Zanda Priede

Prof. Zanda Priede


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 October 2024 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ATAija Tumova
Aija Tumova
KAKaspars Auslands
Kaspars Auslands
AMAndrejs Millers
Andrejs Millers
ZPZanda Priede
Zanda Priede
MBMāris Buks
Māris Buks
RURūdolfs Ulmanis
Rūdolfs Ulmanis
Schimmelpenning syndrome, or epidermal nevus syndrome, is a rare, neurocutaneous disorder characterized by skin abnormalities, such as epidermal nevi, and involvement of the central nervous system, including intracranial tumors. There are only a few reported cases of intracranial tumors associated with Schimmelpenning syndrome. In most cases, a single nucleotide mutation in the RAS family proto-oncogenes, like HRAS or KRAS genes, can result in the genetic mosaicism that is responsible for the clinical manifestations of this syndrome. The authors present a case report of a woman with Schimmelpenning syndrome who sought medical help with complaints of progressive headache and dizziness. The radiological and histopathological findings indicated an astrocytoma, IDH-mutant (WHO grade 3). The molecular analysis revealed pathogenic changes in the oncogenic HRAS gene with a prevalence of 31%. The patient underwent surgical treatment and had no neurological sequelae. By presenting such a clinical case, attention is paid to the interrelationship between genetic syndromes and intracranial tumors.

23 April 2025 in Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ERElina Runce
Elina Runce
KVKalvis Verzemnieks
Kalvis Verzemnieks
KAKaspars Auslands
Kaspars Auslands
ZPZanda Priede
Zanda Priede
TRTõnu Rätsep
Tõnu Rätsep
ABArturs Balodis
Arturs Balodis
Background and Clinical Significance: Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV) are anatomical variations that may persist into childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. When these cavities become abnormally large, they are classified as cysts. The mechanism leading to expansion is poorly understood. Although rare, symptomatic CSP and CV cysts can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Case Presentation: A 20-year-old Caucasian male presented with progressively worsening symptoms over several months including persistent headaches and dizziness. Neurological evaluation showed no abnormalities, with intact cranial nerve function, normal muscle strength, and no signs of paresis. Imaging identified CSP and CV cysts causing obstructive hydrocephalus. MRI findings confirmed progressive cyst enlargement and obstruction of intraventricular foramen. The patient underwent neuroendoscopic fenestration of the cyst with resolution of both hydrocephalus and the symptoms. A CT and MRI scan of the brain performed 12 years before revealed a developmental variant, showing no evidence of cyst formation or ventricular enlargement and without hydrocephalus at that time. This case provides a rare opportunity to observe cyst growth dynamics over time. Conclusions: This case presents the importance of recognizing symptomatic CSP and CV cysts as rare but significant causes of obstructive hydrocephalus. The progression from a developmental variant to cyst formation over time illustrates the value of long-term imaging follow-up in such cases. Neuroendoscopic fenestration provided complete resolution of symptoms, demonstrating the effectiveness of surgical intervention in such cases.

13 May 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
Davis KannenieksDavis Kannenieks
Davis Kannenieks
ZPZanda Priede
Zanda Priede
AMAndrejs Millers
Andrejs Millers
KVKarlis Kristofers Velins
Karlis Kristofers Velins
Background: As the society ages, the number of patients with early cognitive impairment that can progress to Alzheimer’s disease also increases. Early diagnosis and risk as-sessment allows effectively initiate the necessary lifestyle changes and monitoring. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), when analyzing medical histories, enables more pro-ductive evaluation of large datasets and identify patterns that may go unnoticed in clinical practice. This kind of approach can improve early screening, reduce physicians’ workload and develop bigger support for personalized treatment. The aim of the study: To compare the performance of machine learning (ML) algorithm with a physician (neurologist) in assessing patient’s subjective cognitive decline and Alz-heimer’s disease risk in early stages. Research methods: The research was designed as a retrospective, comparative cohort study that used two data sources. Firstly, the National Alzheimer’s Coordination Center (NACC) longitudinal dataset to train the ML model. Secondly, medical records gathered from Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital dating from 2020 till May 2025 to evaluate the al-gorithm’s precision. Results: The research included 154 patients, predominantly women (68.8%), with a mean age of 80.3 years. Class distribution consisted of dementia (n=139); mild cognitive im-pairment (MCI) (n=13); subjective cognitive decline (SCD) (n=2). Dementia was identified the best – 128/139 (accuracy – 92.1%) with errors tending towards MCI. MCI was correct in 9/13 cases (accuracy – 69.2%) All SCD cases were classified as dementia. Overall model’s accuracy was 91.6% (141/154). Conclusions: ML algorithm can match to neurologist made diagnoses with high precision but is struggles to separate adjacent early-stage diagnoses. At this moment, ML models are great decision supporters, but no yet alone diagnosticians. Nevertheless, this technology has high potential to being integrated in the future to aid triage and early screening, especially when advanced diagnostics are limited.

14 July 2026 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Davis KannenieksDavis Kannenieks
Davis Kannenieks
ZPZanda Priede
Zanda Priede
AMAndrejs Millers
Andrejs Millers
KVKarlis Kristofers Velins
Karlis Kristofers Velins
Background and Objectives: As society ages, the number of patients with cognitive impairment is increasing. Machine learning methods that use structured clinical and cognitive-assessment data during routine diagnostic work-up may support and monitor structured classifications of cognitive status. This kind of approach can improve early screening, reduce physicians’ workload and develop greater support for personalized treatment. To develop an XGBoost-based machine learning model using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset and to evaluate the model’s precision with clinician-assigned diagnosis in a Latvian retrospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: The research was designed as a retrospective external validation cohort study that used two data sources. Firstly, the National Alzheimer’s Coordination Center (NACC) longitudinal dataset was used to train the ML model. Secondly, medical records gathered from Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital dating from 2020 to May 2025 were used to evaluate the algorithm’s precision. Results: In the NACC study, the weighted four-class model achieved an overall accuracy of 84.0% and a balanced accuracy of 70.9%, but the SCD class remained poorly classified. After reframing the model to a three-class model the performance grew stronger for normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Class distribution in the Latvian cohort consisted of dementia (n = 138); MCI (n = 13); and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) (n = 2). Dementia was identified most strongly—124/138 (sensitivity—89.9%). MCI was correct in 9/13 cases (sensitivity—69.2%). SCD cases were excluded. Overall, the model agreed with the neurologist-assigned diagnoses in 88.1% of the cases (133/151). Conclusions: The ML classification model has high precision when comparing with neurologist-assigned diagnoses, but it struggles to separate adjacent early-stage diagnoses, meaning that it did not reliably identify SCD. These findings support further methodological development and the implementation of prospective research. Nevertheless, this technology has high potential for being integrated in the future to aid triage and early screening, especially when advanced diagnostics are limited.

17 April 2025 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
ERElina Runce
Elina Runce
KVKalvis Verzemnieks
Kalvis Verzemnieks
KAKaspars Auslands
Kaspars Auslands
ZPZanda Priede
Zanda Priede
TRTõnu Rätsep
Tõnu Rätsep
ABArturs Balodis
Arturs Balodis
Background. Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV) are anatomical variations that may persist into childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. When these cavities become abnormally large, they are classified as cysts. The mechanism leading to expansion is poorly understood. Although rare, symptomatic CSP and CV cysts can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Case report. A 20-year-old Caucasian male presented with progressively worsening symptoms over several months, including persistent headaches and dizziness. Neurological evaluation showed no abnormalities, with intact cranial nerve function, normal muscle strength, and no signs of paresis. Imaging identified CSP and CV cysts causing obstructive hydrocephalus. MRI findings confirmed progressive cyst enlargement and obstruction of foramen Monro. The patient underwent neuroendoscopic fenestration of the cyst with resolution of both hydrocephalus and the symptoms. A CT and MRI scan of the brain performed 12 years before revealed a developmental variant, showing no evidence of cyst formation or ventricular enlargement and without hydrocephalus at that time. This case provides a rare opportunity to observe cyst growth dynamics over time. Conclusion. This case presents the importance of recognizing symptomatic CSP and CV cysts as rare but significant causes of obstructive hydrocephalus. The progression from a developmental variant to cyst formation over time illustrates the value of long-term imaging follow-up in such cases. Neuroendoscopic fenestration provided complete resolution of symptoms, demonstrating the effectiveness of surgical intervention in such cases.