Doctor can I buy a new kidney? I've heard it isn't forbidden: what is the role of the nephrologist when dealing with a patient who wants to buy a kidney?

Organ trafficking is officially banned in several countries and by the main Nephrology Societies. However, this practice is widespread and is allowed or tolerated in many countries, hence, in the absence of a universal law, the caregiver may be asked for advice, placing him/her in a difficult balance between legal aspects, moral principles and ethical judgments. In spite of the Istanbul declaration, which is a widely shared position statement against organ trafficking, the controversy on mercenary organ donation is still open and some experts argue against taking a negative stance. In the absence of clear evidence showing the clinical disadvantages of mercenary transplantation compared to chronic dialysis, self-determination of the patient (and, with several caveats, of the donor) may conflict with other ethical principles, first of all non-maleficence. The present paper was drawn up with the participation of the students, as part of the ethics course at our medical school. It discusses the situation in which the physician acts as a counselor for the patient in the way of a sort of “reverse” informed consent, in which the patient asks advice regarding a complex personal decision, and includes a peculiar application of the four principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy) to the donor and recipient parties

Comparing of ridge planting performance of precision planters equipped with shoe and disc coulters [Baltalı ve Diskli Gömücü Ayağa Sahip Tek Dane Ekim Makinalarının Sırta Ekim Performanslarının Karşılaştırılması]

The objective of this study was to determine ridge planting performance of the precision seeders equipped with shoe and disc type coulters and to reveal differences between seeders. To meet this target both laboratory and field experiments were conducted. Seed spacing distribution uniformity of the machines were determined using sticky belt tests at the laboratory. The values of plant spacing distribution uniformity, ratio of plant emergence, seeding depth uniformity, negative driven wheel slips of the seeders and driven wheel slips of the tractors were determined by the tests carried out on field conditions. Based on the experimental results, it was determined that, all seeders performances in terms of seed spacing distribution uniformity were found in “good” quality under laboratory conditions, while seeding quality in ridge planting on the field was determined lower than laboratory conditions for all seeders. But seeders equipped with disc type coulters were determined more effective than seeders equipped with shoe type coulters in high quality corn seeding under field conditions. It was found that seeders equipped with disc type coulters provided both higher plant emergences and more uniform seed depths in firm terms. The values of negative driven wheel slips of the seeders were determined as 0.93-5.34% and 9.14-10.24% for shoe type and disc type seeders, respectively. The values of driven wheel slips of the tractors were ranged from 1.38% to 3.83% and from 5.39% to 9.50% for shoe type and disc type seeders, respectively. Based on the all findings it was determined that seeders equipped with disc type coulters should be used in ridge planting. © Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi

Efficacy and safety of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in de novo and maintenance renal transplant patients

Annual Meeting of the Turkish-Transplantation-Society -- JUL 04-06, 2007 -- Ankara, TURKEYWOS: 000253229500049PubMed ID: 18261583Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (ECMPS) has been developed as an alternative agent to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), with the aim to provide reduction in gastrointestinal side effects. This open-label, single-arm, two-center prospective study sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of ECMPS used in combination with steroid and cyclosporine (CyA) in de novo and maintenance renal transplant patients with 12 months' follow-up. Twenty-one patients were recruited (mean age, 39 +/- 8 years) into the de novo group. Of these patients, 66% were male and 76.2% underwent living related kidney donation. The induction immunosuppression was ATG in 10 and basiliximab in 6 patients. At 12 months' posttransplantation, there was no graft or patient loss and two (10%) acute rejection episodes. None of the patients in this group discontinued the study medication due to drug-induced adverse events. One patient was excluded from the study because of recurrent oxalosis. Serum creatinine (SCr) levels at 3, 6, and 12 months after renal transplant were 1.30 +/- 0.3, 1.40 +/- 0.3, and 1.40 +/- 0.3 mg/dL, respectively. The maintenance group included 20 patients. Time posttransplantation (mean +/- SID) was 27 +/- 25 months. All patients in this group had been on maintenance azathioprine or MMF in combination with steroid and CyA. These patients were switched to ECMPS. They mean age was 36 +/- 8 years. Sixty-six percent of the patients were male and 57% received living donor kidneys. Acute rejection was nil, whereas two patients lost their grafts owing to chronic rejection in this group. Three patients were excluded from the study, one to discontinuation of the drug because of intractable diarrhea, the second to loss to follow-up, and the last case due to withdrawal of informed consent. Leukopenia was not observed in this group. The SCr levels prior to and at 3, 6, and 12 months after conversion to ECMPS were 1.80 +/- 1.0, 1.95 +/- 1.5, 1.50 +/- 0.8, and 1.60 +/- 0.8 mg/dL, respectively. This is the first phase IV study with ECMPS in the Turkish population. Renal function was preserved in both groups. Only 2.5% of patients were excluded because of side effects. Use of ECMPS in combination with prednisolone and CyA is an effective and safe therapeutic choice for both de novo and maintenance renal transplant patients.Turkish Transplantat So

DETERMINATION OF THE FIELD PERFORMANCES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHISEL LEGS

WOS: 000326315000023The objective of this study was to determine the working parameters of conventional chisel (Chisel C) and two new designed and manufactured chisel models (Chisels A and B) as an alternative to the conventional chisel. For this purpose; fuel consumptions, work efficiency and draft of 7 shank chisels were determined at 17 cm and 27 cm working depths and 5 km h(-1) and 6 km h(-1) theoretical working speeds in field conditions. In addition to working parameters, soil penetration resistance and dry bulk volume of weight were measured before and after the tillage to examine the effects of chisels on the physical parameters of the soil. According to the results, conventional model chisel C had the lowest performance with high draft of 16.25 kN, the lowest working capacity of 6.83 ha h(-1) and the highest fuel consumption of 19.23 L ha(-1) at 27 cm depth and 5 km h(-1) forward speed conditions. Among all tools, new designed chisel A was found to have the best performance with 13.83 kN, 8.31 ha h(-1), and 14.23 L ha(-1) for draft, work efficiency and fuel consumption, respectively.Ege UniversityEge UniversityThe authors of this study would like to thank to Ege University Research Fund for financial supports

General status of cucurbit genetic resources in Turkey

Turkey is very rich in cucurbit genetic resources due to its diverse geographical and ecological situation. Turkey is one of the important diversity centers for cultivated cucurbits because of the adaptation to diverse ecological conditions as result of natural selection and also the farmers selection in accordance with their preference

General status of cucurbit genetic resources in Turkey

9th EUCARPIA Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae -- MAY 21-27, 2008 -- Avignon, FRANCEWOS: 000263558500001Turkey is very rich in cucurbit genetic resources due to its diverse geographical and ecological situation. Turkey is one of the important diversity centers for cultivated cucurbits because of the adaptation to diverse ecological conditions as result of natural selection and also the farmers selection in accordance with their preference. National collection of Citcurbitaceae species at National Gene Bank of Turkey (AARI) consists of 2223 accessions. Collecting activities have been systematically conducted since early 1960s. 25.7% of this amount is melon, 20.5% is Cucurbita spp., 16.1% is watermelon, 13.4% is cucumber, 7.7% is bottle gourd, 7.2% is squash, 4.2% is winter squash, 3.3% is snake melon, 1.3% is pumpkin, 0.3% Is other cucumbers, 0.2% squirting cucumber and 0.1% of bryony. Melon and watermelon genetic resources collections and their morphological and molecular characterization trials were done In Cukurova University and approximately 400 melon and 355 watermelon accessions were collected. Squash and pumpkin studies were done in Ondokuz Mayis and Ankara University and 128 winter squash, 40 pumpkin populations and 20 snack seed squash were collected and characterized. Selected pumpkins also were characterized molecularly. Bottle gourd characterization trials were done in Mustafa Kemal University and 188 accessions were characterized. Snake melon research activities were conducted at Ankara and Cukurova Universities and 62 accessions were characterized. The evaluation and breeding programs of these genetic resources are ongoing.EUCARPI