A cost analysis of a minimum pension guarantee for the individual pension system in Turkey

The returns from individual accounts in pension schemes are subject to fluctuations in capital markets. This increases income uncertainty for the beneficiary and exposes individuals to the risk of fluctuations in the economy in general, and of the stock market in particular. This fact has recently gotten considerable attention from policymakers. A minimum pension guarantee is a way to avoid this pitfall by providing a minimum annuity regardless of the actual investment performance of individual accounts. In this study, we present a cost analysis of a minimum benefit guarantee mechanism for the Individual Pension System in Turkey, a privately managed defined contribution scheme which was introduced in 2003 as a complement to the traditional pay-as-you-go system. We examine the cost estimates and the probability of guaranteed payoffs under various economic and demographic assumptions

Multiple cystic echinococcosis mimicking metastatic malignancy

AbstractCystic echinococcosis is seen worldwide. Considerable public health problems are encountered in endemic areas, such as South and Central America, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Russia, China, Australia and New Zealand. We have presented a case of innumerable cystic echinococcosis of lung and liver. The multiple lesions of cystic echinococcosis in chest X-ray graphy can imitate the metastatic malignancy of lung

In situ thrombosis in pulmonary arterial aneurysms due to Behçet’s disease and efficacy of ımmunosuppressive therapy

BehçetDisease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis, arthritis, and involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and blood vessels. The aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries, with or without thrombosis, are typical manifestation of BD. We report a case with BD, pulmonary arterial aneurysms(PAA) and in situ thrombosis. We aimed to show the effectiveness of immunosuppressive treatment on in situ thrombosis in a case with PAA and BD

DOES PREOPERATIVE TIBIAL TUBEROSITY – TROCHLEAR GROOVE DISTANCE EFFECT ON POSTOPERATIVE PATELLAR INSTABILITY IN THE PATIENTS WITH KNEE ARTHROPLASTY DUE TO MEDIUM-ADVANCED KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Objectives: Determining tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance range as measured before the operation in the patients to whom total knee prosthesis will be applied due to mid to advanced level of osteoarthritic and seeing the post-operative variations in tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance and evaluating whether it has any impact on the patellofemoral instability that might develop after the operation.46 knees planned to be applied total knee prosthesis due to mid-advanced level of osteoarthritic were examined. Methods: In the preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance images MRI routinely taken, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured. Later it was examined whether there was correlation between these preoperative and postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove measurements and the data recorded before operation. Results: Preoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was found to be 8.83±3.54, postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groovedistance was found to be 8.30±3.89 and preoperative-postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove variation was found to be 0,52±3,64 (p=0,337). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, Pre-Op tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured as 8.74±3.18 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 8.89±3,83 ( p=0.888). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, Post-Op tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured as 8.00±2.85 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 8.52±4.52 (p=0.661). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance variation was measured as 0.74± 3.25 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 0.37± 3.95 (p=0.741). Conclusion: As a result, although tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was observed with a great variation in the osteoarthritic knees at stage 3-4, it was nonetheless measured within normal limits and Post-Op variation was not meaningful. Since this is the first study in the literature on the measurement of tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance in the total knee prosthesis applications, we hope that it would shed some light on similar studies to be conducted in the future

Assessment of relationship between pain, psychological status, quality of life and body mass index

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, the number of painful areas, and depression level; both to compare obesity level and these parameters, and to compare between obese and non-obese participants. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: 1875 voluntary patients were evaluated. Patients were grouped into 5 according to body mass index (BMI) values: Group 1:17-24.99kg/m2, Group 2:25-29.99kg/m2, Group 3:30-34.99kg/m2, Group 4:35-35.99kg/m2, Group 5: BMI more than 40kg/m2. Patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire about demographic data and a number of painful areas (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, low back, knee, ankle, and temporomandibular joint). All patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), for pain, short form-36 (SF-36) for HRQL, Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for depression level. Results:We have included 1832 patients (460 male, and 1372 female) in the study: Group 1: 285(16%), Group 2: 623(34%), Group 3: 653(36%), Group 4: 190(10%), Group 5: 81(4%). When the groups was compared according to VAS scores during activity; all other groups was higher than group 1 (p<0.01). When the BDS scores were compared; depression levels were higher in group 5 than the other groups. When a number of painful areas were compared; groups 3,4,5 had higher values than groups 1,2, and group 2 had higher values than group 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study evaluates pain level, the number of painful areas, physical HRQL, and depression levels of pre-obese and obese patients using VAS, BDS, and SF-36 scores and proves negative effects when compared to the healthy population. But this effect does not correlate with BMI levels.Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, the number of painful areas, and depression level; both to compare obesity level and these parameters, and to compare between obese and non-obese participants. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: 1875 voluntary patients were evaluated. Patients were grouped into 5 according to body mass index (BMI) values: Group 1:17-24.99kg/m2, Group 2:25-29.99kg/m2, Group 3:30-34.99kg/m2, Group 4:35-35.99kg/m2, Group 5: BMI more than 40kg/m2. Patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire about demographic data and a number of painful areas (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, low back, knee, ankle, and temporomandibular joint). All patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), for pain, short form-36 (SF-36) for HRQL, Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for depression level. Results:We have included 1832 patients (460 male, and 1372 female) in the study: Group 1: 285(16%), Group 2: 623(34%), Group 3: 653(36%), Group 4: 190(10%), Group 5: 81(4%). When the groups was compared according to VAS scores during activity; all other groups was higher than group 1 (p<0.01). When the BDS scores were compared; depression levels were higher in group 5 than the other groups. When a number of painful areas were compared; groups 3,4,5 had higher values than groups 1,2, and group 2 had higher values than group 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study evaluates pain level, the number of painful areas, physical HRQL, and depression levels of pre-obese and obese patients using VAS, BDS, and SF-36 scores and proves negative effects when compared to the healthy population. But this effect does not correlate with BMI levels

State of Utah v. Christena White : Appellant\u27s Reply Brief to Appellee\u27s Brief

DISTRICT COURT NO. 021900588FS APPELLANT COURT NO. 20040201-C

Chromium picolinate and chromium histidinate protects against renal dysfunction by modulation of NF-κB pathway in high-fat diet fed and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetic nephropathy is one of major complications of diabetes mellitus. Although chromium is an essential element for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, its effects on diabetic nephropathy are not well understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) and chromium histidinate (CrHis) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) pathway in the rat kidney.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Group I received a standard diet (8% fat) and served as a control; Group II was fed with a standard diet and received CrPic; Group III was fed with a standard diet and received CrHis; Group IV received a high fat diet (HFD, 40% fat) for 2 weeks and then were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (HFD/STZ); Group V was treated as group IV (HFD/STZ) but supplemented with CrPic for 12 weeks. Group VI was treated as group IV (HFD/STZ) but supplemented with CrHis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The increased NF-κβ p65 in the HFD/STZ group was inhibited by CrPic and CrHis supplementation (<it>P </it>< 0.05). In STZ-treated rats, a significant decrease in levels of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) was found in kidney tissues when compared to control rats (<it>P </it>< 0.05). A significant increase in the levels of IκBα was observed in CrPic- and CrHis-treated rats when compared with STZ-treated rats. Renal Nrf2 levels were significantly decreased in diabetic rats compared with the control rats. There was a higher tendency for increase of kidney Nrf2 level and decrease in kidney NFκBp65 levels and 4- hydroxyl nonenal (4-HNE) protein adducts (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in diabetic rats.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our result show that in kidney tissue CrHis/CrPic increases Nrf2 level, parallelly decreases NF-κB and partially restores IκBα levels in HFD/STZ group, suggesting that CrPic and CrHis may play a role in antioxidant defense system via the Nrf2 pathway by reducing inflammation through NF-κβ p65 inhibition. Moreover, a greater reduction in NF-κB expression and greater increases in expressions of IκBα and Nrf2 in diabetic rats supplemented with CrHis than rats supplemented with CrPic suggest that CrHis has more favorable effects than CrPic.</p