Publications by authors named "Amy C Smith"

Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism remains challenging decades after broad implementation worldwide. Testing protocols are not uniform in terms of targets (TSH and/or T4) and protocols (parallel vs. sequential testing; one or two specimen collection times), and specificity (with or without collection of a second specimen) is overall poor.

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Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channels are Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation channels that have been recently identified as regulators of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) function in rodents. However, their expression and function in human DSM remain unexplored. We provide insights into the functional role of TRPM4 channels in human DSM under physiological conditions.

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Large-conductance voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels are critical regulators of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) excitability and contractility. PKC modulates the contraction of DSM and BK channel activity in non-DSM cells; however, the cellular mechanism regulating the PKC-BK channel interaction in DSM remains unknown. We provide a novel mechanistic insight into BK channel regulation by PKC in DSM.

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The Ca (2+)-activated monovalent cation selective transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel has been recently identified in detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) of the urinary bladder. Two recent publications by our research group provide evidence in support of the novel hypothesis that TRPM4 channels enhance DSM excitability and contractility. This is a critical question as prior studies have primarily targeted hyperpolarizing currents facilitated by K(+) channels, but the depolarizing component in DSM cells is not well understood.

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Purpose Of Study: The purpose of this quality improvement study was to evaluate the impact of a novel educational intervention on nurse case managers' (NCMs') perceived role ambiguity, role conflict, and use of nursing competencies. Specific aims were to apply the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care to determine the use of the model's nurse competencies in acute care case management, to pilot test the feasibility of using widely available basic computer technologies to facilitate NCMs' orientation in acute care settings, and to establish the foundation for future work in developing an evidence-based orientation program for new NCMs based on a nursing conceptual framework.

Primary Practice Settings: Two acute care community hospitals in northeastern Ohio, both part of a large national hospital corporation.

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Interest in telemonitoring interventions to reduce re-admissions in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) is growing. This critical review of available evidence suggests telemonitoring may reduce CHF-related re-admissions, although a clear impact on all-cause re-admissions remains elusive.

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We investigated demographic predictors of support for juvenile sex offender registration policies, including education level, gender, political orientation, and age. Participants were 168 individuals recruited from public places in a Midwest community (45% women; M age = 42). In line with hypotheses, as education level increased, support for juvenile registration decreased, as did the belief that juvenile registration protects the community.

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Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, including the Ca(2+)-activated monovalent cation-selective TRP melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel, have been recently identified in the urinary bladder. However, their expression and function at the level of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) remain largely unexplored. In this study, for the first time we investigated the role of TRPM4 channels in guinea pig DSM excitation-contraction coupling using a multidisciplinary approach encompassing protein detection, electrophysiology, live-cell Ca(2+) imaging, DSM contractility, and 9-phenanthrol, a recently characterized selective inhibitor of the TRPM4 channel.

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The TRPM4 channel is a Ca(2+)-activated, monovalent cation-selective channel of the melastatin transient receptor potential (TRPM) family. The TRPM4 channel is implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes including the immune response, insulin secretion, and pressure-induced vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries. However, the expression and function of the TRPM4 channels in detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) have not yet been explored.

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Purpose/objectives: The purpose of this integrative review is to critically examine the relationship between the transition from a direct caregiver to a nurse case manager role and the perceived levels of role ambiguity and role conflict.

Primary Practice Setting(s): Nurse case managers in acute care, postacute care, and managed care settings.

Findings/conclusions: Nurses can expect to experience substantial role ambiguity and role conflict as they take on the case manager role, primarily because of inadequate role definition, unexpected ethical challenges, and lack of prior insight into the case manager role.

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We investigated effects of defendant race, victim race, and juror gender on public perceptions of a juvenile sex offense. We predicted that participants, particularly men, would support registering a juvenile defendant as a sex offender more when he was Black than White and that participants, particularly women, would support registering the defendant more when the female crime victim was portrayed as White than as Black. We also expected that support for registration would be higher when the defendant and victim were different races than when they were the same race.

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