Content Validity of the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale in Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia.

Introduction: The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale-Activities of Daily Living (FARS-ADL) is a validated and highly utilized measure for evaluating patients with Friedreich Ataxia. While construct validity of FARS-ADL has been shown for spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), content validity has not been established.

Methods: Individuals with SCA1 or SCA3 (n = 7) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) with SCA expertise (n = 8) participated in qualitative interviews evaluating the relevance, clarity, and clinical meaningfulness of FARS-ADL for assessment of individuals with SCA.

Improved Adherence to Lipid Screening in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project.

Introduction: Lipid screening identifies at-risk patients to facilitate cardiovascular risk reduction. National pediatric guidelines recommend universal lipid screening between 9-11 and 17-21 years of age. We aimed to improve adherence to lipid screening for all age-appropriate outpatient pediatric cardiology visits from a baseline of 35% to 90% between November 2021 and July 2023.

Embracing practice innovation: The synergy of evidence-based practice and quality improvement strategies.

This article explores the synergistic relationship between evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI) methods in nursing, highlighting their potential to enhance patient outcomes and foster practice change. By identifying clinical gaps and employing a structured approach to integrate EBP and QI, nurses can effectively implement best practices tailored to evolving healthcare needs. Ultimately, this article provides a comprehensive framework for nurses to leverage EBP and QI collaboratively, thereby advancing nursing practice and improving patient care.

Differential functional change in olfactory bulb and olfactory eloquent areas in Parkinson's disease.

Olfactory dysfunction, or hyposmia, frequently occurs as a prodromal symptom and ongoing sign of Parkinson's disease. Functional MRI is a powerful tool for studying functional changes in the olfactory brain regions in patients with Parkinson's disease. However, existing studies show inconsistent results and no study has measured olfactory functional MRI abnormalities in the human olfactory bulb directly.

α-Synuclein Strain Dynamics Correlate with Cognitive Shifts in Parkinson's Disease.

α-Synuclein (α-syn) strains can serve as discriminators between Parkinson's disease (PD) from other α-synucleinopathies. The relationship between α-syn strain dynamics and clinical performance as patients transition from normal cognition (NC) to cognitive impairment (CI) is not known. Here, we show that the biophysical properties and neurotoxicity of α-syn strains change as PD cognitive status transitions from NC to mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and dementia (PD-D).