PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Gulam Bahadur

Publications and source records attributed to Gulam Bahadur.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Parliamentary proposals for liberal approaches to assisted conception.

This paper summarizes the 2005 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which considered the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in the light of new developments in IVF and embryo research. It considers the report's recommendations as to future legislation concerning the legal status of the embryo, and regarding which forms of embryos should be used for reproductive purposes. It discusses the suggestion that the current obligation to consider the welfare of the child is unhelpful and that the case has not been made against using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for sex selection. It examines the report's recommendations concerning reform of the HFEA in the areas of its composition, inspection and licensing processes, and the suggestion that it make data on the uptake and success of IVF more readily available and encourage research into its social impact. It considers issues such as whether the HFEA has exceeded its remit and the need to compare international regulatory models and IVF practice. It explores the conflict the inquiry saw between the HFEA's role as regulator and policy maker, the recommendation that it merge its policy function with the Human Genetics Commission, and that a greater role be allotted to Parliament to consider the ethical dimension of new developments, while clinical decisions and technical standards are devolved to patients and practitioners.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2003

Cytogenetic and Y chromosome microdeletion screening of a random group of infertile males.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether to perform routine cytogenetic and Y chromosome microdeletion screening on all infertile male patients. DESIGN: A cytogenetic and Y microdeletion study of a random group of infertile men. SETTING: University department. PATIENT(S): In total, 40 patients had azoospermia (21 nonidiopathic), 27 had severe oligozoospermia/oligoasthenozoospermia (<or=5 x 10(6)/mL) (5 nonidiopathic), 20 had oligozoospermia/oligoasthenozoospermia (5-20 x 10(6)/mL) (6 nonidiopathic), and 16 had asthenozoospermia (5 nonidiopathic). Many were candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). INTERVENTION(S): Collection of blood samples from all patients and buccal cells from one patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Karyotype analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for Y chromosome microdeletions, and fluorescence in situ hybridization of abnormal chromosomes. RESULT(S): Ten (9.7%) subjects, including one nonidiopathic patient, were found to have an abnormal karyotype. Two idiopathic azoospermic patients were missing large portions of Y chromosome euchromatin, confirmed by PCR analysis and an additional idiopathic azoospermic patient had a Y chromosome microdeletion. CONCLUSION(S): Routine cytogenetic analysis of all infertile male patients is required but it may be advisable to limit routine Y chromosome microdeletion screening to patients with severe male factor infertility (<or=5 x 10(6)/mL).

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed2001

Definitions of human fertilization and preimplantation growth revisited.

Assisted reproductive techniques and the science of embryology have advanced rapidly over the last decades. The fact that social and moral objectives vary from country to country has resulted in differences not only in legislation, but also in the definition of embryological terms. Among the latest additions to the field has been nuclear transfer technology, which has led to concerns about the possibilities of human cloning. These facts call for a review of gametogenesis and early embryogenesis. The aim of the present paper is to initiate a discussion on terminology with a view to reaching a consensus. As a starting point definitions are proposed for the most important terms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Cancer patients, gametes, gonadal tissue, and the UK legal status.

With advances in reproductive technologies, there are new opportunities for preservation of fertility potential for cancer patients receiving damaging treatment regimens. These include cryopreservation of gonadal tissue and maturing germ cells. These developments were not envisaged in the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Complex legal interpretations have followed in deciding which techniques come under statutory remit of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, and whether a licence is necessary to conduct such activities. The decisions have depended on the legal definition of the gamete and the fact that substituted consent within the Act 1990 is specifically disallowed. In our analyses we believe several areas require further explanation or improvement: the definition relating to the oocyte, its applicability to ovarian tissue, a pre-Tanner stage 2 patient whose immature spermatozoa may satisfy the definition of gamete, and the legal mechanism of substituting consent which may allow the unregulated use of frozen gonadal tissue or germ cells for procreation in future years. In a recent development it appears that gonadal tissue may come under a 'tissue specific body' and not the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. It makes sense from the standpoint of patient welfare and the limited public and clinical resources, to place under one regulatory body all biological material where the ultimate aim is human procreation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Pregnancy and miscarriage rates in 3978 donor insemination cycles: effect of age, parity and partner's infertility status on pregnancy outcome.

The effects of age, parity and male infertility status on pregnancy outcome were studied in a cohort of 720 women receiving donor insemination (DI) treatment. Twenty-two percent of women failed to complete the treatment, leaving 562 women receiving 3202 cycles of DI for assessment. Of the 321 of pregnancies achieved, 57 (17.8%) ended in a miscarriage. After further DI treatments, 64.7% of mothers who had miscarried succeeded in giving birth. There was some evidence to indicate a trend of decreasing pregnancy rate with increasing maternal age, although this result was not significant (log rank trend statistics = 3.44, P > 0.05). The pregnancy rates of multiparous and primiparous women were significantly different, irrespective of their partner's infertility status (azoospermia: log rank statistics = 3.74, P less-than-or-eq, slant 0.05; oligozoospermia: log rank statistics = 4.71, P < 0.03). Furthermore, multiparous women were more likely to become pregnant than primiparous women (azoospermia: hazard ratio = 1.29; oligozoospermia: hazard ratio = 1.50). There was no significant association between miscarriage rate and maternal age (log rank trend statistics = 0.99, P > 0.05). The small number of older women (> 35 years) may confound this result. The mean (plus minus SD) sperm donor age was 23.6 years (plus minus 3.5 years). The implications of these observations are discussed.

Journal Article↗