Electronic word of mouth about medical services

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) about medical services gains growing popularity from the part of health care users, accompanied with a high reluctance of health care providers towards existing platforms, fearing unqualified, negative reviews driven by motives of vengeance. Purpose of this research is to shed light on the characteristics, content, and motives of eWOM about medical services. Using primary and secondary data of 822 reviews, this study shows that reviews about medical services are positive more often than negative, and that altruistic motives override egoistic motives. Furthermore, why a review is written significantly relates to the review's valence (positive, negative), degree of affectivity, and degree of differentiation. Motives and characteristics also affect the review's content, differentiated in four aspects (medical care, relationships, comfort, and processes). Hence this study counters the arguments of many health care providers and offers new insights in an underresearched field, providing implications for both management and future research

Summary of a 15-Month Biology Articulation Program through Drake University

During the summer of 1970, a five-day workshop was held at Drake to begin our 15-month articulation program. Discussion of textbooks and their merits and identification of lab manuals used was our first consideration. Many sessions were held on the criteria for evaluation of biology programs and facilities, with a rating scale for our use developed after discussions on ideal conditions

The Current Status of the Limnology and Bottom Fauna of Lakes West and East Okoboji

Lakes West and East Okoboji, Dickinson County, Iowa, were the site of a 1970 summer investigation on the density and diversity within the macroscopic bottom organisms, physical and chemical measurements of the water and substratum chemistry study. These data on Lake West Okoboji were compared with a 1918 and 1950 study of the macroscopic bottom fauna, water analyses dating from 1934, and oxygen and temperature data from as far back as 1915. The sparse species composition of the bottom fauna has remained unchanged; however, pollution indicator tubificid worms have increased in density. Water analysis, oxygen, and temperature data are little changed from earlier studies. Few data have been collected in previous years on Lake East Okoboji. Apparent cultural eutrophication has occurred in the last 60 years, causing extreme nuisance blooms of blue-green algae

The Current Status of the Limnology and Bottom Fauna of Lakes West and East Okoboji

Lakes West and East Okoboji, Dickinson County, Iowa, were the site of a 1970 summer investigation on the density and diversity within the macroscopic bottom organisms, physical and chemical measurements of the water and substratum chemistry study. These data on Lake West Okoboji were compared with a 1918 and 1950 study of the macroscopic bottom fauna, water analyses dating from 1934, and oxygen and temperature data from as far back as 1915. The sparse species composition of the bottom fauna has remained unchanged; however, pollution indicator tubificid worms have increased in density. Water analysis, oxygen, and temperature data are little changed from earlier studies. Few data have been collected in previous years on Lake East Okoboji. Apparent cultural eutrophication has occurred in the last 60 years, causing extreme nuisance blooms of blue-green algae

The Current Status of the Limnology and Bottom Fauna of Lakes West and East Okoboji

Lakes West and East Okoboji, Dickinson County, Iowa, were the site of a 1970 summer investigation on the density and diversity within the macroscopic bottom organisms, physical and chemical measurements of the water and substratum chemistry study. These data on Lake West Okoboji were compared with a 1918 and 1950 study of the macroscopic bottom fauna, water analyses dating from 1934, and oxygen and temperature data from as far back as 1915. The sparse species composition of the bottom fauna has remained unchanged; however, pollution indicator tubificid worms have increased in density. Water analysis, oxygen, and temperature data are little changed from earlier studies. Few data have been collected in previous years on Lake East Okoboji. Apparent cultural eutrophication has occurred in the last 60 years, causing extreme nuisance blooms of blue-green algae

The Current Status of the Limnology and Bottom Fauna of Lakes West and East Okoboji

Lakes West and East Okoboji, Dickinson County, Iowa, were the site of a 1970 summer investigation on the density and diversity within the macroscopic bottom organisms, physical and chemical measurements of the water and substratum chemistry study. These data on Lake West Okoboji were compared with a 1918 and 1950 study of the macroscopic bottom fauna, water analyses dating from 1934, and oxygen and temperature data from as far back as 1915. The sparse species composition of the bottom fauna has remained unchanged; however, pollution indicator tubificid worms have increased in density. Water analysis, oxygen, and temperature data are little changed from earlier studies. Few data have been collected in previous years on Lake East Okoboji. Apparent cultural eutrophication has occurred in the last 60 years, causing extreme nuisance blooms of blue-green algae

Antiangiogenesis: current clinical data and future perspectives

Neovascularization is a prerequisite for progressive growth of solid tumors and their metastases. This process is tightly regulated by a large number of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors such as VEGF, bFGF and matrix-metalloproteinases. The inhibition of angiogenesis is an innovative therapeutic approach and could represent a powerful adjunct to traditional therapy of malignant tumors. Preclinical trials have been very successful but in clinical studies meaningful response rates could only be shown in some cases. This might indicate the existence of different angiogenic phenotypes in humans. It seems that at present only a part of the interactions between the angiogenic cytokines are known. In addition, new receptor/ligand systems which regulate the neovascularization are being described. This article presents an overview of the most important angiogenically active substances, preclinical and clinical data, surrogate markers as well as future perspectives

Metronomic antiangiogenic therapy with capecitabine and celecoxib in advanced tumor patients--results of a phase II study

Combined therapy of continuous low dose capecitabine and high dose celecoxib targeting angiogenesis was used in a phase II trial to treat advanced cancer patients. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was used to monitor antiangiogenic effects.; 37 Patients (21 men, 16 women), mean age 60 years, with advanced and progressive cancer of various tumor types were included. Therapy consisted of 2 x 500 mg oral capecitabine/ day and 2 x 400 mg oral celecoxib/day continuously until progression of disease. To monitor antiangiogenic effects, DCE-MRI measurements were performed at baseline, after 1 month, and after 3 months of therapy. Tumor assessment was performed according to RECIST criteria, toxicity was evaluated according to the CTC version 2.0 catalogue.; Therapy was well tolerated without grade 3 and 4 toxicities. The mean number of treatment cycles was 4 (range: 1-15+). Disease stabilization after 3 cycles was seen in 11 patients. 6 patients were stable over long periods. The mean number of treatment cycles in this group was 10 (range: 7-15+). DCE-MRI demonstrated a reduction of tumor vessel permeability and blood flow in patients who reached stable disease or some minor regression.; Continuous dosing of the combination of capecitabine and celecoxib was well tolerated, produced antiangiogenic effects, and has antitumor activity. Patients with rapid progression did not benefit

In-Vivo Visualization of Tumor Microvessel Density and Response to Anti-Angiogenic Treatment by High Resolution MRI in Mice

Purpose: Inhibition of angiogenesis has shown clinical success in patients with cancer. Thus, imaging approaches that allow for the identification of angiogenic tumors and the detection of response to anti-angiogenic treatment are of high clinical relevance. Experimental Design: We established an in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach that allows us to simultaneously image tumor microvessel density and tumor vessel size in a NSCLC model in mice. Results: Using microvessel density imaging we demonstrated an increase in microvessel density within 8 days after tumor implantation, while tumor vessel size decreased indicating a switch from macro- to microvessels during tumor growth. Moreover, we could monitor in vivo inhibition of angiogenesis induced by the angiogenesis inhibitor PTK787, resulting in a decrease of microvessel density and a slight increase in tumor vessel size. Conclusions: We present an in vivo imaging approach that allows us to monitor both tumor microvessel density and tumor vessel size in the tumor. Moreover, this approach enables us to assess, early-on, treatment effects on tumor microvessel density as well as on tumor vessel size. Thus, this imaging-based strategy of validating anti-angiogenic treatment effects ha

Small-molecule inhibitors of the receptor tyrosine kinases : promising tools for targeted cancer therapies

Chemotherapeutic and cytotoxic drugs are widely used in the treatment of cancer. In spite of the improvements in the life quality of patients, their effectiveness is compromised by several disadvantages. This represents a demand for developing new effective strategies with focusing on tumor cells and minimum side effects. Targeted cancer therapies and personalized medicine have been defined as a new type of emerging treatments. Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are among the most effective drugs for targeted cancer therapy. The growing number of approved SMIs of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) i.e., tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the clinical oncology imply the increasing attention and application of these therapeutic tools. Most of the current approved RTK–TKIs in preclinical and clinical settings are multi-targeted inhibitors with several side effects. Only a few specific/selective RTK–TKIs have been developed for the treatment of cancer patients. Specific/selective RTK–TKIs have shown less deleterious effects compared to multi-targeted inhibitors. This review intends to highlight the importance of specific/selective TKIs for future development with less side effects and more manageable agents. This article provides an overview of: (1) the characteristics and function of RTKs and TKIs; (2) the recent advances in the improvement of specific/selective RTK–TKIs in preclinical or clinical settings; and (3) emerging RTKs for targeted cancer therapies by TKIs.Felix Mindus foundationPublishe