Fonction de reaction et politique monetaire en changes fixes : une nouvelle formulation appliquee a la Turquie

E42; E52; F31Crise de change; fonction de reaction; politique monetaire; programme de stabilisation par le change; Turquie

Politique monétaire sous contrainte : le cas de la crise turque de 2000/2001.

This article suggests a new type of reaction function fitting monetary policymaker's behaviour when constrained by a fixed exchange rate. Firstly, it incorporates new target variables, which are different from the ones commonly observed by central banks in a flexible exchange rate environment. Secondly, its time frequency is shortened in order to catch the repeated and discretionary central bank interventions for maintaining exchange rate fixity. Weekly data are therefore used for the empirical application of our formulation on Turkey between January 1997 and August 2002. The econometric analysis shows that the exchange rate constraint diverted Turkish monetary Authorities' interventions toward external variables, training unsustainable internal disequilibria.Exchange rate crisis; monetary policy; exchange rate-based stabilization policy; Turkey.

Coagulation Disturbances in Patients with Argininemia

BACKGROUND Argininemia is an autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder (UCD). Unlike other UCD, hyperammonemia is rarely seen. Patients usually present in childhood with neurological symptoms. Uncommon presentations like neonatal cholestasis or cirrhosis have been reported. Although transient elevations of liver transaminases and coagulopathy have been reported during hyperammonemia episodes, a permanent coagulopathy has never been reported. METHODS In this retrospective study, coagulation disturbances are examined in 6 argininemia patients. All of the patients were routinely followed up for hepatic involvement due to argininemia. Laboratory results, including liver transaminases, albumin, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and clotting factor levels, were assessed in all of the patients. RESULTS All of the patients had a prolonged PT and an increased INR, while none of the patients had a prolonged aPTT. Five patients had slightly elevated liver transaminases. A liver biopsy was performed in 1 patient but neither cirrhosis nor cholestasis was documented. Five of the 6 patients had low factor VII and factor IX levels, while other clotting factors were normal. CONCLUSIONS Argininemia patients should be investigated for coagulation disorders even if there is no apparent liver dysfunction or major bleeding symptoms

The Effects of Preemptive Tramadol and Dexmedetomidine on Shivering During Arthroscopy

Background: Shivering, the rate of which in regional anesthesia is 39% is an undesired complication seen postoperatively. Aims: This study aims to compare the ability of preventing the shivering of preemptive tramadol and dexmedetomidine during the spinal anesthesia (SA). Methods: A total of 90 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II, aged 18-60 years and undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery with SA were divided into three groups randomly. After spinal block, 100 mg tramadol in 100 ml saline was applied in group T- (n = 30) and 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine in 100 ml saline was applied in group D- (n = 30) and 100 ml saline was administered in group P- (n = 30) in 10 min. The hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, tympanic temperature, shivering and sedation scores were evaluated and recorded intraoperatively and 45 min after a postoperative period. Results: In group T and D, shivering scores were significantly lower when compared with group P in the intraoperative 20 th min (P = 0.01). Sedation scores in group D were significantly higher than the baseline values (P = 0.03) and values in group T and P (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Preemptive tramadol and dexmedetomidine are effective in preventing the shivering under SA. In addition, dexmedetomidine was superior in increasing the level of sedation which is sufficient to prevent the anxiety without any adverse effects

Orbital apex syndrome in herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Orbital apex syndrome is a rare manifestation of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus. Herein we report on a case of orbital apex syndrome secondary to Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus. A 75 year-old male complained of vision loss, conjunctival hyperemia and proptosis on the left eye, was referred to our clinic. Visual acuity was 5/10 Snellen lines and he had conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, minimal nuclear cataract and proptosis on the left eye. A diagnosis of orbital pseudotumor was demonstrated firstly. The patient received oral and topical corticosteroids, antiinflammatory and antibiotic agents. On day 2, vesiculopustular lesions were observed, Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus was diagnosed and corticosteroid treatment stopped, oral acyclovir treatment initiated. Two days later, total ophthalmoplegia, ptosis and significant visual loss were observed on the left. The diagnosis of orbital apex syndrome was considered and the patient commenced on an intravenous acyclovir treatment. After the improvement of acute symptoms, a tapering dose of oral cortisone treatment initiated to accelarate the recovery of ophthalmoplegia. At 5-month follow-up, ptosis and ocular motility showed improvement. VA did not significantly improve because of cataract and choroidal detachment on the left. We conclude that ophthalmoplegia secondary to Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus responds favourably to intravenous acyclovir and steroids