Corporate Sector Financial Structure in Turkey : A Descriptive Analysis

This paper presents and discusses some stylised facts of the corporate sector financial structure in Turkey using the Company Sector Accounts compiled by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT). The findings of the paper suggest that non-financial firms in Turkey have been heavily exposed almost all of the basic balance sheet risks. The corporate sector appears to be excessively leveraged with relatively lower asset tangibility creating also a credit risk for the lenders. The firms rely heavily on foreign currency denominated and short-term debt instruments making them vulnerable to both exchange rate and interest rate shocks through currency and maturity mismatches. The corporate sector can be characterised as financially constrained as the deepening of the Turkish bank-based financial system is rather low and the bank credits to the private sector tend to be crowded out by the mode of domestic debt finance. The corporate sector vulnerabilities to maturity, interest rate and currency risks are found to be improving with the firm size. With the relatively stable macroeconomic environment and stricter prudential regulation on the financial system, the corporate sector balance sheet risks, albeit still are at high levels, tend to be improving after the financial crisis of 2001.Balance sheets, Capital structure, Corporate sector, Debt composition, Financial crowding-out, Liability dollarisation, Turkey

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Reactive Red Dye to Determine Water Quality

In this study, tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based electrochemical sensors were prepared for sensing reactive dyes in water. To use an electrochemical sensor, a ~250 nm-sized ZnO nanoprism was synthesized via ultrasonic-assisted green synthesis method, using tragacanth gum and chitosan polymer blend as a matrix. The electrochemical properties of tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprisms were compared against reactive red 35, reactive yellow 15, and reactive black 194. The electrochemical measurement results indicated that prepared tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based electrochemical sensor detected 25 ppm reactive red 35 in 1 min at room temperature. This study reveals new high-potential novel tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based sensing material for the detection of reactive red dye-consisted wastewater with high sensitivity and short response time

The Effect of Treatment on Nitric Oxide and Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine Levels in Asthma Patients

Giriş ve Amaç: Asimetrik dimetilarjinin (ADMA) ve nitrik oksit (NO), etkilerini birlikte gösterirler, bu moleküller arasındaki denge hava yolu tonusunun ve fonksiyonunun sıkı düzenlenmesine katkıda bulunmaktadır. Çalışmamızda astım tedavisinin serum ADMA, NO, düzeylerine solunum fonksiyon testlerindeki (SFT) değişimlerine, Total IgE, hemogram düzeylerindeki değişiklikleri belirlemeyi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmamızda astım tanısı konmuş 30 erkek/kadın hasta (40-60 yaş) ve benzer yaş grubunda 24 erkek/kadın kontrol grubu kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada tedavi öncesi ve sonrası hasta ve kontrol gruplarından serum ADMA, NO, Total IgE düzeylerine ELISA yöntemiyle ve hemogram düzeyleri ise otomatik kan sayım cihazında belirlenmiştir. Bulgular: Astımlı hastaların tedavi öncesi ve tedavi sonrası ADMA ve NO düzeyleri kontrol grubu ile arasında anlamlı fark bulunmuştur (p<0,001). Astımlı hastaların tedavi öncesi ve tedavi sonrası grupların total IgE düzeyleri kontrol grubu ile arasında fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur. (p<0,001). Astımlı hastaların tedavi öncesi ve tedavi sonrası grupların %FVC ve % PEF25−75% düzeyleri kontrol grubu ile arasındaki fark, tedavi öncesi grubun %FVC, %PEF25−75% düzeyleri tedavi sonrası grup arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur (p<0,001). Sonuç: Astım hastalarında tedavinin hastalar üzerindeki etkileri bu çalışma ile belirlenmiş ve elde edilen veriler tedavi sonrası astım hastalarında iyileşme gözlenen parametre düzeylerinin astım hastalarında tedaviye yanıtın takibinin belirlenmesinde kullanılabileceği ortaya konmuştur.Objective: Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) and nitric oxide (NO) show their effects together and the balance between these molecules contributes to the tight regulation of airway tone and function. In this study, we aimed to determine the changes in serum ADMA, NO, levels of pulmonary function tests (PFT), total IgE and hemogram levels of asthma treatment. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 male / female patients (40-60 years) diagnosed with asthma and 24 male / female control groups of similar age group were used. In the study, serum ADMA, NO, Total IgE levels before and after treatment were determined by ELISA method using commercial kit and hemogram levels were determined by automatic blood counting device. Results: There was a significant difference between ADMA and NO levels in asthmatic patients before and after treatment (p<0.001). The difference between total IgE levels of asthmatic patients before and after treatment was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). The difference between the FVC% and PEF25-75% levels of the pretreatment and post-treatment groups of the asthmatic patients with the control group and the %FVC and %PEF25- 75% of the pretreatment group were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The effects of treatment on asthmatic patients were determined in this study and it was shown that the parameter levels improved in asthmatic patients after treatment can be used to determine the response to treatment in asthmatic patients

Suicide Cases in a Province (Samsun) of Blacksea Region of Turkey Between 1999-2003 Years

Objective: Age, gender, race, cultural and ethnic structure are important factors in suicide epidemiology. Factors effecting suicide behaviour are important to establish effective prevention programs, so it is important to evaluate them in detail. The aim of this study was to determine the regional differences and to get detailed data for guiding the suicide prevention programs by reviewing all suicides in Samsun. Material and Methods: The judicial files of all suicides were evaluated that occurred in Samsun, between 1999-2003. Some information such as age, gender, marital status, occupation status, suicide place and time and, suicide methods used by the cases were obtained. In addition, the probable risk factors for suicide from the official statements of the parents in the judicial files were determined. Results: In five years period, 169 people committed suicide in Samsun. Most of them were at the age of 10-29 years and 58.6% of were males. They most commonly used a firearm (28.4%) as the suicide method, self poisoning (27.8%) and hanging (26.0%) were following it. While most of the males committed suicide by firearm, females preferred self poisoning. Leading risk factors were unemployment and economic problems followed by family problems, diagnosed psychiatric illnesses, alcohol abuse, emotional problems and undiagnosed psychiatric illnesses. Conclusion: Suicide is a multi-faceted problem that needs both social and individual approaches. This study shows that higher ratio of firearm suicides needs more attention, and detailed studies especially for determination risk groups for prevention programs are necessary

Complicated left-sided infective endocarditis in chronic hemodialysis patients: a case report

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infectious condition with high morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It has been particularly associated with recurrent bacteremia due to vascular access via lumen catheters. The most common pathogen is Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, and most affected valve is mitral valve, which frequently calcified. Two patients with ESRD who received hemodialysis treatment via tunneled catheters, aged 56 and 88 years, were admitted with fever and high troponin level. Blood cultures revealed growth of S. aureus. Good quality transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) displayed calcified mitral and aortic valves with no vegetation or abscess formation. Myocardial necrosis as result of catheter infection was considered. Both patients had persistent positive blood cultures 3 and 5 days after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Therefore, transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was scheduled. Results revealed perivalvular abscess in the older patient, and highly mobile vegetation in the younger patient. The older patient refused surgery and died soon after due to refractory shock. Mitral valve surgery was planned for the other patient; however, she developed left ventricular failure and bleeding, and also subsequently died as result of refractory shock. Patient evaluations were particularly unfavorable: they had catheter infection as primary focus, and TTE did not detect vegetation or annular abscess. Diagnosis of IE in patients with ESRD using Duke criteria is problematic; we have to keep use of TEE in mind to detect vegetation or abscess formation when there is clinical suspicion regarding ESRD patients even after good quality TTE