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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 metaanalysis 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 1.850–5.906, P < 0.001), depression (OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.33–3.30, P < 0.001), exposure to radiation (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.02–2.98, P = 0.041), and excess consumption of oil (OR = 2.703, 95% CI 1.62–4.48, P < 0.001) and sugar (OR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.39–8.40, P = 0.007). Parental consanguinity (OR = 0.16, 96% CI 0.09–0.30, P < 0.001) and daily water intake of 1–2 L (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19–0.66, 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of electricity consumption, financial development, economic growth, trade and ICT on CO 2 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 CO 2 emissions. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship between ICT and CO 2 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 CO 2 emissions, CO 2 emissions and ICT, gross domestic product and CO 2 emissions. Another unidirectional causality exists between financial development and CO 2 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.