The developments in the central business district of Istanbul in the 1990s

Since the 1980s, the economic and political conjuncture of the world has changed to a great extent leading to profound transformations in cities and metropolitan areas. Economic restructuring, globalization process, and re-organization of central-local government relations are the basic factors behind these transformations In a similar vein, after the mid-1980s and throughout the 1990s, the development of Istanbul metropolitan area have been characterized by a variety of factors ranging from the implementation of the neoliberal policies at the national level to the changes in the metropolitan government at the local level. Although the roots of this transformation can be traced back to the late-1970s, the most important changes have taken place in the last two decades. After 1980, Turkey adopted neoliberal policies in order to increase its economic articulation to the international relations. As a result of these measures, starting from the mid-1980s, foreign direct investment inflows into Turkey have increased to a great extent. Moreover, parallel to the worldwide trend of rising importance of producer services, the share of service sector investments has increased in total amount of foreign direct investment inflows into Turkey. During this period, Istanbul metropolitan area and especially its Central Business District (CBD) was affected to a great extent by the implementation of private sector-led projects realized by both foreign and Turkish firms operating in various activities such as retailing, tourism, real-estate, finance and other producer services. The author argues that the neoliberal policies of the central government after the 1980s, the increase in foreign direct investments in service sector, the investment shift from industry to commercial and residential real-estate development and financial activities have brought about significant transformations in Istanbul metropolitan area. In this work, in the light of the above-mentioned factors, the development of the Istanbul metropolitan area (especially its CBD development), in the late 1980s and throughout the1990s, will be analyzed.

The developments in the central business district of Istanbul in the 1990s

Since the 1980s, the economic and political conjuncture of the world has changed to a great extent leading to profound transformations in cities and metropolitan areas. Economic restructuring, globalization process, and re-organization of central-local government relations are the basic factors behind these transformations In a similar vein, after the mid-1980s and throughout the 1990s, the development of Istanbul metropolitan area have been characterized by a variety of factors ranging from the implementation of the neoliberal policies at the national level to the changes in the metropolitan government at the local level. Although the roots of this transformation can be traced back to the late-1970s, the most important changes have taken place in the last two decades. After 1980, Turkey adopted neoliberal policies in order to increase its economic articulation to the international relations. As a result of these measures, starting from the mid-1980s, foreign direct investment inflows into Turkey have increased to a great extent. Moreover, parallel to the worldwide trend of rising importance of producer services, the share of service sector investments has increased in total amount of foreign direct investment inflows into Turkey. During this period, Istanbul metropolitan area and especially its Central Business District (CBD) was affected to a great extent by the implementation of private sector-led projects realized by both foreign and Turkish firms operating in various activities such as retailing, tourism, real-estate, finance and other producer services. The author argues that the neoliberal policies of the central government after the 1980s, the increase in foreign direct investments in service sector, the investment shift from industry to commercial and residential real-estate development and financial activities have brought about significant transformations in Istanbul metropolitan area. In this work, in the light of the above-mentioned factors, the development of the Istanbul metropolitan area (especially its CBD development), in the late 1980s and throughout the1990s, will be analyzed

Genotoksično djelovanje diazinona na limfocite ljudske periferne krvi

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes following 24 and 48- hour exposure to a commercial diazinon formulation Basudin 60EM® at concentrations between 0.01 and 40 μg mL-1. For this purpose we used the micronucleus (MN), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Diazinon significantly increased the frequency of micronucleated cells compared to control. Forty-eight-hour exposure increased this frequency even at lower concentrations (0.01-10 μg mL-1). The FISH results revealed aneugenic effects at 10 μg mL-1. The comet assay also confirmed DNA damage at concentrations between 10 and 40 μg mL-1. Our findings have confirmed the genotoxic potential of diazinon and its cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes. The increased DNA damage in our study raises concern about the current assessment of the health risk posed by this pesticide and calls for a high level of caution in agricultural and household use.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio ocijeniti genetička oštećenja u limfocitima ljudske periferne krvi nakon 24-satne odnosno 48-satne izloženosti komercijalnom diazinonu (Basudin 60EM®) u rasponu koncentracija od 0,01 do 40 μg mL-1. U tu smo svrhu rabili mikronukleus (MN)-test, fluorescencijsku in situ hibridizaciju (FISH) i metodu elektroforeze pojedinačnih stanica u agaroznom gelu (tzv. komet-test). Diazinon je značajno povećao učestalost stanica s mikronukleusima u odnosu na kontrolu. Taj je učinak bio još izraženiji nakon 48-satne izloženosti, gdje je značajno povećanje zamijećeno već pri koncentracijama diazinona od 0,01 do 10 μg mL-1. FISH je pokazao aneugeno djelovanje diazinona u koncentranciji od 10 μg mL-1. Naši rezultati potvrdili su ranija saznanja o genotoksičnom i citotoksičnom djelovanju diazonona na ljudske limfocite. Oštećenje DNA koje smo zamijetili u našem istraživanju dovodi u pitanje trenutačne procjene zdravstvenih rizika povezanih s tim pesticidom te poziva na izrazit oprez pri njegovoj primjeni u poljoprivredi i kućanstvima

Primary Renal Synovial Sarcoma

Synovial sarcomas are generally deep-seated tumors that most often occur in the proximity of large joints of adolescents and young adults. We describe two cases of primary renal synovial sarcoma that were treated successfully by radical nephrectomy. Synovial sarcoma originating from the kidney is extremely rare and the histogenesis is uncertain. Surgical resection and ifosfamide based chemotherapy are the mainstay for the management of renal synovial sarcoma. Fewer than 40 patients have been described in the English literature. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of malignancy in cystic renal masses and raise the suspicion of synovial sarcoma, especially when patients with renal masses are a young adult

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Aim. To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Materials and Methods. The study included 88 eyes of 44 women (group 1) with PCOS and 84 eyes of 42 healthy women (group 2). In all subjects, the RNFL and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). In addition, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive errors, central macular thickness (CMT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and excavation of optic disc were evaluated in all subjects. Results. Mean values of GCC, IOP, VA, CMT, CCT, and refractive errors were similar between the 2 groups. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses were higher in subjects with PCOS than in healthy subjects (P=0.003, P=0.012, and P=0.009), respectively. Conclusion. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses in women with PCOS were significantly higher than in healthy women

Gigantomastia and Macroprolactinemia Responding to Cabergoline Treatment: A Case Report and Minireview of the Literature

Background. Macroprolactinemia is defined as predominance of high molecular weight prolactin forms in the circulation. Although macroprolactin is considered as a biologically inactive molecule, some authorities suggest treatment in symptomatic cases. Gigantomastia is defined as excess breast tissue and most cases in the literature were treated by surgical intervention. Case. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with gigantomastia and galactorrhea. The patient had a demand for surgical therapy. In laboratory examination, she had hyperprolactinemia and macroprolactinemia. Pituitary imaging revealed 6 mm microadenoma in right side of the hypophysis. Since she was symptomatic, cabergolin treatment was started. Macroprolactin became negative, breast circumference decreased significantly, and galactorrhea resolved after treatment. Conclusion. Gigantomastia might be the presenting symptom in patients with macroprolactinemia. In these patients medical treatment with cabergoline may be used initially as an alternative to surgical approach

Importance of ectopic thyroid tissue detected in the midline of the neck: single center experience

ABSTRACT Objective: Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare abnormality of the thyroid gland and the true prevalence and importance is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasonography (US) guided fine needle aspiration biposy (FNAB) results, sonographic features, and frequency of ETT detected in the midline of the neck. Subjects and methods: Five thousand five hundred and twenty outpatients who were referred to our thyroid clinic between September 2010 and April 2012 and underwent thyroid US, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with ETT, detected in the midline of the neck in US were included in the study. Thyroid functions, sonographic features, and US guided FNAB results were evaluated. Results: There were 81 (81.8%) female and 18 (18.2%) male patients with a mean age of 50.9 ± 11.7. The ETT in the midline was present in 1.79% (99/5,520) of the patients. In the majority of the patients, benign sonographic features (isoechoic, regular margin, type 1 vascularization) were detected. There were 92 (92.9%) patients with a previous history of thyroidectomy and all were histopathologically benign. In 7 (7.1%) patients, there was no history of thyroid operation. FNAB results of ETT were benign. Conclusion: This study evaluated the importance of ETT detected incidentally in the midline of the neck. Especially in patients with a history of thyroidectomy, the thyroid masses in the midline of the neck can be found as incidental with imaging methods. Our results suggests that the incidence of malignancy in this group is much lower than orthotopic thyroid nodules and they are often benign. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(3):231-

Computed Tomography-Based Radiomics Using Tumor and Vessel Features to Assess Resectability in Cancer of the Pancreatic Head

The preoperative prediction of resectability pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging. This retrospective single-center study examined tumor and vessel radiomics to predict the resectability of PDAC in chemo-naïve patients. The tumor and adjacent arteries and veins were segmented in the portal-venous phase of contrast-enhanced CT scans, and radiomic features were extracted. Features were selected via stability and collinearity testing, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator application (LASSO). Three models, using tumor features, vessel features, and a combination of both, were trained with the training set (N = 86) to predict resectability. The results were validated with the test set (N = 15) and compared to the multidisciplinary team’s (MDT) performance. The vessel-features-only model performed best, with an AUC of 0.92 and sensitivity and specificity of 97% and 73%, respectively. Test set validation showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 88%, respectively. The combined model was as good as the vessel model (AUC = 0.91), whereas the tumor model showed poor performance (AUC = 0.76). The MDT’s prediction reached a sensitivity and specificity of 97% and 84% for the training set and 88% and 100% for the test set, respectively. Our clinician-independent vessel-based radiomics model can aid in predicting resectability and shows performance comparable to that of the MDT. With these encouraging results, improved, automated, and generalizable models can be developed that reduce workload and can be applied in non-expert hospitals