Ergonomic varicocele ligation: Laparoscopic intracorporeal knot-tying

Introduction/aim Many surgical and radiological techniques have been introduced for treating varicoceles. The goal of surgical treatment of varicocele is to occlude the refluxing venous drainage to the testis whilemaintaining the normal testicular function. The aim of this study was to present our initial experience in laparoscopic varicocele treatment using intracorporeal knot-tying with available laparoscopic instruments.Materials and methods A retrospective file review of the patients who were treated with laparoscopic intracorporeal knot-tying between May 2010 and July 2014 was carried out. The patients were evaluated as regards age, symptoms, and clinical grade of varicocele. All patients were diagnosed through physical examination and color Doppler ultrasound, which measured the diameter of spermatic veins and retrograde flow in spermatic veins after the Valsalva maneuver.Results The mean operative time was 35± 8 min. There was no intraoperative complication, and all patients had uneventful postoperative courses. Patients were discharged from hospital on the same day after surgery. No recurrent varicocele, testicular atrophy, postoperative hydrocele, or ematoma were observed.Conclusion Our preliminary results indicate that laparoscopic varicocele ligation carried out with intracorporeal knot-tying is safe and effective and produces cosmetically better results. Therefore, it is a suitable procedure in both pediatric and adolescent patients.Keywords: ergonomics, intracorporeal knot-tying, laparoscopic varicocelectom

RAZVOJ BURZE I BANKARSKOG SEKTORA U TURSKOJ: IMAJU LI JEDNAK UTJECAJ NA EKONOMSKI RAST?

This article investigates the impact of financial stock market development and banking sector development on economic growth in the case of Turkey using Johansen cointegration and Granger causality tests for the period between 01:1988 and 12:2004. The results suggest that banking sector development has positive impact on economic growth and vice versa. Hence, the results lend support to both demand following and supply leading hypotheses for banking sector development and economic growth relationship. However, the results fail to yield the same conclusion for the stock market-economic growth relationship.Rad istražuje utjecaj razvoja financijskog tržišta dionica i bankarskog sektora na ekonomski rast u Turskoj koristeći Johansenov kointegracijski i Grangerov test kauzalnosti za period od siječnja 1988. do prosinca 2004. Rezultati ukazuju na to da razvoj bankarskog sektora ima pozitivni utjecaj na ekonomski rast i suprotno. Stoga, rezultati potkrepljuju obje hipoteze (demand following i supply leading) odnosa razvoja bankarskog sektora i ekonomskog rasta. Ipak, rezultati ne upućuju na jednak rezultat kad je u pitanju odnos burze i ekonomskog rasta

Optimization of XNOR Convolution for Binary Convolutional Neural Networks on GPU

Binary convolutional networks have lower computational load and lower memory foot-print compared to their full-precision counterparts. So, they are a feasible alternative for the deployment of computer vision applications on limited capacity embedded devices. Once trained on less resource-constrained computational environments, they can be deployed for real-time inference on such devices. In this study, we propose an implementation of binary convolutional network inference on GPU by focusing on optimization of XNOR convolution. Experimental results show that using GPU can provide a speed-up of up to $42.61\times$ with a kernel size of $3\times3$. The implementation is publicly available at https://github.com/metcan/Binary-Convolutional-Neural-Network-Inference-on-GP

Investigation of the Yeast and Mould Floras in Some Ground Spices

In this study, yeast and mould floras of 60 spices samples that werecollected from different places of Diyarbakır have been investigated. Theyeast spices as Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and A. niger and mouldspices as Candida tropicalis and C. albicans have been commonly isolatedfrom the spices samples.The ratios of yeast contamination in the samples of black pepper,cumin, allspice, ground hot red pepper, flaked pepper (red) and flakedpepper (black), investigated in this study, have been found as % 70, % 80,% 90, % 90, % 60 and % 30 respectively. As a result of high amount ofyeast contamination in spices samples, it is thought that there is a high riskof aflatoxin presence.Using the good and hygienically producing techniques at the stages ofharvest, production, processing, storage and selling with decontaminationapplications as sterilization, microwave and irradiation become effectiveeither in to prove the microbiological quality of the spices and eliminatingof the probable aflatoxin risk due to highly yeast contamination

The effect of intestinal ischemia on plasma thiol/disulphide homeostasis in an experimental study

Aim: To investigate the effects of acute intestinal ischemia on plasma thiol/disulphide homeostasis (TDSH), which has been investigated in a limited number of studies in the related literature. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomized into control (operation without ischemia, GIS), and ischemia groups (GII-60, GIII-180). For ischemia, the superior mesenteric artery was sutured and the rats were exposed to 60 and 180 minutes of intestinal ischemia, respectively. Plasma TDSH was measured in blood samples collected at the end of the ischemia, and the pathology of ileum segments resected was evaluated. Results: The experimental ischemic conditions provided were confirmed by the total histopathological scoring system statistically. The levels of serum human albumin and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in groups were detected in quite a close range of each other. There was no found a statistically significant difference for IMA between groups (p>0.05).  The alternations on the levels of plasma TDSH parameters were observed in the study. According to ischemic conditions, the thiol/disulfide ratio fluctuations were detected in the plasma TDSH. The native thiol and total thiol levels seem to have decreased according to ischemia; no statistical difference was detected. In addition, the disulfide levels increasing according to ischemia either was not found significant statistically (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although this study showed the oxidative balance in intestinal ischemia had affected plasma TDSH, also it revealed that intestinal ischemia didn't create a statistically significant difference between plasma TDSH components

Laparoscopic-assisted repair of Morgagni–Larrey hernia by anterior abdominal wall fixation technique: A report of two cases

Various techniques have been described to repair Morgagni–Larrey hernia. There is still concerns on the sufficiency of a simple laparoscopic anterior abdominal wall fixation. We aim to report of two children undergoingthe laparoscopic-assisted anterior  abdominal wall repair for Morgagni–Larrey hernia, and to discuss this method.Keywords: diaphragm, laparoscopy, Morgagni–Larrey herni

Ergonomic laparoscopic varicocele ligation: A case and technical report

The goal of surgical treatment of the varicocele is to occlude the refluxing venousdrainage to the testis while maintaining normal testicular function. Many surgicaltechniques for treating varicoceles have been described. We aim to present an adolescentcase with varicocele treated by simple laparoscopic ligation technique usingintracorporeal knot-tying

SOCIAL SUPPORT PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM TURKEY

Background: Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) has several negative effects on mental health, given its rapid transmission, hygiene and isolation measures and associated social and financial difficulties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mental health burden of the Turkish population and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 outbreak, especially exploring the effects of social support. Subjects and methods: We assessed depression, anxiety, stress symptoms and perceived social support among 894 people all over Turkey, using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) two months after the declaration of the first COVID-19 case in Turkey. Results: According to DASS-21 subscale scores, the findings showed that the prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress-related symptoms was 24.8%, 21.9% and 12.6%, respectively. Female gender, being single, having a lifetime psychiatric disorder, lower education level and financial concerns were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 scores. Also, there was a negative correlation between all subgroups of perceived social support, especially from the family, and the total DASS-21 score. Conclusions: Vulnerable groups should be identified and protected to reduce adverse psychiatric outcomes of COVID-19. Besides, further strategies should be provided to maintain protective factors, such as social support, under stressful conditions