Dynamics of capital structure: an empirical analysis of Turkish banking sector

This study examines the determinants of capital structure for deposit banks in Turkey during the period 1995-2016, focusing on the impact of macroeconomic factors and financial crises. The paper also analyzes whether different bank characteristics such as income variability, growth opportunity, tangibility, size, and profitability have a different effect on the capital structure of deposits banks during the crisis periods. The partial adjustment model is used to examine the determinants of capital structure and the adjustment speed toward the optimal capital structure. The model is estimated using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique. The results indicate that growth opportunity, GDP growth and inflation have a positive relationship with leverage, whereas profitability, tangibility, and crises have a negative relationship. Moreover, income variability is found to have a negative effect on leverage for crisis periods. The results also show that capital structure behaviour of deposit banks in Turkey is in line with the pecking order theory. The findings indicate that the rate of adjustment to optimal capital structure for deposit banks in Turkey is 30 percent per yea

Cistein proteaza (kaparin) iz kapara (Capparis spinosa)

Proteases are enzymes that perform very important functions in organisms and are used for a variety of objectives in vitro. In recent years, proteases have been used for clinical, pharmaceutical (alimentary digestion, anti-inflammatory, etc.) and industrial applications (cheese production, meat tenderizing, leather tanning). In this research, a protease has been purified from capsules of caper (Capparis spinosa) and characterized. Caper plants have been used for food and medicine since ancient times. The plant grows abundantly in certain regions of Turkey. Ammonium sulphate fractionation and a CM Sephadex column were used for purification of the enzyme. The purification enzyme has an optimum pH=5.0 and its optimum temperature was 60 °C. The vmax and Km values determined by Lineweaver-Burk graphics were 1.38 μg/(L·min) and 0.88 μg/L, respectively. The purification degree and the molecular mass of the enzyme (46 kDa) were determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. It was investigated whether the purified and characterized protease could cause milk to congeal or digest chicken and cow meat. The results show that protease can be used for industrial production.Proteaze su enzimi koji imaju vrlo važnu funkciju u organizmu i razne mogućnosti primjene in vitro. Posljednjih se godina sve više primjenjuju u medicini, farmaciji (u liječenju probavnih tegoba, raznih upala i dr.) i industriji (u proizvodnji sira, mekšanju mesa i štavljenju kože). U ovom je radu opisan postupak pročišćavanja i karakterizacije proteaze iz kapara (Caparis spinosa). Kapare se od davnine koriste kao hrana i u medicinske svrhe, a obilato rastu u nekim dijelovima Turske. Pročišćavanje enzima provedeno je frakcioniranjem pomoću amonijeva sulfata i kromatografijom u CM-Sephadex koloni. Optimalna pH-vrijednost pročišćenog enzima bila je 5, a optimalna temperatura 60 °C. Pomoću dijagrama Lineweaver-Burke određene su vrijednosti vmax od 1,38 μg/(L×min) i Km od 0,88 μg/L. Stupanj pročišćavanja i molekularna masa enzima od 46 kDa utvrđeni su SDS-PAGE elektroforezom i gel-filtracijskom kromatografijom. Također je istraženo može li pročišćeni i karakterizirani enzim zgrušati mlijeko ili probaviti govedinu i piletinu. Rezultati su pokazali da se proteaza može primijeniti u industrijskoj proizvodnji hrane

Sağlık Çalışanlarının Cam Tavan Algısı

Amaç: Sağlık çalışanlarında cam tavanın var olduğuna ilişkin algı, çalışanların motivasyon ve performanslarını olumsuz olarak etkileyebilmektedir. Bu çalışma sağlık çalışanlarının cam tavan algısını araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Araştırmada ayrıcacam tavan algısının çeşitli demografik değişkenlere göre anlamlı farklılık gösterip göstermediği de araştırılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmanın evreni İzmir ilinde bir devlet hastanesinde görev yapan 500, örneklemi ise 150 sağlık çalışanından oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada dağıt-topla anket yöntemi kullanılarak katılımcılara gelişigüzel bir şekilde ulaşılmıştır. Verileri tanımlamada frekans, yüzde, ortalama ve standart sapma ölçüleri, hipotez testlerindeise Mann Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis H testleri kullanılmıştır. Faktör ve güvenirlik analizlerisonucunda ölçüm aracının geçerlikve güvenirlik düzeyinin yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır.Bulgular: Sağlık çalışanlarının cam tavan algısı orta düzeydedir. Cam tavan algısı cinsiyete göre anlamlı farklılık göstermekte olup diğer değişkenler ile aralarında herhangi bir ilişki saptanamamıştır. Bu bulgu, kadın ve erkekler arasında cam tavan algısında fark olduğunu göstermektedir ki kadınların algısı erkeklere göre yüksektir. Sonuç: Sağlık kurumları içerisinde çalışanların kariyer hedeflerine ulaşmalarının önünde önemli bir bariyer olan kadın-erkek ayrımına dayalı anlayış ile mücadele edilmesi söz konusu algının azaltılmasında etkili olabili

A research on functional food knowledge, preference and consumption of unıversity studentsÜniversite öğrencilerinin fonksiyonel besin bilgi, tercih ve tüketimleri üzerine bir araştırma

Purpose: This research  was conducted on 300 university students studying in Konya in order to determine the functional food knowledge, preference and consumption of university students.Method: In the study, the students’ consumption frequency, preferences and knowledge of the functional food were determined. Functional Food Knowledge Test was used to determine the functional food knowledge of the students (Cronbach alpha: 0.84). For the statistical analysis of the data, independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA test were applied by using SPSS 20.0 program.Findings: As a result, it was determined that 90.7% of the students consumed functional foods, 86.3% preferred natural products, 13.7% preferred commercial products; 70.3% consumed functional foods in main meal and snacks.When purchasing functional food, 15.3% of the students paid attention to the outward appearance, 14.3% to the price, 45.3% to the brand and 25.0% to the calorie. When functional food consumption frequency of students were examined; it was determined that the most common functional foods consumed by the students were tomato, tea and probiotic - prebiotic yogurt.Conclusions: In this study, it was determined that the students have high rates of correct answer to questions about the definition, content and relation of functional foods with health of the students in general. However; It was found that students should develop themselves in the functional food componenet and functional effects of foods.Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetAmaç: Bu araştırma, üniversite öğrencilerinin fonksiyonel besin bilgi, tercih ve tüketimlerini belirlemek amacıyla, Konya’da öğrenim gören toplam 300 üniversite öğrencisi üzerinde yürütülmüştür.Yöntem: Öğrencilerin fonksiyonel besin bilgilerini belirlemek amacıyla fonksiyonel besin bilgi testi kullanılmıştır (Cronbach alpha:0.84). Verilerin istatistiksel analizinde, SPSS 20.0 programı kullanılarak independent sample t testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi uygulanmıştır.Bulgular: Araştırmanın sonucunda, öğrencilerin %90.7’sinin fonksiyonel besin tükettiği, %86.3’ünün doğal ürünleri, %13.7’sinin ticari ürünleri tercih ettiği, %70.3’ünün fonksiyonel besinleri ana ve ara öğünlerde tükettikleri belirlenmiştir. Fonksiyonel besin satın alırken öğrencilerin %15.3’ünün dış görünüşüne, %14.3’ünün fiyatına, %45.3’ünün markasına, %25.0’inin kalorisine dikkat ettiği belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin fonksiyonel besinleri tüketim sıklıkları incelendiğinde; en sık tükettikleri fonksiyonel besinlerin, domates, çay ve probiyotik-prebiyotik yoğurt olduğu saptanmıştır.Sonuç: Araştırmada, genel olarak öğrencilerin fonksiyonel besinlerin tanımı, içeriği, sağlıkla ilişkisi ile ilgili sorulara doğru cevap verme oranlarının yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte; öğrencilerin, fonksiyonel besin bileşenleri, besinlerin fonksiyonel etkileri konularında kendilerini geliştirmeleri gerektiği ortaya çıkmıştır

KIR MENEKŞESİ’NİN (Viola odorata) KOZMETİK VE İLAÇ AMAÇLI KULLANIMININ BİYOKİMYASAL OLARAK İNCELENMESİ

KIR MENEKŞESİ’NİN (Viola odorata) KOZMETİK VE İLAÇ AMAÇLI KULLANIMININ BİYOKİMYASAL OLARAK İNCELENMESİÖzetKozmetik sektörü gelişmeye açık bir alan olup, çok büyük bir tüketici kitlesine hitap etmektedir. Bu tüketici kitlesi gün geçtikçe daha da artmaktadır. Alanın bu Kadar hızlı gelişmesi ve tüketici kesimin artması insan sağlığı açısından bazı sorunlara neden olmaktadır. Bu sorunlara karşı önlem almak isteyen tüketicilerin tercihleri hızlı sonuç alınan bitkisel kökenli organik ürünlerin lehine değişmektedir. Buda üreticileri bu doğrultuda üretilen inovatif ürünlere yöneltmektedir. Bu çalışmada Muğla yöresinde doğal olarak yetişen kır menekşesi (Viola odorata) bitkisinin çiçeklerinden proteaz enzimi saflaştırıldı ve karakterize edildi. (NH4)2SO4 çöktürmesi ve CM-selüloz iyon değişim kromotografisi ile kır menekşesi (Viola odorata)  bitkisinin çiçeklerinden saflaştırılan proteaz enziminin saflığını kontrol etmek amacıyla SDS-PAGE elektorofezi uygulandı. Saf enzimin optimum pH ve sıcaklık değerleri belirlenerek 5 farklı substrat için KM ve Vmax değerleri belirlendi. Yine enzim aktivitesi üzerine 10 mM, 1 mM, 0,1 mM SDS, EDTA, β-merkaptoetanol bileşiklerinin ve 10 mM, 1 mM, 0,1 mM Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ katyonlarının etkisi araştırıldı. Ayrıca, taze bitkiden alınan ekstrelerde organik bileşen analizi yapıldı. Buna göre %38 1-octen-3-ol, %19,3 2-Hexenal ve %13,3 1-Hexanol içerdiği belirlendi. 1-Hexanol nem tutucu, kıvam artırıcı özelliğe sahip olan ve bitkiye güzel kokusunu veren aromatik bir bileşen olup nemlendirici ürünler için bitkiyi ideal kılmaktadır. Ayrıca çiçekten alınan ekstrelerde suda çözünen vitaminler ile A, D, E ve K vitamin analizi yapıldı. Analiz sonuçlarına göre antioksidan aktivite gösteren bazı önemli vitaminler içerdiği bulundu. Kır menekşesi (Viola odorata) bitkisinin çiçeklerinden elde edilen ekstrelerde demir indirgeme gücü belirlendi, DPPH• serbest radikal uzaklaştırma aktivitesi, metal şelat aktivitesi, H2O2 uzaklaştırma aktivitesive fenolik bileşiklerin belirlenmesi tayini yapıldı.Bu sonuçlar menekşeden yeni bitkisel kaynaklı cilt bakım ürünleri geliştirilmesine imkan tanımıştır. Proteaz enziminin varlığı tasarlanan ürüne peeling işlemi özelliği katacaktır. 1-Hexanol bileşiğinin nem tutma ve kıvam artırıcı özelliği tasarlanan nemlendiricinin etkisini arttıracaktır. Antioksidan özellikli olması ve vitamin içermesi yaşlanmayı geciktirici bir etki yaratacaktır.Anahtar Kelimeler: Kır menekşesi, Viola odorata, Proteaz enzimi, Antioksidant aktivite, Peeling, KozmetikBIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE AVAILABILITY OF KIR MENEKŞESİ (Viola odorata) AS COSMETIC AND DRUGAbstractThe cosmetics sector is open to development and appeals to a very large consumer group. This consumer group is increasing day by day. The rapid development of the field and the increase of the consumer segment cause some problems in terms of human health. Consumers who want to take action against these problems are shifting their preferences to organic products of plant origin. The producers are also pointing to innovative products produced in this direction. In this study, the protease enzyme was purified and characterized from the flowers of the Viola odorata plant growing in Muğla region. The protease enzyme was purified from the flowers of the Viola odorata plant using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and CM-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was used to check the purity of the enzyme. Optimal pH and temperature values of pure enzyme and KM and Vmax values for 5 different substrates were determined. In addition, the effect of 10 mM, 1 mM, 0.1 mM SDS, EDTA, β-mercaptoethanol compounds on enzyme activity was investigated. The effect of 10 mM, 1 mM, 0.1 mM Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ cations on enzyme activity was also examined. Organic component analysis was also performed on fresh extracts. Accordingly, it was determined that the plant contained 1-octen-3-ol (38%), 2-hexenal (19,3%) and 1-hexanol (13,3%). 1-Hexanol is a moisture retainer and thickener. This compound is the aromatic component that gives the plant its beautiful smell and makes the plant ideal for moisturizing products. In addition, analyzes of water and oil-soluble vitamins were made in the extracts from the flowers. According to the results of the analysis, the plant contains some important vitamins showing antioxidant activity. DPPH • free radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, H2O2 removal activity and identification of phenolic compounds were also performed on the extracts of the flowers of Viola odorata. According to the results, it is possible to develop new herbal skin care products using Viola odorata plant. The presence of the protease enzyme will add peeling properties to the intended product. 1-Hexanol compound will give moisture retention property to the designed product and increase its consistency. Having antioxidant properties and containing vitamins will have a detrimental effect on aging.Keywords: Kır Menekşesi, Viola odorata, Protease enzyme, Antioxidant activity, Peeling, Cosmetic and farmacy

Cistein proteaza (kaparin) iz kapara (Capparis spinosa)

Proteases are enzymes that perform very important functions in organisms and are used for a variety of objectives in vitro. In recent years, proteases have been used for clinical, pharmaceutical (alimentary digestion, anti-inflammatory, etc.) and industrial applications (cheese production, meat tenderizing, leather tanning). In this research, a protease has been purified from capsules of caper (Capparis spinosa) and characterized. Caper plants have been used for food and medicine since ancient times. The plant grows abundantly in certain regions of Turkey. Ammonium sulphate fractionation and a CM Sephadex column were used for purification of the enzyme. The purification enzyme has an optimum pH=5.0 and its optimum temperature was 60 °C. The vmax and Km values determined by Lineweaver-Burk graphics were 1.38 μg/(L·min) and 0.88 μg/L, respectively. The purification degree and the molecular mass of the enzyme (46 kDa) were determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. It was investigated whether the purified and characterized protease could cause milk to congeal or digest chicken and cow meat. The results show that protease can be used for industrial production.Proteaze su enzimi koji imaju vrlo važnu funkciju u organizmu i razne mogućnosti primjene in vitro. Posljednjih se godina sve više primjenjuju u medicini, farmaciji (u liječenju probavnih tegoba, raznih upala i dr.) i industriji (u proizvodnji sira, mekšanju mesa i štavljenju kože). U ovom je radu opisan postupak pročišćavanja i karakterizacije proteaze iz kapara (Caparis spinosa). Kapare se od davnine koriste kao hrana i u medicinske svrhe, a obilato rastu u nekim dijelovima Turske. Pročišćavanje enzima provedeno je frakcioniranjem pomoću amonijeva sulfata i kromatografijom u CM-Sephadex koloni. Optimalna pH-vrijednost pročišćenog enzima bila je 5, a optimalna temperatura 60 °C. Pomoću dijagrama Lineweaver-Burke određene su vrijednosti vmax od 1,38 μg/(L×min) i Km od 0,88 μg/L. Stupanj pročišćavanja i molekularna masa enzima od 46 kDa utvrđeni su SDS-PAGE elektroforezom i gel-filtracijskom kromatografijom. Također je istraženo može li pročišćeni i karakterizirani enzim zgrušati mlijeko ili probaviti govedinu i piletinu. Rezultati su pokazali da se proteaza može primijeniti u industrijskoj proizvodnji hrane

Effects of intraarticular ketamine combined with periarticular bupivacaine on postoperative pain after arthroscopic meniscectomy

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of two different doses of intraarticular ketamine on visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and movement, time to first analgesic requirement, and 24-h morphine consumption in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy as well as to assess the frequency of postoperative nausea&vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus, urinary retention, and constipation and to compare the time to discharge. Patients and methods: This prospective randomized doubleblind study was performed between August 2013 and August 2014 on 75 patients (32 males, 43 females; mean age 46.7±13 years; range, 18 to 75 years) with American Society of Anesthesiologists scores of I-II scheduled for unilateral meniscectomy. Patients were randomized to receive 0.5 mg.kg-1 ketamine (group K1), 1 mg.kg-1 ketamine (group K2) or saline (group S) to a total volume of 20 mL intraarticularly at the end of the surgery. All patients were performed periarticular 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine infiltration. Visual analog scale at rest and during passive knee movement was used to evaluate pain both preoperatively and at postoperative 0, 30 min, and 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h. Time to first analgesic requirement and morphine consumption were recorded. Results: Visual analog scale scores at rest and during movement at postoperative 0 were significantly reduced in group K2 compared with group S (p<0.05). The first analgesic requirement time was significantly longer in group K1 (76.9±25.2 min) and group K2 (93.4±26.1 min) than group S (29.3±7.1 min). Morphine consumption was lower in group K2 compared to group K1 and group S at postoperative 30 min, and 1 and 2 h. However, 24-h morphine consumption was similar in all groups. Conclusion: Intraarticular injection of 0.5 mg.kg-1 and 1 mg.kg-1 ketamine for postoperative pain management provided similar analgesic efficacy. However, high dose ketamine more noticeably decreased opioid requirement in the early postoperative period. © 2020 Turkish Joint Diseases Foundation

HALP score as a prognostic marker for overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer

IntroductionPancreatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and most of the patients diagnosed at an advanced stage. Clinicians need simple, effective, and repeatable tools to predict the prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the HALP score and prognosis in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.MethodsPatients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer at three centers in Turkey between 2009 and 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Demographic features, blood parameters, treatment received, treatment responses, and survival were recorded.Results227 patients were included in the study. The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 10.4 months. The median OS was 8.7 months in the low-HALP group and 11.2 months in the high- HALP group. Patients in the low-HALP group had a significantly shorter median OS than those in the high-HALP group (log rank p=0.001).ConclusionThe HALP score is a reliable and practical tool that can be utilized in clinical practice to predict prognosis in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

Nusinersen for children with type I spinal muscular atrophy: 4 years’ clinical experience in Turkish cohort

BackgroundSMA Type 1 is the most severe form of spinal muscular atrophy with early symptom onset, limited motor development, and poor prognosis. Recent genetic-based therapies, such as nusinersen, have transformed disease outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of nusinersen on motor, bulbar, and respiratory functions in both symptomatic and presymptomatic SMA Type 1 patients over a period of up to 4 years.MethodsThis prospective, non-interventional study included 310 patients with genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy at 24 pediatric neurology centers in Turkey. Patients treated with nusinersen were divided into five age-based cohorts at treatment initiation: Cohort A (0–3 months), Cohort B (4–6 months), Cohort C (7–12 months), Cohort D (13–24 months), and Cohort E (&gt;24 months). Efficacy was assessed using the CHOP-INTEND and WHO Motor Milestone Scale. This study also analyzed the respiratory support needs, gastrostomy requirements, and mortality rates across cohorts.ResultsPatients treated before 12 months of age showed the most significant improvements in motor milestones, with 58.7% of Cohort A achieving independent sitting. CHOP-INTEND scores increased notably in all cohorts, with the largest improvement observed in Cohort A (93.5%). Ventilator and gastrostomy requirements decreased in the early treated cohorts. Adverse events were rare, with one discontinuation due to hydrocephalus. The overall mortality rate was 21.3%, with most of the deaths occurring within the first year.InterpretationNusinersen treatment initiated before 12 months of age, especially before 3 months of age, yielded the most favorable motor outcomes in patients with SMA type 1. Early initiation is associated with improved motor milestones and reduced need for ventilatory support. However, no significant improvements were observed in the bulbar function or in patients requiring extensive respiratory support