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- Grahn, Petra, et al.
(författare)
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Early disc degeneration in radiotherapy-treated childhood brain tumor survivors
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1471-2474. ; 24:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundChildhood brain tumor (BT) survivors have an increased risk of treatment-related late effects, which can reduce health-related quality of life and increase morbidity. This study aimed to investigate lumbar disc degeneration in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adult survivors of radiotherapy-treated childhood BT compared to age and sex-matched population controls.MethodsIn this cross-sectional comparative study, 127 survivors were identified from hospital registries. After a mean follow-up of 20.7 years (range 5-33.1), 67 survivors (mean age 28.4, range 16.2-43.5) were investigated with MRI and compared to 75 sex-matched population-based controls. Evaluated MRI phenotypes included Pfirrmann grading, , intervertebral disc protrusions, extrusions, and high-intensity-zone-lesions (HIZ). Groups were also compared for known risk factors of lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration.ResultsChildhood BT survivors had higher Pfirrmann grades than controls at all lumbar levels (all p < 0.001). Lumbar disc protrusions at L4-5 (p = 0.02) and extrusions at L3-4 (p = 0.04), L4-5 (p = 0.004), and L5-S1 (p = 0.01) were significantly more common in the BT group compared to the control. The survivor cohort also had significantly more HIZ-lesons than the controls (n=13 and n=1, p=0.003). Age at diagnosis was associated with lower degree of IVD degeneration (p < 0.01). Blood pressure correlated with IVD degeneration (P < 0.05).ConclusionsSigns of early disc degeneration related to tumor treatment can be seen in the IVDs of survivors. Disc degeneration was more severe in children treated in adolescence.
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| 2. |
- Laaksonen, T., et al.
(författare)
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Sympatric divergence and clinal variation in multiple coloration traits of Ficedula flycatchers
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Evolutionary Biology. - : Wiley. - 1010-061X .- 1420-9101. ; 28:4, s. 779-790
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Geographic variation in phenotypes plays a key role in fundamental evolutionary processes such as local adaptation, population differentiation and speciation, but the selective forces behind it are rarely known. We found support for the hypothesis that geographic variation in plumage traits of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca is explained by character displacement with the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis in the contact zone. The plumage traits of the pied flycatcher differed strongly from the more conspicuous collared flycatcher in a sympatric area but increased in conspicuousness with increasing distance to there. Phenotypic differentiation (P-ST) was higher than that in neutral genetic markers (F-ST), and the effect of geographic distance remained when statistically controlling for neutral genetic differentiation. This suggests that a cline created by character displacement and gene flow explains phenotypic variation across the distribution of this species. The different plumage traits of the pied flycatcher are strongly to moderately correlated, indicating that they evolve non-independently from each other. The flycatchers provide an example of plumage patterns diverging in two species that differ in several aspects of appearance. The divergence in sympatry and convergence in allopatry in these birds provide a possibility to study the evolutionary mechanisms behind the highly divergent avian plumage patterns.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Remes, Tiina M., et al.
(författare)
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Bone mineral density is compromised in very long-term survivors of irradiated childhood brain tumor
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 57:5, s. 665-674
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The increase in the number of childhood brain tumor survivors warrants detailed research to increase our knowledge regarding the possible physical and psychosocial adverse outcomes of tumor and tumor therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current bone health by measuring the bone mineral density (BMD) in irradiated, adult long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors.Material and methods: We studied a national cohort of 74 adult survivors of childhood brain tumors treated with irradiation in Finland between 1970 and 2008. Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed for the femoral necks, total hips, and lumbar spine. Laboratory tests were conducted for evaluating the pituitary, thyroid, and gonadal functions. The participants were interviewed, examined clinically, and the disease and treatment related data were retrieved from the patient files.Results: One fourth of the patients (23.6%) had sex- and age-normalized z-scores below the expected range for age (z-score -2.0). Mean BMD scores were decreased in all the DXA measurement sites. Male sex was associated with low BMD (p<.05), while body mass index (BMI) had a significant positive association with BMD (p<.01). Mode of irradiation (with or without spinal irradiation) or inclusion of chemotherapy in the treatment did not affect BMD significantly. However, patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt had lower BMD than those without a shunt (p<.05). Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were negatively associated with BMD in women (p<.05). However, a higher cumulative dose of glucocorticoids during treatment was not associated with lower BMD, while low BMD was significantly associated with previous fractures in long bones.Discussion: Low BMD should be taken in consideration in treatment of irradiated childhood brain tumor survivors especially in those with previous fractures in long bones.
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