| 1. |
- Abé, Christoph, et al.
(författare)
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Cortical brain structure and sexual orientation in adult females with bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- 2018
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 8:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Nonheterosexual individuals have higher risk of psychiatric morbidity. Together with growing evidence for sexual orientation‐related brain differences, this raises the concern that sexual orientation may be an important factor to control for in neuroimaging studies of neuropsychiatric disorders.Methods: We studied sexual orientation in adult psychiatric patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or ADHD in a large clinical cohort (N = 154). We compared cortical brain structure in exclusively heterosexual women (HEW, n = 29) with that of nonexclusively heterosexual women (nHEW, n = 37) using surface‐based reconstruction techniques provided by FreeSurfer.Results: The prevalence of nonheterosexual sexual orientation was tentatively higher than reported in general population samples. Consistent with previously reported cross‐sex shifted brain patterns among homosexual individuals, nHEW patients showed significantly larger cortical volumes than HEW in medial occipital brain regions.Conclusion: We found evidence for a sex‐reversed difference in cortical volume among nonheterosexual female patients, which provides insights into the neurobiology of sexual orientation, and may provide the first clues toward a better neurobiological understanding of the association between sexual orientation and mental health. We also suggest that sexual orientation is an important factor to consider in future neuroimaging studies of populations with certain mental health disorders.
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| 2. |
- Aniszewska, Agata, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling Parkinson's disease-related symptoms in alpha-synuclein overexpressing mice
- 2022
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 12:7
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Intracellular deposition of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is a central event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other alpha-synucleinopathies. Transgenic mouse models overexpressing human alpha-syn, are useful research tools in preclinical studies of pathogenetic mechanisms. Such mice develop alpha-syn inclusions as well as neurodegeneration with a topographical distribution that varies depending on the choice of promoter and which form of alpha-syn that is overexpressed. Moreover, they display motor symptoms and cognitive disturbances that to some extent resemble the human conditions.Purpose: One of the main motives for assessing behavior in these mouse models is to evaluate the potential of new treatment strategies, including their impact on motor and cognitive symptoms. However, due to a high within-group variability with respect to such features, the behavioral studies need to be applied with caution. In this review, we discuss how to make appropriate choices in the experimental design and which tests that are most suitable for the evaluation of PD-related symptoms in such studies.Methods: We have evaluated published results on two selected transgenic mouse models overexpressing wild type (L61) and mutated (A30P) alpha-syn in the context of their validity and utility for different types of behavioral studies.Conclusions: By applying appropriate behavioral tests, alpha-syn transgenic mouse models provide an appropriate experimental platform for studies of symptoms related to PD and other alpha-synucleinopathies.
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| 3. |
- Bohman, Hannes, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Preclinical atherosclerosis in adolescents with psychotic or bipolar disorders investigated with carotid high-frequency ultrasound.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Early-onset psychosis (EOP) and bipolar disorder (EOBP) (at <18 years of age), are associated with an increased future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death. Yet it is unknown whether the arteries show visible signs of atherosclerosis in EOP and EOBP. This study investigated whether having EOP or EOBP was associated with detectable signs of preclinical atherosclerosis.METHOD: By using 22 MHz high-frequency ultrasound, different layers of the arterial wall of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) were assessed in 77 individuals with EOP (n = 25), EOBP (n = 22), and in age-matched healthy controls (n = 30). Conventional CVD confounders were included in the analyses.RESULTS: Adolescents with EOP and EOBP, compared to controls, had a significantly thicker LCCA intima thickness (0.132 vs. 0.095 mm, p < .001) and intima/media ratio (0.24 vs. 0.17 p < .001). There was a nonsignificant intima difference between EOP and EOBP. Conventional CVD risk factors did not explain the association between EOP/EOBP and intima thickness. In the group of EOP/EOBP, there was a significant correlation between the dose of current antipsychotic medication and intima thickness; however, the correlation was attenuated to a nonsignificant level when adjusted for global function.CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with EOP or EOBP had an increased LCCA intima thickness, interpreted as a sign of preclinical atherosclerosis. Global function of the disorders was the strongest determinant of intima thickness. The findings, if replicated, might have implications for long-term treatment of EOP and EOBP in order to reduce a future risk of CVD.
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| 4. |
- Edvinsson, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Different patterns of attentional bias in antenatal and postpartum depression
- 2017
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 7:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundBiased information processing in attention, memory, and interpretation is proposed to be central cognitive alterations in patients with major depressive disorder, but studies in women with peripartum depression are scarce. Because of the many similarities with depression in nonperipartum states as regards symptom profile and risk factors, we hypothesized that women with antenatal and postpartum depression would display attentional bias to negatively and positively valenced words. MethodsOne hundred and seventy-seven pregnant and 157 postpartum women were included. Among these, 40 suffered from antenatal depressive disorder and 33 from postpartum depressive disorder. An emotional Stroop task with neutral, positive, negative, and negatively valenced obstetric words was used. ResultsNo significant difference in emotional interference scores was noted between women with antenatal depression and nondepressed pregnant women. In contrast, women with postpartum depression displayed shorter reaction times to both positive (p=.028) and negative (p=.022) stimuli, compared with neutral words. Pregnant women on antidepressant treatment displayed longer reaction times to negatively valenced obstetric words in comparison with untreated depressed women (p=.012), and a trend toward greater interference in comparison with controls (p=.061). ConclusionsIn contrast with the hypothesis, we found no evidence of attentional bias to emotionally valenced stimuli in women with untreated peripartum depression. However, the shorter reaction times to emotional stimuli in women with postpartum depression may indicate emotional numbing, which in turn, is a functional impairment that may have repercussions for child development and well-being. Our findings emphasize the need to identify and treat women with postpartum depression at the earliest possible time point to ensure swift recovery and support for the family.
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| 5. |
- Ekmark-Lewén, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Early fine motor impairment and behavioral dysfunction in (Thy-1)-h[A30P] alpha-synuclein mice
- 2018
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : WILEY. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 8:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Intraneuronal inclusions of alpha-synuclein are commonly found in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease and other a-synucleinopathies. The correlation between alpha-synuclein pathology and symptoms has been studied in various animal models. In (Thy-1)-h[A30P] alpha-synuclein transgenic mice, behavioral and motor abnormalities were reported from 12 and 15 months, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these mice also display symptoms at earlier time points.Methods: We analyzed gait deficits, locomotion, and behavioral profiles in (Thy-1)-h[A30P] alpha-synuclein and control mice at 2, 8, and 11 months of age. In addition, inflammatory markers, levels of alpha-synuclein oligomers, and tyrosine hydroxylase reactivity were studied.Results: Already at 2 months of age, transgenic mice displayed fine motor impairments in the challenging beam test that progressively increased up to 11 months of age. At 8 months, transgenic mice showed a decreased general activity with increased risk-taking behavior in the multivariate concentric square field test. Neuropathological analyses of 8- and 11-month-old mice revealed accumulation of oligomeric alpha-synuclein in neuronal cell bodies. In addition, a decreased presence of tyrosine hydroxylase suggests a dysregulation of the dopaminergic system in the transgenic mice, which in turn may explain some of the motor impairments observed in this mouse model.Conclusions: Taken together, our results show that the (Thy-1)-h[A30P] alpha-synuclein transgenic mouse model displays early Parkinson's disease-related symptoms with a concomitant downregulation of the dopaminergic system. Thus, this should be an -appropriate model to study early phenotypes of alpha-synucleinopathies.
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| 6. |
- Engström, Maria, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Thalamo-striato-cortical determinants to fatigue in multiple sclerosis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 3:6, s. 715-728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The aim was to explore the thalamo-striato-cortical theory of central fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with self-reported fatigue. If the theory correctly predicted fatigue based on disruptions of the thalamo-striato-cortical network, we expected altered brain activation in this network in MS participants while performing a complex cognitive task that challenged fatigue. Methods
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| 7. |
- Kleggetveit, Inge P., et al.
(författare)
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Pathological nociceptors in two patients with erythromelalgia-like symptoms and rare genetic Nav 1.9 variants
- 2016
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 6:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The sodium channel Nav 1.9 is expressed in peripheral nociceptors and has recently been linked to human pain conditions, but the exact role of Nav 1.9 for human nociceptor excitability is still unclear. Methods: C-nociceptors from two patients with late onset of erythromelalgia-like pain, signs of small fiber neuropathy, and rare genetic variants of Nav 1.9 (N1169S, I1293V) were assessed by microneurography. Results: Compared with patients with comparable pain phenotypes (erythromelalgia-like pain without Nav-mutations and painful polyneuropathy), there was a tendency toward more activity-dependent slowing of conduction velocity in mechanoinsensitive C-nociceptors. Hyperexcitability to heating and electrical stimulation were seen in some nociceptors, and other unspecific signs of increased excitability, including spontaneous activity and mechanical sensitization, were also observed. Conclusions: Although the functional roles of these genetic variants are still unknown, the microneurography findings may be compatible with increased C-nociceptor excitability based on increased Nav 1.9 function.
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| 8. |
- Martens, Kris, et al.
(författare)
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Remediating reduced memory specificity in bipolar disorder : A case study using a Computerized Memory Specificity Training
- 2019
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 9:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Reduced autobiographical memory specificity (rAMS) is a vulnerability factor found across unipolar depression (UD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder (BD). A group delivered psychological therapy training called Memory Specificity Training (MeST) remediates rAMS in UD and PTSD, with additional downstream effects on related psychological processes and symptoms. Its impact in BD is unknown. In this case study, we examined the impact of a computerized version of MeST (c-MeST) on improving AMS and related symptoms and processes in participant with rapid cycling type I BD.METHOD: An experimental case study with an ABA design was used. During baseline (14 days, Phase A), the training phase (nine sessions across 17 days, Phase B), and a 1-month follow-up (Phase A), memory specificity, depressive symptoms, and related processes and symptoms were repeatedly measured.RESULTS: Memory specificity increased significantly after the participant completed c-MeST. Session-to-session scores indicated that AMS improved most from the in-person baseline assessment to the first online session. All other measures of processes and symptoms deteriorated during the training phase but regressed to baseline during follow-up.CONCLUSION: Memory specificity was improved as indicated by increased AMS from pre-intervention measurement to 1-month follow-up. Other improvements in symptoms were not observed. Rather, some related maladaptive psychological processes and symptoms worsened during the training phase and regressed to baseline during follow-up.
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| 9. |
- Martin, Sylvia, et al.
(författare)
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Metacognition vulnerabilities in time of crisis : Who to protect from suicidal risk?
- 2022
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 12:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction During stressful events, we are all trying to cope. We may not be equal depending on our emotional, psychological, and mental states. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we could try to avoid negative information processing and anxiogenics content to prevent unhealthy thinking processes. One of the processes we can observe regarding our way of thinking and its impact on our psychological well-being is Metacognition. Methods We recruited 104 outpatients in 2018. In 2020, during the pandemic, we recruited 216 outpatients and 176 healthy controls. We assessed their level of metacognition with the MCQ30 scale together with Suicidal risk and Hopelessness. Results All three groups showed significant differences, with the nonclinical sample having higher scores in MCQ30. Regression revealed the different profiles where Hopelessness was the only predictor for the clinical sample, whereas metacognition was an adjunctive predictor of suicidal risk for the nonclinical sample. Conclusion Our results showed that the COVID-19 crisis influenced metacognitive levels for the nonclinical sample but not for the clinical population. Moreover, Hopelessness predicted suicide risk for both populations, but Metacognition was also a predictive factor for the nonclinical sample. We conclude with the possible impact of preventive measures based on Metacognitive work that can be created out of these results.
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| 10. |
- Sabre, Liis, et al.
(författare)
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Diversity in mental fatigue and social profile of patients with myasthenia gravis in two different Northern European countries
- 2017
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : WILEY. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 7:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tntroduction: Self-estimated health can be used for comparison of different diseases between countries. It is important to elaborate on whether disparities in self-estimated health are due to disease-specific parameters or socioeconomic differences. In this study, we aimed at evaluating clinical and social similarities and differences in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients between comparable regions in two Baltic Sea countries, Estonia and Sweden. Methods: This cross-sectional study included southern counties in Sweden and Estonia of comparable size. All patients with a confirmed MG diagnosis were asked to answer two questionnaires including demographic and disease-specific data, lifestyle issues, and mental fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]). Clinical fatigue was assessed objectively through the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score (QMG). Results: Thirty-six of 92 identified patients in Estonia and 40 of 70 identified MG patients in Sweden chose to participate in the study. The demographic characteristics and symptoms reported by the patients were similar. QMG score did not differ; however, the Estonian patients scored their current subjective disease severity significantly higher (5.6 +/- 2.8) compared to the Swedish patients (3.4 +/- 2.3, p=.0005). Estonian patients also had significantly higher FSS scores (5.0 +/- 1.7) than Swedish patients (3.5 +/- 1.6; p=.001). Swedish patients were more active and performed physical activity more regularly (29.1% in Estonia and 74.2% in Sweden, p=.004). Conclusions: Although, the patients had comparable clinical fatigue, Estonian patients evaluated their health state as being more severe and reported more mental fatigue than Swedish patients. These data indicate large regional differences in disease perception of MG, which is important to consider in international studies.
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