Population Fertility Research Articles

The Dynamics of Natural Population Increase and Urbanization in East Africa: Heterogeneous Panel Data Analysis 1960–2020

The question of whether urbanization represents a boon or a bane for developing nations has triggered enduring discourse within academic and political spheres. Notwithstanding the persistent deliberations, scant attention has been devoted to examining the influence of natural population augmentation in propelling urbanization. Therefore, this study bridges this gap through a heterogeneous panel data analysis employing the use of Mean Group, Dynamic Fixed Effects and, Pooled Mean Group models, delving into the dynamics linking natural population increase and urbanization across the East African Countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania using data from World Bank spanning from 1960 to 2020. The findings reveal the significant and heterogeneous enduring impact of natural population increase on regional urbanization, intertwined with variables such as fertility rate and population growth. Moreover, findings reveal that migration have a higher influence on urbanization compared to natural population increase in the East African context. However, it is important to note that the extent of this influence varies across countries in the region. Drawing from these findings, the study underscores the imperative for member states to bolster socioeconomic provisions in rural domains, curtailing the influx of natural population increase into urban areas. Concurrently, embracing global population management agendas emerges as a vital stride toward attaining sustainable development and alleviating resource pressures. In sum, this study furnishes invaluable insights into the intricate facets of urbanization within developing realms, accentuating the exigency for bespoke strategies to surmount the distinctive challenges encountered by each sovereign nation.

Future prediction of Population, Birth and Fertility rates in India

Background: Fertility rates have been declining worldwide over the past fifty years, part of a phenomenon known as “the demographic transition”. Aims & Objectives: To draw on life history theory to examine the relationship between population density and fertility rate in India over 74 years. Material &Methods: The association between population versus Birth rate and population versus fertility rate was found using Correlation Analysis, to fit the models using Least square methods. Results: A robust association was found between population and fertility rate, population and Birth rate over the analyzed time period. Population, Birth rate, and Fertility rate for one decade were also forecasted using the best least square method. Conclusion: The analysis shows that the population is on an increasing trend and the Birth rate and fertility rate have decreased tendency.

Describing patterns of familial cancer risk in subfertile men using population pedigree data.

Can we simultaneously assess risk for multiple cancers to identify familial multicancer patterns in families of azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic men? Distinct familial cancer patterns were observed in the azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia cohorts, suggesting heterogeneity in familial cancer risk by both type of subfertility and within subfertility type. Subfertile men and their relatives show increased risk for certain cancers including testicular, thyroid, and pediatric. A retrospective cohort of subfertile men (N = 786) was identified and matched to fertile population controls (N = 5674). Family members out to third-degree relatives were identified for both subfertile men and fertile population controls (N = 337754). The study period was 1966-2017. Individuals were censored at death or loss to follow-up, loss to follow-up occurred if they left Utah during the study period. Azoospermic (0 × 106/mL) and severely oligozoospermic (<1.5 × 106/mL) men were identified in the Subfertility Health and Assisted Reproduction and the Environment cohort (SHARE). Subfertile men were age- and sex-matched 5:1 to fertile population controls and family members out to third-degree relatives were identified using the Utah Population Database (UPDB). Cancer diagnoses were identified through the Utah Cancer Registry. Families containing ≥10 members with ≥1 year of follow-up 1966-2017 were included (azoospermic: N = 426 families, 21 361 individuals; oligozoospermic: N = 360 families, 18818 individuals). Unsupervised clustering based on standardized incidence ratios for 34 cancer phenotypes in the families was used to identify familial multicancer patterns; azoospermia and severe oligospermia families were assessed separately. Compared to control families, significant increases in cancer risks were observed in the azoospermia cohort for five cancer types: bone and joint cancers hazard ratio (HR) = 2.56 (95% CI = 1.48-4.42), soft tissue cancers HR = 1.56 (95% CI = 1.01-2.39), uterine cancers HR = 1.27 (95% CI = 1.03-1.56), Hodgkin lymphomas HR = 1.60 (95% CI = 1.07-2.39), and thyroid cancer HR = 1.54 (95% CI = 1.21-1.97). Among severe oligozoospermia families, increased risk was seen for three cancer types: colon cancer HR = 1.16 (95% CI = 1.01-1.32), bone and joint cancers HR = 2.43 (95% CI = 1.30-4.54), and testis cancer HR = 2.34 (95% CI = 1.60-3.42) along with a significant decrease in esophageal cancer risk HR = 0.39 (95% CI = 0.16-0.97). Thirteen clusters of familial multicancer patterns were identified in families of azoospermic men, 66% of families in the azoospermia cohort showed population-level cancer risks, however, the remaining 12 clusters showed elevated risk for 2-7 cancer types. Several of the clusters with elevated cancer risks also showed increased odds of cancer diagnoses at young ages with six clusters showing increased odds of adolescent and young adult (AYA) diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.96-2.88] and two clusters showing increased odds of pediatric cancer diagnosis (OR = 3.64-12.63). Within the severe oligozoospermia cohort, 12 distinct familial multicancer clusters were identified. All 12 clusters showed elevated risk for 1-3 cancer types. An increase in odds of cancer diagnoses at young ages was also seen in five of the severe oligozoospermia familial multicancer clusters, three clusters showed increased odds of AYA diagnosis (OR = 2.19-2.78) with an additional two clusters showing increased odds of a pediatric diagnosis (OR = 3.84-9.32). Although this study has many strengths, including population data for family structure, cancer diagnoses and subfertility, there are limitations. First, semen measures are not available for the sample of fertile men. Second, there is no information on medical comorbidities or lifestyle risk factors such as smoking status, BMI, or environmental exposures. Third, all of the subfertile men included in this study were seen at a fertility clinic for evaluation. These men were therefore a subset of the overall population experiencing fertility problems and likely represent those with the socioeconomic means for evaluation by a physician. This analysis leveraged unique population-level data resources, SHARE and the UPDB, to describe novel multicancer clusters among the families of azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic men. Distinct overall multicancer risk and familial multicancer patterns were observed in the azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia cohorts, suggesting heterogeneity in cancer risk by type of subfertility and within subfertility type. Describing families with similar cancer risk patterns provides a new avenue to increase homogeneity for focused gene discovery and environmental risk factor studies. Such discoveries will lead to more accurate risk predictions and improved counseling for patients and their families. This work was funded by GEMS: Genomic approach to connecting Elevated germline Mutation rates with male infertility and Somatic health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): R01 HD106112). The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this work. N/A.

The Vaginal Microbiome Changes During Various Fertility Treatments.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of hormonal treatment on the vaginal microbiome during fertility treatments. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) could affect fecundity, particularly in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) population, where negative effects on pregnancy outcomes have been reported. It is hypothesized that the hormone treatment during fertility treatments could influence the abundance of Lactobacilli, with negative effects on the pregnancy results. A total of 53 couples attending a fertility clinic in the Netherlands between July 2019 and August 2022 were included in this prospective cohort study. Vaginal samples were collected at start of treatment, oocyte retrieval or insemination from subjects undergoing intra uterine insemination (IUI) with mild ovarian stimulation, and IVF or intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. AmpliSens® Florocenosis/Bacterial vaginosis-FRT qPCR and 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing were performed on all samples. In total, 140 swabs were analyzed, with a median of two swabs per person. 33 (24%) tested qPCR BV positive. Lactobacilli percentage decreased during fertility treatments, leading to changes in the vaginal microbiome. Shannon diversity index was not significantly different. Of the total of 53 persons, nine switched from qPCR BV negative to positive during treatment. The persons switching to qPCR BV positive had already a (not significant) higher Shannon diversity index at start of treatment. If the vaginal microbiome of persons deteriorates during fertility treatments, timing of following treatments, lifestyle modifications, or a freeze all strategy could be of possible benefit.

Study on the Fertility Intention of Wenzhou Residents and Its Influencing Factors under the Background of the Three-Child Policy

The continuing decline in fertility and population ageing are major social issues facing the world today. On the one hand, population aging leads to a decrease in the total workforce and a decline in productivity, and with the increase in the proportion of elderly people, the pressure on social security, such as pension insurance and medical resources, will gradually increase. On the other hand, the decline in fertility rate means that the supply of new labor force will be insufficient. Therefore, a large number of countries have implemented various fertility policies to encourage the public to increase the fertility rate, so as to solve the negative impacts of low fertility rate and population aging on social development. This paper stands on the background of the three-child policy and investigates the fertility intention of Wenzhou residents and its influencing factors. Taking Ouhai District of Wenzhou as an example, this paper investigates the fertility situation of Ouhai residents, fertility intention, and the influencing factors of fertility intention from 1980 to 2023, and puts forward the suggestions to promote the fertility intention of residents in Ouhai District. It is expected that this paper can provide reference value for relevant government departments to effectively promote the three-child policy, so that more families are willing to continue to give birth, and effectively solve the problems of population aging and low fertility rate that China is currently facing.

The Demographic Transition, with Data from Brazil

The demographic transition—the process through which declines in mortality precede declines in fertility, leading to a period of population growth and the long-term restructuring of the age composition—holds remarkable power to explain the state of our social world. In this visualization, I employ Brazilian demographic measures dating back to the 1870s to depict the interplay between mortality, fertility, growth rates, dependency ratios, and total population size within a single three-panel figure with a shared time axis. Over the course of nearly two centuries, fertility and mortality differentials contribute to a staggering 18-fold increase in Brazil’s population size and a dramatic rise in the proportion elderly. Although the data are drawn from a single country, Brazil’s patterns of demographic change are representative of those experienced in many other populations. A graph of demographic transition-era population dynamics alongside an understanding of various world regions’ positions along the x-axis can help to answer innumerable questions of great social importance.

Low haemoglobin in arduous seasons is associated with reduced chance of ovulation among women living in the Bolivian altiplano.

Female reproductive function flexibly responds to ecological variation in energy availability, but the roles of other ecologically limited resources, such as iron, remain poorly understood. This analysis investigates whether haemoglobin associates with investment in reproductive function in a rural natural fertility population living in the Bolivian altiplano. We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of prospectively collected biomarker and sociodemographic data, comprising 152 menstrual cycles from 96 non-contracepting women living at 3800 m altitude. Multivariable multilevel models were used to investigate (i) whether haemoglobin concentration is associated with ecological variation in subsistence strategy and seasonal conditions, and (ii) whether haemoglobin concentration is associated with the occurrence of ovulation and/or the concentration of luteal progesterone, two biomarkers of current investment in reproduction. Haemoglobin concentrations were lower in arduous seasons among those women more dependent on traditional agropastoral subsistence strategies (β = -0.42, 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.04, P = 0.032). During more arduous seasons, a 1 standard deviation increase in haemoglobin was associated with an over 3-fold increase in the odds of ovulation after adjusting for body fat, breastfeeding status, and age (adjusted odds ratio = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.10 to 9.27, P = 0.033). When conditions are relatively harsh and may be expected to improve, low haemoglobin levels are associated with lower current investment in reproduction and reduced fecundity. These results support the role of iron, independent of energy stores, as a limiting resource in modulating reproductive trade-offs.

Systematic Review on Factors Associated with Female Age at Marriage

Background: Female age at marriage is one of the major indicators of population dynamics associated with age at which marriable couples are united and simultaneously acts of giving new childbirth with new family roles. Occurrence of marriage before the body being physically fit and mentally matured results in many adverse consequences. However, less attentions have been given to the variability of female age at marriage which can be influenced by different factors. Objective: This review paper is an attempt to explore significant factors associated with female age at marriage, and to mark those factors as explained by model-based statistical effect size. Materials and Methods: Following the PRISMA- Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guideline, three databases EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus were used to identify relevant articles combining key search terms using Boolean operations. From these databases, a total of 605 eligible articles originally published in English language till the date of 20 November, 2023 were identified. Applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria only 17 papers which had used statistical models were ascertained for final review. Results: The effect size which was found significant at 0.05 level of significance explored that female’s education, place of residence, religion, caste/ethnicity, birth cohort, current age, female’s work status, type of occupation, wealth index, husband’s education are the major determinants, which are observed to be significantly associated with female age at marriage. Conclusion: Female age at marriage is found to be varied from place to place, region to region and country to country. As the level of education increased, the possibility of acquiring early age at marriage has been reduced significantly. The demographic, socio-economic, gender and community factors played significant roles at the timing of females age at marriages. Moreover, female age at marriage has a considerable impact on fertility measures and population structure. Hence, policy relating to improving female age at marriage and its associated effective enforcement of law are required to meet the SDGs targets.

A comparative study of soil fertility and biota population under organic, semi-organic, and conventional farming system of rice fields in Giriwoyo District, Wonogiri Regency, Indonesia

Continuous use of chemical fertilizers and farming practices in rice fields would reduce nutrient availability and biota population in the soil. Because soil biological linkages are sensitive to changes in soil function, changes in fauna and microbial populations can affect soil fertility. This study aimed to identify the condition of soil fertility and soil biota under various farming systems, namely organic, semi-organic, and conventional, and find the indicators that determine soil fertility index (SFI) in the research area. This research is a survey with the sampling method was purposive on the Land Mapping Unit (LMU) overlaid with thematic maps (land use, soil type, slope, and rainfall). The method analysis of SFI using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and scoring methods were used for the effect of farming systems using One-way, continued by DMRT, and determinant factor using Pearson’s. Correlation. The results illustrated that soil fertility was a moderate category. The highest SFI was in organic rice fields (0.69), then in semi-organic (0.62), and the lowest fertility was in conventional (0.59). Organic farming also showed the best soil biota conditions (0.27 individuals/liter of earthworms and 0.755 µ/g of microbial C biomass) compared to semi-organic (0.15 individuals/liter, 0.508 µ/g microbial C biomass) and conventional farming (0.11 individuals/liter, microbial biomass C 0.325 µ/g). Soil fertility and soil biota are positively correlated, meaning that the higher the soil fertility, the higher the density of soil biota. The soil indicators most determining fertility are total N, P-available, K-available, CEC, and organic C.

Perceived and Objective Fertility Risk Among Female Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer

Fertility is important to many survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, yet data on this population's fertility perceptions and their alignment with objective infertility risk are scant. To assess whether estimated treatment gonadotoxicity and posttreatment menstrual pattern are associated with higher infertility risk perception. This retrospective cohort study included female young adult survivors of cancer diagnosed between ages 15 and 39 years were recruited between March 25, 2015, and September 24, 2018, from 2 state cancer registries, social media, and clinician referrals to participate in a study of posttreatment ovarian function. Data analysis occurred between March 1 and September 1, 2022. Participants reported their menstrual pattern. Estimated treatment gonadotoxicity was ascertained through medical record review. Participants reported infertility risk perception and were categorized as increased risk (feeling less fertile or unable to become pregnant) or no increased risk (feeling more or as fertile) compared with female individuals their age. Objective infertility risk was determined by estimated gonadotoxicity, menstrual pattern, and ovarian reserve testing of self-collected dried blood spots. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with perceived infertility and underestimation or overestimation of infertility risk. This study included 785 female participants with a mean (SD) age of 33.2 (4.8) years at enrollment and 25.9 (5.7) years at diagnosis. Most participants self-identified their race and ethnicity as White (585 [74.5%]) and non-Hispanic (628 [78.7%]). Most participants (483 [61.5%]) perceived a higher risk of infertility compared with female participants their age. Prior exposure to moderate- or high-gonadotoxicity treatments was associated with higher odds of perceiving increased infertility risk compared with exposure to low-gonadotoxicity treatments (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.73 [95% CI, 1.87-3.97] and 15.39 [95% CI, 5.52-42.96], respectively). Amenorrhea and irregular cycles were associated with higher odds of perceiving increased infertility risk (AOR, 3.98 [95% CI, 2.13-7.41] and 1.69 [95% CI, 1.19-2.40], respectively). Perceived infertility risk had minimal agreement with objective risk (κ = 0.19). Multiparity (AOR, 4.17 [95% CI, 2.61-6.64]) was associated with increased odds of underestimation, while older age (AOR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.89-0.98]), endocrine comorbidity (AOR, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.18-0.69]), and prior infertility (AOR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.07-0.38]) were associated with lower odds of underestimation. Multiparity (AOR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.27-0.86]), breast cancer (AOR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.20-0.73]), and skin cancer (AOR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.11-0.51]) were associated with lower odds of overestimation. In this cohort study, survivors of AYA cancer had high rates of perceiving increased infertility risk but frequently overestimated or underestimated their risk. These findings suggest that counseling on infertility risk throughout survivorship may reduce misalignment between perceptions and actual risk, decrease fertility-related psychological distress, and inform family planning decisions.

HIV Drug Resistance Mutations and Subtype Profiles among Pregnant Women of Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam.

According to the latest data released by UNAIDS, the global number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2021 was 38.4 million, with 1.5 million new HIV infections. In different countries, a significant proportion of these cases occur in the adult fertile population aged 15-49 years. According to UNAIDS, Vietnam had a national HIV prevalence of 0.3% of the total population at the end of 2019, with approximately 230,000 PLHIV. The most effective way to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV is ART to reduce maternal viral load. HIV-infected pregnant women should undergo monthly monitoring, especially before the expected date of delivery. The aim of our work was to analyze subtypic structure and drug-resistant variants of HIV in pregnant women in Ho Chi Minh City. The study material was blood plasma samples from HIV-infected pregnant women: 31 women showed virological failure of ART, and 30 women had not previously received therapy. HIV-1 genotyping and mutation detection were performed based on analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the pol gene region. More than 98% of sequences genotyped as HIV-1 sub-subtype CRF01_AE. When assessing the occurrence of drug resistance mutations, genetic resistance to any drug was detected in 74.41% (95% CI: 62.71-85.54%) of patients. These included resistance mutations to protease inhibitors in 60.66% (95% CI: 47.31-72.93%) of patients, to NRTIs in 8.20% (95% CI: 2.72-18.10%), and to NNRTIs in 44.26% (95% CI: 31.55-57.52%). Mutations associated with NRTI (2) and NNRTI (8) resistance as well as PI mutations (12), including minor ones, were identified. The high prevalence of drug resistance mutations found in this study among pregnant women, both in therapeutically naive individuals and in patients with virological failure of ART, indicates that currently used regimens in Vietnam are insufficient to prevent vertical HIV infection.

Extinguishing the Fire at Both Ends: The Dual Family-Caregiving Stress of the Sandwich Generation of China’s “4-2-2” Families

China’s fertility policy and population aging have produced many “4-2-2”–structured sandwich families, placing the sandwich generation under dual caregiving stress. Through reflective lifeworld research and multilevel interviews with 14 “4-2-2” families, we confirmed that the essence of “dual stress” was the competing responsibilities of caring for older adults and children. This essence can be further illustrated by the vulnerability of the cared-for, lack of emotional resources, socio-educational anxiety, and family livelihood pressure. In addition, the dual stress can jeopardize the well-being of the sandwich generation as family caregivers. However, this dilemma can be alleviated by intergenerational support-balancing, alternative digital-technology, and complementary social-care strategies. Understanding the lifeworld of sandwich families presents practical approaches and policy implications for caregiving-support systems.

Apolipoprotein-ε4 is associated with higher fecundity in a natural fertility population.

In many populations, the apolipoprotein-ε4 (APOE-ε4) allele increases the risk for several chronic diseases of aging, including dementia and cardiovascular disease; despite these harmful effects at later ages, the APOE-ε4 allele remains prevalent. We assess the impact of APOE-ε4 on fertility and its proximate determinants (age at first reproduction, interbirth interval) among the Tsimane, a natural fertility population of forager-horticulturalists. Among 795 women aged 13 to 90 (20% APOE-ε4 carriers), those with at least one APOE-ε4 allele had 0.3 to 0.5 more children than (ε3/ε3) homozygotes, while those with two APOE-ε4 alleles gave birth to 1.4 to 2.1 more children. APOE-ε4 carriers achieve higher fertility by beginning reproduction 0.8 years earlier and having a 0.23-year shorter interbirth interval. Our findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting a need for studies of populations living in ancestrally relevant environments to assess how alleles that are deleterious in sedentary urban environments may have been maintained by selection throughout human evolutionary history.

Male Infertility and the Risk of Developing Testicular Cancer: A Critical Contemporary Literature Review.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between male infertility (MI) and testicular cancer (TC) is bilateral. On one hand, it is well-established that patients diagnosed with TC have a high risk of pre- and post-treatment infertility. On the other hand, the risk of developing TC in male infertile patients is not clearly defined. The objective of this review is to analyze the histopathological, etiological, and epidemiological associations between MI and the risk of developing testicular cancer. This review aims to provide further insights and offer a guide for assessing the risk factors for TC in infertile men. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies discussing the relationship between MI and the risk of developing TC. Results: The incidence rates of germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) appear to be high in infertile men, particularly in those with low sperm counts. Most epidemiological studies have found a statistically significant risk of developing TC among infertile men compared to the general or fertile male populations. The concept of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome provides an explanatory model for the common etiology of MI, TC, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias. Clinical findings such as a history of cryptorchidism could increase the risk of developing TC in infertile men. Scrotal ultrasound evaluation for testis lesions and microlithiasis is important in infertile men. Sperm analysis parameters can be useful in assessing the risk of TC among infertile men. In the future, sperm and serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may be utilized for the non-invasive early diagnosis of TC and GCNIS in infertile men. Conclusions: MI is indeed a risk factor for developing testicular cancer, as demonstrated by various studies. All infertile men should undergo a risk assessment using clinical examination, ultrasound, and semen parameters to evaluate their risk of TC.

지방소멸방지를 위한 특별자치도의 정책방안 연구

The decrease in local population breaks the balance with the economic development of the region, fails to realize decentralization and balanced development, and eventually approaches the crisis of local extinction. The main causes of the population decline in the provinces were the natural decrease due to the low fertility rate and population aging, and the larger factor, the social decrease (population outflow). In the Special Self-Governing Province, it is necessary to break away from the policy practice of the central government and actively prepare policy measures to respond to local extinction by using its own special authority and position. Since the policy establishment of the central government related to the population decline crisis, such as the 「Basic Act on Low Fertility and Aging Society」 in 2006, was promoted in a uniform way, there are many problems that do not properly reflect the characteristics of each local government and the situation at the site. Accordingly, five measures are proposed for the Special Self-Governing Province to establish policy measures that are sustainable and reflect regional specialization.

P-235 Influence of female karyotype polymorphic variants on oocyte quality and embryo development

Abstract Study question Do polymorphic variants in the karyotype of women undergoing an IVF cycle directly affect oocyte and embryo laboratory parameters? Summary answer The presence of certain polymorphic variants negatively affects the oocyte survival rate and the blastocyst quality in an IVF cycle. What is known already In the recent years, there has been a growing interest in the study of polymorphic variants in infertile patients because their incidence, compared to the fertile population, is increased. However, most research has focused on the male patient study. Several studies have reported information about clinical outcomes, but the influence they may have on IVF laboratory procedures and embryo development has rarely been studied up to the blastocyst stage. In addition, it is very rare to find publications that show the study of polymorphisms according to their type or combination. Study design, size, duration Retrospective evaluation of a cohort of women who underwent autologous IVF cycles and karyotyping. The sample included 424 IVF cycles performed between July 2017-December 2021: control group (CG) with normal karyotype (211) and study group (SG) with polymorphisms (213). We studied the correlation between karyotype polymorphisms and laboratory outcomes in terms of: Number of Oocytes Retrieved, Fresh Oocyte Maturity (MII), Oocyte Survival after Thawing (TS), Fertilization (FZ), Oocyte Degeneration (OD) and Non-viable embryo rates. Participants/materials, setting, methods Analysis of the women karyotype, prior to the IVF cycle, was performed using the guidelines of the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN). Differences between the different study groups (presence or absence of different chromosomal polymorphisms) were assessed with the appropriate statistical test according to the normality or non-normality of the variable distribution. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software (v.4.2.0) and SPSS (v.23.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Main results and the role of chance Average female age was 37.72 ± 3.98 (CG) and 36.73 ± 3.59 (SG). Average number of mature oocytes (MII) was: 6.45 ± 4.96(CG) and 7.59 ± 5.10 (SG). Statistically significant differences were found regarding the number of oocytes retrieved between the CG (8.14 ± 5.90) and the SG (9.53 ± 6.63) (p = 0.036), increasing when the ps+ variant was present (9.75 ± 7.21) (p = 0.045). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the presence of polymorphism (SG) and the CG in terms of: number of MII: 79.85% vs. 80.48% (p = 0.447), FZ: 73.76% vs. 70.49% (p = 0.352) and OD: 8.76% vs. 8.36% (p = 0.563) rates. In addition, the TS rate was statistically significant when there was the ps+ variant (82.95%) (p = 0.010) and/or combinations of more than one polymorphic variant (87.80%) (p = 0.044), compared to the CG (93.51%). Finally, according to embryo quality there was an increase in the non-viable embryos rate, on day 5 and/or day 6 of development, between the CG (34.17%) and the SG (43.02%) (p &amp;lt; 0.001), increasing when the ps+ variable was present (45.57%) (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and/or combinations of more than one polymorphic variant (p = 0.045). The results were corrected for confounding variables such as maternal age, oocyte origin and male factor variables, including polymorphic variants in the male karyotype. Limitations, reasons for caution Other variables that have not been analyzed may influence the outcomes. Larger prospective studies including homogeneous cohorts are needed in order to corroborate our initial results. Wider implications of the findings The polymorphic variants in the female karyotype, especially the “ps+” variant and the combination of multiple variants, could influence certain parameters in the laboratory. Therefore, it is important to request a karyotype to all patients before starting IVF treatment. Trial registration number NOT APPLICABLE

Ovarian Cancer in Iran: National Based Study.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the 7th most common cancer, with 239,000 new cases per year. In Iran, it is the 8th most common cancer, with an ASIR of 3.9/100,000 women. The 5-year overall survival in Iran based on previous studies is about 61% which in comparison with eastern countries has better survival. The study included patients from the Iran National Cancer Registry from 2009-2014. Several steps were taken to control data quality. This study used a Kaplan-Meier survival curve to compare OC survival rates across geographical, pathological, and other variables. All analyses were done in R (4.02) and SPSS (26), with a 0.05 P-value considered statistically significant. The study enrolled 7977 cases of OC. OC's ASIR was 4.10/100,000. In epithelial and non-specific OC, ASIR was >0.5. Five-year survival was 55% and 10-year survival was 45%. OC is the 8th most common cancer in Iran, with lower age-specific incidence and better overall survival than East Asia and North America. In Iran, as in Eastern Europe, OC incidence correlated with reduced total fertility rate and population aging. Five and 10-year overall survival rates were 55% and 44%, respectively, higher than the West. This may be because late stage OC patients are excluded from pathology and classified as "undiagnosed" in death certificates or hospitalization files.

Comparison on two different methods for assessment of population fertility of the Okhotsk herring on the data of standard roe survey

The main part of the spawning grounds of herring in the northwestern Okhotsk Sea, from the Ayan Bay to the Eirineiskaya Bay, was surveyed on June 3–21, 2022 using standard methods of the roe diving survey. In order to rationalize the survey methodology, the herring population fertility (PF) was evaluated using two different approaches. The first is a standard method (described by Farkhutdinov, 2005) with calculation of the spawning ground areas and the roe density (RD) for each of them. The second method is based on the relationship between the total area of spawning grounds and PF detected previously by Dulenin and Didenko (2021). The spawning conditions for Okhotsk herring were abnormal in 2022. Just before the mass spawning, a strong storm had destroyed many spawning substrates and redistributed the spawning shoals of herring in the coastal zone. As the result, mean RD was extremely low – 1075318 eggs/m2 (long-term average value was 4170320 eggs/m2), but herring spawned in new areas, additionally to usual spawning grounds, so the total area of surveyed spawning grounds was rather large, as 38.68 km2. The population fertility calculated for this total area using the relationship between these indices was 182 . 1012 eggs that corresponded to the spawning stock number (SSN) of 6.513 . 109 ind. and the spawning stock biomass (SSB) of 1.823 . 106 t. These estimates match well with results of the stock assessment by other methods. On the contrary, unrealistic low assessments were provided using the routine method with calculation of RD on the annually surveyed spawning grounds (PF 51 . 1012 eggs, SSN 1.936 . 109 ind., SSB 0.542 . 106 t), because the spawning on destructed substrate could not represent adequately the state of the herring population during 2–3 years, until restoration of the algae belt. Besides, the standard method for data processing of the roe diving surveys is based on a number of non-formalized subjective assessments and assumptions that cannot ensure verification of the survey results. In opposite to this disadvantage, the calculation of PF by the area of spawning grounds is methodologically simple and allows to use remotely operated underwater vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and geographic information systems, with complete hardware and software documentation of survey materials. Thus, the PF evaluation using its relationship with the total area of spawning grounds is recommended for introduction as the main method of the Okhotsk herring stock assessment.

Impact of preconception thyrotrophin on obstetric outcomes in the fertile population

IntroductionThere is evidence that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with infertility, miscarriage and obstetric complications. However, there is controversy regarding the optimal TSH value in women seeking pregnancy.Current guidelines recommend that hypothyroid women with levothyroxine replacement who are planning pregnancy should optimise the dose of levothyroxine to achieve thyrotrophin (TSH) levels <2.5 mU/l, since these requirements increase in pregnancy, thus reducing the risk of TSH elevation during the first trimester.In women with infertility, who undergo highly complex treatments and have positive thyroid autoimmunity, values of TSH <2.5 mU/l prior to fertility treatment are suggested.Although this is a different population, these «optimal» TSH levels were also extended to euthyroid women without evidence of infertility, who are seeking pregnancy. ObjectivesDetermine whether preconception TSH levels between 2.5 and 4.64 mIU/l are associated with adverse obstetric outcomes in euthyroid women. Materials and methodsRetrospective cohort study. We evaluated 3265 medical records of pregnant women aged 18–40 years, euthyroid (TSH 0.5–4.64 mU/ml), with TSH measurement at least one year before gestation. 1779 met inclusion criteria. The population was divided according to categories: TSH 0.5–2.4 mU/l (optimal) and TSH 2.5–4.6 mU/l (suboptimal). Information on maternal and fetal obstetric outcomes was collected from each group. ResultsWe found no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse obstetric events between the two groups. There was also no difference when adjusting for thyroid autoimmunity, age, body mass index, previous diabetes and previous arterial hypertension. ConclusionOur results suggest that the reference range of TSH used in the general population could be used in women seeking pregnancy, even in the presence of thyroid autoimmunity. Treatment with levothyroxine should be considered only in patients with special situations.

Reference ranges of anti-Müllerian hormone and interaction with placental biomarkers in early pregnancy: the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study.

The primary objective of this study is to establish maternal reference values of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in a fertile multi-ethnic urban pregnant population and to evaluate the effect of gestational age. The secondary objective of this study is to explore the association between AMH and placental biomarkers. This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study from early pregnancy onwards. City of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, out of hospital setting. In 5806 women, serum AMH levels were determined in early pregnancy (median 13.5 weeks; 95% range 10.5-17.2). None. Maternal AMH levels in early pregnancy and its association with placental biomarkers, including human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT), and placental growth factor (PLGF). A nomogram of AMH in early pregnancy was developed. Serum AMH levels showed a decline with advancing gestational age. Higher AMH levels were associated with a higher level of the placental biomarkers hCG and sFLT in early pregnancy. This last association was predominantly mediated by hCG. AMH levels were negatively associated with PLGF levels. In this large study, we show that AMH levels in early pregnancy decrease with advancing gestational age. The association between AMH and the placental biomarkers hCG, sFLT, and PLGF suggests a better placental development with lower vascular resistance in mothers with higher AMH levels. Hence, AMH might be useful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes due to impaired placental development.