COVID-19 Vaccination Scenarios:A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Turkey

As of March 2021, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 2.7 million people worldwide. Vaccination has started in most countries around the world. In this study, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of strategies for COVID-19 vaccination for Turkey compared to a baseline in the absence of vaccination and imposed measures by using an enhanced SIRD (Susceptible, Infectious, Recovered, Death) model and various scenarios for the first year after vaccination. The results showed that vaccination is cost-effective from a health care perspective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 511 USD/QALY and 1045 USD/QALY if vaccine effectiveness on transmission is equal or reduced to only 50% of effectiveness on disease, respectively, at the 90% baseline effectiveness of the vaccine. From a societal perspective, cost savings were estimated for both scenarios. Other results further showed that the minimum required vaccine uptake to be cost-effective would be at least 30%. Sensitivity and scenario analyses, as well as the iso-ICER curves, showed that the results were quite robust and that major changes in cost-effectiveness outcomes cannot be expected. We can conclude that COVID-19 vaccination in Turkey is highly cost-effective or even cost-saving

Prevention strategies for sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and viral hepatitis in Europe

The current prevention efforts for STIs, HIV and viral hepatitis in the WHO European Region, especially in the Central and Eastern subregions, are hindered by healthcare disparities, data gaps, and limited resources. In this comprehensive narrative review, we aim to highlight both achievements and persisting challenges while also exploring new developments that could significantly impact the prevention of these infections in the near future. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV has been broadly approved and implemented in 38 out of 53 countries in the region, challenges remain, including cost, limited licensing, and incomplete adherence. We explore innovative approaches like on-demand PrEP, long-acting injectable cabotegravir, and intravaginal rings that have shown promising results, alongside the use of six-monthly lenacapavir, the outcomes of which are pending. Additionally, the potential of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis has been discussed, revealing efficacy in reducing chlamydia and syphilis risk, but effectiveness against gonorrhoea being contingent on tetracycline resistance rates, and the need of further data to determine potential resistance development in other bacteria and its impact on the gut microbiome. We examine successful vaccination campaigns against HBV and HPV, the ongoing development of vaccines for chlamydia, syphilis, herpesvirus, and gonorrhoea, and challenges in HIV vaccine research, including lines of research with significant potential like sequential immunization, T-cell responses, and mRNA technology. This review underscores the research endeavors that pave the way for a more resilient and robust approach to combating STIs, HIV, and viral hepatitis in the region

Interview with Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit

In this interview with Julia Stringfellow, Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit, LU class of 1943, discusses her time as a student as well as her time on the Board of Trustees.https://lux.lawrence.edu/oralhistories/1036/thumbnail.jp

Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha promoter polymorphisms on severity of disease and response to antiviral medications in hbeag negative chronic hepatitis B patients

HBeAg negatif KHB enfeksiyonunun ciddiyetine ve interferon alfa + lamivudin kombinasyon tedavisine verilen yanıtın ön görülmesinde TNFalfa promotor polimorfizmlerinin rolünün belirlenmesi Hastalar: Klinik Bakteriyoloji ve Ebfeksiyon Hastalıkları kliniğinde 2002-2007 yılları arasında HBeAg negatif Kronik heptatit B tanısıyla takip edilen 43 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Karaciğer biyopsileri hastanemizde yapıldı. Hastalara 1 yıl süreyle haftada 3 kez interferon alfa2b 10MU ve lamivudin 100mg/gün tedavisi verildi. Hastalar aylık olarak polikliniğimzde takip edildi. Bulgular: Nekroinflamatuar ve fibrozis skorları yüksek olan hastalar ile nekroinflamasyon düzeyi düşük olan kişiler arasında TNF alfa promotor polimorfizmleri açısından farklılık saptanmadı. Tedaviyle birlikte, 3 ay içerisinde, hastaların AST/ALT düzeylerinde istatistiksel anlamlı azalma saptandı (p_0,000). Hastaların %16.2'sinde tedavi yanıtı elde edilemedi. Kalıcı virolojik ve biyokimyasal yanıt hastaların %67.4'ünde tespit edildi. Kalıcı yanıt veren hastalar ve kalıcı yanıt vermeyen hastalar TNFalfa promotor polimorfizmleri açısından kıyaslandığında iki grup arasında fark saptanmadı. Sonuç ve tartışma: TNF alfa promotor -238 ve -308 bölgesindeki tek baz polimorfizmleri Türk popülasyonunda KHB enfeksiyonunun ciddiyetine ve hastalığın antiviral tedaviye yanıtına etki etmemektedir.To investigate whether TNF alfa promoter polymorphisms affets disease severity and response to interferon alpha plus lamivudine combination therapy in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients. Patients and methods: 43 patients diagnosed to have HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B between years 2002-2007 at Dept. of Clin. Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent liver biopsy examination before the onset of treatment. Patients received interferon alpha2b 10MU tiw and lamivudine 100mg QD combination therapy for a year. Routine follow-ups were carried-out at out patient clinics of our department. TNF alpha promotor polymorphisms at positions -238 and -308 were studied by PCR-RFLP. Results: Patients diagnosed to have severe hepatitis as a result of higher necroinflamatory and fibrosis scores and higher AST/ALT levels were compared with patients WHO had milder disease. No statistically significant difference was found between patients with severe disease and milder disease in terms of TNFalpha promoter -238 and -308 polymorphisms.24 week after commencement of antiviral treatment AST and ALT levels were decreased significantly with respect to initial values. 16.2% of patients did not respond to treatment whereas sustained response was achieved in 67% of patients. Once again, no statistically significant difference was found between sustained responders and nonresponders in terms of TNF alfa promoter -238 and -308 polymorphisms. Discussion: TNF alpha promoter polymorphisms at position -38 and -308 do not contribute to disease severity and response to antiviral treatment in Turkish chronic hepatitis B patients

Non-performing Loans in Turkish Banking Sector and Macro Economic

Türk bankacılık sektöründe sorunlu kredilerin toplam kredilere oranı özellikle kriz dönemlerinde önemli ölçüde artmış ve hem bankacılık sektörünü hem de reel sektörü olumsuz yönde etkilemiştir. Bu çalışmada, 1998Q2- 2012Q3 yıllarına ait çeyrek dönemlik veriler ekseninde sorunlu krediler ile makroekonomik değişkenler (bankacılık sektörü yurtiçi kredi hacmi, GSYİH reel büyüme, toplam özel tüketim harcamaları ve özel sabit sermaye harcamaları) arasındaki ilişki Granger nedensellik testi ve VAR yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Eşbütünleşme analizi, sorunlu krediler ile sözkonusu makroekonomik değişkenler arasında uzun dönemli bir ilişki olduğunu ortaya koyarken, Granger nedensellik testleri bu ilişkilerin çift yönlü olduğunu göstermektedir.In the Turkish banking sector, ratio of non-performing loans in total loans significantly increased in crisis periods and affected negative both banking sector and real sector. In this study, non-performing loans relation with banking sector volume of domestic credit volume, real GDP, total private consumption expenditures and private fixed capital expenditures are tested with Granger causality test and VAR method in the axis of 1998Q2-2012Q3 quaterly data for the years. While cointegration analysis putting a long-term relationship between non-performing loans and these macroeconomic variables, Granger causality tests show that these relationships are bi-directional

Non-performing Loans in Turkish Banking Sector and Macro Economic Effects

In the Turkish banking sector, ratio of non-performing loans in total loans significantly increased in crisis periods and affected negative both banking sector and real sector. In this study, non-performing loans relation with banking sector volume of domestic credit volume, real GDP, total private consumption expenditures and private fixed capital expenditures are tested with Granger causality test and VAR method in the axis of 1998Q2-2012Q3 quaterly data for the years. While cointegration analysis putting a long-term relationship between non-performing loans and these macroeconomic variables, Granger causality tests show that these relationships are bi-directional

Dünya ticaret örgütü ve tarım politikaları

Bu çalışmada, Dünya Ticaret Örgütü kapsamında dünya tarım politikalarında yaşanan gelişmeler değerlendirilmiştir. Dünya tarım ticaretindeki en önemli düzenleme, 1995’te Umguay Turu Tarım Anlaşması ile yapılmıştır. Bu anlaşmayla dünya tarım ticaretinin liberalleşmesi amaçlanmıştır. DTÖ Milenyum Turu da aynı amaca yönelik olarak başlatılmıştır. Bu müzakerelerde AB ve ABD gibi dünya tarım ticaretinde önemli ülkeler arasındaki anlaşmazlıklar devam etmektedir

Non-performing Loans in Turkish Banking Sector and Macro Economic Effects

Türk bankacılık sektöründe sorunlu kredilerin toplam kredilere oranı özellikle kriz dönemlerinde önemli ölçüde artmış ve hem bankacılık sektörünü hem de reel sektörü olumsuz yönde etkilemiştir. Bu çalışmada, 1998Q22012Q3 yıllarına ait çeyrek dönemlik veriler ekseninde sorunlu krediler ile makroekonomik değişkenler (bankacılık sektörü yurtiçi kredi hacmi, GSYİH reel büyüme, toplam özel tüketim harcamaları ve özel sabit sermaye harcamaları) arasındaki ilişki Granger nedensellik testi ve VAR yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Eşbütünleşme analizi, sorunlu krediler ile sözkonusu makroekonomik değişkenler arasında uzun dönemli bir ilişki olduğunu ortaya koyarken, Granger nedensellik testleri bu ilişkilerin çift yönlü olduğunu göstermektedir

ESNEK VE İNCE HALL SENSÖRLERİN GELİŞTİRİLMESİ

ESNEK VE İNCE HALL SENSÖRLERİN GELİŞTİRİLMES