Risk-return performances of real estate investment funds in Turkey including the Covid-19 period

The purpose of this research is to give an insight into the Turkish real estate investment funds (T-REIFs) by comparing their risk-return performances with the main benchmark investment tool Istanbul Stock Exchange-100 (BIST-100) Index. This study evaluated the performance of T-REIFs in four different periods between January 2017 and December 2020 (2017m1–2017m12, 2018m1–2018m12, 2019m1–2019m12 and 2020m1–2020m12) including the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) period by applying the Sharpe and Treynor ratios. In a well-diversified portfolio both ratios give the same results, but in the presence of non-systematic risk and the portfolio is poorly diversified, the Treynor ratio is a better indicator than the Sharpe ratio. The findings of this study show that rankings of Sharpe and Treynor ratios may differ for each period. These results also support the fact that the portfolios of funds in the Turkish real estate market are not well diversified. By providing corporate tax exemptions, and by enabling the investors to diversify their investments and reduce their risks, real estate investment funds are important alternatives to direct real estate investments in Turkey. In that context, being one of the pioneer studies in this niche and a new topic in emerging markets, analyzing the return performances of T-REIFs and comparing them with the returns of the BIST-100 index is aimed to contribute to literature as well as provide insight to investors who may consider investing in the Turkish real estate capital market instruments

Prognostic significance of surgical margin status and gleason grade at the positive surgical margin in predicting biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in a turkish patient cohort

Objective: To investigate the prognostic role of positive surgical margin (PSM) features in addition to well-defined risk factors in predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: This study used the prostate cancer database from the Urooncology Association in Turkey. Clinical, surgical, pathological and follow-up data were recorded from the database. PSM features, including number, location, linear length and Gleason grade (GG) were also recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess differences in BCR-free survival (BCR-FS). In order to identify prognostic factors affecting BCR-FS, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Results: The study included 984 patients who met the eligibility criteria. The median follow-up time was 29 (minimum: 6, maximum: 210) months, and BCR was detected in 178 (18.1%) patients. BCR-FS was found to be significantly lower in patients with higher total prostate-specific antigen, higher International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade, extraprostatic extension (EPE), seminal vesicle invasion, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node involvement, PSM and GG at PSM (PSMGG) >= 4 (log-rank p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.005). ISUP grade, EPE and PSM were identified as independent prognostic factors in predicting BCR-FS [Hazard ratio (HR): 1.89, p=0.035 and HR: 4.65, p<0.001, HR: 1.82, p=0.030, HR: 1.77, p=0.042, respectively]. Unlike the univariate analysis, in multivariate analysis, PSMGG did not prove to be an independent prognostic factor in predicting BCR-FS. Conclusion: PSM GG >= 4 was found to be significantly associated with shorter BCR-FS. There is a need for large, randomised prospective studies to clarify the role of PSMGG to be used in nomograms as an independent predictor to determine patients who would benefit from adjuvant radiation therapy

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

Evaluation of retinal inflammatory biomarkers after intravitreal steroid implant and Ranibizumab injection in diabetic macular edema

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal (IV) ranibizumab (IVR) injection with IV dexamethasone implant (IVDEX) in treatment naive diabetic macular edema (DME) patients with inflammatory component. Materials and methods: Treatment naive DME eyes with subfoveal neurosensorial detachment (SND) and hyperreflective spots (HRS) were treated either three loading doses of IVR (18 eyes) or one dose of IVDEX (19 eyes). Central macular thickness (CMT), height of SND, the number of HRSs scattered on the individual retinal layers and photoreceptor integrity were assessed using spectral domain- optical coherence tomography scans over 3-months follow-up. Results: The mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was -0.11 +/- 0.08 logMAR in IVDEX group and -0.04 +/- 0.06 logMAR in IVR group at 1-month (p = 0.011). IVDEX group showed statistically significant more increase in BCVA compared to those receiving IVR injections at 2-months (p = 0.004) and 3-months (p = 0.017) visits. Compared to baseline, the number of total HRSs and the number of HRSs at each individual inner retinal layer significantly decreased in both groups at all follow-up visits. However, IVDEX group showed more decrease in the total number of HRSs at 2- and 3-months (p < 0.001 at 2-months, and p = 0.006 at 3-months) and in the mean number of HRSs located at inner nuclear layer-outer plexiform layer level (p = 0.016 at 1-month, p < 0.001 at 2-months, and p < 0.001 at 3-months). After treatment, the number of HRSs on the outer nuclear layer showed some non-significant increase in both groups. Conclusion: HRSs tended to migrate from inner retina to the outer retina in DME eyes by treatment. Dexamethasone seemed to be more effective option in such cases with inflammatory component

DOPING AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG USE IN ATHLETES LIVING IN SIVAS, MID-ANATOLIA: A BRIEF REPORT

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of doping and performance enhancing drug use in athletes in Sivas, Turkey, and to analyze the main reasons for the use. This was a cross-sectional study based on a self-report questionnaire. The subjects filled the questionnaires under the supervision of the investigators during interviews. This questionnaire included 24 items describing the population in terms of demographics, sport practice, doping in sport and substance use. Moreover, we assessed the frequency of doping drug use. The number of respondents was 883, of which 433 athletes and 450 healthy non-athletes (control group). The mean age of the total volunteers was 21.8 ± 3.7 yrs. The male and female ratios were 78.2% and 21.8% respectively. Doping and performance enhancing drug usage rate was 8.0% (71cases in 883 subjects). Doping drug use among the athletes was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (14.5%) compared with the non-athletes (1.8%). The agents used were anabolic steroids in 60.5%, l-carnitene in 12.7%, erythropoietin in 5.4%, Na-bicarbonate in 11.3% and creatinine in 14.1% of 71 cases. The reasons for doping use were to have a better body condition in 34 cases (47.9%) and to solve weight (gaining or loosing) problems in 8 (11.3%) cases. Since the potential side effects of doping drugs are not satisfactorily familiar to the most users, the education of athletes on the matter must be a top priorit

Treatment of Primary Tumor in Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer: An Observational Study of the Turkish Urooncology Association Prostate Diseases Working Group

Objective: To report the clinical results of patients who had metastatic prostate cancer (PC) at admission and underwent standard androgen deprivation therapy with radiotherapy (RT) and radical prostatectomy (RP) for the primary tumor. Materials and Methods: This study used the PC database from the Turkish Urooncology Association, to which participating institutions submit online data. The following clinical, radiological, and pathological findings were retrieved from the database: age, total prostate-specific antigen, clinical TNM stage, number of metastases, International Society of Urological Pathology grade group of biopsy, time to castration-resistant disease, type of local treatment, type of staging method, status of survival, type of systemic treatment, and follow-up time. Results: The median follow-up of the 18 included patients was 59.1 (19.9-180) months. RP and extended lymphadenectomy were performed in 12 patients. RT was performed in 6 patients. The median number of metastases was 2 (1-4) and 3 (1-4) in the RP and RT groups, respectively. In the RP group, 3 of 12 patients developed castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) during the follow-up period. In the RT group, 2 of 6 patients developed CRPC in the follow-up period. The time to CRPC was 48.4 and 43.3 months, respectively. Conclusion: While primary tumor-directed RT is effective in selected patients, the results of prospective randomized controlled studies are required to demonstrate the effectiveness of RP

A survey of patient preparation and technique of ultrasound guided prostate bıopsy: A multicenter study of urooncological association

Ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda yapılan prostat biyopsisi prostat kanseri tanısı için standart yöntemdir. Bu anketin amacı, Türkiye’deki üroloji uzmanları arasında ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda yapılan prostat biyopsilerindeki hasta hazırlığı ve biyopsi teknikleriyle ilgili farklılıkların araştırılmasıdır. Temmuz 2004’te prostat biyopsi protokollerini sorgulamak amacıyla, Üroonkoloji Derneği Üyeleri’nin e-posta adresine bir anket formu gönderildi. Anket formundaki sorular çoktan seçmeli olup, prostat biyopsilerindeki hasta hazırlığı ve teknikleri sorguluyordu. Cevaplar yine aynı yolla toplandı ve değerlendirildi. Ankete 24 merkezden 32 üroloji uzmanı katıldı. Bu merkezlerde prostat biyopsileri sadece üroloji uzmanları (%54.16), üroloji ve radyoloji uzmanı beraber (%37.5) ve sadece radyoloji uzmanları (%8.33) tarafından yapılıyordu. Ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda yapılan prostat biyopsileri büyük çoğunlukla transrektal yolla yapılıyordu. Merkezlerin %50’si biyopsi yapmak için PSA eşik değeri olarak 4 ng/ml’yi kullanıyordu. Biyopsi öncesi hazırlıkta bütün merkezler antibiyotik başlarken; yaklaşık yarısı bağırsak hazırlığı yapmaktaydı. Merkezlerin %37.5’i işlem sırasında analjezik kullanmazken; %29.1’i ağrıyı azaltmak için periprostatik sinir blokajı uyguluyordu. ÜrolojiIntroduction: Ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is the standard method for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The aim of the present survey is to assess the variability in patient preparation and technique of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy among Turkish Urologists. Materials and Methods: In July 2004, a questionnaire was sent out to e-mail addresses of the members of Urooncological Association, asking about the details of prostate biopsy protocol of the members. The survey consisted of multiple choice questions about the patient preparation and prostate biopsy technique. Responses were acquired via e-mail and analyzed in detail. Results: Thirty two urologists from 24 centers responded. The biopsy procedure was performed by the urologist only in 54.16% of the centers, both urologist and radiologist in 37.5%, and radiologist only in 8.33%. Transrectal route was the most common method for ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. A half of the responders performed biopsy when PSA was greater than 4 ng/ml. All of the centers administered antibiotic and a half of them used enema before the procedure. Approximately 37% of responders did not administer any type of analgesia, but 29.1% of all responders administered a periprostatic nerve block for reducing pain during the procedure. Most urologists obtained 10 or 12 biopsy cores and only 20.8% of them obtained routine transitional zone biopsy during the initial biopsy session. Conclusion: This survey demonstrated that patient preparation and technique of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is not standardized among Turkish Urologists, and a guideline on prostate biopsy is needed