National Human Research Articles

Risk of Cervical Abnormalities for Women With Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Moderate-Efficacy and High-Efficacy Disease-Modifying Therapies.

The impact of immunomodulatory therapies on the risk of cervical pre-cancer and invasive cancer development is important for the health and safety of women with multiple sclerosis (wwMS). We investigate the risk of cervical abnormalities in wwMS treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). This is a multicenter cohort study with data collected from 1998 to 2019 in Victoria, Australia. Data linkage was performed using matching records from the MSBase Registry, the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program Register, and the Victorian Cervical Cytology Register. The primary outcome was the detection of any type of cervical abnormality as determined by cytology or histology. Survival methods were used to assess the time to cervical abnormality detection on cervical screening tests (CSTs). Crude and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine time to and magnitude of association of DMTs with the risk of cervical abnormality. In a sensitivity analysis, we constructed standardized survival curves averaged over the same set of covariates to determine the commensurate population-average (marginal) causal effects. We included 248 wwMS. The incidence of abnormal CSTs was lower (p < 0.001) for women not exposed to moderate-high-efficacy therapy (10.2 per 1,000 patient-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5-14.9]), compared with those exposed (36.6 per 1,000 patient-years [95% CI 21.7-51.6]). Exposure to higher efficacy treatment was associated with a 3.79-fold increased hazard (95% CI 2.02-7.08, p < 0.001) of developing a cervical abnormality relative to those not exposed. When adjusted for vaccination status, smoking, hormonal contraceptive use, and socioeconomic status, the risk remained elevated at 3.79 (95% CI 1.99-7.21, p < 0.001). Marginal hazard ratios declined over time, ranging from 3.90 (95% CI 2.09-7.27) at 20 years of age to 2.06 (95% CI 1.14-3.73) at 70 years of age. A greater than three-and-a-half-fold increased risk of cervical abnormalities was found after exposure to moderate-high-efficacy DMTs. This risk persisted despite adjusting for HPV vaccination status, hormonal contraception use, smoking, and socioeconomic status. If confirmed in future studies, we would advocate for wwMS exposed to moderate-high-efficacy DMTs to be treated in line with immune-deficient paradigm in cervical screening and HPV vaccination programs. This study provides Class III evidence that highly active MS therapy compared with less active therapy increases the risk of developing cervical abnormalities among women with MS.

Interests convergence in global human rights politics

Abstract What explains the convergence and divergence of states’ interests related to global human rights? This study examines the dyadic similarity of the language used in the multilateral dialogue focusing on the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). The joint activities of NGOs influence states, and human rights norms are transmitted through IGOs. Using text analysis methods, the similarity between state recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is systematically quantified. Analyses suggest that a pair of states are more likely to use similar language in UPR recommendations as the number of joint activities of NGOs, shared memberships in IGOs, and shared experience in the UNHRC increases. The effects are robust even after controlling for different types of political relationships between states.

A UNHRC Resolution of Questionable Legality on Sri Lanka and its Importance as a Catalyst for Future UN Reform

From 2012-2019, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a series of resolutions on Sri Lanka calling for accountability for war crimes and other crimes purportedly committed during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This paper challenges the traditional narrative regarding the resolutions – ie that it was a well-intentioned effort by the sponsoring nations, the United States (US) and its allies, to foster peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Instead, this paper argues that in pursuing the resolutions, the UNHRC has violated the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN Charter) as well as the UNHRC’s founding documents. The author contends that, through these resolutions, the US and its allies have developed a series of innovative tactics to enable them to intervene in the internal affairs of weak nations by using the UNHRC as a conduit. It is in the interest of the friends of the United Nations (UN) and, in general, all persons who value the rule of law in international affairs to know about what has happened so that they can advocate for the relevant reforms in order to prevent the UN from losing its credibility any further.

New National and International Processes of Human Dimensions of the Environmental Rights

Due to activities such as illegal deforestation, production of chemicals and plastics, exploitation of fossil fuels, and other large-scale extractive activities, businesses operating in the global economy routinely compromise human rights to have a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment. This human right was recognized by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2021 and it includes fundamental rights related to clean air, safe climate, access to safe water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainable food production, informal environments for living and working, studying and playing, and biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem. By jeopardizing this human right related to nature, life, health, livelihood, and sustainable development, business activists threaten the life prospects of billions of people. The most vulnerable beneficiaries affected by commercial activities such as children, women, indigenous peoples, local communities, farmers, people with disabilities, and especially those whose identity exists in multiple vulnerable groups usually face the most difficult barriers, including financial, language, information barriers, social labeling associated with human rights violations, lack of access to legal representation, and corruption of law enforcement officials, to adopt effective solutions. When victims in countries with limited law enforcement and economic capacity face corruption and other weaknesses in the rule of law, and when justice must be served through transnational legal actions that are beyond the capacity of most human rights victims, solutions effectively are particularly elusive.

Selection, optimization and validation of ten chronic disease polygenic risk scores for clinical implementation in diverse US populations

Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) have improved in predictive performance, but several challenges remain to be addressed before PRSs can be implemented in the clinic, including reduced predictive performance of PRSs in diverse populations, and the interpretation and communication of genetic results to both providers and patients. To address these challenges, the National Human Genome Research Institute-funded Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network has developed a framework and pipeline for return of a PRS-based genome-informed risk assessment to 25,000 diverse adults and children as part of a clinical study. From an initial list of 23 conditions, ten were selected for implementation based on PRS performance, medical actionability and potential clinical utility, including cardiometabolic diseases and cancer. Standardized metrics were considered in the selection process, with additional consideration given to strength of evidence in African and Hispanic populations. We then developed a pipeline for clinical PRS implementation (score transfer to a clinical laboratory, validation and verification of score performance), and used genetic ancestry to calibrate PRS mean and variance, utilizing genetically diverse data from 13,475 participants of the All of Us Research Program cohort to train and test model parameters. Finally, we created a framework for regulatory compliance and developed a PRS clinical report for return to providers and for inclusion in an additional genome-informed risk assessment. The initial experience from eMERGE can inform the approach needed to implement PRS-based testing in diverse clinical settings.

Associations between serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and thyroid hormones in Chinese adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional study

Disruption of thyroid homeostasis has been indicated in human studies on the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). However, limited research exists on this topic within the general Chinese population. Based on a substantial and representative sample of the Chinese adult population, our study provides insight into how PFASs specifically affect thyroid homeostasis. The study included 10 853 participants, aged 18 years and above, sampled from nationally representative data provided by the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM). Weighted multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to explore the associations between eight individual PFAS concentrations and total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and the T4/T3 ratio. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) were employed to explore the joint and independent effects of PFASs on thyroid homeostasis. Both individual PFASs and PFAS mixtures exhibited a significant inverse association with serum T3 and T4 levels, and displayed a positive association with the T4/T3 ratio. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) [–0.07 (95 % confidence interval (CI): –0.08, –0.05)] exhibited the largest change in T3 level. PFUnDA also exhibited a higher weight compared to other PFAS compounds in qgcomp models. Additionally, a critical exposure threshold for each PFAS was identified based on nonlinear dose–response associations; beyond these thresholds, the decreases in T3 and T4 levels plateaued. Specifically, for perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA), an initial decline in hormone levels was observed, followed by a slight increase when concentrations surpassed 0.7 ng/mL and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively. Sex-specific effects were more pronounced in females, and significant associations were observed predominantly in younger age groups. These insights contribute to our understanding of how PFAS compounds impact thyroid health and emphasize the need for further research and environmental management measures to address these complexities.

Mediating Role of Liver Dysfunction in the Association between Arsenic Exposure and Diabetes in Chinese Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) 2017-2018.

Inconsistent results have been reported regarding the association between low-to-moderate arsenic (As) exposure and diabetes. The effect of liver dysfunction on As-induced diabetes remains unclear. The cross-sectional study included 10,574 adults from 2017-2018 China National Human Biomonitoring. Urinary total As (TAs) levels were analyzed as markers of As exposure. Generalized linear mixed models and restricted cubic splines models were used to examine the relationships among TAs levels, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations, and diabetes prevalence. Mediating analysis was performed to assess whether liver dysfunction mediated the association between TAs and diabetes. Overall, the OR (95% CI) of diabetes in participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of TAs were 1.08 (0.88, 1.33), 1.17 (0.94, 1.45), and 1.52 (1.22, 1.90), respectively, in the fully adjusted models compared with those in the lowest quartile. Serum ALT was positively associated with TAs and diabetes. Additionally, mediation analyses showed that ALT mediated 4.32% of the association between TAs and diabetes in the overall population and 8.86% in the population without alcohol consumption in the past year. This study suggested that alleviating the hepatotoxicity of As could have implications for both diabetes and liver disease.

‘So…What Exactly Is To Be Done?’: The National Implementation of Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities According to the United Nations Human Rights System

This article explores the specific measures that States should adopt for the national implementation of reasonable accommodations —a key feature of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a critical tool in addressing disability equality and non-discrimination. It argues that the Convention itself offers limited guidance on this issue, suggesting that State Parties should turn to the practices of UN human right bodies for orientation, despite acknowledging challenges in doing so. The main finding highlights that the national implementation of reasonable accommodations demands a series of measures across different domains, emphasizing that mere incorporation into national legislation is necessary but not sufficient.

The State of National Institute of Health Awards for funding genetic counseling research, resources, and training over the past decade.

Research related to the practice of genetic counseling has historically been accomplished through student projects, small private grants, or as a part of a larger research study. Yet, recent initiatives supported by the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the National Human Genome Research Institute have recognized and promoted the need for additional genetic counseling research funding and training. In this study, we aimed to characterize awards from the United States' National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the past 10 years that support research related to genetic counseling. Asearch of the NIH RePORTER database conducted on April 25, 2022, using terms broadly related to genetic counseling, identified 3993 awards from fiscal years 2011 to 2022. After deduplication, 1231 grants were reviewed for screening. The final dataset included 43 awards of various types with the majority being research or R series grants [R01 (n = 17), R21 (n = 7)]. The remaining awards were Cooperative Agreements (U01, n = 6), intramural (Z-grants, n = 5), Center Core (P30, n = 2), Specialized Center (P50, n = 1), Career Development Award (K01, n = 1), Other Transactions (OT2, n = 1), Resource Program (G13, n = 1), and Research Training and Fellowship (T32, n = 1). Most grants were awarded between 2019 and 2022 (n = 24, 55.8%). The majority of awards were categorized as studies that included a comparison of different genetic counseling models (n = 23), outcomes of implementing genetic counseling (n = 11), core resources for genetic counselors (n = 5), and genetic counseling training programs (n = 4). Thirteen of the awards (30.2%) had a specific aim/goal/focus on underserved or underrepresented populations. The topics were predominantly related to cancer (n = 26). Nine awards were led or co-led by a genetic counselor (20.9%). Despite significant growth in genetic counseling research support from US-based funders over the past 3 years, major gaps related to funding exist, including that most award recipients are not genetic counselors.

Daniel Billy et al v Australia (Torres Strait Islanders Petition): Climate change inaction as a human rights violation

AbstractThis case note analyses in detail the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRComm) in Daniel Billy et al v Australia. The decision concerned a communication brought by members of an indigenous peoples' group from the Torres Strait Islands in the state of Queensland, Australia. The applicants claimed that their human rights had been violated as a result of the State's failure to take mitigation and adaptation measures to combat the effects of climate change. The HRComm's finding of a violation of the applicants' human rights deserves a closer look, as it has broader implications for future climate change‐related human rights litigation. While the HRComm missed the opportunity to consider the State's human rights obligations concerning climate change mitigation, this decision represents an important milestone in climate change litigation, as it confirms a State's obligation to protect a community from adverse climate change effects and recognises the specific vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples and their cultures to its impacts.

Socio-economic, demographic, and contextual predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria.

Malnutrition has remained a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Researchers have committed to studying malnutrition (especially in children under the age of five) to address the nine malnutrition targets, set by the WHO to be achieved by 2025. This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence, the individual and contextual predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months across Nigeria and its states. Two separates, independently collected, nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the National Human Development Report (NHDR 2018) and the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) were linked for this study. Spatial map was used to describe the prevalence of malnutrition, a 3-level multivariate multilevel logistic regression models were fitted where children/individuals (at level 1) were nested in communities/clusters (at level 2) and nested in states (at level 3). A weighted sample of 7,770 children 6-59 months were considered in this study. The results showed that an estimated 43.6% of children aged 6-59 months are poorly nourished in Nigeria. The proportions of poorly nourished children were generally highest in the Northern Nigeria. Child's gender, age, birth size, preceding birth order, anaemia status, maternal education, work status, body weight, household wealth status, number of bedrooms were among individual/household predictors of malnutrition. On the community level, being from community with high wealth index, distance to nearest health facilities is no big problem. Regional variations and gender inequality index were the state level predictors of malnutrition among children in Nigeria. This study has shown that two-third of children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria were poorly nourished, an indication of a growing concern of double burden of malnutrition in Nigeria.

The Ambiguity and Complexity of the Right to SelfDetermination: A Legal and Political Perspective

This article critically explores the ambiguity and complexity inherent in the right to self-determination from both legal and political perspectives. It discusses the concept's imprecise nature, especially in terms of its application beyond the colonial context. Adopting the doctrinal approach, this paper scrutinizes various international legal instruments, such as the United Nations Charter and Human Rights Covenants, and their interpretations that have contributed to the ongoing debates surrounding self-determination. It highlights the intersection of law and politics, exemplified in instances of secession, increased autonomy, and democratic participation. Additionally, the article addresses the controversial aspect of collective versus individual rights in the context of self-determination. Through an examination of influential cases and political events, such as the Western Sahara Case and Kosovo's declaration of independence, the article illustrates the practical challenges and consequences of applying the self-determination principle. Conclusively, the paper argues for a clearer and more precise understanding of self-determination to facilitate its effective implementation in international relations

An inverse causal relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and pulmonary hypertension: A two-sample Mendelianrandomization study.

Observational studies have confirmed that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), but the causal association between each other is unclear. Therefore, Mendelian randomization (MR) method was performed to validate the causal association between PH and serum 25(OH)D levels. The summary data for 25(OH)D and PH were from the National Human Genome Research Institute-European Bioinformatics Institute. Catalog of human genome-wide association studies and FinnGen biobank consortium. MR analysis was utilized to explore the potential causal association between PH and 25(OH)D. To evaluate this association, inverse variance weighting was considered as the primary method. Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and "leave-one-out" sensitivity analyses were utilized to control the pleiotropy and heterogeneity in the study. Two-sample MR analysis revealed an inverse causal relationship between 25(OH)D and PH (odds ratio: 0.376, 95% confidence interval: 0.162-0.876, p = 2.334 × 10-2). There was no significant heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The present study confirmed the inverse causal relationship between 25(OH)D and PH. This pathway may provide another treatment pathway in PH. Further studies to elucidate this pathway is indicated.

The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: A Fertile Ground for the Protection of the Environment?

Although the European system for the protection of human rights still does not explicitly recognize the right to a healthy environment as a human right, in recent decades, there has been an increasing trend of using the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to solve environmental protection issues. In this regard, analyzing and applying the standards created by the European Court of Human Rights in environmental cases is necessary to strengthen national legislation, to practice, and face growing environmental challenges. The authors analyze the relationship between environmental and human rights, arguing the need to establish a normative link between both to systematically implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for future generations. The central part of the paper is dedicated to research, analysis and assessment of the condition and status of environmental rights that have developed based on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. The relationship between environmental protection and human rights as a synergistic conception in general international law has also found a place in this study, since the European regional legal system in this regard cannot be adequately explored without proper perception and understanding of the universal system of the protection of human rights and the environment, which is conceptually well reflected in multiple Sustainable Development Goals. In order to continue finding the most efficient international institutional protection mechanisms, it is essential to consistently detect and present the international normative framework that recognizes the right to a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment as a human right. Relying on the latter, the authors present and problematize the issue of recognizing the right to a healthy environment as a human right in adopting the 2021 United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution that prescribed the right to a healthy environment as a human right.

A Review on the Facts causing the Complaint and the Counting Theory of Human Rights Violations in the Complaint Procedure of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea

A Review on the Facts causing the Complaint and the Counting Theory of Human Rights Violations in the Complaint Procedure of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea

Entendendo o apoio dos países muçulmanos às ações da China em Xinjiang: uma análise qualitativa e comparativa

Abstract This study examines why 23 Muslim-majority countries supported China at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN/HRC) in 2019, despite allegations of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Using a fuzzy-set qualitative-comparative analysis (fsQCA), we compared the factors that led Muslim-majority and non-Muslim countries to support China. Our analysis found that Political Regime Affinity (PRA) was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for Muslim-majority countries to support China, while China’s Foreign Aid (ODA) was a necessary but not sufficient condition for non-Muslim countries. These findings suggest that ideological factors, related to the autocratic political regime (PRA), played a significant role in Muslim-majority countries’ decision to support China in the UN/HRC in 2019. However, it is important to note that other factors may have also been involved. These findings have important implications for understanding the complexities of international relations and the factors that shape states behaviour.

Understanding Formal Localization of OER: Remixing United Nations Human Rights Resources in Ghana

Understanding Formal Localization of OER: Remixing United Nations Human Rights Resources in Ghana

Türkiye İnsan Hakları Ve Eşitlik Kurumuna Yapılan Şikayet Başvurularında Kabul Edilebilirlik Koşulları

Ulusal insan hakları kurumları (UİHK), insanların temel haklarının ulusal düzeyde korunması ve geliştirilmesi için önemli mekanizmalar olarak kabul edilmektedir. 2016 yılında 6701 sayılı Kanun ile kurulan Türkiye İnsan Hakları ve Eşitlik Kurumu (TİHEK) 24.11.2017 tarihinden itibaren bazı konularda şikâyet başvurusu almaya başlamıştır. TİHEK’e ayrımcılığa maruz kalan kişiler ile ulusal önleme mekanizması çerçevesinde özgürlüklerinden yoksun bırakılan kişiler başvuru yapabilmektedir. TİHEK, insan hakları ihlallerine karşı resen araştırma yapmak, suç niteliği taşıyan eylem varsa ilgililer hakkında suç duyurusunda bulunmak, bu ihlallerin sona erdirilmesi için gerekli girişimlerde bulunmak yetkisine de sahiptir. Bu makale, TİHEK’e yapılan bireysel başvurularda kişi yönünden yetki (ratione personae), konu yönünden yetki (ratione materiae), zaman bakımından yetki (ratione temporis) ve yer bakımından yetkiye (ratione loci) ilişkin kabul edilebilirlik koşullarına odaklanmaktadır. Kabul edilirlik koşulları TİHEK kararları ışığı altında incelenmiş ve TİHEK’e başvurunun niteliği ile Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu ve Anayasa Mahkemesinin temel hakların korunması hakkındaki başvuruların niteliği bakımından karşılaştırma yapılmıştır.

북한이탈주민 인권의식 분석을 통한 국내 인권제도 개선방안 연구

The purpose of this study is to analyze human rights awareness and cases of human rights violations among North Korean defectors living in Korea and to identify ways to improve domestic human rights-related laws and systems in order to lay a foundation for improving North Korean human rights in preparation for future unification. This is a study to find out. In the case of North Korean defectors, it may not be easy for them to understand the concept of human rights because they lived as North Korean residents before defecting. Therefore, through an understanding of the possibility of human rights violations during the settlement process in South Korea and the human rights that they have been educated and conscious of directly or indirectly after settlement, we newly analyzed the human rights awareness and cases of human rights violations that North Korean defectors have and the human rights that are currently being applied in our country. There is a need to seek ways to improve related laws and systems, while at the same time establishing a foundation to increase human rights awareness among North Korean residents in preparation for future unification. Specifically, based on the survey conducted by the National Human Rights Commission and the Korea Institute for National Unification, the human rights of North Korean defectors are as follows: the right to physical freedom that may be violated during the investigation phase after entering the country; the right to due process in criminal cases; We examine the「Act on Protection and Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors」and the 「Unification Education Support Act」, which specify adaptation education for North Korean defectors after their settlement in the Republic of Korea, and examine the problems of our country's current human rights system for North Korean defectors. The purpose of this study is to suggest legal and institutional improvement measures to foster human rights awareness among North Korean defectors and prepare for unification.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND EPIGENETICS

New insights in the epigenetics have declared depression as genetic malady. For psychiatric disorders evaluation of epigenetic basis influenced by environment insults showed deeper understanding of complex multifactorial psychiatric disorder like Major depressive disorder (MDD). The World Health Organization (2008 report) has ranked MDD globally as the third cause of burden of diseases and predicted it to be the number one by 2030. Eight hallmarks of insults that lead to MDD are contaminated air, soil, food/water, ecological stressors, chemicals in households, occupational hazards as well as food/diet linked to absence of essential nutrients. Epigenetics, according to National Human Genome Research Institute, refers to changes in gene function causing their activation or deactivation without any alteration in DNA sequence. Epigenetics include histone modifications, DNA methylations, miRNAs and lncRNAs. Hypermethylation of serotonin transporter gene has been consistently found in loci encoding brain derived neurotrophic factors BDNF and SLC6A4. During pregnancy fetal epigenetic reprogramming may occur due to maternal stress and nutritional restriction. Increased cortisol or malnutrition in mothers, down-regulate cortisol enzyme, decreasing its expression in fetal cortex, making these children 4 times more at risk to stress later in life. Histones modifications including methylation and acetylation at lysine moiety during posttranslational modifications, affect neurons of CNS significantly leading to pathophysiology of MDD. Dysregulation of miRNAs and lncRNAs cause negative neural plasticity, stress responses, neurotrophic factors expression, neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, HPA axis, neurogenesis and gliogenesis and neural stem cell maintenance. Among epigenetic multifactorial disorders, psychiatric ailments have received prominence in etiology than other diseases.