Competing in the Women’s Basketball League of Turkey, Near East University is currently the leader of the league. In the 19th week, Near East University won a triumph over University of Kyrenia with a score of 69- 54. In the first half of the season which was played between the same two teams, University of Kyrenia was the winner with a score of 66-57. According to the press info release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the match between the Near East University and University of Kyrenia was played Caferağa Sports Hall in Istanbul.

FAI Lithuanian Open Paragliding Accuracy Championship (Trakai Open 2017) was held in Trakai on 16-19 February 2017. Many paraglide pilots from different countries including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Great Britain, America, Turkey, Moldova and TRNC competed in FAI Lithuanian Open Paragliding Accuracy Championship. Leaving behind the British, American and Lithuanian pilots that are among top 25 in world ranking, our TRNC National Paragliding Team pilots have realized a great success and ranked the first and the second places in the championship. Near East University sportsman Asst. Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl is the world’s runner-up in paragliding According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of the Near East University, TRNC National Paragliding Team ranked the third place in team classification while in individual classification; Asst. Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl from the Near East University became the world’s runner-up in FAI Lithuanian Open Paragliding Accuracy Championship. We have achieved the third rank in the world’s general classification as TRNC National Team, and the first and the second rank in individual classification Our National Paragliding Team pilots have achieved ranking the third place in team classification and the first and second places in individual classification at the FAI Lithuanian Open Paragliding Accuracy Championship that took place at weather conditions of -10 °C on the frozen Trakai, Galvės Lake. Near East University sportsman Umut Akçıl has taken place among the Top 100 in the World Ranking Competing in TRNC National Paragliding Team, Asst. Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl from the Near East University has missed the first rank by few points and awarded by silver medal by ranking the second place in the championship and achieved to be among the Top 100 in the World and Europe Ranking. The next goal is to represent our country successfully at 2017 Estonian Open Championships on Paragliding Accuracy Our national team sportsmen Görkem Bulunç, Cemal Direkçi and Asst. Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl will represent our country by participating in Estonian Open Championships on Paragliding Accuracy that will be held at Nurmsi Airfield, Estonia on 23-26 February 2017.

143 graduate and 75 Ph.D. programs of Near East University approved by the Higher Education Planning, Supervision, Accreditation and Coordination Board (YÖDAK) and Higher Education Council will end on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. 20% Discount For Public Personnel … General Secretary Assist. Prof. Dr. Yeter Tabur, expressing the interest of Near East University for developing the professional qualifications of the public staff working for various departments of the state sector, stated that the Near East University provides 20% discount for those who wish to enroll to MA and PhD programs. Students who wish to register for the Spring semester in 218 Master and Ph.D. programs conducted by the Institute of Applied Sciences, Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Educational Sciences and Institute of Health Sciences will be able to make their applications until February 28, 2017. More information can be obtained through the website www.neu.edu.tr or through phone 223 64 64 (extension 211-225-377).

As open heart surgery poses vital risk in elderly patients, Near East University Hospital Heart Center performs nonsurgical trans-catheter heart valve therapies to correct heart valve disorders. A male patient 82 years of age, who admitted to the NEU Hospital Heart Center with narrowed aortic valve complaint, was examined for his suitability for treatment procedures. As open heart surgery was considered risky due to his age, nonsurgical trans-catheter aortic valve insertion (TAVI) was performed to insert an artificial valve in the narrowed aortic valve by using a catheter (thin flexible tube) via femoral artery in groin. Nonsurgical treatment for narrowed aortic valve through TAVI therapy The 82 year old patient who admitted to the NEU Hospital Cancer Center with narrowed aortic valve complaint was examined by a team of cardiologists for his suitability for treatment procedures at the cardiology policlinic. After performing all respective tests, the team concluded that open heart surgery might pose vital risk for the patient and they decided to carry out TAVI, a novel nonsurgical procedure. By performing TAVI, an artificial valve was inserted in the patient’s narrowed aortic valve by using a catheter through the large artery in the groin. TAVI is a novel therapy procedure used for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis to restore the health of patients who are considered risky for open heart surgery Aortic stenosis in patients with no surgical risk can be treated by opening the chest to replace the aortic valve. Surgical replacement of the aortic valve reduces symptoms and improves survival in patients with aortic stenosis and in the absence of serious coexisting conditions; the procedure is associated with lower operative complications. Patients, who are not considered good candidates for surgical procedure due to their advanced age or coexisting conditions such as renal failure, advanced pulmonary disease or previous cardiac surgery, can’t undergo an open heart surgery as it poses fatal risk. For these patients, trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) therapy, which is a novel procedure, in which a bio-prosthetic valve is inserted through a catheter and implanted within the narrowed aortic valve, is a nonsurgical and less invasive worthwhile alternative procedure. The use of TAVI for the treatment of narrowed aortic valve in patients, who are at high surgical risk, is growing rapidly across the world as there is evidence-based clinical data to substantiate the incremental benefits of the procedure over current standard therapies. Besides, it is effective in treating the patient in a shorter time and prolonging the life span. Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu: “The most important advantage of TAVI, which is performed under local anesthesia, is that the patient can be treated without any need of surgery and can be discharged within a very short period of time” Touching upon the commitment of the Near East University Hospital in providing the patients with the most advanced treatment options without compromising from quality and patient’s safety, Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu, the Head of the Department of Cardiology, delivered information about TAVI therapy: “TAVI is a novel and nonsurgical procedure to treat narrowed aortic valve in patients with high surgical risk. TAVI is performed through a catheter that usually inserted in the femoral artery in the groin to deliver a fully collapsible replacement valve in the aortic valve’s place. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve takes over the job of regulating blood flow. This procedure can take maximum two hours. 24 hours after the procedure, the patient can be referred to normal service. The procedure usually requires 2-3 day hospital stay. Then, the patient is discharged unless any medical problem is experienced. TAVI is an angiogram-like procedure in terms of fast recovery, and shorter hospital stay” said he.