OBJECTIVE: To measure Irish opinion on a range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of Irish adults (n=1,003) were anonymously sampled by telephone survey. RESULTS: Most participants (77%) agreed that any fertility services offered internationally should also be available in Ireland, although only a small minority of the general Irish population had personal familiarity with AHR or infertility. This sample finds substantial agreement (63%) that the Government of Ireland should introduce legislation covering AHR. The range of support for gamete donation in Ireland ranged from 53% to 83%, depending on how donor privacy and disclosure policies are presented. For example, donation where the donor agrees to be contacted by the child born following donation, and anonymous donation where donor privacy is completely protected by law were supported by 68% and 66%, respectively. The least popular (53%) donor gamete treatment type appeared to be donation where the donor consents to be involved in the future life of any child born as a result of donor fertility treatment. Respondents in social class ABC1 (58%), age 18 to 24 (62%), age 25 to 34 (60%), or without children (61%) were more likely to favour this donor treatment policy in our sample. CONCLUSION: This is the first nationwide assessment of Irish public opinion on the advanced reproductive technologies since 2005. Access to a wide range of AHR treatment was supported by all subgroups studied. Public opinion concerning specific types of AHR treatment varied, yet general support for the need for national AHR legislation was reported by 63% of this national sample. Contemporary views on AHR remain largely consistent with the Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction recommendations from 2005, although further research is needed to clarify exactly how popular opinion on these issues has changed. It appears that legislation allowing for the full range of donation options (and not mandating disclosure of donor identity at a stipulated age) would better align with current Irish public opinion.
Adult ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Disclosure ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Ireland ; Jurisprudence ; Privacy ; Public Opinion* ; Public Policy ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Reproduction* ; Reproductive Techniques ; Social Class ; Telephone ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of repeated botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) injections for patients with drug-refractory nonneurogenic overactive bladder (NNOAB) and explore factors predictive of outcome. METHODS: Data were collected from all patients receiving repeated BTX-A injections for drug-refractory NNOAB between 2004 and 2012. Trigone-sparing injections were administered under sedation with antibiotic prophylaxis. Patient characteristics including age, sex, preoperative urodynamics, injection number, BTX-A dose, complications, and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) scores were collected. Correlations between patient factors and outcomes were assessed by using Pearson's chi-square tests. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with a mean age of 67.4 years (range, 26-93 years) received 140 BTX-A injections in total; 33 (64%), 15 (29%), and 4 patients (7%) received 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 8 injections, respectively. Mean follow-up time was 49 months (range, 9-101 months). Nine patients developed urinary tract infection; additionally, 3 patients experienced transient urinary retention. Median PGI-I score was 2 out of 7 (interquartile range [IQR], 2). For 46 patients, the PGI-I score remained stable with the administration of each injection. Pearson chi-square tests revealed that male patients or reduced bladder compliance was associated with a higher (worse) PGI-I score. Median PGI-I scores for men and women were 3 (IQR, 1) and 2 (IQR, 1), respectively; additionally, median PGI-I scores for those with normal bladder compliance and those with reduced bladder compliance were 2 (IQR, 2) and 4.5 (IQR, 1), respectively. Median PGI-I scores and complication rates were the same in the older patient (≥70 years) and younger (<70 years) patient cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy is maintained with repeated BTX-A injections. Patients including the elderly show a good degree of tolerability with a low complication rate. Male patients or reduced bladder compliance is associated with poorer outcomes.
Aged ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Cohort Studies ; Compliance ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urodynamics

Purpose: To investigate the differences in the colon microbiota composition of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) patients with and without a history of postoperative Hirschsprung's associated enterocolitis (HAEC). Methods: Colon tissue microbiota was characterized by bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and 16S rDNA sequencing for taxonomic classification and comparison. Results: The sequence diversity richness within samples was significantly higher in samples from patients with a history of postoperative HAEC. We observed an increased relative abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria in HAEC patients and Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in HSCR patients and, an increased relative abundance of the genera Dolosigranulum, Roseouria and Streptococcus in HAEC patients and Propionibacterium and Delftia in HSCR patients. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence that the colon tissue microbiota composition is different in HSCR patients with and without postoperative HAEC.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in the colon microbiota composition of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) patients with and without a history of postoperative Hirschsprung's associated enterocolitis (HAEC). Methods: Colon tissue microbiota was characterized by bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and 16S rDNA sequencing for taxonomic classification and comparison. Results: The sequence diversity richness within samples was significantly higher in samples from patients with a history of postoperative HAEC. We observed an increased relative abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria in HAEC patients and Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in HSCR patients and, an increased relative abundance of the genera Dolosigranulum, Roseouria and Streptococcus in HAEC patients and Propionibacterium and Delftia in HSCR patients. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence that the colon tissue microbiota composition is different in HSCR patients with and without postoperative HAEC.