Simulation of benefits and risks after the planned privatization of the pension system in Turkey

The recently started process of social security reform in Turkey is widely argued to have a significant potential to affect the direction of further development of financial markets in the country in the years ahead, particularly through the planned introduction of privately managed defined-contribution (or money purchase) retirement plans. This paper aims to evaluate the prospects for the emergence and growth of a demand for these plans by analyzing investment risks and associated benefits facing employees purchasing them and to assess the effectiveness of various risk-reduction strategies that might be pursued by individuals as well as the government. Within this framework, a money purchase pension plan, supplementary to the basic state scheme, is considered. Possible variations in a member's pension income, arising due to stochastic increases in salary earnings and investment returns under alternative portfolios, are captured using an actuarial simulation model designed for this purpose. The cost to the government of providing guarantees on minimum pension incomes and the effects of changes in individuals' investment strategies, retirement ages, and career patterns on the retirement benefits obtained are investigated, and the results are related to various aspects of social security reform-financial market interaction in Turkey. © 2002 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All rights reserved

Characteristics of patients operated for primary hyperparathyroidism at university hospitals in Türkiye: Differences among Türkiye's geographical regions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to define the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients operated on for primary hyperpatathyroidism (PHPT) at university hospitals in Türkiye, and to investigate the differences in the clinical presentations of the disease between different geographical regions. Methods: Patients operated on for PHPT in the university hospitals of Türkiye were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and the operational data of the patients were investigated according to the whole country and to different geographical regions. Comparisons were performed according to whole country and regions. Results: A total of 1,162 cases were included in the study from different regions and 20 university hospitals. The mean age of patients was 52.4 ± 0.38 (mean ± standard error) in the general population of Türkiye. The rates of hypertension, urolithiasis, bone disease and 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency were 35%, 18.6%, 67.6%, and 63%, respectively. The median parathormone (PTH), serum total calcium (Ca+2) and phosphorus value were 220 pg/mL (range, 70-2,500 pg/mL), 11.2 mg/dL (range, 9.5-11.2 mg/dL), and 2.4 mg/dL (range, 1-4.7 mg/dL), respectively. The median size of the adenomas resected was 16 mm (range, 4-70 mm). Significant differences were observed in the clinical and laboratory findings of the patients operated on due to PHPT between different geographical regions of Türkiye (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients with PHPT in different geographical regions of Türkiye differ. Furthermore, the general findings of the cases in Türkiye give us a hint that the severity of the disease here is somewhere between Eastern and Western countries. Copyright © 2016, the Korean Surgical Society

Stability constants of UO22+, Th4+ and Ce3+ with L-asparagine and thermodynamic parameters

The stability constants of L-asparagine and its complexes formed with UO22+, Th4+ and Ce3+ ions were determined potentiometrically using the Calvin-Bjerrum technique as adopted by Irving and Rossotti at different temperatures (290, 298 and 310K), in 0.1 M KCI. The stability constants were computed using the least-squares treatment method in EXCEL program for proton-ligand and metal-ligand at the temperatures given above. The protonation constants of L-asparagine (log ß2) were found to be 13.07 ± 0.01, 12.58 ± 0.10, 12.28 ±0.16 at 290, 298 and 310 K, respectively. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters ?H, ?G and ?S of L-asparagine and its complexes with metal ions were evaluated and discussed at the same temperatures. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd

Adsorption of I-131 in urine by using anion exchange resin

WOS: 00020296740020

Serum Levels of Fetuin A and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in Morbidly Obese Subjects

Insulin resistance is one of the feature of obesity. Fetuin A is inhibitor of insulin receptor which belongs the family of receptor tyrosine kinase. It has been observed that fetuin-null mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity and they exhibit increased insulin sensitivity. Increased production of reactive oxygen species is suggested to be associated with insulin resistance. Attacks of reactive oxygen species to DNA results in base oxidation. Among the oxidized bases, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine is predominant lesion with pro-mutagenic potential. In the present study; measurement of serum levels of fetuin A and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in obese subjects (n = 46) and healthy controls (n = 22), and examination of the relations between these parameters and insulin resistance have been purposed. Blood samples were taken form morbidly obese subjects after a 12 h fasting. Serum levels of fetuin A and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann Whitney U test and correlations were examined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, free T 3, free T 4, fasting glucose, c-peptide and %HbA1c in the obese group were found to be different from those in the control group. Serum level of fetuin A was found to be higher, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine level was found to be lower in the morbid obese group than those in the control group. Fetuin A was found to be positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r:0,40, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (r:-0,52, P < 0.01). No significant association was determined between body mass index and measured parameters. In conclusion, serum level of fetuin A is high in morbidly obese subjects and is negatively associated with 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine level in peripheral circulation. Fetuin A may be a promising link between insulin resistance and obesity as well its comorbidities

The influence of stereoisomerism on the biological behavior of 99mTc labeled penicillamine

The aim of this study is to investigate stereoisomeric behavior of penicillamine and the effect of temperature on labeling. In addition, it was explored how stereoisomerism affected biological behavior of them. In the present work, D- and L-enantiomers of penicillamine(D-PA, L-PA) were labeled with 99mTc using SnCl2 as reducing agent and their radiopharmaceutical potentials were investigated. Quality control procedures were carried out using thin layer radiochromatography (TLRC), electrophoresis and high performance liquid radiochromatography (HPLRC). HPRLC chromatograms showed two peaks for 99mTc-D-PA, while a single peak was observed for 99mTc-L-PA at room temperature. However, the single peak was observed at 90 °C for both isomers. Labeling yields of each isomer were found to be over 98%. Biological activity of these complexes was determined on male Albino Wistar rats by biodistribution studies. While the biodistribution result of 99mTc-D-PA showed high uptake in the liver, maximum uptake of 99mTc-L-PA was observed in the kidneys. Both two complexes were cleared rapidly from the blood, mainly by the renal system. Since the activity concentration of 99mTc-D-PA at the 30th minute in the kidneys and the liver reached a maximum value and at the 120th minute, it was removed by renal and hepatobiliary excretion. As a result, it can be concluded that stereoisomerism affect not only the chemical behavior, but also differs their biological behavior of these compounds. © 2009 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary