Adapting the short form of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale into Turkish: validity and reliability

The nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short Form (IGDS9-SF) is one of the most popular instruments developed based on DSM-5 to assess gaming addiction internationally. Given the number of common instruments to assess and diagnose gaming disorder cross-culturally, validity and reliability studies of instruments such as the IGDS9-SF have become more important. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to adapt and examine psychometric properties of IGDS9-SF in Turkish. A total of 455 participants aged between 10 and 29 years were recruited to take part in the present study. Validity of the IGDS9-SF was assessed in two ways: confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and criterion-related validity. CFA revealed that IGDS9-SF was unidimensional. A significant correlation between IGDS9-SF and Internet Addiction Scale indicated criterion-related validity. One supportive finding for the validity was the significant difference found between the upper and lower 27-percentile groups in terms of IGDS9-SF scores. The IGDS9-SF also showed satisfactory levels of reliability using Cronbach's alpha (.82), Guttman's split-half (.75), and test-retest reliability coefficient (.78). It is concluded that the IGDS9-SF appears to be a valid and reliable scale to assess IGD among Turkish adolescents and young adult

Analysis of Lung Metastases in Patients with Primary Extremity Sarcoma

Purpose: To investigate the incidence, radiographic findings, and the time course for the appearence of lung metastases from primary extremity sarcoma

Analysis of Europe's First Fully-Fledged Islamic Digital Bank in the Arena of New Age Banking

The study aims to provide the first systematic account of Europe's first fully-fledged digital Islamic banking service and review in detail with the available information. It explains the new-age banking concept and theory as well as identifies the role of insha in digital trends. The research primarily focuses on the concept of new-age banking and demonstrates the application of this concept by scrutinizing an Islamic digital banking platform. It selects ‘insha’, a digital banking service platform [in other words, Bank-as-a-Service platform] that provides digital banking services in Europe, as a case for this study. The study reveals two Tiers of the new age banking: Tier I NAB brought cost efficiency by reducing personnel expenses by replacing the workforce, and Tier II NAB has come front to reduce personnel expenses by replacing workforce intelligence directly. Besides, it also discloses four aspects of new-age banking: i) Accessibility, ii) Cost Advantage, iii) Time Efficiency, and iv) Security. On the other hand, the study shows the application of new-age banking by spotlighting an Islamic digital bank, insha, which experienced significant tractions within two months of inauguration, and the app has been downloaded over 9,000 times. This paper provides an excellent case, insha, to comprehend the concept of new-age banking, and manifests how it could facilitate customers to access the banking platform

Istodobno spektrofotometrijsko određivanje losartan kalija, amlodipin besilata i hidroklorotiazida u farmaceutskim pripravcima kemometrijskom metodom

In the present work, four different spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous estimation of losartan potassium, amlodipine besilate and hydrochlorothiazide in raw materials and in formulations are described. Overlapped data was quantitatively resolved by using chemometric methods, classical least squares (CLS), multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS). Calibrations were constructed using the absorption data matrix corresponding to the concentration data matrix, with measurements in the range of 230.5350.4 nm (∆λ = 0.1 nm) in their zero order spectra. The linearity range was found to be 840, 15 and 315 μg ml1 for losartan potassium, amlodipine besilate and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. The validity of the proposed methods was successfully assessed for analyses of drugs in the various prepared physical mixtures and in tablet formulations.U radu su opisane četiri spektrofotometrijske metode za istodobno određivanje losartan kalija, amlodipin besilata i hidroklorotiazida u sirovinama i farmaceutskim pripravcima. Podaci koji su se preklapali kvantitativno su razlučeni kemometrijskim metodama, klasičnom metodom najmanjih kvadrata (CLS), multiplom linearnom regresijom (MLR), regresijom glavnih komponenata (PCR) te metodom parcijalnih najmanjih kvadrata (PLS). Kalibracije su provedene koristeći podatke o ovisnosti apsorpcije o koncentracijama, mjereći spektre nultog reda u rasponu 230,5350,4 nm (∆λ = 0,1 nm). Linearnost za losartan kalij bila je 840, za amlodipin besilat 15, a za hidroklorotiazid 315 μg ml1. Valjanost predloženih metoda uspješno je potvrđena analizom navedenih lijekova u različitim pripremljenim smjesama i tabletama

Coil embolization in 481 ruptured intracranial aneurysms: angiographic and clinical results

PURPOSEWe aimed to report our 13-year experience with the embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms using detachable coils and postembolization angiographic and clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODSBetween June 1998 and September 2011, 481 patients with ruptured aneurysms were referred for endovascular treatment with detachable coils at our center. The technical feasibility, procedural complications, morbidity, mortality, and initial angiographic and clinical results were evaluated. RESULTSEndovascular treatment was successful in 95.6% of the patients. Postembolization angiography showed complete occlusion in 63.4%, a neck remnant in 30.8%, and incomplete occlusion in 5.8% of the aneurysms. A total of 331 patients were followed up. The overall angiographic results showed stable occlusion in 234 aneurysms (70.7%) and recurrence in 97 aneurysms (29.3%). During the follow-up period, stable angiographic occlusion was evident in 75% of the small, 61% of the large, and 38.5% of the giant aneurysms. Complications during the coiling procedure occurred in 75 procedures (15.6%). Ischemic complications were observed in 33 procedures (6.9%), and perforation of the aneurysm during the coiling occurred in 12 cases (2.5%). Five (41.7%) of 12 patients who had perforation during coiling died. The overall procedure-related morbidity and mortality were 5.6% and 2%, respectively. During the follow-up period, two patients (0.4%) had early rebleeding. None of the patients showed late rebleeding. In the follow-up, the retreatment rate was 12.6%. CONCLUSIONOur data confirm the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endovascular coil embolization in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms

Preoperative arterial embolization of large liver hemangiomas

PURPOSEWe aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of preoperative selective intra-arterial embolization (PSIAE) in the surgical treatment of large liver hemangiomas.METHODSData of 22 patients who underwent resection of large liver hemangiomas were retrospectively analyzed. PSIAE was performed in cases having a high risk of severe blood loss during surgery (n=11), while it was not applied in cases with a low risk of blood loss (n=11).RESULTSA total of 19 enucleations and six anatomic resections were performed. Operative time, intraoperative bleeding amount, Pringle period, and blood transfusion were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05, for all). The perioperative serum aspartate transaminase level was not different between groups (P = 1.000). Perioperative total bilirubin levels were significantly increased in the PSIAE group (P = 0.041). Postoperative hospital stay was longer in the PSIAE group. Surgical complications were comparable between groups (P = 0.476).CONCLUSIONPatients who underwent PSIAE due to a high risk of severe blood loss during resection of large liver hemangiomas had comparable operative success as patients with a low risk of blood loss who were operated without PSIAE. Hence, PSIAE can be used for the control of intraoperative blood loss, especially in surgically difficult cases

Vitamin A status of healthy children in Manisa, Turkey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health nutrition problem in the developing world. Even subclinical Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased childhood mortality. Severe maternal vitamin A deficiency may cause increased mortality in the first months of life. There have been a limited number of studies regarding vitamin A status in Turkey. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin A status of healthy children in Manisa, Turkey.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Vitamin A status of 100 healthy children aged 36-48 months is evaluated. The children were seen during routine examination. Serum retinol concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Duration of breast feeding, age solid foods introduced, use of supplementary vitamins, weight and height, and intake of specific groups of nutrients on a daily, weekly and monthly basis were collected from a questionnaire completed by the mothers. Height and weight z-scores were calculated according to national standards. Mothers of 20 of the 100 children were known to have normal serum and breast milk retinol concentrations. Children with normal serum retinol concentration were compared with the children with VAD. Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare independent variables. The Pearson correlation analysis test was used to test relation between numeric variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean retinol concentration was 0.98 ± 0.32 μmol/L in the whole study group. Serum retinol concentrations were normal (>0.70 μmol/L) in 89% of the children. When children with normal serum retinol concentrations were compared with those with retinol concentrations lower than 0.70 μmol/L, there was no difference in terms of age, gender, weight and height at the time of study, z-scores, birth weight, birth length, duration of breast feeding, time to begin solid food, rate of supplementary vitamin use, and rate of infections (P > 0.05). There was not any relation between vitamin A concentrations and weight and height at the time of study, z-scores, birth weight, birth length, duration of breast feeding, time to begin solid food, vitamin use, and frequency of intake of specific groups of nutrients (P > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study showed that VAD is a moderate health problem in Manisa.</p

Decreasing trends in cardiovascular mortality in Turkey between 1988 and 2008.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality increased in developed countries until the 1970s then started to decline. Turkey is about to complete its demographic transition, which may also influence mortality trends. This study evaluated trends in coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality between 1988 and 2008. METHODS: The number of deaths by cause (ICD-8), age and sex were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) annually between 1988 and 2008. Population statistics were based on census data (1990 and 2000) and Turkstat projections. European population standardised mortality rates for CHD and stroke were calculated for men and women over 35 years old. Joinpoint Regression was used to identify the points at which a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change of the trend occurred. RESULTS: The CHD mortality rate increased by 2.9% in men and 2.0% in women annually from 1988 to 1994, then started to decline. The annual rate of decline for men was 1.7% between 1994-2008, whilst in women it was 2.8% between 1994-2000 and 6.7% between 2005-2008 (p < 0.05 for all periods).Stroke mortality declined between 1990-1994 (annual fall of 3.8% in both sexes), followed by a slight increase between 1994-2004 (0.6% in men, 1.1% in women), then a further decline until 2008 (annual reduction of 4.4% in men, 7.9% in women) (p < 0.05 for all periods). CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in CVD mortality was observed from 1995 onwards in Turkey. The causes need to be explored in detail to inform future policy priorities in noncommunicable disease control

Political connections and corporate financial decision making

This paper investigates whether and how political connections influence managerial financial decisions. Our study reveals that those firms that have a politician on its board of directors are highly leveraged, use more long-term debt, hold large excess cash and are associated with low quality financial reporting compared to their non-connected counterparts. These effects escalate with the strength of the connected politician and whether he or his party is in power. The winning party effect is observed to be stronger than victory by the politician himself. Overall, our paper provides strong evidence that political connection is a two-edged sword. It is indeed a valuable resource for connected firms, but it comes at a cost of higher agency problems