Dialysis enrollment patterns in Guatemala: evidence of the chronic kidney disease of non-traditional causes epidemic in Mesoamerica.

Background: In western Nicaragua and El Salvador, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent and generally affects young, male, agricultural (usually sugar cane) workers without the established CKD risk factors. It is yet unknown if the prevalence of this CKD of Non-Traditional causes (CKDnT) extends to the northernmost Central American country, Guatemala. Therefore, we sought to compare dialysis enrollment rates by region, municipality, sex, daily temperature, and agricultural production in Guatemala and assess if there is a similar CKDnT distribution pattern as in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Finding the right kind of support: a study of carers of those with a primary malignant brain tumour.

Purpose: Caring for someone with a primary malignant brain tumour is very demanding due to the dynamic situation involving changes to personality, short term memory loss and changes in family relationships. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the support needs of carers of those with a primary malignant brain tumour. METHODS & SAMPLE: 22 Carers who were currently caring for someone with a primary malignant brain tumour were recruited from one specialist cancer centre in the south east of England.

Somnolence syndrome in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for primary brain tumours: a prospective study.

Background And Purpose: To characterise the incidence, pattern and severity of post cranial radiotherapy somnolence and to identify factors predictive of frequency and severity.

Materials And Methods: Seventy consecutive patients receiving radical cranial irradiation were prospectively assessed for somnolence at baseline, during and up to 10weeks following radiotherapy using five variables scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Littman scale. Fatigue was measured using the FACT-G score and quality of life using the EORTC QLQC30+3 with the brain tumour module questionnaire.

The management of primary spinal cord tumours.

Primary spinal cord tumours are rare but patients may present with multiple problems, although pain is generally the primary symptom. Following diagnosis, surgery tends to be the first treatment option. However, even after microscopic surgical excision tumour remnants may still be present, which can necessitate further treatment with radiotherapy and at times chemotherapy.

Caring for patients with central nervous system metastases.

Metastatic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) is devastating. For some patients it is the first indication that they have cancer. For others with controlled systemic disease, it is the realisation that the cancer is back.