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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has developed into an important therapy for Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and dystonia with more nurses in varied settings often preparing patients and families for this type of surgery. This exploratory study sought to obtain patient and caregiver perspectives of the current DBS teaching for Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and dystonia; to improve the teaching; and to standardize the education. Using survey methodology, 41 patients with movement disorder and 32 caregivers completed surveys about the preoperative instructions they received. Data analysis calculated frequencies for response rate, demographic information, multiple-choice questions, and Likert scale responses. Fill-in questions were summarized. Results overall showed that, because of the teaching, two thirds of patients and nearly two thirds of caregivers felt fully prepared for the DBS surgery. Patients' and caregivers' suggested recommendations for nurses and surgeons included requests for specific information such as attention to delivery of the education, more individualized care during the education, attention to pain during and after procedure, and postdischarge follow-up. The study identified unmet patient and caregiver needs, resulted in changes in practice, and serves as a guide toward standardization of educational approach and/or content.

Objectives: To review the cognitive changes associated with infiltrative, malignant brain tumors and treatments for brain tumors., Data Source: Review of journal articles and textbooks., Conclusion: Improvements in surgical, radiation, and medical therapies for central nervous system malignancies have resulted in increased patient survival. However, an increase in cognitive decline also has been associated with the presence of tumor and with tumor treatment modalities. Consequently, a negative impact on quality of life, as well as additional stress on caregivers occurs., Implications for Nursing Practice: The role of the neuro-oncology nurse is to assist in identifying cognitive impairments in patients with central nervous system malignancies, and to aid in promoting strategies for improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The long-term goal for the neuro-oncology community is to further improve treatments, to minimize side effects and, ultimately, to reduce the cognitive sequelae of these tumors and their treatments., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Two new HLA-C alleles have been identified by reverse line blot assay and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. The first polymorphism encodes an amino acid change from lysine in Cw*12022 to asparagine in Cw*1208 at residue 66. The second polymorphism encodes two amino acid changes from isoleucine in Cw*03031 to threonine in Cw*0313 at residue 93 and isoleucine to leucine at residue 94. The functional significance of these polymorphisms on peptide-binding and/or T-cell recognition is unknown.

A novel polymorphism was identified in a B*07 allele. B*0722 possesses a unique nucleotide substitution at nucleotide 481. This polymorphism encodes an amino acid difference from aspartic acid in B*07021 to asparagine in B*0722. The functional significance of this polymorphism on peptide binding and/or T-cell recognition is unknown.

Objectives: To provide an introduction to and description of the neurosurgical technologies used for the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system (CNS) malignancies., Data Sources: Published articles, books, and other reference materials., Conclusions: Recent advances in the development of assessment tools and surgical techniques have improved the outcome and quality of life for patients with brain and spinal cord tumors. Further improvements in intraoperative instrumentation and postoperative adjuvant therapy are expected to increase the safety and effectiveness of treatments for CNS malignancies., Implications for Nursing Practice: Preoperative education for the patient with a CNS malignancy is a special challenge to nurses. Management of these aggressive tumors requires multiple treatment modalities and continued vigilance to detect and palliate recurrent tumors.