Academic literature on the topic 'Reproductive medicine not elsewhere classified'

E. covertus is found on bark and leaves of the grey mangrove Avicennia marina, H. foliorum is found on leaves and H. popeiana is found on bark. 7655 barnacles were collected from two sites at Woolooware Bay from winter 1987 to summer 1989. Reproductive and external features in E. covertus differed depending on the substratum on which it lived; reproductive output was greater on leaves than on bark. The genus Hexaminius has been classified elsewhere as two species on the basis of external features and reproductive differences of adults, larval development and larval setation; however, the adults were living on different substrata. A detailed study of larval and juvenile stages of Hexaminius in the field showed no differences in external features until juveniles were one month old and no differences in the time taken to rear cyprid larvae. This suggests that Hexaminius should not continue to be divided into two species.

SummaryThe family registration records from a village population in a small island of Japan are used to assess the effect of demographic differentiation within a population on genetic measures. When the couples studied are classified by birth cohorts and origins, wives of the couples where one spouse came from elsewhere were older at marriage and had a shorter duration of marriage or registration than wives where both spouses were natives of the village. The mean number of offspring is statistically smaller in the former except for the latest cohort, due mainly to out-migration during the reproductive ages which also resulted in low rates of marriage among the offspring within the village. This leads to a small effective population size and an increased likelihood of genetic drift in the overall population.

Osteosarcomas are typically long bone tumors and rarely affect the skull, with most articles reporting single cases. As elsewhere in the body, these lesions may be classified as primary or secondary, chiefly post-Paget and post-radiation therapy. We describe two cases of primary osteosarcoma of skull one presenting with cerebellar symptoms and another with giant skull swelling. Complete evaluation with 64 slice CT and histopathological correlation was carried out.

Introduction: Infertility defined as inability of female to conceive after 12 months (6 months for women above 35 years) of unguarded sexual coitus. It affected about 15% of new couples. Genetic causes contribute about 15-30% of male infertility. Also the infertility can be defined as inability to carry the gestation until giving birth of a live fetus. Infertility can be classified into primary and secondary infertility, also can be classified according to etiological cause into male and female infertility. Conclusion: This review yield the importance of infertility as serious medical problem, affecting the partners life and focus on the important etiological factors affecting the fertile male or female as life style and smocking state in addition to aging, hormonal state, infections and systemic disease, also this review focus on the importance of assisted reproductive technique and its complication.

A whole-arm interchange (IS-IIIL/IL-IIIS) is described from a larval population of Simulium nigricoxum Stone in the Yukon Territory. Although unstudied elsewhere, S. nigricoxum appears to differ from its closest presumed relative, Simulium malyschevi, by the whole-arm interchange, a fixed autosomal inversion in the short arm of the second chromosome, and a sex-linked inversion also in the short arm of the second chromosome. It is possible that the interchange provided a chromosomal basis for reproductive isolation of S. nigricoxum from an ancestral form, but because of its apparent localized distribution that hypothesis must remain tentative.Key words: Simulium nigricoxum, Simulium malyschevi, chromosome interchanges, inversions, reproductive isolation.

Iron is an essential element for the survival of most organisms, including humans. Demand for iron increases significantly during pregnancy to support growth and development of the fetus. Paradoxically, epidemiologic studies have shown that excessive iron intake and/or high iron status can be detrimental to pregnancy and is associated with reproductive disorders ranging from endometriosis to preeclampsia. Reproductive complications resulting from iron deficiency have been reviewed elsewhere. Here, we focus on reproductive disorders associated with iron overload and the contribution of ferroptosis—programmed cell death mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation within cell membranes—using preeclampsia as a model system. We propose that the clinical expressions of many reproductive disorders and pregnancy complications may be due to an underlying ferroptopathy (elemental iron-associated disease), characterized by a dysregulation in iron homeostasis leading to excessive ferroptosis.

<p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Background: </span></strong>Reliable data on mortality and morbidity among women of reproductive age are scarce in India. The present study is the Rajasthan component of a large multi-centric study on cause of death by verbal autopsy conducted in five states of India. The data pertaining to deaths among women of reproductive age are presented. </p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Methods: </span></strong>House-to-house surveys of a representative population from rural and urban areas in six districts of Rajasthan were undertaken by Probability of Proportion to Size (PPS) sampling. Information on death was obtained from the relatives of the deceased and cause of death was assigned using the standardized algorithm prepared for the purpose. International Classification of Diseases - ICD-10 was used to code the assigned cause of death. </p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Results: </span></strong>A total of 231 deaths of women of reproductive age were investigated, of which 36 (16%) were maternal deaths while 195 (84%) were non-maternal deaths. Nine out of ten maternal deaths were in rural area.</p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Conclusions: </span></strong>Certain infectious and parasitic diseases; pregnancy, childbirth and the puerpurium; injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes; and symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified were found to be the major killers among the women of reproductive age. A comprehensive approach that includes in addition to reproductive health interventions, interventions addressing underlying illiteracy among women and social reforms needs to be undertaken. </p><p class="keywords"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Keywords: </span></strong>Maternal deaths, Non-maternal deaths, Women of reproductive age, Verbal autopsy</p>

Malignant gliomas are the commonest primary malignant tumours of the brain and carry a poor prognosis with current treatment modalities. Chemotherapy is an increasingly important treatment option for these turnouts; however response is limited by the development of drug resistance. A study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of providing information about tumour chemosensitivity in vitro by culturing glioma tumour cells in a hospital setting and performing chemnosensitivity assays on them using five common chemotherapeutic agents i.e. Cisplatin, Carmustine, Paclitaxel, Temozolomide and Etoposide. It was found that a successful culture was obtained in roughly half the patients (21/47) where culture was attempted, and in those successful cultures information about drug sensitivity could be provided within 3 weeks. The colorimnetric MTS assay and the luminescent ATP assay were compared for chemosensitivity results and it was found that the ATP assay was more sensitive in that it could detect cell death at lower cell numbers. A wide variation was found in the range of chemosensitivities between known glial cell lines and primary cultures and also between the various primary cultures. De Novo drug resistance was also shown to develop in subsequent subcultures derived from the primary culture. Every tumour is unique phenotypically and genotypically and several factors induding clinical characteristics, radiological features and conventional histology might act as pointers to this uniqueness. Proteins ktown to be associated with drug resistance in other tumours might be contributory to the development of drug resistance in gliomas. Profiles of successfully assayed tumours (nr19) were prepared induding clinical and radiological data, histology, culture characteristics, chemosensitivity data and immunohistochemistry for pglycoprotein (PGP), multiple drug resistance associated protein 1(MRP1), p53, Ki-67 and MGMT proteins. These profiles did not show any correlation between the factors analyzed and chemosensitivity to the five chemotherapeutic agents used. Functional studies of drug efflux pumps PGP and MRPI, performed on 5 cultures using drug efflux assays and confocal microscopy demonstrated no correlation between presence of the proteins on immunostaining and their functional activity.

In the United Kingdom (UK), men face a significantly higher risk of contracting and dying from cancer. Prostate, lung and colorectal cancer are the most common cancers diagnosed in men; with prostate cancer disproportionately affecting black men. Little is known about black African (BA) and black African-Caribbean (BAC) men’s view towards cancer; yet culture and acculturation determine the way in which people understand, explain and develop their attitudes towards cancer. Hence, cancer prevention and early detection strategies may not be sensitive to UK-based black men views, affecting their awareness of risk factors and early detection services. An evidence based understanding about black men’s views towards cancer is needed to effectively target cancer prevention strategies. This qualitative study explored the influence of culture on the views of UK based BA and BAC men towards cancer. In collaboration with black community organisations based in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, 27 participants were recruited. Convenience and theoretical sampling methods were used. Data were collected from June 2013-February 2014 using semi-structured one-to-one interviews. Data were analysed using the grounded theory analytical method. BA and BAC men have their own distinct beliefs concerning the causes of cancer, which influence how they view cancer as a whole. Seven categories: ‘Cultural views’; ‘Religious beliefs’; ‘Avoiding Babylon’; ‘Alienation’; ‘Suspicious mind’; ‘Advertisements and information influence very little’, and ‘Gap in service provision (Bridging the gap)’ were identified as sub-categories revolving around the core category: ‘Cancer through black eyes’. Cancer was not viewed as a purely medical condition through black eyes. Black men’s views towards cancer were closely linked to socially constructed perspectives of themselves, linked with their cultural and religious beliefs; what being black male means in society, the meanings of historical phenomena like slavery, and the meanings they ascribed to social systems and establishments, such as healthcare systems. Clinical risk factors such as smoking and obesity had different meanings and symbolisation through black eyes. There were macro- and micro-level similarities and differences between BA and BAC men. Cancer-related services, such as public-health campaigns, aimed at black men need to be sensitive enough to understand cancer through black eyes. Public health campaigns based on only the clinical meaning of cancer mismatch with black men’s understandings of cancer. Accordingly, the effort made to increase public awareness of cancer and to reduce health inequality in this regard may continue to be ineffective. Findings from this study can be used to inform public health policy makers, and healthcare professionals more broadly, including professionals involved in health promotion, as well as charitable organisations aiming to provide services that will be utilised by BA and BAC men.

A polyphasic study of the population diversity in a collection of Campylobacter jejuni isolates involved in human disease and from animal and environmental sources was undertaken. Isolates were characterised by phenotype, using heat stable antigen serotype, bacteriophage type and biotyping methods. Isolates were also genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of genomic DNA, using a 16S rRNA gene probe, a random-cloned DNA sequence probe, and of the flagellin A gene following amplification by the potymerase chain reaction. A diverse range of polyphasic strain profiles was seen amongst a population of C. jejuni isolates examined from sporadic human infections in the UK over a seven-month period. Associations between gene polymorphisms identified a number of prevalent genotypes and a cluster analysis of RFLP profiles identified a strong relationship between three of these prevalent genotypes. The association of these three genotypes with serogroup and phage-group markers was highly suggestive of clonality within this C. jejuni population. Three hunian pathogenic C. jejuni strains identified by this analysis could be recognised by association with specific Preston phage-groups. A retrospective survey indicated that these phage-groups were responsible for approximately 27% of sporadic cases of C. jejuni infection in the UK. The population diversity amongst sporadic human C. jejuni isolates remained consistent over a seven year period and these three phagegroups were a consistent feature of sporadic C. jejuni infections during this period. Each phage-group demonstrated a distinctly different seasonal distñbution suggesting that the epidemiology of these strains could be different. C. jejuni isolates from poultry samples were also diverse and a significant proportion of these isolates were indistinguishable from human C. jejuni isolates using the same polyphasic strain characteristics. Pathogenic human strains were found in contaminated environments but environmental populations largely contained stains which had not been seen amongst human isolates in this study. One of the strains identified in this study (R4:C8:11S4:flaA-26:PG55: BT6000) was demonstrated to have a global distribution and appears to have a host preference for cattle. In addition this strain was responsible for at least four milkborne outbreaks of (Ljejuni enteritis. Data from this study indicates that this strain may be responsible for up to 5 % of sporadic cases of human enteritis in the United Kingdom each year and that milking cows may be a reservoir for the organism.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major metabolic disorder leading to severe long term complications including cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy that are common in type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a role of hyperglycaemia (HG) in eliciting adverse cardiac and renal outcomes including heart failure (HF), diastolic and renal dysfunction. This study investigated the effect of HG on left ventricle (LV) and kidney structural remodelling, function and underlying molecular events associated with the two organs over a period of 2 and 4 months compared to age-matched control. Methods: Molecular mechanisms underlying HG-induced remodelling changes including extracellular matrix (ECM) and myocyte apoptosis deposition, underlying cytokine induction, recapitulation of foetal genes, and transcriptional alterations that may influence the ECM and intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i handling in the LV and kidney of T1DM as well as T2DM were examined in this study. LV and kidney isolations following 2 and 4 months of the development of T1DM were used to assess the remodelling changes and underlying transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) activity, gene expression profile of the ECM and calcium mediators using histological, immunohistochemical and quantitative gene expression analyses compared to age-matched Wistar control rats. Results: The results show that T1DM over 4 months can elicit severe structural and molecular changes in the LV and the kidney compared to 2 months of DM. The severity of these changes was significantly less in respective healthy age-matched control animals. The isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes from T1DM rats displayed altered cellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and [Ca2+]i translating to alterations in mRNA abundance of key Ca2+ handling proteins, cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), ryanodine receptor (RyR2), Na2+/Ca2+ exchanger, phospholamban (Plb), L-type Ca2+ channel proteins (Cav1.2 and Cav1.3), calmodulin2 (Calm2) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependant protein kinase II delta (CaMK2d) were significantly (p < 0.05) altered in DM compared to age-matched control animals. The results showed LV and kidney remodelling in the T1DM rats with increased ECM deposition that translated into increased gene expressions of key components (collagen 1α, collagen 3α, fibronectin and elastin) and modulators i.e. MMP2 and MMP9 and their tissue inhibitor (TIMP4), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), integrin 5α and connexin 43 (Cx43) of the ECM. Molecular derangements underlying this phenotype included increased TGFβ1 transcription and activity, recapitulation of foetal gene phenotype atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) with marked hypertrophy, underscored by caspase-3 mediated cell apoptosis. Electron microscopic analysis revealed ultrastructural alterations in LV highlighted by increased mitochondrial number and altered mitochondrial population, whereas the kidney presented with increase glomerular basement membrane thickness in T1DM compared to controls. These data clearly show that adult vs young adult, in combination with STZ-induced T1DM, can elicit severe changes to both the heart and the kidney, respectively in structural, functional and biochemical alterations. The final part of the study revealed exercise training after 2-3 months may have beneficial effects in T2DM animals compared to sedentary control rats. Ventricular myocyte and shortening were generally well preserved despite alterations in mRNA gene expression encoding a variety of cardiac muscle proteins in the exercised trained adult GK diabetic rat. LV remodelling in GK rat presented with marked hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and increased ECM deposition that altogether translated into increased ECM components and regulators which were reversed by exercise training. Conclusions: The present results have demonstrated that T1DM, if left untreated, can lead to severe changes to both the heart and the kidney. These changes seem to occur at structural and molecular levels leading to dysfunction of the heart and kidney and the severity of the damage is enhanced over time. Data suggests that diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) may have possible origins in pro-fibrotic and pro-hypertrophic mechanisms. Moreover, this study demonstrates that physical exercise training continues to be one of the most valuable forms of non-pharmacological therapy in DM. Data concerning molecular signalling cascades and ECM phenotype is particularly significant as targeting features of structural remodelling may delay onset and severity of myocardial and renal complications.

The combination of physical and psychosocial factors observed in cystic fibrosis (CF), has the potential to severely impact on the health related quality of life (HRQoL) experienced by adults with CF. To date, FIRQoL has not been systematically assessed in adults with the disease. This is primarily for two reasons; (a) complete testing and validation of an appropriate generic measure for this population has not been conducted and (b) as yet, no disease specific HRQoL for adults with CF has been developed, tested, validated or published. The present work has addressed both of these deficits by testing and validating a generic measure of HRQoL, the short form 36 (SF-36) item questionnaire, and secondly, by addressing the primary aim of developing, testing and validating a disease specific measure of HRQoL for adults with CF. The research achieved a partial validation of the SF-36 although frill validation proved to be equivocal. Structural validation of the measure using principal components analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficients and correlational techniques indicated that the measure was robust. However, discriminatory sensitivity proved problematic, indicating that across some domains, the SF-36 may not be sensitive to differences based on disease severity. The most original and significant achievement of the work has been the development and validation of a disease specific measure for adults with CF, the cystic fibrosis quality of life (CFQoL) questionnaire. Testing has shown the CFQoL to be structurally robust, reliable, discriminatory and also sensitive to transient changes in health status. Furthermore, using correlational techniques, the work has also highlighted the weak relationships between aspects of HRQoL and clinical indicators. In addition, the information gleaned from the CFQoL during the validation process, identified specific problem areas amongst adults with CF that may be amenable to psychosocial interventions, and which have not previously been targeted in the population. This information would fUrther enhance the multidisciplinary approach to treatment of adults with CF, making interventions truly holistic.

Early intervention to promptly identify and treat psychosis limits the duration of untreated psychosis and improves patient outcome. Despite evidence to support efficacy, approximately 50% of young people do not take antipsychotic medication as prescribed. This research was designed to explore factors which may promote and deter teenage adherence with antipsychotic medication. Initially intended as a quantitative study, the research pragmatically shifted to a qualitative design following recruitment difficulties. Narrative inquiry and auto-photography were used to obtain stories from ten young people prescribed antipsychotic medication as a teenager. Participants collected images illustrative of their medication journey, discussing these images and their medication stories at interview. Analysis of data uncovered a metastory of a journey from darkness to brightness. In darkness, symptoms predominated bringing fear, isolation and unpredictability. As medication took effect, stories became brighter evidencing hope, happiness and productivity. Four stories linked to medication adherence emerged; namely endurance, motivation, control and resentment. Underpinning sub-stories included the endurance of resisting symptoms, taking medication long term and dealing with medication side effects. Sub-stories of motivations related to being well, being a ‘normal’ teenager and having a brighter future. Control was evident in the positive choices.

Background There will be approximately four million people living with cancer in the United Kingdom (UK) by 2030. The National Health Service faces a major challenge meeting the support needs of this growing population, who commonly report feeling isolated and lacking social support. Approximately 45 million adults in the UK use the internet, and online communities might be a culturally relevant way to connect people affected by cancer, allowing them to support one another. However, internet communication is fraught with challenges such as misleading or untrustworthy information. We have a limited understanding of how people experience these communities and whether they can provide meaningful support for people affected by cancer. Aims To explore and understand the experiences and interactions of people affected by cancer who visit online cancer communities. Methods This was a qualitative study involving 23 people who had visited online cancer communities. Participants were affected by a range of cancers and were a combination of cancer survivors and families members. Semi-structured interviews elicited participants’ experiences, preferences and perceived consequences of using online communities. Data analysis was guided by principles of Constructivist Grounded Theory. Findings Participants used communities to ‘navigate’ the challenges they faced with cancer. This navigation produced three categories of experience in online communities. Firstly, advice from fellow community members set participants on a ‘journey to become informed’. Secondly, participants were cast into a ‘journey to recreate identity’ as they connected and formed friendships online. Thirdly, participants discovered a ‘journey through different online worlds’ to the most relevant and often hidden social communities. Conclusions This was the first qualitative in-depth study exploring how contemporary online cancer communities are used by people affected by cancer. Online communities offered multifaceted opportunities to support the cancer experience, and they may promote self-management in cancer care. These findings can inform and improve the delivery of existing online communities.

The provision of enteral feeding continues to increase with approximately 20,000 people in the United Kingdom feeding at home. Health care professionals have an ethical duty to recognise and treat malnutrition, though in clinical practice they are often faced with difficult decisions to ensure that the benefits of tube feeding are greater than the burdens; that the provision of a tube feed is in the patient's best interests. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the provision of enteral nutrition via a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) impacts on the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients from the patients' and carers' perspectives. Initially, QoL was measured using the SF36 Health questionnaire. A longitudinal, prospective pilot study was undertaken including clinical and QoL assessments prior to PEG placement, and at one week, one month, three months and six months following PEG insertion. The results of the pilot study of 22 patients clearly demonstrated that the SF-36 was not an appropriate tool for measuring QoL in this patient group. A semi-structured interview approach was developed to determine the concerns relating to PEG feeding and how feeding impacted on QoL. Health care professionals' views were also sought using a postal questionnaire and the results compared to those of patients and carers. These data informed the development of a preliminary QoL assessment tool which involved item generation, item reduction, response scale generation and pre-testing for acceptability and feasibility. Sixteen adult patients, 27 carers of adults and 24 carers of children were interviewed. In general, patients living in their own home viewed their QoL as acceptable. However, the carers of adult patients were less positive about the patients QoL. In contrast, the carers of children frequently reported their child's QoL to be acceptable. The reported impact of feeding on daily and social lives ranged from the PEG feeding being totally disruptive to the PEG having no impact at all. Delayed and disturbed sleep, restricted ability to go out, difficulties finding a place outside the home to feed, childcare problems, the negative attitudes of others towards feeding and family divisions emerged as key issues and concerns. A wide range of feelings towards the PEG feeding including feelings of anger, gratitude, relief and fear were expressed. Healthcare professionals, carers and patients disagreed on key issues of patient and carer involvement in the decision making process, the quantity of information provided prior to PEG placement, appropriateness of patient selection for the procedure and acceptability of QoL. The delivery of patient centred care must be based on appropriate patient selection, decisionmaking, setting of treatment goals for PEG feeding and the evaluation of the impact of treatment. Current generic QoL measures are highly likely to be inappropriate to measure the impact of feeding upon QoL and a validated PEG specific QoL tool is required to measure the impact of PEG feeding upon QoL. A research proposal has been developed to fully validate the tool for use in clinical practice. The impact of PEG feeding on QoL was variable. Although it is recognised that the results are not generalisable to wider populations, the results support increased patient and carer involvement in the decision-making process, more appropriate information, timely explanations of the procedure and flexible care in the community to meet patients' needs.

There is an on-going debate among health professionals, policy-makers and politicians, as to the optimal way of delivering sexual health services to young people. There is as yet, no consensus on their best patterns of organisation or configuration. This study uses qualitative and quantitative research methods, to explore both the views of young people accessing sexual health services, expressed through in-depth interview, and variations in client satisfaction with different characteristics of service delivery, expressed through completion of a questionnaire. The key research questions are:  How does young people’s satisfaction with sexual health services vary with the age-dedication of the service; that is, whether it serves young people only, or all ages?  How does young people’s satisfaction with sexual health services vary with the integration of the service; that is, whether family planning and genito-urinary services are offered separately, or together?  How does young people’s satisfaction with sexual health services vary with the location of the service; that is, in community or hospital based services? In the qualitative component, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 young people recruited from a purposively selected sample of young people’s services. In the survey, a total sample of 1166 was achieved. Of these, 36% were attending an integrated contraceptive and STI service and 64% were attending a more traditional ‘separate’ service. 48% attended a service dedicated to young people and 52% an all-age service. 50% attended a hospital-based service and 50% a service located in the community. Of the total sample, 22% were male and 78% female. The analysis has been done not on a comparison of services in their entirety, but on a comparison of key features of their organisation, that is, whether they are provided separately as contraceptive and STI sessions or services, or whether these aspects of sexual health provision are integrated in sessions or services (integration); on whether they are run exclusively for young people or for all ages (dedication); and on whether they are located in the community or in a hospital setting (location). Recommendations are made for future service development and delivery and implications for policy are discussed.

This PhD provides the first organized view of art therapy education in Australia. It focuses on the theories that are used in this specialized teaching and learning process. It evolved from the authors’ immersion in the field as a migrant art therapy educator to Australia from the UK and a desire to be reflexive on this experience. The research questions aimed to discover the field of art therapy education in Australia: to find out what theories and practices were taught; and where the theoretical influences were coming from, in order to develop understanding of this emerging field. Positioned as a piece of qualitative research a bricolage of methods were used to gather and analyse information from several sources (literature, institutional sources, and key participants, including the author) on the theories and practices of art therapy training programs in Australia. This also included investigating other places in the world shown to be influential (USA and UK). The bricolage approach (McLeod, 2006) included: phenomenology; hermeneutics; semi-structured interviews; practical evaluation (Patton, 1982, 1990/2002); autoethnography (Ellis & Bochner, 2000); heuristic (Moustakas, 1990); and visual methodologies (Kapitan, 2010). These were used to develop a body of knowledge in the form of institution/program profiles, educator profiles, country profiles and an autoethnographic contribution using visual processes. Epistemologically, the project is located in a paradigm of personal knowledge and subjectivity which emphasizes the importance of personal experience and interpretation. The findings contribute knowledge to support the development of art therapy education and the profession in Australia, towards the benefit, health and wellbeing of people in society. The findings show a diverse and multi-layered field of hybrid views and innovative approaches held within seven programs in the public university and private sectors. It was found that theories and practices are closely linked and that theoretical views have evolved from the people who teach the programs, location, professional contexts (health, arts, education, social, community) and the prevailing views within these contexts, which are driven by greater economic, socio-political forces and neo-liberal agendas. The university programs generally teach a range of the major theories of psychotherapy underpinned with a psychodynamic or humanistic perspective. Movement towards a more integrative and eclectic approach was found. This was linked to being part of more general masters programs and economic forces. The private sector programs are more distinctly grounded in a particular theoretical perspective or philosophical view. Key words distilled from the profiles included: conflict, transpersonal, survival through art, pedagogy, epistemology, theory driven by context and mental health. Important issues for art therapy education were identified as: the position and emphasis on art; working with the therapy/education tension; the gender imbalance in the profession; Indigenous perspectives; intercultural issues and difference. The horizons of the field revealed the importance of developing the profile of the profession, reconciling differences towards a more inclusive view and the growth of research. A trend towards opportunities in the social, education and community areas was found, driven by the increasing presence of discourses on arts and wellness.

This introductory chapter provides an outline of the structure and themes of the book, and describes how I became interested in this topic—through both personal and professional experiences. The chapter presents a brief overview of infertility and several assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), including new technologies (e.g., gene editing and CRISPR) and their history; recent statistics on use of these interventions in the United States and elsewhere; several relevant current policies, guidelines, and recent legal cases in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere (e.g., from the FDA, CDC, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine [ASRM]) pertaining to sale and purchase of so-called third-party gametes (i.e., human eggs and sperm); costs and insurance coverage; ethical issues posed by ARTs (e.g., regarding eugenics); and other aspects of these treatments. The chapter also provides an overview of the qualitative methods used in the research that forms a basis of the book.