Antecedents and Consequences of Trust in Public Sector Websites and Social Media

Rapidly developing information and communication technologies have an influence on the whole world and have become an ordinary part of everyday life. Not only people, but businesses and governments are affected by these changes. In this respect, governments use several online media platforms as their own digital face and thus keep pace with the developing technology. Considering the lacks in previous researches, the aim of this paper is to investigate the critical factors influencing the citizens' trust in public sector websites and social media and also the relationship among trust in the public sector, citizen satisfaction and trust in public sector websites and social media. By studying 607 citizens who are users of the website or social media service belonging to the municipalities in Turkey, we found that: (i) perceived quality, perceived usefulness, and facilitation conditions are the factors that affect the citizens' trust in public sector websites and social media, (ii) trust in the public sector websites and social media affects trust in the public sector and, (iii) trust in the public sector affects citizen satisfaction

Treatment Regimen With Bevacizumab Decreases Mean Platelet Volume in Patients With Metastatic Colon Cancer

The risk of thromboemboli is increased in patients with cancer, and this is precipitated by the chemotherapeutic agents. Bevacizumab is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody and has an importance in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer. The association between bevacizumab, which is demonstrated to increase the risk of thromboemboli, and mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a marker of thrombocyte function, has been investigated within study. A total of 74 patients with metastatic colon cancer were included in the study and the levels of platelets (PLTs), MPV, and platecrit (PCT) values were recorded in SPSS 16.0 program both at baseline and at the > third month. There were significant decreases in 3 parameters (PLT, MPV, and PCT) during the treatment period with bevacizumab (P = .009, P = .001, and P = .000, respectively). Unlike cases with thrombosis, there is a significant decrease in MPV in combination treatments with bevacizumab

Alteration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage in Patients With Cancer in Turkey

The complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are commonly encountered by cancer patients. In this study, the methods of CAM used by Turkish cancer patients were documented, and its frequency and the changes in the use of CAM over time were evaluated. Totally of 559 patients were enrolled from Kayseri Training and Research Hospital. Of CAM using patients, 11.8% used alternative medicine products, 60.1% used complementary medicine, and 28% received support from both. Patients with breast cancer were most frequently subgroup using CAM methods. Urtica dioica, nigella sativa and salvia officinalis were frequently used herbal products. Music, exercises and praying were the most common used methods of complementary medicine. Among Turkish cancer patients, the use of CAM methods have switched from alternative medicine which may interact with the cancer therapy, to the methods of complementary medicine not interact with the cancer therapy. [Med-Science 2013; 2(3.000): 757-63

The Relationship between ABO Blood Group and Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of primary brain tumor and its prognosis is poor. Some studies have investigated the relationship between ABO Blood Groups and cancer risk. In this study we evaluated the patients with GBM and control group regarding ABO Blood Groups. Secondly we compared the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) regarding ABO Blood Group in patients with GBM. A total of 72 patients with GBM were enrolled from Mersin Government Hospital, Acibadem Kayseri Hospital and Kayseri Training and Research Hospital between 2006-2012. Healthy donors that were admitted to the Turkish Red Crescent Blood Service in our city in year 2012 were selected as control group. Both of groups were compared regarding ABO Blood Groups. The PFS and OS were evaluated according to ABO Blood Groups in patients with GBM. We did not find any significant difference regarding the ratio of ABO Blood Groups between patients with GBM and control group. And there were no significant difference for PFS and OS among O, A, B, AB groups in patients with GBM. According to our results, comparison of control group with healthy donors and GBM patients, the ratio of blood groups was similar in both. And ABO Blood Groups have no effect on PFS and OS in patients with GBM. Also further studies are needed to explain whether there is any relationship between ABO Blood Group and Glioblastoma Multiforme. [Med-Science 2014; 3(4.000): 1639-47

Should FISH Test be Performed to all Patients With Breast Cancer?

CerbB2 receptor determination is very important for the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. The most used two methods for CerbB2 receptor determination are immunohistochemistry and FISH methods. FISH method is recommended for immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) patient group. Therefore, even though the immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) patients are in the same group, FISH test divides the results into two separate groups. Our study compared these two groups in terms of relaps duration. Total of 85 patients from The Kayseri Research and Training Hospital in Kayseri, Kayseri Erciyes University Hospital and Mersin State Hospital were included in this study. The relaps duration of the patients were determined and then compared statistically. When the mean disease free survival was compared for FISH(+) and FISH(-) groups, the mean DFS was 46±5 and 73±8 months. However, the median DFS was 38±9 months for the FISH positive group. No median PFS was reached for FISH (-) group. Immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) breast cancer patients are considered as in the same group, however actually they have different prognostic features. Similarly, when the immunohistochemical tests and FISH tests are compared for CerbB2 positivity, different results are obtained. As a consequence of that, the therapy alternatives will be changed. Therefore, we conclude that the FISH test should be performed to all patients. [Med-Science 2013; 2(2.000): 539-47

Second-line gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimens improve overall 3-year survival rate in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: a multicenter retrospective study

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of second-line gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimens on overall survival (OS) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients receiving first-line pemetrexed-based regimens. A total of 73 patients with MPM from Akdeniz University, Acibadem Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, and Erciyes University were analyzed and evaluated retrospectively as two groups: second-line gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and no second-line chemotherapy. The median OS of patients who received second-line gemcitabine-based chemotherapy was 11.3 (5.1-17.5) months, while it was 9.9 (2.1-17.7) months in the patients who did not receive chemotherapy in the second-line setting (p = 0.056). When we evaluated the survival rate at the 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, and 36th month, the OS rate of the 36th month was significantly higher in patients who received gemcitabine-based second-line chemotherapy (p = 0.041). When evaluating the OS from diagnosis to death, the median OS values were 20.8 (17.5-24.1) months for first-line pemetrexed-based regimens then second-line gemcitabine alone and 13.1 (9.0-17.1) months supportive care after first-line pemetrexed-based regimens (p = 0.005). According to our results, we may consider gemcitabine-based regimens as second-line chemotherapy after treatment with pemetrexed plus platinum in patients with MPM

Secondline Chemotherapy Versus Best Supportive Care in Patient with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm arising from mesothelial surfaces with the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) as the most common form. Secondline chemotherapy in MPM is still controversial and in this study we evaluated whether it is superior to best supportive care. Materials and Methods: A total of 51 patients with MPM from Acibadem Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital and Erciyes University were analyzed retrospectively. The patients treated with secondline chemotherapies (SLCT) were compared with those treated with best supportive care (BSC) for overall survival. Results: The median overall survival (OS) for firstline chemotherapy -> SLCT and firstline chemotherapy -> BSC groups were 20.3 and 14.7 months respectively (p=0.079). After firstline chemotherapy the median OS for SLCT and BSC were 5.9 and 4.7 months (p=0.355). Discussion: Although there was a trend for improvement in overall survival in patients treated with secondline chemotherapy, the difference was not statistically significant. Our results do not support the proposal that secondline chemotherapy could be effective in patients with MPM