13 research outputs found

    Bruk av analgetika og andre medikamenter blant gravide i Oslo - en spørreskjemaundersøkelse

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    Background: There are few studies on the subject of drug use during pregnancy over the last decades. The aim of this study was to examine the self-reported prevalence of drug use among pregnant women in Oslo, which type of drugs are most frequently used and to describe changes in drug intake during the first 17-18 gestational weeks. Material and method: 1749 pregnant women, 86 % of the invited and 92 % of those who accepted the invitation, answered a self-completion questionnaire at the antenatal visit at Ullevål University Hospital. They were asked to name which drugs, if any, they had used against pregnancy related symptoms and also other drugs used during the last six months prior to pregnancy, during gestational weeks 0-6, 7-12 and after week 13, to specify the name of the drugs used, and to report the number of days of consumption. Results: At least one episode of drug use was reported by 47% of the sample during all four time intervals combined. Those reporting drug use, reported in average 1,4 preparations per woman. During pregnancy 43 % had used drugs. Most frequently used drug groups were analgesics (93 % was paracetamol), systemic antibiotics, antihistamines and asthma/allergy-medication. As a whole these four groups constituted 83 % of drugs consumed. During pregnancy, consumption was reported by an increasing proportion of women. During weeks 7-12 of pregnancy, most women reported intake of drugs in these four groups. There is a significant correlation between use of analgesics in weeks 0-6 and both weeks 7-12 and after week 13 (McNemars test p<0,001). Interpretation: The drug use increases after pregnancy recognition. Still the overall use of drugs must be considered low, as only half of the women report any use during the first 17-18 weeks of pregnancy. Of those using analgesics in early pregnancy, many continue to use analgesics also later in pregnancy

    Cognition is only minimally impaired in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA 14): a neuropsychological study of ten Norwegian subjects compared to intrafamilial controls and population norm

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    Background: There is an increasing awareness of the role of the cerebellum not only in motor, but also in cognitive and emotional functions. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is an autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia characterized by a relatively pure cerebellar phenotype. Cognitive impairment has been reported in studies with phenotype descriptions of SCA14, but previous studies have been small without control groups, and no homogeneous and systematic test panel has been used. The objective of this study was to thoroughly characterize the neuropsychological profile in ten Norwegian SCA14 subjects compared to unaffected family members and population norm data. Methods: Ten SCA14 subjects and ten intrafamilial unaffected age- and education-matched controls from two Norwegian families were included. The unaffected intrafamilial controls included six first degree relatives, two second degree relatives, and two spouses. General intellectual ability, memory, visuoperceptive skills, psychomotor speed, executive functions, depression and anxiety were examined using internationally standardized tests, with minimal need for manual response to avoid motor bias. Results: No significant cognitive deficit was found in SCA14 subjects compared to intrafamilial controls. Verbal IQ, verbal executive function and psychomotor speed tended to be reduced in affected subjects, but previously reported non-verbal executive dysfunction was not confirmed in this study. Conclusion: Only subtle cognitive impairment was found in SCA14 affected subjects. The current findings do not confirm earlier reports of cognitive dysfunction in SCA14, but does shows a mild impairment in specific verbal executive functions. Genotypic differences may partly account for this discrepancy, and further studies on larger materials are needed to verify the findings

    Spastic paraplegia type 7 is Associated with multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions

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    Spastic paraplegia 7 is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding paraplegin, a protein located at the inner mitochondrial membrane and involved in the processing of other mitochondrial proteins. The mechanism whereby paraplegin mutations cause disease is unknown. We studied two female and two male adult patients from two Norwegian families with a combination of progressive external ophthalmoplegia and spastic paraplegia. Sequencing of SPG7 revealed a novel missense mutation, c.2102A.C, p.H 701P, which was homozygous in one family and compound heterozygous in trans with a known pathogenic mutation c.1454_1462del in the other. Muscle was examined from an additional, unrelated adult female patient with a similar phenotype caused by a homozygous c.1047insC mutation in SPG7. Immunohistochemical studies in skeletal muscle showed mosaic deficiency predominantly affecting respiratory complex I, but also complexes III and IV. Molecular studies in single, microdissected fibres showed multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions segregating at high levels (38–97%) in respiratory deficient fibres. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that paraplegin mutations cause accumulation of mitochondrial DNA damage and multiple respiratory chain deficiencies. While paraplegin is not known to be directly associated with the mitochondrial nucleoid, it is known to process other mitochondrial proteins and it is possible therefore that paraplegin mutations lead to mitochondrial DNA deletions by impairing proteins involved in the homeostasis of the mitochondrial genome. These studies increase our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of SPG7 mutations and suggest that SPG7 testing should be included in the diagnostic workup of autosomal recessive, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, especially if spasticity is present

    A novel homozygous variant in the SPG7 gene presenting with childhood optic nerve atrophy

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    Purpose To describe a case of hereditary spastic ataxia (HSP) presenting with childhood optic nerve atrophy and report a novel homozygous variant in the SPG7 gene. Observations A 57-year-old man suffering from progressive optic nerve atrophy since childhood eventually underwent genetic testing. A targeted whole exome gene sequencing panel for optic neuropathy identified a novel homozygous variant in the SPG7 gene, c.2T > G, p.(Met?), which likely abolished production of paraplegin, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein. Subsequent neurologic examination revealed subtle signs of spastic paraplegia and ataxia in keeping with the genetic diagnosis of SPG7. Conclusion and importance Spastic paraplegia 7 (SPG7) is an autosomal recessive form of the neurodegenerative disorder HSP. Pure HSP is characterized by spastic paraparesis in the lower limbs, whereas complicated HSP presents additional neurological manifestations. This case report adds to the evidence that SPG7 can present with childhood optic nerve atrophy, preceding the characteristic SPG7 manifestations. SPG7 should be considered in the workup of suspected hereditary optic neuropathy

    A founder mutation p.H701P identified as a major cause of SPG7 in Norway

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    Background and purpose: SPG7 is one of the most common forms of autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia. The phenotype has been shown to be heterogeneous, varying from a complex spastic ataxia to pure spastic paraplegia or pure ataxia. The aim of this study was to clinically and genetically characterize patients with SPG7 in Norway. Methods: Six Norwegian families with a clinical diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraplegia were diagnosed with SPG7 through Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing. Haplotypes were established to identify a possible founder mutation. All patients were thoroughly examined and the clinical and molecular findings are described. Results: The core phenotype was spastic paraparesis with ataxia, bladder disturbances and progressive external ophthalmoplegia. The variant p.H701P was identified in homozygous state in one family and in compound heterozygous state in three families. Haplotype analysis of seven surrounding single nucleotide polymorphisms supports that this variant resides on a founder haplotype. Four of the families were compound heterozygous for the previously well-described p.A510V variant. Conclusion: SPG7 is a common subgroup of hereditary spinocerebellar disorders in Norway. The broad phenotype in the Norwegian SPG7 population illustrates the challenges with the traditional dichotomous classification of hereditary spinocerebellar disorders into hereditary spastic paraplegia or hereditary ataxia. A Norwegian founder mutation p.H701P was identified in four out of six families, making it a major cause of SPG7 in Norway
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