Immunology and Immunotherapy of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological and systemic diseases, with a remarkable immune background. Patients suffer from pain and fertility reduction. Due to the distinct immune component, an immunotherapeutic approach may gain importance in the future. In endometriosis, shifts in the cell fractions of the immune system are well known. Moreover, hypoxia concomitant with inflammation causes a disturbed immune response. The removal of endometriosis has a therapeutic effect, normalizes the immune disorders, and remains the most effective causative treatment in terms of pain and infertility. A key issue is whether a similar effect can be achieved for fertility with non-invasive immunotherapy where surgery is inadvisable or cannot be performed for various reasons. Numerous immunotherapy trials, including vaccines, were conducted on animals only, although the research is encouraging. Among the promising methods of non-specific immunotherapy is the administration of an ethiodized oil contrast. Moreover, due to the significant successes of immunotherapy in oncology, the possibility of immunotherapy affecting NK cells has been postulated. NK cells are responsible for the surveillance and apoptosis of ectopic cells. Expanding the arsenal of endometriosis treatment by immunotherapy is promising due to the significant contribution of immunological factors and the limitations of current treatment methods.

Population Growth and Economic Development: Theoretical Arguments and Empirical Findings— A Survey of Literature

The relationship between population growth and economic development has remained a controversial topic since the time of Malthus. Opinion among the scholars on this issue is sharply divided. This article examines the theoretical arguments about the likely consequences—positive or negative—of higher population growth on economic development and looks at the empirical findings on the issue based on the survey of literature in the field. The article traces the historical profile of demographic change in the developed and the developing countries over the last two centuries and analyses the factors behind them with particular reference to China and India. The implications of the findings for population control policy are also examined. There is a growing realisation of the fact that fertility decline is dependent upon socio-economic development. There is a general consensus among demographers that policies for fertility reduction should stress voluntary decisions on the part of the individuals concerned rather than compulsion and should be conceived in the context of a much wider programme for social, economic, and political development. The positive and negative incentives in this situation have a limited role to play in this context.

Discourses of Childlessness in Bangladesh

This chapter explores the discourses around medical and alternative treatments that emerged in the accounts of 11 middle-class Bengali women who sought treatment for their childlessness. Fertility has been considered a prime problem for Bangladesh since the 1980s, and policy documents still focus on fertility reduction, along with reducing maternal mortality. Yet, no recent policy documents considered childlessness as a problem. This investigation informs of the links between biomedical power and childlessness as they are emerging in urban Bangladesh. The sections of this chapter discuss the concepts of biopower and agency, illustrate the different trajectories interviewees pursued in dealing with childlessness, focus on the issue of the so-called perfect age for assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments, and explore interviewees’ stories of their experiences of IVF. The concluding section discusses these women’s accounts of the beliefs according to which they actively decide their technological options.

Sustainable use of CRISPR/Cas in fish aquaculture: the biosafety perspective

Aquaculture is becoming the primary source of seafood for human diets, and farmed fish aquaculture is one of its fastest growing sectors. The industry currently faces several challenges including infectious and parasitic diseases, reduced viability, fertility reduction, slow growth, escapee fish and environmental pollution. The commercialization of the growth-enhanced AquAdvantage salmon and the CRISPR/Cas9-developed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) proffers genetic engineering and genome editing tools, e.g. CRISPR/Cas, as potential solutions to these challenges. Future traits being developed in different fish species include disease resistance, sterility, and enhanced growth. Despite these notable advances, off-target effect and non-clarification of trait-related genes among other technical challenges hinder full realization of CRISPR/Cas potentials in fish breeding. In addition, current regulatory and risk assessment frameworks are not fit-for purpose regarding the challenges of CRISPR/Cas notwithstanding that public and regulatory acceptance are key to commercialization of products of the new technology. In this study, we discuss how CRISPR/Cas can be used to overcome some of these limitations focusing on diseases and environmental release in farmed fish aquaculture. We further present technical limitations, regulatory and risk assessment challenges of the use of CRISPR/Cas, and proffer research strategies that will provide much-needed data for regulatory decisions, risk assessments, increased public awareness and sustainable applications of CRISPR/Cas in fish aquaculture with emphasis on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) breeding.

Selection of Perspective Varieties of Cornelian Cherry in the Area of Tuzla Canton

Organic food production contributes to the preservation of human health, preservation and protection of the environment and increase of soil fertility, reduction of all forms of pollution as a consequence of intensive agricultural production and animal husbandry. Hence by purchasing products that carry the label organic product consumers indirectly affect the protection and preservation of the environment Organic food is food that is worth investing in due to the smaller amount of harmful substances in the products. Cornel cherry (Cornus mas L.) is one of the most suitable species for organic production. It is adaptable to various abiotic factors and is resistant to numerous pests and diseases. Aims: The aim of the study was to select promising dogwood phenotypes from the natural population for further reproduction by grafting. Study Design: The subject of the research was selected 6 self-growing dogwoods from a rural area. Place and Duration of Study: Samples of fruit were collected at the site of Ćehaje, City of Srebrenik,Tuzla Canton, BiH in the spring of 2019. Methodology: In order to determine the best traits, the measurement of physical quantities, determination of coefficients of variation and analysis of chemical characteristics of dogwood fruits harvested from trees of 6 wild phenotypes marked as DKA1, DKA2, DKA3, DKA4, DKA5 and DKA6 were performed. Results: Based on the analyzed indicators, the DKA6 phenotype showed the best results.

Determinants of Contraceptive use on Fertility Reduction in Rwanda

Background: Rwanda has shown a rise in the use of contraception from 17% to 52% between 2010 and 2015 due to the promotion of family planning. Despite, the increase in number of contraceptive use there still a high rate of fertility rate which is the increase of population growth in RwandaMethods: In this study, the determinants of contraceptive use on fertility rate reduction in Rwanda was assessed using the data from RDHS 2014/2015 and the sample was constituted with 5,954 household respondents where the targeted population were male between 15-59 years and female between 15-49 years of age, multinomial logistic regression was used to prove the full contribution of contraceptive use to the fertility reduction in the country in order to improve Rwandan’s welfare.Results: The findings from our study, indicated that gender, province, education level are statistically significant , thus (AOR=0.45, CI 95% -.8 561241 to -.6059524 ) indicate that women decreased the adjusted odd ratio on the use of contraceptive use compared to men at 45%., (AOR=1.077, CI95%, 0214347 to .099044) this means that there was an increase of the use of contraceptive use in other provinces compared to those located in Kigali city,( AOR=1.130, CI95%, .0 685488 to .1644038) increase of contraceptive use on the head of household with high level of education compared to those with lower level of education. Conclusion: The people who have higher level of education use contraceptive use compare to other level of education. Finally, policy makers should consider programs to keep girls in schools, at least up to secondary level. Furthermore, sexual and reproductive health programs should be encouraged in the adolescents.

The essential roles of Mps1 in spermatogenesis and fertility in mice

Monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1), which plays a critical role in somatic mitosis, has also been revealed to be essential for meiosis I in oocytes. Spermatogenesis is an important process involving successive mitosis and meiosis, but the function of MPS1 in spermatogenesis remains unclear. Here, we generated Mps1 conditional knockout mice and found that Ddx4-cre-driven loss of Mps1 in male mice resulted in depletion of undifferentiated spermatogonial cells and subsequently of differentiated spermatogonia and spermatocytes. In addition, Stra8-cre-driven ablation of Mps1 in male mice led to germ cell loss and fertility reduction. Spermatocytes lacking Mps1 have blocked at the zygotene-to-pachytene transition in the prophase of meiosis I, which may be due to decreased H2B ubiquitination level mediated by MDM2. And the expression of many meiotic genes was decreased, while that of apoptotic genes was increased. Moreover, we also detected increased apoptosis in spermatocytes with Mps1 knockout, which may have been the reason why germ cells were lost. Taken together, our findings indicate that MPS1 is required for mitosis of gonocytes and spermatogonia, differentiation of undifferentiated spermatogonia, and progression of meiosis I in spermatocytes.

Contribution of Contraceptive Use on Fertility Reduction in Rwanda

Objectives: In this study, the contribution of contraceptive use on fertility rate reduction in Rwanda was assessed using the data from RDHS 2014/2015 and the sample was constituted with 5,954 household respondents where the targeted population were male between 15-59 years and female between 15-49 years of age, multinomial logistic regression was used to prove the full contribution of contraceptive use to the fertility reduction in the country in order to improve Rwandan’s welfare.Results: Compared to the traditional method and modern method it was found that 48.54% of male use modern method, while 5.39% uses traditional method; otherwise, 33.70% of female use modern method while 1.24% of female use traditional method, finally sexual and reproductive health programs should be encouraged and the parents must teach their children about the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) which will reduce the adolescent fertility which is rising day to day.

Why Women’s Power Matters

This chapter studies how women's power is one of the fundamental determinants of not only economic growth but also education levels, ecological sustainability, and social peace. Why does women's power produce social and economic benefit? A key consideration is that women who are highly educated or have access to their own sources of income have lower fertility. Women with money and career opportunities are less dependent on their husbands for economic survival and can afford to stand up to argue for their own interests. However, fertility reduction tells part of the story about why empowering women produces social development; there are other considerations at work as well. If women are educated, they become more productive, and the labor force becomes more productive. Women's labor force participation is linked to the presence of industries that employ a lot of women. Women's power also increases the human capital of future generations. Meanwhile, the statistical correlation between female social power and reduced warfare is explained in part by the historical record of women participating in peacekeeping activities.