INTERNET TWINS

• Kimberley & Belinda - Born in USA

• Sold by their mother twice over Internet to a Californian couple & to a British couple who took them home to UK

• Trans Atlantic tug of war in unchartered legal territory

INTERNET TWINS

• Babies separated from British couple under Emergency Protection orders by Police

• US Court ordered custody to Biological Father Aaron Wecker

• British Court ordered Return of Twins to USA on April 1, 2001

SALIVA TEST TO PREDICT ONSET OF LABOUR

• USFDA approves SalEst Test - Estimation of Salivary Estriol

• If Positive at 39 weeks of Gestation 98% go into Labour prior to 42 weeks

• If Negative Intervention is likely

- ACOG Meeting San Francisco 1999

MOXIBUSTION

MOXIBUSTION FOR CORRECTION OF BREECH

• Moxibustion by Moxa rolls (Artemisia Vulgaris) to stimulate Acupoint BL 67 (Zhiyin beside outer corner of 5th toe nail) for 7 days

• Randomised Controlled Trial of 130 Primis at GA33 weeks with USG- confirmed Breech

RESULTS OF TRIAL

Study Control

• Fetal Movements 48.45 36.35• Cephalic at 35 weeks

and at Birth 75.4% 47.7%

-Cardini & Weixin JAMA Nov 1998

ANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROID

THERAPY

Benefits & Risks

BENEFITS

• Enhances Fetal Lung Maturity

• Reduces Risk of Intraventricular Haemorrhage

• Decreases Neonatal Morbidity & Mortality

Meta analysis from 1972 to 1999

ADVERSE EFFECTS

• Maternal Pulmonary Oedema Crowley Am J ObG 1995

• Hypercortism Schmitz et al Am J ObG 1999

• Neonatal Cushing’s Syndrome Bradley et al O&G 1994

• Constriction of Fetal Ductus Arteriosis Azencot et al O&G 1994

• Decreased Fetal Birth Weight in Lambs Jobe et al 1997

DEXA Vs BETAMETHASONE

• Beta reduces Fetal Movements & FHR Variability

• Hence Dexa is preferred in IUGR

• Beta reduces risk of Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia

( Cerebral Palsy )

WHO NEEDS A PERIOD? Cosmopolitan Dec 2000-TIME Nov 2000

• OC Pill widely used ‘Back to Back’ for Period-free Lifestyle

• Depot Provera used likewise• FDA may approve in 2003 ‘SEASONALE’ a

low dose OC taken continuously for 3 months

( 4 periods/year )• ‘Career Pill’ which down regulates ovaries

under research in McGill university

OVARIAN TISSUE TRANSPLANT

• Ms ML Hart lost both ovaries because of cysts & did not tolerate HRT

• Her frozen ovaries when implanted functioned normally

• Superior to Frozen ova?-Newsweek Oct 99

OVARIAN IMPLANT

• Frozen ovary implanted on to the back of ‘Nude’ Mouse

• Ova incubated under the skin and Harvested when needed

-TIME July 2000

DOLLY, POLLY AND NOW

ANDi• Named for ‘Inserted DNA’ spelt backwards• Jelly Fish Gene written into Monkey’s

Chromosome & Fertilized• Like the Jelly Fish ANDi glows in dark under

fluorescent light• Breakthrough in Transgenic Biology• One step closer to Genetically Modified

( GM ) Man

- J Meek Guardian Jan 2001

HUMAN CLONING

“ As revolutionary and as fictitious as it may sound it will be done”

Dr Zavos (USA) & Dr Antinori(ITALY)

• Viable Embryo from Stem Cell will be available for Human Implantation in 18 Months

• 10 Infertile couples have registered

THANK YOU