| 1. |
- Berntsson, Shala Ghaderi, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of DNA repair gene polymorphisms and survival in low-grade and anaplastic gliomas
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuro-Oncology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0167-594X .- 1573-7373. ; 105:3, s. 531-538
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to explore the variation in DNA repair genes in adults with WHO grade II and III gliomas and their relationship to patient survival. We analysed a total of 1,458 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were selected to cover DNA repair genes, in 81 grade II and grade III gliomas samples, collected in Sweden and Denmark. The statistically significant genetic variants from the first dataset (P < 0.05) were taken forward for confirmation in a second dataset of 72 grade II and III gliomas from northern UK. In this dataset, eight gene variants mapping to five different DNA repair genes (ATM, NEIL1, NEIL2, ERCC6 and RPA4) which were associated with survival. Finally, these eight genetic variants were adjusted for treatment, malignancy grade, patient age and gender, leaving one variant, rs4253079, mapped to ERCC6, with a significant association to survival (OR 0.184, 95% CI 0.054-0.63, P = 0.007). We suggest a possible novel association between rs4253079 and survival in this group of patients with low-grade and anaplastic gliomas that needs confirmation in larger datasets.
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| 2. |
- Berntsson, Shala Ghaderi, et al.
(författare)
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Does intrathecal baclofen have a place in the treatment of painful spasms in friedreich ataxia
- 2013
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Ingår i: Case Reports in Neurology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1662-680X. ; 5:3, s. 201-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the case of a 50-year-old female patient with Friedreich ataxia (FA) who was treated successfully with an intrathecal baclofen (ITB)-delivering pump for painful spasms. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of FA where ITB relieved painful and disabling spasms. We suggest that ITB should be considered in the treatment of disabling spasms in patients with FA.
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| 3. |
- Berntsson, Shala Ghaderi, et al.
(författare)
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Perfusion and diffusion MRI combined with (11)C-methionine PET in the preoperative evaluation of suspected adult low-grade gliomas
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuro-Oncology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0167-594X .- 1573-7373. ; 114:2, s. 241-249
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perfusion and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI, dMRI) are valuable diagnostic tools for assessing brain tumors in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of pMRI and dMRI with (11)C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET PET) in suspected low-grade gliomas (LGG) prior to surgery. Twenty-four adults with suspected LGG were enrolled in an observational study and examined by MET PET, pMRI and dMRI. Histological tumor diagnosis was confirmed in 23/24 patients (18 gliomas grade II, 5 gliomas grade III). The maximum relative cerebral blood volume (rCBVmax) and the minimum mean diffusivity (MDmin) were measured in tumor areas with highest MET uptake (hotspot) on PET by using automated co-registration of MRI and PET scans. A clearly defined hotspot on PET was present in all 23 tumors. Regions with rCBVmax corresponded with hotspot regions in all tumors, regions with MDmin corresponded with hotspot regions in 20/23 tumors. The correlation between rCBVmax (r = 0.19, P = 0.38) and MDmin (r = -0.41, P = 0.053) with MET uptake in the hotspot was not statistically significant. Taken into account the difficulties of measuring perfusion abnormalities in non-enhancing gliomas, this study demonstrates that co-registered MET PET and pMRI facilitates the identification of regions with rCBVmax. Furthermore, the lack of a clear positive correlation between tumor metabolism in terms of MET uptake and tumor vascularity measured as rCBVmax suggests that combined pMRI/PET provides complementary baseline imaging data in these tumors.
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| 4. |
- Berntsson, Shala Ghaderi, et al.
(författare)
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Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus : Focus on Etiology
- 2016
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Ingår i: Case Reports in Neurology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1662-680X. ; 8:1, s. 59-65
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) caused by reactivation of the JC virus (JCV), a human polyomavirus, occurs in autoimmune disorders, most frequently in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe a HIV-negative 34-year-old female with SLE who had been treated with immunosuppressant therapy (IST; steroids and azathioprine) since 2004. In 2011, she developed decreased sensation and weakness of the right hand, followed by vertigo and gait instability. The diagnosis of PML was made on the basis of brain MRI findings (posterior fossa lesions) and JCV isolation from the cerebrospinal fluid (700 copies/ml). IST was immediately discontinued. Cidofovir, mirtazapine, mefloquine and cycles of cytarabine were sequentially added, but there was progressive deterioration with a fatal outcome 1 year after disease onset. This report discusses current therapeutic choices for PML and the importance of early infection screening when SLE patients present with neurological symptoms. In the light of recent reports of PML in SLE patients treated with rituximab or belimumab, we highlight that other IST may just as well be implicated. We conclude that severe lymphopenia was most likely responsible for JCV reactivation in this patient and discuss how effective management of lymphopenia in SLE and PML therapy remains an unmet need.
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| 5. |
- Berntsson, Shala Ghaderi, 1964-
(författare)
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Towards Novel Biomarkers for Low-grade Glioma
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Gliomas are common primary brain tumours that occur as low-grade (LGG) and high-grade gliomas (HGG). Typically occurring in younger adults, LGG has an indolent course with a median survival of 5-10 years, but carries an inherent potential for transforming into HGG. The thesis focused on LGG in adults, with the aim of identifying prognostic biomarkers for LGG.Paper I. Epileptic seizures are common symptoms in LGG. In a retrospective study, the correlation between 11C-methionine (MET) uptake, measured by Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and seizure activity was assessed in 101 patients with LGG. Although there was no correlation between MET uptake and seizure activity, survival was longer in patients who were seizure-free before surgery.Paper II. This finding prompted the search for common genetic pathways for both tumour and seizure development and a review of genetic polymorphisms in focal epilepsy and glioma risk. Cell cycle and immune response genes affecting both glioma and seizure risk were identified, and genes involved in synaptic transmission presented potential candidates for future studies.Paper III. The transcription factor PROX1 plays a pivotal role in normal development and carcinogenesis of various organs. The prognostic value of PROX1, together with established clinical and molecular prognostic factors for survival, was retrospectively assessed in 116 patients with LGG. High PROX1 expression in the tumour was associated with shorter survival.Paper IV. DNA repair enzymes, such as ERCC6, are crucial for maintaining genomic stability in glioma response to radiotherapy. An association between the polymorphism rs4253079, mapped to ERCC6, and longer survival in patients with LGG and HGG was identified.Paper V. As LGG typically presented as non-contrast enhancing tumours on morphological MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), the value of combined MET PET with physiological MRI for preoperative diagnosis was assessed in a prospective study of 32 patients with suspected LGG. Representative tumour areas were identified through a combination of perfusion-MRI with MET PET, which can be used as a baseline investigation for follow-up over time.Conclusions: The parameters seizure-freedom before surgery, the polymorphism rs4253079 in ERCC6 and low PROX1 expression in the tumor were identified as favorable prognostic biomarkers.
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| 6. |
- Bostöm, I., et al.
(författare)
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Narcolepsy as a side effect of swine flu vaccination
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of the Neurological Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-510X .- 1878-5883. ; 381:Supplement, s. 189-189
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Ghaderi Berntsson, Shala, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Aniridia with PAX6 mutations and narcolepsy
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Sleep Research. - : Wiley. - 0962-1105 .- 1365-2869. ; 29:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PAX6 gene mutations cause a variety of eye and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. Aniridia is often accompanied by CNS abnormalities such as pineal gland atrophy or hypoplasia, leading to disturbed circadian rhythm and sleep disorders. Less is known on the coincidence of narcolepsy in this patient group. We aimed to find out whether the circadian rhythm or sleep-wake structure was affected in patients with aniridia. Four members of a family segregating with congenital aniridia in two generations were included in the study. The patients were subjected to genetic testing for a PAX6 mutation, multiple sleep latency test, whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hypocretin-1 in cerebrospinal fluid, and Human Leukocyte Antigen DQ beta1*06:02. All four members were heterozygous for the pathogenic c.959-1G>A mutation in the PAX6 gene. Sleep disturbance was observed in all family members. The index patient was diagnosed with narcolepsy. MRI showed a hypoplastic pineal gland in all members. We describe the first case of a patient with PAX6 haploinsufficiency, aniridia and pineal gland hypoplasia diagnosed with narcolepsy type-1, suggesting a complex sleep disorder pathogenesis.
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| 11. |
- Ghaderi Berntsson, Shala, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Case report : a novel deep intronic splice-altering variant in DMD as a cause of Becker muscular dystrophy
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Genetics. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-8021. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the case of a male patient who was ultimately diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD; MIM# 300376) after the onset of muscle weakness in his teens progressively led to significant walking difficulties in his twenties. A genetic diagnosis was pursued but initial investigation revealed no aberrations in the dystrophin gene (DMD), although immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis suggested the diagnosis of dystrophinopathy. Eventually, after more than 10 years, an RNA analysis captured abnormal splicing where 154 nucleotides from intron 43 were inserted between exon 43 and 44 resulting in a frameshift and a premature stop codon. Normal splicing of the DMD gene was also observed. Additionally, a novel variant c.6291–13537A>G in DMD was confirmed in the genomic DNA of the patient. The predicted function of the variant aligns with the mRNA results. To conclude, we here demonstrate that mRNA analysis can guide the diagnosis of non-coding genetic variants in DMD.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Gunnarsson, Stina, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences from intrathecal baclofen treatment based on medical records and patient- and proxy-reported outcome : a multicentre study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 41:9, s. 1037-1043
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose:To investigate patient satisfaction with intrathecal baclofen treatment, complications from the treatment, and the impact of general expectations on treatment outcome in relation to satisfaction.Methods:A multicentre study with cross-sectional design. Data were collected through questionnaires and patient records. Patients were recruited from six outpatient intrathecal baclofen clinics in Sweden. Eighty-three patients who had been treated with intrathecal baclofen for 1-4 years were included. For patients unable to communicate, data were collected through a proxy. The Patient Global Impression of Change was used to measure patients' general satisfaction with change from intrathecal baclofen treatment. The Life Orientation Test - revised, was used to measure general expectations/optimism.Results:General satisfaction with intrathecal baclofen treatment was high; 51/77 patients reported "much improved" or "very much improved." There was no relationship between the two main outcomes (general satisfaction and general expectations/optimism) (r(s) = 0.12, p = 0.382). The two groups; those who could and those who could not communicate, did differ regarding personal characteristics and should be evaluated as such.Conclusions:Most patients/proxies reported a high level of satisfaction with intrathecal baclofen treatment. The reported satisfaction with intrathecal baclofen treatment was not dependent on general expectations.
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| 14. |
- Smits, Anja, et al.
(författare)
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Neurological impairment linked with cortico-subcortical infiltration of diffuse low-grade gliomas at initial diagnosis supports early brain plasticity
- 2015
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Neurology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-2295. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG) are slow-growing brain tumors that in spite of an indolent behavior at onset show a continuous expansion over time and inevitably transform into malignant gliomas. Extensive tumor resections may be performed with preservation of neurological function due to neuroplasticity that is induced by the slow tumor growth. However, DLGG prefer to migrate along subcortical pathways, and white matter plasticity is considerably more limited than gray matter plasticity. Whether signs of functional decompensating white matter that may be found as early as at disease presentation has not been systematically studied. Here, we examined 52 patients who presented with a DLGG at the time of radiological diagnosis. We found a significant correlation between neurological impairment and eloquent cortico-subcortical tumor localization, but not between neurological function and tumor volume. These results suggest that even small tumors invading white matter pathways may lack compensatory mechanisms for functional reorganization already at disease presentation.
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| 15. |
- Zetterling, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Extension of diffuse low-grade gliomas beyond radiological borders as shown by the coregistration of histopathological and magnetic resonance imaging data
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurosurgery. - : AMER ASSOC NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS. - 0022-3085 .- 1933-0693. ; 125:5, s. 1155-1166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Magnetic resonance imaging tends to underestimate the extent of diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs). With the aim of studying the presence of tumor cells outside the radiological border, the authors developed a method of correlating MRI findings with histological data in patients with suspected DLGGs in whom en bloc resections were performed.Methods: Five patients with suspected DLGG suitable for en bloc resection were recruited from an ongoing prospective study. Sections of the entire tumor were immunostained with antibodies against mutated IDH1 protein (IDH1-R132H). Magnetic resonance images were coregistered with corresponding IDH1 images. The growth pattern of tumor cells in white and gray matter was assessed in comparison with signal changes on corresponding MRI slices.Results: Neuropathological assessment revealed DLGG in 4 patients and progression to WHO Grade III glioma in 1 patient. The tumor core consisted of a high density of IDH1-R132H–positive tumor cells and was located in both gray and white matter. Tumor cells infiltrated along the peripheral fibers of the white matter tracts. In all cases, tumor cells were found outside the radiological tumor border delineated on T2-FLAIR MRI sequences.Conclusions: The authors present a new method for the coregistration of histological and radiological characteristics of en bloc–removed infiltrative brain tumors that discloses tumor invasion at the radiological tumor borders. This technique can be applied to evaluate the sensitivity of alternative imaging methods to detect scattered tumor cells at tumor borders. Accurate methods for detection of infiltrative tumor cells will improve the possibility of performing radical tumor resection. In future studies, the method could also be used for in vivo studies of tumor invasion.
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