sensitivity for pregnancy detection. Twenty-nine patients had SP-1 levels below the normal range for pregnancy and all had an abnormal outcome (ectopic pregnancy or abortion). The SP-1 level was normal in 29 cases, of which 10 had an abnormal outcome and 19 continued normally beyond the twentieth gestational week. Low SP-1 levels were found in all of the abnormal and none of the continuing pregnancies and may be taken as predictive of an unsuccessful outcome.

Three methods were compared for the assay of pregnancy specific beta 1 glycoprotein (SP-1): radical immunodiffusion (RID), electroimmunodiffusion (EID) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). There was a significant correlation between EID and RIA. A lower, but still significant correlation was found between EID and RID, but wide discrepancies were seen in some cases. This finding suggests heterogeneity of SP-1 molecule(s). The data indicate that EID is the method of choice for assay of SP-1 after the tenth week of pregnancy, while the more sensitive RIA should be reserved for use before that stage.

: Three methods were compared for the assay of pregnancy specific β1 glycoprotein (SP-1): radial immunodiffusion (RID), electroimmunodiffusion (EID) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). There was a significant correlation between EID and RIA. A lower, but still significant correlation was found between EID and RID, but wide discrepancies were seen in some cases. This finding suggests heterogeneity of SP-1 molecule(s). The data indicate that EID is the method of choice for assay of SP-1 after the tenth week of pregnancy, while the more sensitive RIA should be reserved for use before that stage.

Plasma prostaglandin F (PGF) was measured by a radioimmunoassay method in 24 subjects with tumours of the female genital tract. Levels in the tumour group ranged from 25 pg/ml to 134 pg/ml and were almost all greater than the values observed in a control group of 41 healthy women who had a mean (+/-SD) level of 21 (+/-3.4)pg/ml. There was a relationship between plasma PGF levels and the stage of the disease. Patients with resectable tumours showed a fall in PGF levels postoperatively and those with disseminated malignancy demonstrated increasing levels as the disease progressed. Plasma PGF may provide a clinical prognostic marker in the management of patients with malignant tumours.