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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a universal call for action to protect the planet, end poverty and inequality in the world. Government and philanthropy resources are not sufficient to achieve these goals and financial resources from capital markets must be directed to them. Impact investments are “investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return” and can act as a catalyzer to canalize the needed capital to achieve SDG targets by 2030. This paper investigates this emerging financial paradigm, impact investment. History of impact investment and how it differs from socially responsible investment is presented. Several countries have taken initiatives to develop a regulatory framework to support social enterprise financing. Major actors in the impact investment market are private investors, institutional investors, private foundations, banks, development finance institutions, and nongovernmental organizations. Innovative financial structures are developed among these actors along the risk-return spectrum. Impact investing will thrive if ecosystem actors work against the barriers and use the opportunities well. More academic research and training programs are needed to contribute to the development of the impact investment field.

Background This study compared outcomes of the standard 6000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger with a dual trigger comprised of 6000 IU hCG and 1 mg leuprolide acetate for final oocyte maturation in an intracyto- plasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle. By convention, ICSI was performed in most cases at the clinic. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, a total of 50 women were included in each arm. Participants were matched for age, indication and number of prior assisted reproduction technology (ART) cycles. Women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were excluded. A flexible gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol was used and final oocyte maturation was triggered when two leading follicles were >17 mm. Distribution of variables was evaluated visually with histograms. Continuous variables were defined by mean (stand- ard deviation) or median (25th-75th percentile) depending on distribution characteristics. Categorical variables were defined by numbers and percentages. Continuous variables were compared between the groups with the t test or Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Categorical variables were compared by the chi-square test and its derivatives as appropriate. A two-sided P

WOS: 000456090800001 The researchers investigated MTHFR C677T/APOB G10708A polymorphisms as well as total antioxidant/oxidant status (TAS/TOS) in blood donors. Participants were stratified into two age groups: 18-39 years and 40-59 years and their body mass index: normal weight (25). The mutant homozygous MTHFR genotype was identified in 3 (12.5%) of normal weight and 4 (16.6%) of obese in 20-30 years while it was found in 1 (4.16%) of normal weight and 3 (12.5%) of obese in 40-59 years. The homozygous APOB genotype was found in all donors. TOS in obese donors was found higher than normal weight donors for both age groups. TAS in obese donors was found less than normal weight donors in 40-59 years. MTHFR was found significantly different between two age groups of normal weight donors. However, the researchers did not find any correlation between two polymorphisms and TAS/TOS for all groups. Cukurova UniversityCukurova University [TSA 2016-5913] This study was supported by Cukurova University (TSA 2016-5913).

WOS: 000439087100026 Environmental and genetic factors play important role for the development of venous thromboembolic diseases. This study investigated the prevalence coagulation factor V Leiden (FVL) and factor II G20210A (FII) in a sample (N=96) of the Turkish population depending on age and weight. Participants were stratified into two age groups: 20-39 years, 40-59 years and their body mass index: normal (25). The heterozygous FII genotype was identified in 2 (8.33%) of normal donors in 20-30 years while it was found in 1 (4.16%) of obese donors in 40-59 years. The mutant homozygous FVL genotype was found in 1 (4.16%) of obese donors in 20-30 years. The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of FVL and FII polymorphisms did not differ significantly between normal and obese groups. Also, the frequencies of carriage rates of FVL and FII polymorphisms in 20-39 and 40-59 years were similar. In our study, observed FII allelic frequencies are higher than other healthy populations whereas the prevalence of factor V Leiden gene polymorphism was found to be consistent. Knowledge of the prevalence of these coagulation factor variations in a given population may contribute to the design of effective preventive measures against venous thrombosis. Cukurova University, Adana, TurkeyCukurova University [BAP-TSA 2016-6194] This study was supported by Cukurova University (BAP-TSA 2016-6194), Adana, Turkey.

WOS: 000456090800002 The researchers investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of.M2CR were associated with the development of adrenocortical diseases including cushing syndrome (CS), subclinical cushing syndrome (SCS) and primary aldosteronism (PA) in Turkish population. Two promoter SNPs [rs1893219 (853A/G) and rs1893220 (759 G/T)J were genotyped in 43 patients with adrenal adenomas. All patients were examined hormonally with dynamic tests. While 22 of the patients had non-functional (NF) adrenal adenomas; 21 of the patients (CS-9, SCS =10, PA =2) had functional adrenal adenomas. In rs1893219 the frequencies of the CC (AA) were found to be 2, 3 and 1 patients in CS, SCS and PA, respectively. In rs1893220 the frequencies of the AA (GG) genotype were found to be 2, 1 and 1 patients in CS, SCS and PA. Also, the C allele frequency of rs1893219 was found increased in the patients with functional adenomas. The results have shown that the M2CR gene may contribute to the development of adrenocortical diseases.