Do natural resources affect environmental quality in MINT Economies? The role of tourism and financial development.

With the growing nature of the ecological footprint, research studies focus on exploring new determinants of environmental degradation. Moreover, the role of natural resources and energy consumption in environmental quality has gained much attention in the literature. However, tourism raises the demand for energy consumption and extraction of natural resources. This research study investigates the influence of natural resources, tourism, and renewable energy in MINT countries, using novel Cross-Sectional Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (CS-ARDL) methodological techniques and employing yearly data from 1995 to 2018. The study also applied recently developed Kónya (Econ Model 23:978-992, 2006) causality to identify the causal relationship between the variables of the heterogenous panel. The result shows that tourism, natural resources, and economic growth are positively associated with the ecological footprint in the long-run. However, renewable energy consumption negatively impacts ecological footprint in both in short-run and the long-run. Further, the study explored a bidirectional causality between economic growth and ecological footprint in MINT countries. Finally, based on the empirical results, the study recommends that the authorities in MINT countries revisit their tourism, natural resources, and economic activities policies to enhance the environmental quality and reduce the ecological footprint.

Effect of paternal age on assisted reproductive outcomes in ICSI donor cycles.

BACKGROUND: Despite growing evidence suggesting age-related molecular changes in gametes, the impact of paternal age on clinical outcomes during infertility treatments has not been adequately assessed. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the correlation of paternal age to clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in egg donation cycles undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study includes 4930 fresh oocyte donation cycles from 3995 couples between April 2005 and February 2020 in a private IVF hospital. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were the primary outcome measures. The results were also assessed according to the paternal age groups, donor characteristics, semen parameters, fertilization rate, and quality of the transferred embryos. RESULTS: The age and body mass index of the donors, oocyte maturation, fertilization rates, and the mean number of transferred embryo quality were comparable on day-3 but not on day-5 embryo transfers between paternal age groups (p > 0.05). Paternal age was found to be negatively correlated to the number of oocytes utilized, normal semen parameters, fertilization, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates (p < 0.05). In day-5 embryo transfer cycles, only the rate of cycles with normal spermatozoa, number of allocated oocytes, and pregnancy were found to be statistically significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Paternal age may influence reproductive outcomes and should be considered during infertility evaluations in intracytoplasmic sperm injection donor cycles. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Association between fertility treatments and breast cancer risk in women with a family history or BRCA mutations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Women with hereditary breast cancer factors are more likely to be infertile and tend to receive fertility treatments. The safety of fertility treatments that contain hormone-related medications for ovarian stimulation has gained wide attention; however, evidence of the safety of fertility treatments is limited. This study aims to assess the association between fertility treatments and the incidence rate of breast cancer in women with a family history of breast cancer or BRCA mutations. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Studies concerning the effect of fertility treatments on breast cancer risk in genetically susceptible women were included. The fixed and random effects models were used to estimate the summary effects. Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions instrument was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A total of 5,282 studies were screened. Five cohort studies and three case-control studies were included. Breast cancer risk was not significantly increased by fertility treatments in general genetically susceptible women [pooled odds ratio (OR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-1.45], women with a family history of breast cancer (pooled OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.97-1.89), or women with BRCA mutations (pooled OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.74-1.4). In subgroup analyses, there was no significant increase in breast cancer risk whether in BRCA1 mutation carriers (pooled OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.81-1.72), BRCA2 mutation carriers (pooled OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.09-3.34), or in the women treated with in vitro fertilization (pooled OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.51-1.1), clomiphene citrate (pooled OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.78-1.45) or gonadotropins (pooled OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.8-2.18). This is the first meta-analysis concerning the impact of fertility treatments on breast cancer risk in genetically susceptible women. Despite the finding that fertility treatment did not significantly increase breast cancer risk in genetically susceptible women, large prospective cohorts with more detailed information are required. Further investigations are needed to explore subtypes of breast cancer, genetic background of hormone-related breast cancer, and the association between BRCA mutations and the incidence of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Registration number: PROSPERO(CRD42021281336).

Do health expenditure and human development index matter in the carbon emission function for ensuring sustainable development? Evidence from the heterogeneous panel.

This study is an attempt to explain the nexus between health expenditures, GDP, human development index (HDI), CO2 emissions (COEM), renewable energy (RENE), financial development (FD) and electricity consumption (EC) using data from 2000Q1 to 2014Q4 for Brazil, India, China and South Africa. The study applies CIPS and CADF to determine the integration order. The tests confirmed the unique order of integration. The study further uses the Westerlund panel cointegration, which suggests the existence of a long-run relationship. Moreover, the panels dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) are applied to ascertain the long-run elasticity. The health expenditure and electricity consumption affect the COEM positively. Moreover, HDI and RE affect COEM negatively. The study further confirms the existence of an N-shaped EKC in the long run. The pairwise Dumitrescu and Hurlin, Econ Model 29:1450-1460, (2012) test is used to uncover the direction of the association between the variables. The findings obtained from DH confirm a bidirectional causality between HDI and FD. Likewise, another bidirectional causal relationship has also been found between FD and EC. The findings of our study advocate policies in the direction of HDI and health expenditure by adopting RENE. This study highlights the importance of RENE, which can facilitate a reduction in carbon emissions and decreasing health expenditures. Moreover, the financial sector needs to be improved to create entrepreneurship opportunities for the public in improving the HDI in ensuring sustainable development.

Investigating the N-shape EKC using capture fisheries as a biodiversity indicator: empirical evidence from selected 14 emerging countries.

The majority of studies investigating the environmental Kuznets curve predominantly focus on atmospheric indicators, thereby neglecting other environmental indicators such as land, sea, coastal, coral reefs, freshwater, and biodiversity indicators. This study aims to examine the environmental Kuznets curve by using capture fisheries production as a biodiversity indicator. The study uses a panel of 14 countries, of which 10 are newly industrialized and the other 4 are fast-emerging countries. The study applies the CADF and CIPS unit root tests to identify the integration order as proposed by Pesaran (2007). After identifying the unique order of integration, the Westerlund (2007) panel cointegration is applied. A long-run relationship is confirmed among the variables. The study revealed that an N-pattern relationship exists between capture fisheries production (CFP) and growth of the economy in the panel of selected countries. The industry focuses on achieving a cleaner environment and promotes the sustainable development of the fisheries. Financial development has a negative and significant effect on CFP. This reflects that domestic credit is not only used for the capture of fish but also for conservation purposes. The exports of goods and services have a positive relationship with CFP, while imports have a negative and significant effect on CFP. Policies to promote investments in the conservation of fisheries should be implemented, and credit creation should be directed by appropriate legislation to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

Fertilization and development of oocytes with separated and conjoined zona pellucida recovered from polyovular follicles: description of two cases and a literature review.

Recovery of more than one oocyte from a single follicle during laparoscopic egg collection has been reported sporadically and accepted as confirmation of the presence of polyovular or binovular follicles in the human ovary at reproductive age. Most of these reports include conjoined oocytes that share common or fused zona pellucida, and are generally accepted as evidence for true polyovularity due to its certain characteristics. In this study, we report one case of a conjoined oocyte and another case of the recovery of two separate oocytes in a cumulus cell complex and details of their early embryonic development. To our knowledge, this report of the recovery of two separate oocytes without zonal contact is the first in the literature. We reviewed the relevant literature to evaluate information regarding the origin, incidence and significance of polyovularity in reproductive health.

Exploring the role of fossil fuels, hydroelectricity consumption, and financial sector in ensuring sustainable economic development in the emerging economy.

This study is conducted to address the research question of whether hydroelectricity and fossil fuels contribute to sustainable economic development in an emerging economy in this era of globalization? Further, this study applies the novel approach of Harvey unit root test which is a linearity test to predict the possible existence of non-linearity. The results confirmed that the majority of the series in this study are linear. Furthermore, the two break test is applied to investigate the integration sequence of the series. The bounds test approach confirms the existence of a long-run association among the variables. Additionally, the long-run relationship is analysed within the framework of the ARDL approach. Financial development, fossil fuel, and capital positively contribute to economic development, while the effect of hydroelectricity is insignificant. Moreover, globalization effects GDP negatively. The symmetric causality suggests a uni-directional causal movement from hydroelectricity consumption and globalization towards GDP. The outcome of the study emphasizes the importance of renewable sources such as hydropower energy for ensuring sustainable development in the presence of globalization.

Determination of mutations in iron regulating genes of beta thalassemia major patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin and hemochromatosis (HFE) are iron regulatory proteins that are encoded by HAMP and HFE genes. Mutation in either HAMP gene or HFE gene causes Hepcidin protein deficiency that can lead to iron overload in beta thalassemia patients. The aim of this research work was to study the presence of G71D mutation of HAMP gene and H63D mutation of HFE gene in beta thalassemia major and minor group to check the association of these mutations with serum ferritin level of beta thalassemia patients. METHODS: The study was conducted on 42 beta thalassemia major and 20 beta thalassemia minor samples along with 20 control samples. The genotyping of both mutations has done by ARM-PCR technique with specific set of primers. RESULTS: Significant effect of G71D and H63D mutations was observed on serum ferritin level of thalassemia major group. The risk allele of HAMP G71D and HFE H63D was found with high frequency (48% and 49%, respectively) in beta thalassemia major than in control group. High genotypic frequency of HAMP and HFE gene mutation gene mutation was observed in beta thalassemia major than beta thalassemia minor and control group (7% and 9%, respectively). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that both HAMP and HFE gene mutations show high frequency in beta thalassemia major patients and mean significant association between mutations and high serum ferritin level of beta thalassemia major patients but the nonsignificant results of Odd ratios showed that both mutations do not act as major risk factor in beta thalassemia major.

Investigating the Nexus between Gynaecologic Cancer and Human Development Index.

This study aimed to describe the current incidence and mortality rates of gynecologic cancer and their association with socio- economic development. The data for the age-standardized incidence rate (ASRI) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASRM) were acquired from the GLOBOCAN-2012 database. Human Development Index (HDI) data were obtained from the 2015- Human Development Report. The correlation between HDI and Mortality to Incidence Ratio (MIR) was assessed by Pearson- correlation. The effect of national-HDI on MIR was analyzed by linear regression analysis. The ASRI, ASRM, and MIR of cervix cancer were higher in the less developed regions (LDRs) than in more developed regions (MDRs). However, for corpus uteri cancer, the ASRI was 3.6 times and the ASRM was 1.5-times higher in the MDRs than in the LDRs. Strong inverse associations between MIR and HDI were reported from cervix (adjusted R2 = 0.825, ß = - 0.908, p < 0.001), corpus uteri (adjusted R2 = 0.554, ß = - 0.746, p < 0.001) and ovarian cancer (adjusted R2 = 0.579, ß = - 0.763, p < 0.001). The higher MIR of gynecologic cancer in LDRs demand for sustainable investment in health systems and balanced cancer control plans in the region.

Does ICT lessen CO2 emissions for fast-emerging economies? An application of the heterogeneous panel estimations.

This study examines the effects of electricity consumption, financial development, economic growth, trade and ICT on CO2 emissions in the fast-emerging countries, excluding Russia due to the unavailability of data. Cross-sectional dependency was identified using the Pesaran (2004) and Breusch and Pagan CD tests from Breusch and Pagan (1980) using annual data from 1993 to 2014 based on data availability. The second-generation panel unit root test was applied to investigate the integration order of the series. The long-run relationship among the variables was confirmed using second-generation panel cointegration techniques, which take cross-sectional dependency into account. Additionally, this study utilized the FMOLS, DOLS and robust least square estimators to determine the long-run coefficients. The results suggested that electricity usage and financial development have a positive and significant impact, while economic growth and trade have a negative and significant impact on CO2 emissions. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship between ICT and CO2 emission was confirmed. This implies that pollution declines after attaining a threshold point as the ICT usage increases. Furthermore, the Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) heterogeneous panel causality test suggested that there is a unidirectional causal relationship between electricity consumption and CO2 emissions, CO2 emissions and ICT, gross domestic product and CO2 emissions. Another unidirectional causality exists between financial development and CO2 emissions. The study suggests that renewable energy sources can be adopted to decrease carbon emissions and to promote clean energy. Financial development needs to be further strengthened to promote the use of eco-friendly ICT products.

Risk factor assessment for breast cancer in North Cyprus: a comprehensive case-control study of Turkish Cypriot women

Background/aim: This case-control study aims to assess the strength of associations between reproductive, lifestyle, sociodemographic, and dietary factors as well as other potential breast cancer risks and breast cancer (BC) in a North Cyprus population. Materials and methods: The study includes 408 BC patients and 412 age-matched controls recruited from Near East Hospital and Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital in North Cyprus. Information regarding clinical and epidemiological characteristics was collected through a standardized interview. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression before and after adjusting for the potential confounders. Results: In addition to various recognized BC risk factors, strong associations with BC were reported from women with fertility drugs used for >6 cycles (OR = 3.305, 95% CI 1.850­5.906, P < 0.001), depression (OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.33­3.30, P < 0.001), exposure to radiation (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.02­2.98, P = 0.041), and excess consumption of oil (OR = 2.703, 95% CI 1.62­4.48, P < 0.001) and sugar (OR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.39­8.40, P = 0.007). Parental consanguinity (OR = 0.16, 96% CI 0.09­0.30, P < 0.001) and daily water intake of 1­2 L (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19­0.66, P < 0.001) were strong protective factors. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the presence of classical as well as several additional BC risks. The findings will be of great benefit in establishing adequate evidence-based awareness and preventative measures in the North Cyprus population.

PRACTICE OF CONSANGUINITY AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS RISK IN THE PASHTUN POPULATION OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of consanguineous marriages and level of understanding of consanguinity-associated genetic risks in the Pashtun population, Pakistan. Information was gathered using a detailed questionnaire completed by 1500 individuals of both sexes over the 11-month period between April 2015 and February 2016. The mean inbreeding coefficient of the respondents was calculated and a five-point response scale was used to assess their understanding of consanguinity risks. The frequency of consanguineous marriages in the Pashtun population was found to be 58.3%, with a mean inbreeding coefficient of 0.0259. Marriage between second cousins was found to be the dominant marriage type. Level of education was found to be negatively related to the incidence of consanguineous marriage (p<0.001), and higher consanguinity was reported among the rural than the urban population (p<0.001). Participants in the ≥25-year age group, those with a higher level of education and those residing in urban areas exhibited a significantly higher understanding of consanguinity risks. The overall prevalence of consanguinity in the Pashtun population is high, demonstrating the need for awareness of its risks in the target population. The timely dissemination of information on potential health-related risks and the introduction of genetic counselling in the region would benefit both the individuals concerned and the community in general.

Cancer incidence and mortality are associated with human development index and health setups in Africa.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyse the correlation between cancer incidence and mortality and the Human Development Index (HDI) in Africa. Furthermore, to analyse the variations in cancer Mortality to Incidence Ratio (MIR) based on health care systems in African countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cancer incidence and mortality data for 53 countries were obtained from GLOBOCAN database. Country-wise data on National-HDI were obtained from Human Development Report 2015. Health System Attainment (HSA) data were acquired from World Health Report 2000. The parametric data were analysed by Pearson-correlation and Linear-regression analysis for the effect of HDI and HSA on MIR in African Countries. One-way ANOVA was used to test the differences of MIR in each HDI group. All analyses were performed in SPSS version 20. RESULTS: An inverse correlation was revealed by cancer MIR with both HDI (r=-0.897, p<0.001) and HSA (r=-0.750, p<0.001). A significantly low MIR was reported from high HDI countries compared to medium and low HDI countries by one-way ANOVA analysis (p<0.001). Linear regression analysis also reported a negative effect of MIR with both HDI (adjusted R2=0 0.801, ß=-0.897, p<0.001) and HSA (adjusted R2=0.554, ß=-0.750, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on their HDIs, different African countries has different health system attainments, which is the cause of variations in MIR in these countries. To control their cancer burden, these low and medium HDI countries should focus on improvement of their economic status and policies making, regarding the provision of better health systems to the masses.

Incidence of cancer in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study analyzed the incidence, trends, and common types of cancer in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is based on data collected from the office of the North Cyprus Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, for 2007-2012. Data were arranged on the basis of age group, sex, and cancer site. Age standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were estimated with the world standard population. EVIEWS (version 9) software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 1395 registered cases, 52.33% (730) were reported in men and 47.67% (665) in women. The crude incidence rate was 96.41 in men and 101.74 in women. The average annual ASR was 88.88 in men and 87.76 in women with the cumulative rate of 21.47% and 14.69% in men and women, respectively. The most common cancers in men were skin (ASR 15.62), prostate (ASR 11.23), bladder (ASR 11.71), lung (ASR 8.01), and colorectal cancer (ASR 7.61), while in women these were breast (ASR 24.07), thyroid (ASR 14.93), skin (ASR 10.75), colorectal (ASR 6.05), and lymphoma (ASR 4.79). Linear regression analysis confirmed rising trends for both men's (10.79, P ≤ 0.03) and women's (14.67, P ≤ 0.04) cancers. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed an increasing trend of cancer incidence in the TRNC. For control and prevention, public awareness of the risk factors and proper screening programs should be recommended.