Sonic Hedgehog activates prostaglandin signaling to stabilize primary cilium length.

Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) is a driver of embryonic patterning that, when corrupted, triggers developmental disorders and cancers. SHH effector responses are organized through primary cilia (PC) that grow and retract with the cell cycle and in response to extracellular cues. Disruption of PC homeostasis corrupts SHH regulation, placing significant pressure on the pathway to maintain ciliary fitness.

Shared decision-making before prostate cancer screening decisions.

Decisions around prostate-specific antigen screening require a patient-centred approach, considering the benefits and risks of potential harm. Using shared decision-making (SDM) can improve men's knowledge and reduce decisional conflict. SDM is supported by evidence, but can be difficult to implement in clinical settings.

Pain as bad as you can imagine or extremely severe pain? A randomized controlled trial comparing two pain scale anchors.

Background: A common method of pain assessment is the numerical rating scale, where patients are asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is "no pain" and 10 is "pain as bad as you can imagine". We hypothesize such language is suboptimal as it involves a test of a cognitive skill, imagination, in the assessment of symptom severity.

Methods: We used a large-scale online research registry, ResearchMatch, to conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare the distributions of pain scores of two different pain scale anchors.

Understanding Nursing Workplace Violence Trends for Safer Clinical Oncology Settings.

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) against nursing professionals by patients and visitors occurs frequently, and rates of WPV increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. All nursing teams, including oncology nursing professionals, are at risk for WPV and need current WPV-related information applicable to their clinical experiences.

Objectives: This overview aims to increase awareness of trends and personal safety issues related to clinical oncology nursing practice and provide strategies and resources to enhance personal safety in nursing practice.

A randomized comparison of two-stage versus traditional one-stage consent for a low-stakes randomized trial.

Background/aims: It has been proposed that informed consent for randomized trials should be split into two stages, with the purported advantage of decreased information overload and patient anxiety. We compared patient understanding, anxiety and decisional quality between two-stage and traditional one-stage consent.

Methods: We approached patients at an academic cancer center for a low-stakes trial of a mind-body intervention for procedural distress during prostate biopsy.

Suggestions for modifications to the Female Sexual Function Index based on cognitive interviews with sexual and gender minority individuals and cisgender, heterosexual persons.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures for sexual health were often designed for research studies that included only heterosexual, partnered, and cisgender participants; as such, they may have limited applicability for clinical use among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals or those without a partner.

Aim: We aimed to conduct cognitive interviews with SGM persons and heterosexual women to determine the readability, comprehension, and applicability of questionnaire items to assess sexual function among diverse sexual and gender identities.

Methods: We conducted 4 rounds of cognitive interviews with 52 participants (28 SGM; 24 cisgender, heterosexual) who provided feedback on the comprehension and wording of questionnaire items and response scales.

Examining the Effects of a Structured Mentorship Program on the Nurse Mentor: A Pilot Study Engaging Oncology Nurses.

Mentorship programs are an emerging strategy in the nursing profession to support and develop new staff in the field; this 12-month structured program found those in the mentoring role benefit, too. The sample included 11 oncology RNs working in the inpatient acute hospital setting, serving as mentors in the oncology nurse residency program. The results were statistically significant for compassion satisfaction, and burnout scores decreased.

Sexual and Gender Minority Persons' Perception of the Female Sexual Function Index.

Background: Patient-reported outcome instruments to assess sexual functioning typically assume that patients are heterosexual and have a single sexual partner, thus they may have limited applicability for sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations as well as for nonpartnered individuals or those with multiple partners.

Aim: To explore the perceptions of SGM persons regarding the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a commonly used sexual functioning questionnaire.

Methods: We conducted 2 rounds of cognitive interviews with 27 SGM persons with and without a cancer diagnosis.

Altered microglia and neurovasculature in the Alzheimer's disease cerebellum.

Traditionally regarded to coordinate movement, the cerebellum also exerts non-motor functions including the regulation of cognitive and behavioral processing, suggesting a potential role in neurodegenerative conditions affecting cognition, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to investigate neuropathology and AD-related molecular changes within the neocerebellum using post-mortem human brain tissue microarrays (TMAs). Immunohistochemistry was conducted on neocerebellar paraffin-embedded TMAs from 24 AD and 24 matched control cases, and free-floating neocerebellar sections from 6 AD and 6 controls.

Cerebellar degeneration correlates with motor symptoms in Huntington disease.

Objective: Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by variable motor and behavioral symptoms attributed to major neuropathology of mainly the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. The role of the cerebellum, a brain region involved in the coordination of movements, in HD neuropathology has been controversial. This study utilizes postmortem human brain tissue to investigate whether Purkinje cell degeneration in the neocerebellum is present in HD, and how this relates to disease symptom profiles.

Evaluating the Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice Educational Program in a Large Academic Medical Center.

The purpose of this study was to create a system-wide education program in a large academic medical center to increase exposure and understanding of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. We also hoped to increase their confidence in utilizing and implementing EBP at the bedside. Although our approach to educating professional staff on EBP provided initial benefits, holding the gains over a 1-year period proved to be difficult.

Collaborative learning using nursing student dyads in the clinical setting.

Formal pairing of student nurses to work collaboratively on one patient assignment is a strategy for improving the quality and efficiency of clinical instruction while better utilizing the limited resources at clinical agencies. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the student nurse and patient experiences of collaborative learning when peer dyads are used in clinical nursing education. Interviews were conducted with 11 students and 9 patients.

Enhanced assembly of basement membrane matrix by endodermal cells in response to fibronectin substrata.

Basement membranes are complex extracellular matrices contributing to the regulation of growth, migration and differentiation of many cell types. However, little is known about the mechanisms regulating the deposition and assembly of basement membrane from its constituents. We have investigated the role of extracellular matrix molecules in the control of basement membrane matrix assembly by cultured endodermal (PFHR-9) cells.

Fibronectin-cell interactions.

Fibronectins are widespread extracellular matrix and body fluid glycoproteins, capable of multiple interactions with cell surfaces and other matrix components. Their structure at a molecular level has been resolved, yet there are still many unanswered questions regarding their biologic activity in vivo. Much data suggests that fibronectins may promote extracellular matrix assembly, and cell adhesion to those matrices.