Citations

RhoU is an atypical Rho family member with high homology to CDC42 but containing unique N- and C-terminal extensions. The mechanisms regulating RhoU activation, as well as its downstream effectors, are not fully characterized. We show that after epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation RhoU colocalizes with EGF receptor (EGFR) on endosomes, which requires both its N- and C-terminal extension sequences. Moreover, RhoU physically associates with activated EGFR in a GRB2-dependent manner through specific proline-rich motifs within its N-terminus. Mutation of these proline-rich sequences or suppression of GRB2 by RNA interference abrogates the interaction of RhoU with activated EGFR, as well as EGF-stimulated RhoU GTP binding. In addition, RhoU is involved in EGFR-mediated signaling, leading to AP1 transcriptional activity and cell migration in pancreatic cancer cells, events that require its interaction with the Grb2–EGFR complex. Taken together, the data suggest a unique regulatory mechanism by which RhoU interaction with SH3 adaptor proteins might serve to integrate growth factor receptor signaling with RhoU activation.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force and the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommend routine osteoporosis screening for women aged 65 years or older. Previous studies have shown that the use of a clinical decision-support tool significantly improves screening rates. In a recently published study, a statistically significant improvement was found in the screening rates for eligible women with use of the tool. To evaluate whether a clinical decision-support tool independently predicts completion of osteoporosis screening tests and to identify predictors of screening completion, we examined the records of 2462 female patients who were eligible for osteoporosis screening but had no prior baseline screening and who were seen in our primary care practices in 2007 and 2008. Patient and provider characteristics and clinic visit type were identified, and their association with screening test completion was statistically analyzed using both univariate and multivariate models. Screening completion rates increased significantly from 2007 to 2008. Factors associated with increased likelihood of screening completion included race, marital status, residence, presence of comorbidity (cancer, rheumatologic disease), and the year and type of visit. Screening was less likely for women aged 80 years or older. The use of a point-of-care decision-support tool not only improved osteoporosis screening rates significantly but appeared to be an independent predictor of screening completion. It potentially can facilitate the systematic and effective delivery of preventive health services to patients in the primary care setting. ( Population Health Management 2011;14:243–247)

Clinical data captured in electronic medical records accurately identify cases and controls for genome-wide association studies.

PURPOSE. The study aims to identify Minnesota nurses' perceptions regarding nursing diagnoses and to examine how these perceptions have changed over time. METHODS. Five hundred sixty-four out of 2,000 randomly selected registered nurses in Minnesota responded to the Perceptions of Nursing Diagnosis Survey. FINDINGS. Nurses have neutral to slightly negative perceptions of nursing diagnoses. These results differ slightly from the results of the original study which demonstrated neutral to slightly positive perceptions. IMPLICATIONS. After 30 years of use, it is concerning that more than half of nurses surveyed have a negative perception of nursing diagnosis. Consideration should be given to methods that facilitate the use of nursing diagnoses in practice, improvement of diagnostic language, or a more accepted method of planning patient care.