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Purpose To evaluate the current practice of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), conducting a worldwide survey among urologists with a special interest in endo-urology. Methods A 22-question survey was specifically developed by the European Association of Urology (EAU) young academic urologists (YAU) and uro-technology (ESUT) groups and globally distributed via SurveyMonkey to almost 2000 members of Endourology Society. The questionnaire included questions dedicated to the demographics and general practice of the participating urologists. Results In total, 441 responses (male/female ratio - 418/23) were received. A comparatively higher percentage of specialists (56.2%) practiced in academic institutions and had specific endo-urological fellowship training (56.7%). The classical prone PCNL remained the most practiced approach among the surveyed specialists, 47.7% stated to always do prone PCNLs, while 51.8% of respondents used multiple positioning options as required. The PCNL tract was mostly performed by urologists (84.3%) and fluoroscopic guidance was still predominantly used by 74.5% of respondents. The most practiced tract dilation method was balloon dilator used by 42% of respondents. Most of the surveyed urologists had ultrasonic, pneumatic or laser lithotripsy devices in their armamentarium. The use of some form of post-procedural drainage was reported in 85.1% of respondents, whereas tubeless PCNL remained a fairly uncommon practice. Conclusion The majority of urologists still use prone positioning, get their own access under fluoroscopy guidance and use a balloon for tract dilation. However, we also identified that when necessary, urologists will deviate from routine practice and change strategy, adopting other approaches for PCNL.

This paper provides a detailed analysis of aggregate liquidity created by Islamic (participation) banks in Turkey. Using quarterly regulatory dataset for the period of 2010–2017 and applying Berger and Bouwman framework to measure liquidity creation, we document that the liquidity created by Turkish Islamic (participation) banks has tripled (in inflation adjusted terms) in our sample period. Furthermore, we find that Islamic banks have created liquidity both on and off their balance sheets. Finally, we observe that Turkish Islamic banks have been creating more liquidity with their liabilities than their assets. Despite the continuous upward trend in aggregate liquidity created by Turkish Islamic banks, their loan-to-asset and deposit-to-asset ratios have been declining in our sample period, which suggests that the observed trend has been driven by extensive margin (i.e., bank sizes growing in real terms) rather than the intensive margin (banks creating liquidity more effectively).

Echinococcosis is a parasitic infection caused by larval and cyst stages of Echinococcus granulosus living in dogs in humans. The definitive host of the parasite is dog, intermediate hosts are sheep, cattle and humans. The causative pathogen is mostly Echinococcus granulosus. Echinococcus multilocularis (alveolaris) and other agents are less common. Only 3% of hepatic hydatid cysts are alveolar hydatid cysts. In this study, we aimed to present a case of Alveolar echinococcosis located in the right lobe of the liver due to Ecinococcus alveolaris, together with the operation images. We evaluated the preoperative, peroperative and postoperative course of a patient who was examined with abdominal pain in our clinic and in radiological and serological examinations, we found an alveolar hydatid cyst located in the liver and underwent surgery. Our patient was a 31-year-old female. She applied for abdominal pain. Ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass of approximately 17 cm in diameter in the right lobe of the liver. In laboratory examinations, the hydatid hemagglutination test was positive at a titer of 1/2560. Hematological and biochemical parameters were normal. MRI showed a 171*125 mm sized, lobulated, locally calcified cystic mass in the right lobe of the liver. After evaluating the relationship of the lesion defined in CT angiography imaging with vascular structures, the decision to operate was made with the diagnosis of Alveolar echinococcosis.. Nonanatomical segmental right hepatectomy and total cyst excision operation was performed in our patient who was thought to have Alveolar echinococcosis based on clinical, serological and radiological findings. The patient, who had an uneventful postoperative period, was discharged on the 7th postoperative day with full recovery. In cases of echinococcosis, the treatment is determined according to the type of the agent, the stage and localization of the lesion. Medical treatment, PAIR and surgery are the treatment options that can be applied. Total excision of the mass is recommended in cases of Alveolar echinococcosis.

This paper examines the optimal design of and interaction between capital and liquidity regulations in a model characterized by fire sale externalities. In the model, banks can insure against potential liquidity shocks by hoarding sufficient precautionary liquid assets. However, it is never optimal to fully insure, so realized liquidity shocks trigger an asset fire sale. Banks, not internalizing the fire sale externality, overinvest in the risky asset and underinvest in the liquid asset in the unregulated competitive equilibrium. Capital requirements can lead to less severe fire sales by addressing the inefficiency and reducing risky assets -- however, we show that banks respond to stricter capital requirements by decreasing their liquidity ratios. Anticipating this response, the regulator preemptively sets capital ratios at high levels. Ultimately, this interplay between banks and the regulator leads to inefficiently low levels of risky assets and liquidity. Macroprudential liquidity requirements that complement capital regulations, as in Basel III, restore constrained efficiency, improve financial stability and allow for a higher level of investment in risky assets.

The private pension fund system in Turkey presents a unique institutional structure where bank holding companies can own both private pension companies and asset management firms. More often than not, pension companies delegate their operational mandates to the asset management arm of the same bank. This practice exposes the retail investor to a double agency problem and raises questions about conflicts of interest and fiduciary duty. Our analysis reveals that the funds set up and managed under the same bank holding company perform worse on a risk-adjusted basis than the funds with an arm's length relationship between the pension company and the asset manager. We show that this relative underperformance is not simply a bank effect; bank-affiliated pension companies and asset managers do just as well, if not better than their peers, when they are not operating under the same roof. Unfortunately, this inefficient institutional structure is not eliminated by market discipline because these funds attract more flows from retail investors, and the underperformance is not discernible in raw returns.

Introduction: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) has established itself as a safe method for the management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Laparoscopic suturing is a time-consuming intraoperative task during LSC. Self-retaining barbed sutures (SBSs) are known to reduce the operative time in laparoscopic cases. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SBS during the performance of LSC. Materials and Methods: Twenty female patients with symptomatic POP were treated with LSC by an expert surgeon. The preoperative evaluation included the International Continence Society POP-quantification (POP-Q) and the prolapse-specific quality-of-life questionnaire Mesh fixation was performed with SBS anteriorly on the anterior vaginal wall and posteriorly on the levator ani muscle. A 5-mm titanium tacking device was used for promontofixation. The peritoneum was also closed with an SBS. Results: Mean patient's age was 63 years (range: 50–79 years). According to POP-Q, system 3 patients (15%) had Stage I, 12 patients (60%) had Stage II, 3 patients (15%) had Stage III, and 2 patients (10%) had Stage IV prolapse. Concomitant hysterectomy was performed in 14 patients, respectively. Mean operative time was 99.75 (range: 65–140) min, mean blood loss was 57.75 (range: 30–120) ml. One patient had a bladder perforation intraoperatively, and three patients developed transient fever postoperatively. One patient had a recurrent cystocele and three patients recurrent rectocele. Conclusions: The current study renders the use of SBS during LSC to be safe and efficient. Further comparative studies would elucidate the impact of the use of SBS in LSC.

The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to compare the effectiveness of two different anesthesia techniques for tourniquet pain in minor surgeries of the hand with the use of the forearm tourniquet.In group 1, the area under the tourniquet was anesthetized circumferentially using a cream composed of 5% lidocaine and 5% prilocaine (Emla Astra). In group 2, the area under the tourniquet was anesthetized with a ring-type infiltration of the skin and subcutaneus tissues using 50% diluted Citanest solution using 22 G x 3 1/2'' size spinal needle (Sujia) with three injections.There were no statistically significant differences between the means of the two groups with respect to both tests (p value = 0.18 [t-test], p = 0.951 [Mann-Whitney test]). Tourniquet related anesthesia technique discomfort was higher in group 2 (p = 0.001).The tourniquet placed at the distal forearm is an effective, safe, and useful technique for hand surgery. Anesthesia using Emla cream is equally effective and less disturbing than using the injection technique (subcutaneus ring anesthesia).