Causative Relationship Research Articles

Causal Relationship Between Sleep Traits and Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

A correlation between sleep and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been observed in a number of prior investigations. However, little is known regarding the potential causative relationship between them. In this study, we selected genetic instruments for sleep traits from pooled data from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Independent genetic variants associated with six sleep-related traits (chronotype, sleep duration, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness) were selected as instrumental variables. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) study was first conducted to assess the causal relationship between sleep traits and SLE (7219 cases versus 15,991 controls). The reverse MR analysis was then used to infer the causal relationship between SLE and sleep traits. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, Weighted median, and Weighted mode were applied to perform the primary MR analysis. MR Egger regression and the Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test were used to detect horizontal pleiotropy, and Cochran’s Q was used to detect heterogeneity. In studies of the effect of sleep traits on SLE risk, the IVW method demonstrated no causal relationship between chronotype, sleep duration, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, insomnia, daytime sleepiness and SLE risk. The remaining three methods agreed with the results of IVW. In studies of the effect of SLE on the risk of sleep traits, neither IVW, MR Egger, Weighted median, nor Weighted mode methods provided evidence of a causal relationship between SLE and the risk of sleep traits. Overall, our study found no evidence of a bidirectional causal relationship between genetically predicted sleep traits and SLE.

Maternal HPV Infection and the Estimated Risks for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes-A Systematic Review.

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) represents the most prevalent genital infection in young women of reproductive age. Objective: This systematic review aims to estimate the effect of HPV infection during pregnancy and assess the correlation between HPV and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: The search strategy has been developed based on the PICOS framework: Population (pregnant women infected with HPV), Intervention (HPV infection confirmed by molecular tests), Comparator (pregnant women without HPV infection), Outcomes (adverse pregnancy outcomes) and Study design (observational studies). We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases on 8 January 2022 by using the following keywords: “HPV”, “prematurity”, “preterm birth”, “miscarriage”, “premature rupture of membranes”, “adverse pregnancy outcome”, “low birth weight”, “fetal growth restriction”, “pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders”, “preeclampsia”. Selection criteria were HPV infection confirmed within maximum 2 years before pregnancy with a molecular test and adverse pregnancy outcomes. (Results: Although numerous studies are conducted on this topic, data are still controversial regarding identifying maternal HPV infection as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. More prospective large cohort studies are needed to prove a causative relationship.

Diabetes and Oral Health (DiabOH): The Perspectives of Primary Healthcare Providers in the Management of Diabetes and Periodontitis in China and Comparison with Those in Australia.

Diabetes and periodontal disease are highly prevalent conditions around the world with a bilateral causative relationship. Research suggests that interprofessional collaboration can improve care delivery and treatment outcomes. However, there continues to be little interprofessional management of these diseases. DiabOH research aims to develop an interprofessional diabetes and oral health care model for primary health care that would be globally applicable. Community medical practitioners (CMPs), community health nurses (CNs), and dentists in Shanghai were recruited to participate in online quantitative surveys. Response data of 76 CMPs, CNs, and dentists was analysed for descriptive statistics and compared with Australian data. Health professionals in China reported that, while screening for diabetes and periodontitis, increasing patient referral and improving interprofessional collaboration would be feasible, these were not within their scope of practice. Oral health screening was rarely conducted by CMPs or CNs, while dentists were not comfortable discussing diabetes with patients. Most participants believed that better collaboration would benefit patients. Chinese professionals concurred that interprofessional collaboration is vital for the improved management of diabetes and periodontitis. These views were similar in Melbourne, except that Shanghai health professionals held increased confidence in managing patients with diabetes and were more welcoming to increased oral health training.

Cannabis Induced Psychosis

Even if most people use cannabis without many negative consequences, some experience cannabis related harms. At higher levels of intake, one of these harms could be psychotic symptoms and even cannabis-induced psychosis. During the last years, we have seen increased treatment seeking for cannabis use disorders in Europe. Parallel with this increase we have seen an increase in the incidence of cannabis induced psychosis in all Scandinavian countries and an increased population attributable fraction for cannabis on the prevalence of schizophrenia has been demonstrated. All this may reflect increased use of cannabis, but more likely increased content of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is most cannabis products. Many have also pointed to the fact that we have seen an increase in the incidence of schizophrenia in the same period, maybe attributable to cannabis use. If we also take into consideration that up to one third of those with cannabis-induced psychosis over time receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia, we may see at least two implications. Firstly, these findings strengthens the evidence for a causative relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia, a causative relationship that man have suggested for several years, but that has had some opponents. Secondly, it points to cannabis-induced psychosis should be considered to be a part of the ICD-10 F2-chapter rather than the F1-chapter. This may be true also for the other substance-induced psychosis (F1x.5). An additional argument for this is that for no other psychotic diagnosis, a precipitation factor is mentioned in the diagnosis.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Depression and suicidality amongst infertile women: a hidden pandemic?

IntroductionThe psychosocial impact of infertility has been well researched and documented. However very little research has been conducted to assess the causative relationship between infertility and serious psychiatric illness such as suicide.We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate suicidal risk ( suicidal ideation/ suicide attempts) amongst 100 infertile women undergoing infertility treatment at an IVF Centre based in Kolkata, India. Allied parameters such as depression, anxiety, quality of life were also studied.ObjectivesThe goal of the presence study was to assess the suicidal risk ( suicidal ideation / attempted suicide ) amongst infertile women undergoing infertility/ ART treatment. And to examine the possible etiological factors behind increased levels of suicidal risk amongst infertile women.MethodsMini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 100 female patient’s undergoing IVF treatment and 100 control patient’s , visiting an IVF Centre based in Kolkata. Chi square test, independent t test and Z test used for statistical analysis.ResultsAccording to the results obtained by assessment of MINI scale , the prevalence of major depressive disorder (50 % ) followed by Dysthymia (25%) was documented among infertile group while suicidality at 15% were significantly higher than other disorder (Z = 3.80, p> .001). No such cases of suicidality or Dysthymia was found among patients of control group. (fertile group).ConclusionsRoutine screening of suicidal risk and depression should be conducted for all patients undergoing IVF treatment. Infertility specialists should recognize psychiatric morbidity amongst infertile patients for subsequent referral and treatment.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

ORGANIZING PNEUMONIA AS A SIDE EFFECT OF COVID-19 VACCINE

TYPE: Case Report TOPIC: Diffuse Lung Disease INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive side effects of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine are still unknown. Here we report the case of organizing pneumonia (OP) post COVID-19 vaccination. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old male with past medical history of hypertension presents with shortness of breath, cough, low-grade fever, generalized weakness and decreased appetite for one week. Patient had received second dose of COVID-19 vaccination 2 months prior. Physical examination revealed bilateral crepitations. Patient was hypoxic requiring supplemental oxygen. COVID-19 PCR and rapid antigen test (x 2) were negative. Computed tomography showed extensive bilateral ground glass infiltrates and some interstitial septal thickening with nodular infiltrates. Patient was started on broad spectrum antibiotics. Multiple transbronchial biopsies collected from different sites showed findings consistent with typical organizing pneumonia. Further infectious, immunologic, rheumatologic and vasculitis work-up to look for underlying cause of OP was negative. DISCUSSION: OP is a histopathological condition in which bronchioles, alveoli and walls of small bronchi become inflamed and get occupied with buds of granulation tissue progressing from fibrin exudates to loose collagen containing fibroblasts. It has varied radiologic manifestations. In addition to cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, it can be seen in vasculitis, bronchocentric granulomatosis, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, non-specific pneumonia, lung abscess, pulmonary infarct and cancers. Secondary OP can be caused secondary to heart-lung transplantation, bone-marrow transplantation, infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome, drug use, radiotherapy, connective tissue diseases and aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: As this being the first reported case of post COVID-19 vaccine related OP, further studies and data is required to establish causative relationship. DISCLOSURE: Nothing to declare. KEYWORD: Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine

Hawksbill presence and habitat suitability of a marine reserve in Honduras

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established to decrease the negative impacts of human activities on important marine habitats. Several sea turtle species reside within MPAs; however, analyses of habitat suitability for sea turtles within many MPAs is typically lacking. Habitat modeling and species mapping have become essential tools in determining areas suitable for species inhabitance. MaxEnt is a popular machine-learning program that uses presence-only occurrence data and is considered the best modeling method in discriminating between suitable and unsuitable habitats. Using MaxEnt, we created species distribution models (SDMs) from presence-only occurrence points for juvenile hawksbills and three environmental variables: boat traffic intensities, prey item distributions, and benthic characterizations, within the Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve (SBWEMR) in Roatán, Honduras. Area under the receiving operator curve (AUC) values were greater than 0.75, indicating high model accuracy. Jackknife evaluations indicated algal prey item Dictyota spp., boat traffic intensity, and Geodia neptuni sponge abundance had the greatest influence on species distribution. Areas of suitability shifted based on time of day and ranged from a low probability of hawksbill presence (0.0) to a high probability of hawksbill presence (0.8). Regardless of time of day, the SBWEMR is classified as at least moderately suitable (>0.2–0.4), with least suitable habitat (0–0.2) prevalent in the most northeastern region of the reserve. The greatest suitability (>0.6–1) was evident within the mid-region and southern most regions of the reserve. Probability of hawksbill presence increased in accordance with increasing boat traffic, although there was no clear causative relationship between the two. Although the reserve overall is mostly moderately suitable, the SBWEMR remains an important local recruitment and foraging ground for juvenile hawksbills. Hawksbills have been considered resilient, continually functioning beneath their operational limits. However, with continued global depletion of essential habitats over time and lack of effective MPA management, areas of habitat suitable for hawksbill inhabitance may decrease below levels sufficient for hawksbill presence in protected areas of the Western Caribbean.

A methodology to assess the causation relationship of seafarers’ unsafe acts for ship grounding accidents based on Bayesian SEM

Unsafe acts have been recognized as the substantial factors leading to maritime accidents. An obstacle to analyzing seafarers' unsafe acts involved in maritime accidents is the lack of data. Bayesian approach in structural equation modelling (SEM) estimation has attracted extensive attentions across other fields, due to its advantages that can handle complicated models and small sample size. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative methodology to address the multifactor risk coupling and causation involved in seafarers' unsafe act contributing to ship grounding accidents. Based on the principle of Bayesian SEM, the advantages of Grounded theory and Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) are integrated into this methodology. Specifically, Grounded theory and HFACS model are applied to identify and structure seafarers' unsafe acts and their contributory factors, facilitating the development of the conceptual model. Then, by employing Bayesian SEM, the causation paths and effects of seafarers' unsafe acts are examined. The results reveal that organizational influences play a significant role in the causation mechanism of seafarers' unsafe acts, and preconditions for unsafe acts are the only variables that exert direct impact on unsafe acts. Moreover, unsafe supervision and preconditions for unsafe acts are served as intermediate factors affecting seafarers' unsafe acts. In addition, this results indicate the feasibility of Bayesian SEM in analyzing seafarers’ unsafe acts.

COVID-19-Associated Croup in Children.

As SARS-CoV-2 has evolved, so has its effects on the pediatric population.1 While early variants typically resulted in lower respiratory infections, the recently identified Omicron variant may exhibit a predilection for the upper airways.2 The relatively smaller upper respiratory tract in children compared to adults has been thought to predispose them to more severe clinical presentations resembling laryngotracheobronchitis, or croup. Caused by viral-induced subglottic airway inflammation, croup is classically characterized by sudden onset "barking cough", inspiratory stridor, and respiratory distress. Endemic coronaviruses have been linked to croup, however only sparse case reports have described croup specifically associated with SARS-CoV-2 and it remains unclear if croup cases constitute a causative relationship or result of co-infection with another virus.3-6 To address this knowledge gap, we performed a retrospective analysis of the incidence and clinical characteristics of croup associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection at a large freestanding children's hospital.

Serum from rats subjected to traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock induces profound endothelial barrier dysfunction

IntroductionTraumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with development of indirect acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the causative relationship between TBI and lung injury remains unclear. To explore potential mechanism linking TBI with development of ARDS, we characterized effects of serum factors released during TBI and hemorrhagic shock (HS) in a rat model on the pulmonary endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction, a key feature of ARDS.MethodsThe adult male rat polytrauma model consisted of controlled cortical impact (CCI)–induced TBI followed by 30 minutes of hemorrhage shock (HS) induced by blood withdrawal. The HS phase was followed by a 1‐hour “prehospital” Hextend fluid resuscitation phase and then a 1‐hour “hospital phase” when shed blood was reinfused. 48 hours after the TBI, blood was drawn from right ventricle and serum samples were obtained. Serum was collected from the TBI or sham rats, and its effects on barrier properties of pulmonary endothelial cell culture were assessed by measurements of transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) using the electrical cell impedance sensor and visualization of fluorescent tracer penetration through EC monolayer using XPerT assay.ResultsWe found pronounced barrier‐disruptive effects of serum samples from animals exposed to controlled cortical impact (CCI) and HS, but not from sham operated rats. Rapid and sustained decrease in EC monolayer transendothelial resistance was observed within minutes after serum addition and remained below basal TER levels after incubation with CCI‐HS sera. Thrombin has been implicated in the early‐phase barrier disruptive activity of CCI‐HS serum, as both thrombin inhibitor and thrombin receptor antagonist attenuated the acute phase of serum‐induced TER decline, but did not affect TER decline at later time points. These findings suggest that thrombin elevation may play a role in early‐phase barrier disruptive activity of CCI‐HS serum. However, both the early and late phases of CCI‐HS‐induced EC permeability were inhibited by heparin. The late phase barrier disruptive effect of CCI‐HS was also prevented by serum preincubation with heparin‐sepharose. Pulmonary EC treated with serum from CCI‐HS rats for 3 hours have demonstrated significant decline in expression of EC junctional protein, VE‐Cadherin, and disassembly of peripheral EC adherens junction complexes monitored by immunostaining with VE‐cadherin antibody.ConclusionThese results suggest that exposure to CCI‐HS leads to production of humoral factors causing early and late‐phase barrier disruptive effects in lung vascular endothelium. While thrombin‐PAR1 signaling has been identified as mechanism of acute EC permeability increase by CCI‐HS serum, the factor(s) defining long‐term EC barrier disruption in CCI‐HS model remain to be determined.

Abstract #1177327: Liver Fat and Cardiovascular Events: bystander or causative relationship?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share common metabolic risk factors, and there is a high prevalence of CVD in patients with NAFLD. We aimed to determine if liver fat is an independent risk factor for CVD events.

Modeling the nexus between carbon emissions, urbanization, population growth, energy consumption, and economic development in Asia: Evidence from grey relational analysis

Environmental degradation has been identified as a major worldwide concern in recent decades, with CO2 emissions considered as one of the primary drivers of this catastrophe. This study creatively analyzes the underlying impact of urbanization, population growth, Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, energy use on CO2 emissions to mitigate the environmental degradation from the five most populated regions of Asia i.e., China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. To investigate the integrated impact of CO2 emission and associated factors, a grey relational analysis (GRA) based weights and ranking were estimated for the year 2001 to 2014. Then, utilizing the Conservative minimax approach, we sought to determine which country contributes the most to CO2 emissions based on weights acquired by Second Synthetic Grey Relational Analysis (SSGRA). The Grey technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (G-TOPSIS) technique was employed for further optimization by prioritizing the explanatory factors that have the greatest influence on CO2 emissions. The outcomes through GRA techniques discovered that India is a major contributor of carbon emission caused by population growth and economic development. Whereas the use of energy and urbanization are grounded factors of emission for China and Pakistan respectively. The outcomes of the Conservative minimax criterion indicate that India is a leading contributor to carbon emissions in Asia. Also, the unsustainable growth of population and CO2 emissions indicates a direct causative relationship for environmental damage based on the G-TOPSIS. The findings of the study potentially aid governments and policymakers in making better decisions and investments to mitigate CO2 emissions while fostering a more environmentally friendly atmosphere.

DO FAST/JUNK FOODS HAVE AN EFFECT ON ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Certain types of food may increase or decrease the frequency of asthma exacerbations. The study is aimed at determining whether there is an association between consuming fast/junk foods and asthma. A well-adjusted, standardized questionnaire was used for the collection of information. This study is focused on finding a relationship between fast food intake and frequency and severity of asthma exacerbation rather than a causative relationship. This is a cross-sectional study done in the southern part of India in the state of Kerala. The correlation between fast food and asthma is established through a detailed analysis of the results. After adjusting for confounding variables like Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and allergens at home we were able to indicate that fast/junk food consumption is a risk factor for asthma symptom exacerbation in children.

DO FAST/JUNK FOODS HAVE AN EFFECT ON ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Certain types of food may increase or decrease the frequency of asthma exacerbations. The study is aimed at determining whether there is an association between consuming fast/junk foods and asthma. A well-adjusted, standardized questionnaire was used for the collection of information. This study is focused on finding a relationship between fast food intake and frequency and severity of asthma exacerbation rather than a causative relationship. This is a cross-sectional study done in the southern part of India in the state of Kerala. The correlation between fast food and asthma is established through a detailed analysis of the results. After adjusting for confounding variables like Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and allergens at home we were able to indicate that fast/junk food consumption is a risk factor for asthma symptom exacerbation in children.

The nuclear receptor REV-ERB\u03b1 is implicated in the alteration of \u03b2-cell autophagy and survival under diabetogenic conditions

Pancreatic β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with impaired regulation of autophagy which controls β-cell development, function, and survival through clearance of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. However, the mechanisms responsible for defective autophagy in T2DM β-cells remain unknown. Since recent studies identified circadian clock transcriptional repressor REV-ERBα as a novel regulator of autophagy in cancer, in this study we set out to test whether REV-ERBα-mediated inhibition of autophagy contributes to the β-cell failure in T2DM. Our study provides evidence that common diabetogenic stressors (e.g., glucotoxicity and cytokine-mediated inflammation) augment β-cell REV-ERBα expression and impair β-cell autophagy and survival. Notably, pharmacological activation of REV-ERBα was shown to phenocopy effects of diabetogenic stressors on the β-cell through inhibition of autophagic flux, survival, and insulin secretion. In contrast, negative modulation of REV-ERBα was shown to provide partial protection from inflammation and glucotoxicity-induced β-cell failure. Finally, using bioinformatic approaches, we provide further supporting evidence for augmented REV-ERBα activity in T2DM human islets associated with impaired transcriptional regulation of autophagy and protein degradation pathways. In conclusion, our study reveals a previously unexplored causative relationship between REV-ERBα expression, inhibition of autophagy, and β-cell failure in T2DM.

Education and Radicalization; Is There Any Causative Relationship? A Case Study of Pakistan

The concept of radicalization has remained an intense part of human history. The features of this process are significant to understand human behaviour and encountering the social construction of any society. Several studies suggest that radicalization or extremism can be described as violent expressions, manifesting in the shape of extreme views, ideology or acts of violence against any individual, community, sect or even country. For this, several countries have spent substantial financial resources to pledge such threats and a spate of legislation to safeguard their respective national security. Research into radicalization, unfortunately, does not pay much consideration to education. This is extraordinary and may also, possibly, misses an important effect on the process of radicalization. Therefore, this study establishes a cognitive approach towards this term and examines whether radicalization has any linkage or causative relations with education as well. For this study, we have borrowed different denotations and connotations of radicalization and education by numerous scholars to determine the interconnectivity between radicalization and education. After going through existing the literature review, we establish that radicalization and education have strong connections. Education, be that formal or informal, can be used as an extensive tool to radicalize youth anywhere in the world. In this regard, we have studied Pakistan’s history vis-à-vis its education system in religious seminaries and public schools. We determine that the government of Pakistan has accepted the reality that its education system at the public schools and Madrassahs have remained an instrument to radicalize the youth in the country, which has raised fear for the internal security of Pakistan and for global security as well. In the end, we suggest that despite numerous steps by the Government of Pakistan, the international community must come up to assist Pakistan in terms of revitalizing its overall education system vis-à-vis curriculum changes to evade any further (emerging) extremism, which is rooted through radical textbooks at the public schools.

Belief in control: Voluntary choice enhances subsequent task performance under undefeated choice-outcome causation

Humans have volition through which they act upon and change the external environment. As an exercise of volition, making a voluntary choice facilitates subsequent behavioral performance relative to making a forced choice. However, it is unclear how this facilitation is constrained by the perceived relationship between a choice and its outcome. In a series of experiments, participants were free or forced to choose one of two presented pictures. The outcome of the choice was then revealed, which could be: always the chosen picture or always the unchosen picture (i.e., confirmed choice-outcome causation), a blank screen with no picture at all (i.e., unrevealed choice-outcome relation), the chosen or unchosen picture with equal probability (i.e., defeated choice-outcome causation), or a third picture different from the two preceding options (again, defeated choice-outcome causation). Participants then complete a visual search task with the task-irrelevant picture (or the blank screen) serving as a background. Results showed that search performance was improved after a voluntary choice under both confirmed causation and unrevealed relation, but not under defeated causation. Over individuals, the improved performance due to voluntary choice under confirmed causation positively correlated with the improved performance under unrevealed relation, and with reported belief in controlling the outcome of the choice. Our findings suggest that the exercise of volition motivates subsequent behavior, and this motivation is restricted to “undefeated” choice-outcome causation which affords a belief in controlling the outcome by exerting volition.

Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor γ and psoriasis, molecular and cellular biochemistry.

The pathophysiology of psoriasis is complex and has not been completely elucidated. Better understanding of the pathogenesis may contribute to further improvement of our therapeutic strategies controlling psoriasis. Emerging evidence points to a causative relationship between altered activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and psoriasis. The present review focuses on deeper understanding of the possible role of PPARγ in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the potential of PPARγ agonist to improve the treatment of psoriasis. PPARγ is decreased in psoriasis. PPARγ possibly has effects on the multiple aspects of the pathogenesis of psoriasis, including abnormal lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, immune cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines, keratinocytes, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, microRNAs and nuclear factor kappa B. As defective activation of PPARγ is involved in psoriasis development, PPARγ agonists may be promising agents for treatment of psoriasis. Pioglitazone appears an effective and safe option in the treatment of patients with psoriasis, but there are still concerns about its potential side effects. Research effort has recently been undertaken to explore the PPARγ-activating potential of natural products. Among them some have been studied clinically or preclinically for treatment of psoriasis with promising results.

How the Use of Biomass for Green Energy and Waste Incineration Practice Will Affect GDP Growth in the Less Developed Countries of the EU (A Case Study with Visegrad and Balkan Countries)

Combustible renewable energy can be an effective instrument to confirm sustainable development in reducing CO2 emissions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in developing countries. However, connecting to some developing regions, the main research question is to what extent, in EU post-communist fast-developing countries (Visegrad Countries/Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland), will meeting the climate change preferences affect the use of biomass for energy and waste incineration, and how will this affect GDP growth? In addition, of course, what the Balkan countries can learn from this is also very important. The study investigates the relationship between GDP per capita, CO2 emissions, and Combustible Energy and Waste Consumption (CEWC). According to the Hausman test, the regression model along with random effect is the appropriate method for panel-balanced data as of 2008 to 2020 concerning Balkan countries. The data was divided into three categories: 10 Balkan countries, 4 countries without access to the sea (Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia), and Visegrad countries. The study discovered a substantial positive influence of CEWC on GDP per capita and a significant negative influence of CO2 emissions. The cointegration test confirms the cointegration of all three variables. This means that all three variables have a long-term relationship concerning the sense of each three forms of the chosen panel. The Granger causality findings shows the variables have a two-way causative relationship. The biomass energy use can dramatically hamper GDP growth in Visegrad and less developed Balkan countries without sea water, due to low energy productivity and a lack of technical innovation. The study recommended that instead of using energy production from simple biomass, these countries can use other circular, platform-based models to prevent unexpected rises in CO2 emissions and achieve Green House Gas (GHG) reductions. Therefore, this should be given more attention when setting climate and renewable energy policy targets, because they can significantly slow down economic growth.

Takotsubo syndrome after BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine: Emotional or causative relationship with vaccination?

Takotsubo syndrome after BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine: Emotional or causative relationship with vaccination?