Nabil Aziz
University of Liverpool, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty Member
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Flow Cytometry, Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, Humans, Reactive Oxygen Species, and 14 moreFertility and Sterility, Male, Sterilization, Clinical Sciences, Hydrogen Peroxide, Density gradient, Human Spermatozoa, Public health systems and services research, Necrosis, Spermatozoa, Cell Survival, Sperm Quality, Oxidants, and Phosphate Buffer Saline
To provide an inexpensive and extensive in vitro fertilization (IVF) service for the Mersey Region, United Kingdom. Twenty-four transport IVF patients treated in two district general hospitals using the central university laboratory as... more
To provide an inexpensive and extensive in vitro fertilization (IVF) service for the Mersey Region, United Kingdom. Twenty-four transport IVF patients treated in two district general hospitals using the central university laboratory as co-ordination point for treatment schedule and embryology. Outcomes were compared with 26 control patients treated in the central unit. Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a central IVF unit, and two district general hospitals in the Mersey Region. Fifty patients under 35 years of age with irreversible tubal damage selected and treated by IVF, half in the central unit and the other half in two district general hospitals. Pregnancy rate (PR) in the different centers. A PR of 42.3% per cycle in the peripheral hospitals compared with 30.7% per cycle in the central unit. Transport IVF is an inexpensive and feasible alternative to standard IVF in a central unit for patients without access to central units.
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A prospective randomized trial was performed to evaluate the necessity of follicular flushing during transvaginal, ultrasonically guided oocyte recovery under mild sedation. Patients with tubal damage as the sole cause of their... more
A prospective randomized trial was performed to evaluate the necessity of follicular flushing during transvaginal, ultrasonically guided oocyte recovery under mild sedation. Patients with tubal damage as the sole cause of their infertility were randomized into one of two groups. Group one had their follicles aspirated only. Follicles of patients in Group 2 were aspirated and flushed with a total of 10 ml of flushing medium. There was no significant difference in the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate or pregnancy rate in each group. There was, however, a significant shortening of operating time in the aspiration only group.
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To evaluate a novel expression of sperm morphological parameters, the sperm deformity index, as a predictor of fertilization in vitro. Prospective blind clinical trial. Academic tertiary referral center. Detailed sperm morphological... more
To evaluate a novel expression of sperm morphological parameters, the sperm deformity index, as a predictor of fertilization in vitro. Prospective blind clinical trial. Academic tertiary referral center. Detailed sperm morphological assessment applying strict morphological criteria and a multiple entry technique for an unselected male population undergoing IVF. The sperm deformity index, defined as the average number of deformities per sperm assessed, was calculated. One hundred fifty-eight patients undergoing IVF treatment. Females with conditions negatively influencing fertilization were excluded. Fertilization rates and pregnancy. Seventy-three percent of patients achieved fertilization. Patients achieving fertilization had a significantly higher median proportion of normal forms and a significantly lower median sperm deformity index than the nonfertilizers. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves identified cutoff points that maximized the sum of sensitivity and specif...
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Forecasting, Fertility, Treatment Outcome, Prospective studies, Pregnancy, and 16 moreHumans, Fertility and Sterility, Female, Male, Clinical Sciences, Fertilization, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Fertilization in Vitro, Spermatozoa, Sperm Motility, Oocytes, Sperm Count, Reference Values, Predictive value of tests, and Pregnancy Outcome
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Nonparametric Statistics, Clinical Trial, Fertility, Logistic Regression, Prospective studies, and 15 moreHumans, Fertility and Sterility, Female, In Vitro Fertilization, Male, Premature Ejaculation, Prediction Model, Morphometric Analysis, Clinical Sciences, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Indexation, Semen, Logistic Models, and Video Recording
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A hot-flush is characterised by feelings of intense heat, profuse elevations in cutaneous vasodilation and sweating, and reduced brain blood flow. Exercise training reduces self-reported hot-flush severity, but underpinning physiological... more
A hot-flush is characterised by feelings of intense heat, profuse elevations in cutaneous vasodilation and sweating, and reduced brain blood flow. Exercise training reduces self-reported hot-flush severity, but underpinning physiological data are lacking. We hypothesised that exercise training attenuates the changes in cutaneous vasodilation, sweat rate and cerebral blood flow during a hot flush. In a preference trial, 18 symptomatic post-menopausal women underwent a passive heat stress to induce hot-flushes at baseline and follow-up. Fourteen participants opted for a 16-week moderate intensity supervised exercise intervention, while 7 participants opted for control. Sweat rate, cutaneous vasodilation, blood pressure, heart rate and middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) were measured during the hot-flushes. Data were binned into eight equal segments, each representing 12.5% of hot flush duration. Weekly self-reported frequency and severity of hot flushes were also recorded at basel...
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Obstetrics, Flow Cytometry, Fertility, Humans, Chemiluminescence, and 15 moreFertility and Sterility, Male, Semen Analysis, Clinical Sciences, Hydrogen Peroxide, Human Spermatozoa, Gynecology, Public health systems and services research, Superoxide, Reproducibility of Results, Spermatozoa, Sensitivity and Specificity, Superoxide Anion, Anion, and Superoxides
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Aims/Objectives Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile coupled with ~2 fold increased risk of coronary artery disease. Limited research exists regarding the... more
Aims/Objectives Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile coupled with ~2 fold increased risk of coronary artery disease. Limited research exists regarding the cardiometabolic effects of exercise in PCOS, and its impact on endothelial function, an early indicator of CVD risk, has not been explored. We hypothesised that an exercise intervention would improve endothelial function and reduce adiposity in PCOS compared with clinical conventional care. Methods PCOS women completed a 16-week supervised exercise program (n=10, age 27±2yrs, BMI 31±2kg/m2) or a 16-week period of conventional care (n=6, age 29±3yrs, BMI 35±2kg/m2). Brachial artery endothelial function was assessed using flow mediated dilation (FMD). Abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue was determined via whole body magnetic resonance imaging and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy quantified hepatic fat. Following the interventions all a...
Background and aims: Females with PCOS are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent reports suggest that endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of CVD, measured using the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) is evident in... more
Background and aims: Females with PCOS are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent reports suggest that endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of CVD, measured using the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) is evident in PCOS patients. Nevertheless, the supporting evidence remains equivocal, potentially due to differences in obesity and/or insulin resistance which are associated with increased CVD risk and also manifest in PCOS. The aim of this study was to examine the degree to which obesity moderates endothelial function in PCOS patients and controls using a formal meta-analytical approach. Materials and methods: A systematic review of published studies comparing endothelial function in PCOS patients to control individuals was performed. Nine published and 1 recent unpublished study (PCOS n=621; control n=297 participants) that measured endothelial-dependent FMD were included. At whole study level PCOS patient demographics included age range of 22.7-35.2 yrs and BMI ...
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PURPOSE Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has an adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile which infers a ~2 fold increased risk of coronary artery disease. It remains unclear as to whether endothelial dysfunction is evident in... more
PURPOSE Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has an adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile which infers a ~2 fold increased risk of coronary artery disease. It remains unclear as to whether endothelial dysfunction is evident in PCOS independently, or if co-existing morbidities are independent risk factors for endothelial function in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between endothelial function, adiposity and fitness in PCOS patients compared with matched control women. METHODS PCOS (n=35, age 27±1 yrs, BMI 32±1 kg/m2) and control women (n=15, age 31±1 yrs, BMI 29±2 kg/m2) were matched for age and BMI. Brachial artery endothelial function was assessed using flow mediated dilation (FMD). Visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous fat (SAT) was quantified using whole body magnetic resonance imaging. Cardiorespiratory fitness was also determined by a VO2peak test. Differences between PCOS and control women were analysed using independent t-tests a...
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This study examined the relationship between demographic features and aetiological causes of male infertility. Primary infertility was the presentation in 78% of patients. The incidence of varicocele was the highest (31%), whereas only... more
This study examined the relationship between demographic features and aetiological causes of male infertility. Primary infertility was the presentation in 78% of patients. The incidence of varicocele was the highest (31%), whereas only 4.6% had vasectomy reversal and 7.4% of men were diagnosed with idiopathic infertility. Using the chi-squared test, there was no significant difference in the incidence of different causes of infertility among different ethnic groups (White, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and other). Furthermore, there was no increased incidence of infertility aetiology with any particular occupation, race, religion, smoking or alcohol intake. In this study population, there was no association between the various risk factors (occupation, smoking, alcohol intake, and race) and the aetiologies of infertility. The proportion of patients diagnosed with idiopathic infertility was significantly less than reported in the literature.
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Urology, Brazil, Risk assessment, Pregnancy, Humans, and 17 moreFemale, Male, Young Adult, Semen Analysis, Incidence, Male Infertility, Clinical Sciences, Middle Aged, Adult, World Health Organization, Age Factors, Risk Assessment, Semen, Varicocele, Sperm Count, Reference Values, and Reference Value
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, England, Insulin Resistance, Humans, and 10 moreFemale, Body Composition, Confidence intervals, Exercise, Vascular endothelium, Physical Fitness, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Adult, Medicine and Science In Sports and Exercise, and Brachial artery
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Obesity, Skeletal muscle biology, Insulin Resistance, Adipose tissue, Humans, and 15 moreLiver, Female, Body Composition, non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Risk factors, Phenotype, Clinical Sciences, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Prevalence, Fatty Liver, Adult, Risk Factors, Hyperandrogenism, Cross Sectional Studies, and Case Control Studies
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Infertility, Peroxidase, Prospective studies, Pregnancy, Humans, and 14 moreReactive Oxygen Species, Fertility and Sterility, Female, Male, Male Infertility, Clinical Sciences, Public health systems and services research, Indexation, Semen, Spermatozoa, Sperm Motility, Reference Values, SPERM MORPHOLOGY, and Leukocytes
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Obstetrics, Flow Cytometry, Fertility, Humans, Chemiluminescence, and 15 moreFertility and Sterility, Male, Semen Analysis, Clinical Sciences, Hydrogen Peroxide, Human Spermatozoa, Gynecology, Public health systems and services research, Superoxide, Reproducibility of Results, Spermatozoa, Sensitivity and Specificity, Superoxide Anion, Anion, and Superoxides
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Obstetrics, Flow Cytometry, Morphology, Enzyme Inhibitors, Oxidative Stress, and 23 moreApoptosis, Humans, Fertility and Sterility, Male, SDI, Semen Analysis, Index, Clinical Sciences, Caspase, Hydrogen Peroxide, Apoptose, Gynecology, Public health systems and services research, Cell Shape, Cleavage, Indexation, Spermatozoa, Staurosporine, SPERM MORPHOLOGY, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Oxidants, Benzamides, and DNA fragmentation
ABSTRACT Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and elevated hepatic fat. This adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile is associated with ~2 fold increased risk of coronary... more
ABSTRACT Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and elevated hepatic fat. This adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile is associated with ~2 fold increased risk of coronary artery disease. Limited research exists regarding the cardiometabolic effects of exercise in PCOS, and its impact on endothelial function, an early indicator of CVD risk, has not been explored. We hypothesised that PCOS patients would exhibit decreased endothelial function when compared to matched controls and that an exercise intervention would improve endothelial function in PCOS. PCOS (n=9, age 27±2 yrs, BMI 30±2 kg/m2) and control (n=9, age 27±2 yrs, BMI 29±2 kg/m2) subjects were matched for age and BMI. Brachial artery endothelial function was assessed using flow mediated dilation (FMD). Anthropometric data and cardiorespiratory fitness was also assessed. All PCOS women completed a 16-week supervised exercise program (93% exercise compliance), after which all assessments were repeated. Differences between PCOS and controls, and changes with exercise in the PCOS group were analysed using t-tests. Data are presented as mean±SE. FMD was impaired in PCOS compared to controls (7.1±1.1 vs 11.8±1.1%; P=0.02). FMD improved following exercise training (7.1±1.1 vs 10.3±0.8%; P=0.04). Cardiorespiratory fitness improved by 4.7 ml.kg-1.min-1 (P=0.01) and waist circumference tended towards a reduction (98.2±4.5 vs 94.1±5.5 cm; P=0.09). Favourable effects were observed in BMI and body mass; however these reductions were not statistically significant. The novel finding of this study is that impaired endothelial function in PCOS patients can be improved by 45% with an exercise intervention. These data suggest that the utilisation of exercise as a non-pharmacological management strategy has therapeutic effects on CVD risk in this high risk patient group.
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Research Interests:
Flow Cytometry, Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, Humans, Reactive Oxygen Species, and 14 moreFertility and Sterility, Male, Sterilization, Clinical Sciences, Hydrogen Peroxide, Density gradient, Human Spermatozoa, Public health systems and services research, Necrosis, Spermatozoa, Cell Survival, Sperm Quality, Oxidants, and Phosphate Buffer Saline
Oxidative stress occurs during strenuous physical exercise, perhaps as a result of increased consumption of oxygen. In this study, different markers of oxidative stress were determined in eight national league American football players.... more
Oxidative stress occurs during strenuous physical exercise, perhaps as a result of increased consumption of oxygen. In this study, different markers of oxidative stress were determined in eight national league American football players. Before (March) and at three time-points during the competition season (May, June, July) serum total peroxide concentrations, auto-antibody titres against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oLab), and lag time of reactive oxygen species-induced degradation of the fluorophore 1-palmitoyl-2-((2-(4-(6-phenyl-trans-1,3,5-hexatrienyl)phenyl)ethyl)- carbonyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPHPC) were measured along with serum ascorbate, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, and beta-carotene concentrations. Before the competition season, serum antioxidant concentrations were within the lower normal range; ascorbate concentrations increased significantly during the competition period (P < 0.05). Serum peroxide concentrations were within the normal range and increased significantly during the competition period (P < 0.05); in four of the eight subjects the increase was several times the baseline values, while four athletes did not show any increase. The oLab titres increased significantly at the mid-competition period time-point (P < 0.01), but levelled off thereafter. Given that it could not be predicted from the baseline oxidative stress and antioxidant status which subject would respond to strenuous exercise with an increase in oxidative stress status, it is concluded that oxidative stress should be monitored in all athletes.