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Azmat Riaz
- Clinical Assistant Professor
- Ext: 5326
I am a GMC and DHA-licensed Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. I have worked as a clinician in Pakistan, United Kingdom and UAE. I am a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK (MRCOG) and a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (FCPS). I have the unique privilege of being filmed on the BBC in 2020 for a medical documentary while doing a complex obstetric procedure in the UK. I am a recipient of President of Pakistan's award for academic excellence. I also hold an MPhil degree from the University of Sydney, Australia. My main area of research interest is immune cell changes in female infertility. I have published and presented my research work at international forums.
Education
- FCPS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan)
- MRCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, UK
- M.Phil (University of Sydney, Australia)
- M.Med (Reproductive Health and Human Genetics), Sydney Medical School, Australia
- M.B.B.S (University of Health Sciences, Pakistan)
FCPS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan)
MRCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, UK
M.Phil (University of Sydney, Australia)
M.Med (Reproductive Health and Human Genetics), Sydney Medical School, Australia
M.B.B.S (University of Health Sciences, Pakistan)
Experience
- Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dubai
- Clinical Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
- Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan Health Services, Pakistan
- Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government of Pakistan
Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dubai
Clinical Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan Health Services, Pakistan
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government of Pakistan
Teaching Area
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Reproductive Health
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Reproductive Health
Research
- Immune cell changes in female infertility
- Reproductive Health
- Gynaecological cancer screening
Immune cell changes in female infertility
Reproductive Health
Gynaecological cancer screening
Publications
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Circulating and Endometrial Regulatory T Cell and Related Populations in Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis Is Associated with Blunting of Endometrial Cyclical Effects and Reduced Proportions in Moderate-Severe Disease. A J Hey-Cunningham, A Riaz , P D Fromm , F Kupresanin , R Markham 1, H M McGuire. Reprod Sci . 2021
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Dendritic cells and impaired immune tolerance in infertility. C. Wong, A. Riaz, M. Berbic, D Hart, P.D. Fromm, F Kupresanin, R.P.S. Jansen, R. Markham, I.S. Fraser, A.J. Hey-Cunningham. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.
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JournalFatme Al Anouti, Luai A. Ahmed, Azmat Riaz, William B. Grant, Nadir Shah, Raghib Ali , Juma Alkaabi, and Syed M. Shah , Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates, Nutrients, Mar 2022
Circulating and Endometrial Regulatory T Cell and Related Populations in Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis Is Associated with Blunting of Endometrial Cyclical Effects and Reduced Proportions in Moderate-Severe Disease. A J Hey-Cunningham, A Riaz , P D Fromm , F Kupresanin , R Markham 1, H M McGuire. Reprod Sci . 2021
Evidence to date supports regulatory T cell (Treg) alterations in endometriosis; however, the relationship remains unclear and Tregs have not previously been investigated with respect to infertility in endometriosis. This prospective cross-sectional cohort study details circulating and endometrial tissue specific disturbances in Tregs and broader gated populations in women of reproductive age with and without endometriosis (n = 57 and 29 respectively) using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Participants were characterised by menstrual cycle phase, r- ASRM endometriosis disease stage and fertility status. In the endometrium of women with endometriosis, endometrial Tregs and CD4+ lymphocyte proportions did not change between the proliferative and secretory phases, while in women without the disease, they significantly decreased (p = 0.045 and p = 0.039, respectively). In women with endometriosis, endometrial Tregs were lower than in women without endometriosis overall (p = 0.050 as a proportion of all CD45+ immune cells). We have shown for the first time that proportions of CD4+ lymphocytes (p = 0.021), overall lymphocytes (p = 0.034), and non-granulocytes (p = 0.027) were significantly decreased in the endometrium of women with moderate-severe (r-ASRM stages III and IV) compared to minimal-mild (r-ASRM stages I and II) endometriosis. During the secretory phase, circulating Treg proportions were significantly increased in infertile compared to fertile women (p = 0.049). This study confirms differences in endometrial Tregs in women with endometriosis, with blunting of normal menstrual cyclical variations, reduced proportions during the proliferative phase and disease stage-specific relationships.
About the journal
Dendritic cells and impaired immune tolerance in infertility. C. Wong, A. Riaz, M. Berbic, D Hart, P.D. Fromm, F Kupresanin, R.P.S. Jansen, R. Markham, I.S. Fraser, A.J. Hey-Cunningham. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.
About the journal
Fatme Al Anouti, Luai A. Ahmed, Azmat Riaz, William B. Grant, Nadir Shah, Raghib Ali , Juma Alkaabi, and Syed M. Shah , Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates, Nutrients, Mar 2022
Vitamin D is important for bone health, and vitamin D deficiency could be linked to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated risk factors among female migrants from Philippines, Arab, and South Asian countries residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We used a cross-sectional study to recruit a random sample (N = 550) of female migrants aged 18 years and over in the city of Al Ain, UAE. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ≤20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. The mean age of participants was 35 years (SD ± 10). The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 67% (95% CI 60–73%), with the highest rate seen in Arabs (87%), followed by South Asians (83%) and the lowest in Filipinas (15%). Multivariate analyses showed that low physical activity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.59; 95% CI 1.98, 10.63), having more than 5 years duration of residence in the UAE (aOR = 4.65; 95% CI: 1.31, 16.53) and being obese (aOR = 3.56; 95% CI 1.04, 12.20) were independently associated with vitamin D deficiency, after controlling for age and nationality. In summary, vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among female migrants, especially Arabs and South Asians. It is crucial that health professionals in the UAE become aware of this situation among this vulnerable subpopulation and provide intervention strategies aiming to rectify vitamin D deficiency by focusing more on sun exposure, physical activity, and supplementation.
About the journal
Conference Presentation
- Roles of Regulatory T cells in Endometriosis-associated infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic
- Maternal Health: Challenges and opportunities in a developing country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Is it curable?, Three-minute talk competition. The University of Sydney, Australia
- T cell disturbances are associated with female infertility. RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India
- Dysregulated immuno-suppression in women with endometriosis-associated infertility? Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the suppressor cells dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia
- Folic acid allergy in pregnancy: a case report
- Surrogacy after breast cancer: a case report from the UAE
- Physicians' awareness of cancer screening in the UAE: a cross-sectional study
Roles of Regulatory T cells in Endometriosis-associated infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic
Maternal Health: Challenges and opportunities in a developing country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia
Infertility in Endometriosis: Is it curable?, Three-minute talk competition. The University of Sydney, Australia
T cell disturbances are associated with female infertility. RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India
Dysregulated immuno-suppression in women with endometriosis-associated infertility? Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia
Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the suppressor cells dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia
Folic acid allergy in pregnancy: a case report
Surrogacy after breast cancer: a case report from the UAE
Physicians' awareness of cancer screening in the UAE: a cross-sectional study
Memberships, Awards and Honors
- Society of Reproductive Biology, Birmingham, UK
- Society of Reproductive Biology, Australia
- Member of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK
- Grant: Circulating and endometrial regulatory T cell and related populations in endometriosis and infertility: Endometriosis is associated with blunting of endometrial cyclical effects and reduced proportions in moderate-severe disease Balnaves Foundation 42 Kick Start Grant, 2021 (NSW, Australia)
- Presentations: Roles of Regulatory T cells in Endometriosis-associated infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic
- Maternal Health: Challenges and opportunities in a developing country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia
- T cell disturbances are associated with female infertility. RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India
- Dysregulated immuno-suppression in women with endometriosis-associated infertility? Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the suppressor cells dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia