Stressful life events, intimate partner violence, and perceived stress in the postpartum period: longitudinal findings in rural Pakistan.

PURPOSE: While the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and stress is well documented, the directionality of this relationship is unclear. We use an adjusted longitudinal study design to better understand if stressful life events in the home precipitate or exacerbate intimate partner violence (IPV) and if experiences of IPV, in turn, increase levels of perceived stress. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected among married women in rural Pakistan at 12 and 24 months postpartum (N = 815). Adjusted Poisson and linear regression models were used to examine stressful life events, past year IPV and severity (number and frequency of violent acts), and perceived stress (Cohen Perceived Stress Scale). RESULTS: At 12 months postpartum, the prevalence of past year physical, psychological, and sexual IPV was 8.5%, 25.7%, and 25.1%, respectively, with 42.6% experiencing any IPV. After adjustment, stressful life events were associated with a subsequent increased likelihood of all IPV types and increased severity of all but physical IPV. Any past year IPV (versus none) and greater IPV severity were associated with 3.43 (95% CI 2.33-4.52) and 2.57 (95% CI 1.87-3.27) point subsequent increases in perceived stress. Physical, psychological, and sexual IPV and their respective severities were all independently associated with increased perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS: Among postpartum women in Pakistan, stressful life events increase the likelihood of IPV and, in turn, experiences of IPV increase stress levels. Support to families undergoing stressful circumstances may be critical to reducing women's IPV exposure and resulting elevated stress.

Kefir milk consumption decreases sperm alterations due to the high-fat diet in adult male rats.

Over the past decades, an increase of male infertility through the decrease of sperm count has been noted. It has been suggested that environmental factors and lifestyle could a negative impact over sperm quality. Among these factors, the consumption of foods high in fat, which leads to overweight and obesity, can negatively influence fertility. The present study was designed to highlight the protective effect of Kefir, natural probiotic, against the decline in sperm quality related to fat high diet. Thirty adult rats were divided into four groups: Control (1 ml/100 g of body weight (bw) of semi-shimmed cow milk), KM (1 ml/100 g bw of Kefir milk), HFD (1 ml/100 g bw of semi-shimmed cow milk + high-fat diet) and KM/HFD (1 ml/100 g bw Kefir milk + high-fat diet). After 60 days of treatment, sperm quality, biochemical assays of lipids profil, blood cell count and histological examination in testis were assessed. The results described an improved of sperm density (64.28 106  ml vs 54.14 106  ml), viability (70.50% vs 55.33%), mobility (65.40% vs 63.60%) and morphological abnormalities (52% vs 25%) in the KM/HFD group compared to HFD group. In the same group, the lipid profil (Triglycerides (128.39 mg/dl vs 102.85 mg/dl), C-LDL (13.65 mg/dl vs 15.32 mg/dl) and C-HDL (23.21 mg/dl vs 19.15 mg/dl)) was corrected compared to HFD group. The histological observation of testis revealed a normal spermatogenesis compared to seminiferous tubules of HFD group, which showed a serious disruption and damage of testicular epithelium exerted by the high-fat diet. These findings corroborated the previous beneficial effect of Kefir and brought new insights into its beneficial effect against deteriorated spermatogenesis in obese adult rats.

New Myrtenal-Adamantane Conjugates Alleviate Alzheimer's-Type Dementia in Rat Model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with memory impairment and other central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. Two myrtenal-adamantane conjugates (MACs) showed excellent CNS potential against Alzheimer's models. Adamantane is a common pharmacophore for drug design, and myrtenal (M) demonstrated neuroprotective effects in our previous studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the MACs' neuroprotective properties in dementia. METHODS: Scopolamine (Scop) was applied intraperitoneally in Wistar rats for 11 days, simultaneously with MACs or M as a referent, respectively. Brain acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, noradrenaline and serotonin levels, and oxidative brain status determination followed behavioral tests on memory abilities. Molecular descriptors and docking analyses for AChE activity center affinity were performed. RESULTS: M derivatives have favorable physicochemical parameters to enter the CNS. Both MACs restored memory damaged by Scop, showing significant AChE-inhibitory activity in the cortex, in contrast to M, supported by the modeling analysis. Moderate antioxidant properties were manifested by glutathione elevation and catalase activity modulation. MACs also altered noradrenaline and serotonin content in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: For the first time, neuroprotective properties of two MACs in a rat dementia model were observed. They were stronger than the natural M effects, which makes the substances promising candidates for AD treatment.

Analysis of δ-globin gene alleles in Tunisians: description of three new delta-thalassemia mutations.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent worldwide autosomal recessive disorders characterized by a great molecular and clinical expression heterogeneity. Alpha and beta-thalassemia are the main two types observed in case of mutations affecting alpha and beta-globin genes respectively. Delta-thalassemia is noted when mutations occur on the delta-globin gene. In Tunisia, ß-thalassemia prevalence is estimated at 2.21% of carriers. However, few reports investigated the delta-globin gene. OBJECTIVES: In this work, we aimed to perform a molecular study to help define the molecular spectrum of δ-thalassemia mutations in Tunisia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 7558 patients among whom we selected 179 individuals with abnormal HbA2 values or fractions. Hemoglobin analysis was performed using Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DNA sequencing was performed on ABI prism 310 Genetic Analyzer Applied Biosystems. CUPSAT (Cologne University Protein Stability Analysis Tool) was used for the prediction of protein stability changes upon missense mutations and mutants were modeled via DeepView-SwissPdbViewer and POV-Ray softwares for molecular dynamics simulation studies. RESULTS: We identified four mutations: HbA2-Yialousa described for the first time in Tunisia ( in 72.72% of cases) and 3 mutations reported for the first time in the world: (i) c.442 T > C Stop147Arg ext 15aa-stop observed in 18.18% of cases, (ii) c.187 G > C (Ala62Pro) noted in 4.54% of cases and (iii) c.93-1G > C found in 4.54% of cases. CONCLUSION: Our data provide genetic basis that would be especially useful in screening for beta-thalassemia trait during delta-beta thalassemia associations.

Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing: Analytical performance assessment according to CLSI protocols for HbA1c quantification.

HbA1c is used for monitoring diabetic balance. In this paper we report an assessment of the analytical performances of Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing (C2FP) for HbA1c measurement using CE (Capillary Electrophoresis). CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute) protocols are used for the evaluation of apparatus performances: precision, linearity, method comparison, trueness and common interferences. HbA1c CVs average in intra-assay was 1.6% between run imprecision CV ranged from 0.1 to 1.8%. The linearity was demonstrated between 4.7 and 15.0%. The comparison study revealed that Bland Altman plot mean difference was equal to -0.03 (CI 95% (-0.05 to -0.0003)) and Passing-Bablok regression intercept was -0.05, CI95%(-0.13 -  -0.05); slope: 1.00, CI95%[1.00-1.01]. A strong correlation (r > 0.99) was proved. No significant effects of hemoglobin variants were seen with CE on HbA1c measurement. No problem related to sample-to-sample carry over was noted. No interferences of LA1c and cHb were observed. CE allowed quantification of HbA1c even at low level of total hemoglobin (40 g/L) in contrast to HPLC. Furthermore, this analyzer offered the opportunity of quantifying the HbA2 simultaneously with HbA1c . This evaluation showed that C2FP is a convenient system for the control of diabetes and the detection of hemoglobinopathies.

Determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase cut-off values in a Tunisian population.

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the commonest enzymopathy worldwide. The incidence depends essentially on the methods used for the assessment. In this respect, we attempted in this study to set cut-off values of G6PD activity to discriminate among normal, heterozygous, and deficient individuals using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. METHODS: Blood samples from 250 female and 302 male subjects were enrolled in this study. The G6PD activity was determined using a quantitative assay. The common G6PD mutations in Tunisia were determined using the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) method. The ROC curve was used to choice the best cut-off. RESULTS: Normal G6PD values were 7.69±2.37, 7.86±2.39, and 7.51±2.35 U/g Hb for the entire, male, and female groups, respectively. Cut-off values for the total, male, and female were determined using the WHO classification and ROC curves analysis. In the male population, both cut-offs established using ROC curve analysis (4.00 U/g Hb) and the 60% level (3.82 U/g Hb), respectively are sensitive and specific resulting in a good efficiency of discrimination between deficient and normal males. For the female group the ROC cut-off (5.84 U/g Hb) seems better than the 60% level cut-off (3.88 U/g Hb) to discriminate between normal and heterozygote or homozygote women with higher Youden Index. CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of the normal values for a population is important for a better evaluation of the assay result. The ROC curve analysis is an alternative method to determine the status of patients since it correlates DNA analysis and G6PD activity.

Setup of a Protocol of Molecular Diagnosis of ß-Thalassemia Mutations in Tunisia using Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC).

BACKGROUNDS: ß-Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent worldwide autosomal recessive disorders. It presents a great molecular heterogeneity resulting from more than 200 causative mutations in the ß-globin gene. In Tunisia, ß-thalassemia represents the most prevalent monogenic hemoglobin disorder with 2.21% of carriers. Efficient and reliable mutation-screening methods are essential in order to establish appropriate prevention programs for at risk couples. The aim of the present study is to develop an efficient method based on the denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in which the whole ß-globin gene (HBB) is screened for mutations covering about 90% of the spectrum. METHODS: We have performed the validation of a DHPLC assay for direct genotyping of 11 known ß-thalassemia mutations in the Tunisian population. RESULTS: DHPLC assay was established based on the analysis of 62 archival ß-thalassemia samples previously genotyped then validated with full concordance on 50 tests with blind randomized samples previously genotyped with DNA sequencing and with 96% of consistency on 40 samples as a prospective study. CONCLUSION: Compared to other genotyping techniques, the DHPLC method can meet the requirements of direct genotyping of known ß-thalassemia mutations in Tunisia and to be applied as a powerful tool for the genetic screening of prenatal and postnatal individuals.

First description of the rs45496295 polymorphism of the C/EBPE gene in ß-thalassemia intermedia patients.

The C/EBPE gene, located in 14q11.2, encodes for a B/zip-type transcription factor. The C/EBPɛ is involved in terminal differentiation and functional maturity of granulocyte progenitor cells and in cell apoptosis during myeloid differentiation. A C/EBPE gene has recently been described as a candidate gene involved in clinical variability of ß-thalassemia (ß-thal). In this study, the C/EBPE gene was sequenced in 146 subjects divided into the severe type of ß-thal major (ß-TM) and moderate type of ß-thal intermedia (ß-TI), and a control group. The analysis identified the rs45496295 (C > T) polymorphism in the heterozygous state in 73.9% ß-TI patients, which was not the case in the ß-TM patients or in the control group. Thus, the T allele is consequently associated with the ß-TI group (p = 10-3). According to the Human Splicing Finder (version 3.0, Marseille, France), the presence of the rs45496295 polymorphism leads the creation of a new intronic exotic splicing enhancer (ESE) site. Moreover, the T allele of rs45496295 is associated with a lower transfusion regimen (p = 10-3) and a higher pretransfusion hemoglobin (Hb) rate (p = .006). The comparison of several factors concerning T allele carriers and non-carriers showed that the T allele does not act on the Hb F rate. The T allele of rs45496295, associated with moderate type of ß-thal, seems to modify the C/EBPɛ action, thereby preventing the hemolysis.

Association between Alzheimer disease and the -491T allele of regulatory region polymorphism of Apolipoprotein E in a Tunisian population.

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a well-established risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several studies have attempted to confirm the association between the polymorphism located at position -491 in the transcriptional regulatory region of the APOE gene and AD. We examined in 85 AD patients and 90 control subjects of a Tunisian population the potential involvement of this polymorphism as a risk factor for AD, either through an independent effect or through interaction with the existing APOE ε4 allele risk. The T allele frequency was significantly higher in the AD patients group (45.3 %) than in the controls group (32.78 %) and may possibly constitute a significant risk factor for AD. The APOE ε4 allele did not influence the distribution of the -491 polymorphism after stratification.

Childhood parental bonding and depression in adulthood: A study of mothers in rural Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Parent-child relationship quality can have long-term impacts on child mental health into adulthood. The impact of parental behaviors on the future mental health of children has been understudied in South Asia, where parenting approaches differ from the dominant western approaches often represented in the literature. METHODS: Mothers in rural Pakistan (N = 828) reported on their own mothers' parenting behaviors using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and were assessed for depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID). The PBI includes scales for warmth (care scale) and over-control (protection scale), as well as subscales for behavioral control and psychological control. We used structural equation modeling to test the associations between depression and all PBI scales/subscales. RESULTS: Increased parental care was associated with lower probability of depression (B = -0.19, SE = 0.09). Parental protection was associated with higher probability of depression (B = 0.25, SE = 0.11). Among the protection subscales, behavioral control was associated with increased risk of depression (B = 0.24, 95 % SE = 0.11) and psychological control was associated with decreased risk of depression (B = -0.28, SE = 0.12). LIMITATIONS: This cross-sectional study used retrospective self-reports of parenting experiences. Participants only reported on their mothers, not fathers or other caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: In a rural Pakistani sample, maternal warmth was protective against adulthood depression. The association between maternal control and depression varied based on the type of control (behavioral or psychological), emphasizing the importance of nuanced measures of parental control in this context.

No association between an intronic polymorphism in the presenilin-1 gene and Alzheimer disease in a Tunisian population.

We examined the potential involvement of the polymorphism in intron 8 of the presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene as a risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD), both through independent effect and interaction with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele risk, in 85 patients and 90 controls. We found no significant differences in the distribution of PSEN1 genotype and allele frequency between both groups; and post stratification distribution with APOE ε4 allele. Age of onset suggests that this polymorphism influences AD progression.

Red cell indices: differentiation between ß-thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia and application to sickle cell disease and sickle cell thalassemia.

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SS) represent the most prevalent monogenic hemoglobin disorders with 2.21% and 1.89% of carriers, respectively. This study aims to evaluate the diagnosis reliability of 12 red blood cell (RBC) indices in differentiation of ß-thalassemia trait (ß-TT) from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and between homozygous SS and sickle cell thalassemia (ST). METHODS: The study covered 384 patients divided into three groups. The first one is composed of 145 control group, the second consists of 57 ß-TT and 52 IDA subjects and the last one with 88 SS and 42 ST patients. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive values, negative-predictive values, percentage of correctly identified patients and Youden's Index (YI) for each indice. We also established new cut-off values by receiver operating characteristic curves for each indice. An evaluation study was performed on another population composed of 106 ß-TT, 125 IDA, 31 SS, and 17 ST patients. RESULTS: Srivastava Index (SI) shows the highest reliability in discriminating ß-TT from IDA at 5.17 as a cut-off and also SS from ST with 7.7 as another threshold. Mentzer Index (MI) and RBC appear also useful in both groups with new cut-offs slightly different from those described in literature for ß-TT and IDA. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and the simplicity of calculation of these indices make them acceptable and easy to use. They can be relied on for differential diagnosis and even for diagnosis of ß-TT with atypical HbA2 levels.

Red cell indices: differentiation between ß-thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia and application to sickle-cell disease and sickle-cell thalassemia.

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, thalassemia and sickle cell disease represent the most prevalent monogenic hemoglobin disorders with 2.21% and 1.89% of carriers, respectively. This study aims to evaluate the diagnosis reliability of a series of red blood cell indices and parameters in differentiation of beta-thalassemia trait (ß-TT) from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and between homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) and sickle cell-thalassemia (ST). METHODS: The study covered 384 patients divided into three groups. The first one is composed of 145 control group, the second consists of 57 ß-TT and 52 IDA subjects and the last one with 88 SS and 42 ST patients. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive values, negative-predictive values, percentage of correctly identified patients and Youden's index for each indice. We also established new cut-off values by receiver operating characteristic curves for each indice. An evaluation study was performed on another population composed of 106 ß-TT, 125 IDA, 31 SS and 17 ST patients. RESULTS: Srivastava Index, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, red blood cell, Mentzer Index (MI) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration show the highest reliability in discriminating ß-TT from IDA with new cut-offs slightly different from those described in literature. Ehsani Index, mean corpuscular volume, MI, Shine and Lal Index and Sirdah Index are the most powerful in the differentiation between SS and ST. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and the simplicity of calculation of these indices make them acceptable and easy to use for differential diagnosis.

Isolation and evaluation of Qatari soil rhizobacteria for antagonistic potential against phytopathogens and growth promotion in tomato plants.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that enhance the growth of plants under various conditions. In this study, 55 isolates of endogenous rhizobacteria were collected from the rhizosphere of Avicennia marina, Suaeda vermiculata, Salsola soda, Anabasis setifera, Salicornia europaea, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Limonium axillare, Tetraena qatarensis, Aeluropus lagopoides, and Prosopis juliflora. The isolates were evaluated in-vitro for their antagonist potential against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea using the dual culture technique, where the maximum growth inhibition reached 49% and 57%, respectively. In-vivo evaluation was accomplished to determine the growth-promoting potential of the rhizobacteria under greenhouse conditions where the strain ANABR3 (Bacillus subtilis) showed the strongest growth-promoting effects. Further in-vivo testing regarding the effectiveness of rhizobacteria in the presence of the phytopathogen was also completed using the Hoagland medium. LEMR3 and SALIR5 (both identified as two strains of B. subtilis) supported the tomato seedlings to overcome the disease and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased above and belowground biomass compared to the control. Additionally, several characterizing tests were carried out on the selected strains, these strains were found to possess numerous features that promote plant growth directly and indirectly such as the production of IAA, HCN, hydrolytic enzymes, ACC deaminase, NH3, and some rhizobacteria were capable of phosphate solubilization. In conclusion, this study showed that local rhizobacterial isolates collected from arid lands possess valuable traits, making them promising bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

Sustainable wastewater purification with crab shell-derived biochar: Advanced machine learning modeling & experimental analysis.

Detoxifying ecologically persistent dyes is vital for environmental and human well-being. Herein, crabshell waste is transformed into porous carbon (CB900) through pyrolysis, achieving a remarkable removal rate of 90.5% (CR-RR) and adsorption capacity (∼256.36 mg g-1, qCR). Employing XGBoost modeling, with a robust R2 âˆ¼0.996, proved its superiority over others in predicting CR adsorption. PSO-XGB optimization led to an optimal configuration: 0.051 g adsorbent, 460.56 mg L-1 CR concentration, pH 3.16, and a 94.01 min contact time, resulting in 68.39% CR-RR and 822.15 mg g-1 qCR, simultaneously; sensitivity analysis unveiled the pivotal role of pH and adsorbent dose. CB900 exhibited physical, spontaneous, endothermic following both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Remarkably, CB900 effectively eliminated various contaminants, including chromium and sulfasalazine antibiotic. Pilot-scale CB900 production cost via pyrolysis was $8.5/kg, a fraction of commercial powdered activated carbon, underscoring its economic viability and potential as a sustainable solution for the elimination of toxic contaminants from aqueous environments.

Risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis C is associated with several metabolic abnormalities including diabetes and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome, a major cardiovascular risk factor, may represent an additional risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with viral hepatitis C. AIM: To assess the risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C and its impact on liver fibrosis. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, including a group of exposed patients with untreated chronic hepatitis C and a group of unexposed patients with negative hepatitis C serology. We compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between the two groups and evaluated the association between metabolic syndrome and advanced fibrosis in the exposed patients. RESULTS: Forty exposed and 40 unexposed were included. The two groups were matched for age, sex and anthropometric data. Fibrosis was significant in 67.5% of the exposed group. The exposed group had a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance compared to the unexposed group (37.5% VS 15%; p=0.02 VS 67.5% , 37.5%; p=0.02 VS 67.5%, 37.5%; p=0.007, respectively). The relative risk of metabolic syndrome in the exposed group was 2.5. Metabolic syndrome was not associated with significant fibrosis (p=0.7).

δ0-Thalassemia in cis of ßKnossos globin gene: first homozygous description in thalassemia intermedia Libyans and first combination with codon 39 (C→T) in thalassemia intermedia Tunisian patients.

BACKGROUND: ß-Thalassemia is the most common disease among hemoglobinopathies in North African and Arab populations. In the present study we report the first description of the ß-Knossos codon27 (G→T) (ßKnossos) allele in cis with the δ059 (-A) mutation in thalassemia intermedia patients in Tunisia and Libya. METHODS: This identification was carried out by sequencing analysis of the whole coding regions of the δ- and ß-globin genes. RESULTS: We noted that heterozygous inheritance of the ßKnossos mutation results in a mild ß-thalassemia phenotype with a low level of HbA2 while homozygous leads to intermediate ß-thalassemia with an atypical high performance liquid chromatogram showing a complete absence of HbA2 and HbF. Compound heterozygosity of the ßKnossos with ß0 codon39 (C→T) is identified in a Tunisian proband for the first time and gives rise to a mild phenotype. In both families, the δ0 codon59 (-A) and the ßKnossos alleles were found to be associated with a single Mediterranean ß-haplotype I similar to that observed in previous reports from Algeria, Egypt, Cyprus, and Turkey. CONCLUSIONS: The chromosome supporting the ßKnossos and the δ0 codon59 (-A) alleles seems to be of a single Mediterranean origin. Premarital screening studies in families in which only one of the parents has typical aspects of ß-thalassemia trait and the other has a normal HbA2 level associated with abnormal red cell indices becomes a necessity to avoid missing thalassemia carriers.

Contribution of ß-globin cluster polymorphisms to raise fetal hemoglobin levels in normal adults.

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) is a group of genetically heterogeneous conditions characterized by continued expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in adulthood. HPFH may be due not only to point mutations or large deletions in different regions of the cluster ß globin, but also to variations in several polymorphic sequences in this cluster. The objective of this work was to evaluate effects of polymorphic markers within cluster ß globin on HbF expression. For the purpose, we have explored in this first study of Tunisian HPFH four polymorphic regions of ß globin cluster in 68 healthy adults (34 subjects with high levels of HbF and 34 with normal HbF levels). Our results showed that the increase of HbF levels is associated with the -158 Gγ C â†’ T polymorphism, the TG(18)CG(2)CACG, TC TG(9)AG TG(2)CG(2) and TG(11)CG(4) configurations in the second intron of Gγ gene and the -540 ß (AT)(6)T(9) and (AT)(7)T(8) repeated sequences. Among the 34 subjects with raised levels of HbF, approximately 97% carried one or more of these six markers. This study suggests that there is a significant association between certain polymorphic configurations of the ß globin cluster and the increase of HbF levels in healthy individuals.

Fortuitous description of hemoglobin Hope in a high-level Tunisian athlete: molecular diagnosis and origin.

In this study we report the fortuitous description of hemoglobin (Hb) Hope in a Tunisian athlete. This Hb is one of hemoglobin variants that show a lower stability and oxygen affinity that is beneficial to tissue oxygen delivery. Hb Hope was isolated by automated high performance liquid chromatography and was unequivocally found to be Hb Hope using DNA-based methods: polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, direct DNA sequencing. Restriction haplotype showed that this Hb was supported by the Mediterranean haplotype I. Hb Hope was identified at first in a black African-American family and later in several other black and non black ethnic groups. All these descriptions raise the question of the Hb Hope origin. Recently, Hb Hope was reported in Thai in association with the same Mediterranean haplotype I. This favors that Tunisian and Thai Hb Hope would share a common Mediterranean origin, thus suggesting the possibility of a Mediterranean gene flow. On another hand, the observation of Hb Hope in a high level athlete would suggest a selection pressure of this Hb variant due to higher physical aptitude.

The asymmetric dilemma of renewable energy, financial development, and economic growth: fresh evidence from Pakistan.

According to economists, rapid economic growth depends on the active energy system of any country. Through financial development, the latest trend of globalization applies pressure on energy consumption, which eventually validates growth in the economy. Therefore, the role of financial development and renewable energy consumption on economic growth is still being questioned. This paper contributes to this issue by raising concerns about the possible asymmetric links among financial development, renewable energy, and economic growth along with capital and labor. Applying a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model, our paper demonstrates that neglecting the involvement of nonlinearities leads to confusing conclusions. Results show that variables of interest have asymmetric impacts in short- and long-runs. Our analysis shows that short- and long-run impacts of renewable energy consumption and financial development on growth vary significantly. Notably, this study finds that renewable energy consumption has a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the short- and long-runs, and financial development has a strong, asymmetric, and positive effect on economic growth in the short and negative effects in long-run. The findings also have important implications for policymakers as well as investors in Pakistan's energy sector.