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The Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry offers Physiology, Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry courses in various study programs such as Medicine and Biomedicine (Faculty of Medicine) as well as in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation programmes and other faculties.

Fields of activity, main tasks and aims

  • Qualitative organisation and implementation of undergraduate studies in human physiology, medical chemistry and medical biochemistry within the study programmes of the Faculty of Medicine and other faculties, as well as the management of the Biomedicine master’s study programme,
  • Development of doctoral theses and promotion of the development of students’ research papers,
  • Implementation of scientific research carried out by the department's academic staff including research conducted in cooperation with RSU clinical departments and training centres,
  • Upgrading the qualifications of academic staff on a regular basis.

Research areas and topics

  • Study of biomarkers (cytokines and growth factors) associated with the pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis and atherosclerosis
  • Study of risk factors of diseases associated with obesity (metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes)
  • Development of biomarkers and therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool to personalize immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients
  • Development of screening methods by innovative spectroscopy techniques and chemometrics in research of herbal medicine
  • Various berries and young shoots of extracts obtained by freeze-drying method, the effect of oxidative stress parameters in vitro and in vivo chemical treatment
  • Enzymology. Impact of polyphenols on metabolism and digestion, and lipid and protein oxidation processes
  • Study of skin vasomotor and neurovascular reactions in psoriasis patients and patients with other non-contagious skin diseases, including patients with cardiovascular risk factors
  • Study of biomarkers (cytokines and growth factors) related to SIRS and sepsis, including the development of new diagnostic biomarker panels and clinical approbation
  • Studies in sports physiology and studies related to fatigue processes

International Scientific projects

  • Individualization of immunosuppressive therapy by performing pharmacokinetic modelling and assessing biomarkers for the transplanted patients
  • Effect of the polyphenolic phytochemical oregonin on the epigenetic marks in cardiovascular and reproductive tissues
  • Several projects of the Latvian National Program "Biomedicine"

Publications

  • Sokolovska J, Stefanovics J, Gersone G, Pahirko L, Valeinis J, Kalva-Vaivode S, Rovite V, Blumfelds L, Pirags V, Tretjakovs P. Angiopoietin 2 and Neuropeptide Y are Associated with Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2020 Jan 20. doi: 10.1055/a-1079-4711.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31958847
  • Hofmanis J, Hofmane D, Svirskis S, Mackevics V, Tretjakovs P, Lejnieks A, Signorelli SS. HDL-C Role in Acquired Aortic Valve Stenosis Patients and Its Relationship with Oxidative Stress. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Jul 29; 55(8). pii: E416. doi: 10.3390/medicina55080416.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31362438
  • Rautiainen L, Cirko A, Pavare J, Balmaks R, Grope I, Katirlo I, Gersone G, Tretjakovs P, Gardovska D. Assessment of ADAMTS-13 Level in Hospitalized Children with Serious Bacterial Infections as a Possible Prognostic Marker. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Aug 20;55(8). pii: E503. doi: 10.3390/medicina55080503.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31434239
  • Lurins J, Lurina D, Svirskis S, Nora-Krukle Z, Tretjakovs P, Mackevics V, Lejnieks A, Rapisarda V, Baylon V. Impact of several proinflammatory and cell degradation factors in patients with aortic valve stenosis. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Apr; 17(4):2433-2442. doi: 10.3892/etm.2019.7254;
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30906430
  • Rautiainen L, Pavare J, Grope I, Tretjakovs P, Gardovska D. Inflammatory Cytokine and Chemokine Patterns in Paediatric Patients with Suspected Serious Bacterial Infection. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Jan 3; 55(1). pii: E4. doi: 10.3390/medicina55010004.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30609860
  • P. Tretjakovs, J. Hofmanis, D. Hofmane, G. Krievina, L. Blumfelds, V. Mackevics, A. Lejnieks, G. Bahs. Prognostic utility of novel biomarkers in aortic valve stenosis. Proceedings of the Latvian academy of sciences. 2019, 73(2): 100-106. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2019-0016.
    https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/73/2/article-p100.xml
  • Zviedre A., Eņgelis A., Tretjakovs P., Zile I., Petersons A. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 2019, 73(4), pp. 379-386. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2019-0059 
    https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/73/4/article-p379.xml
  • Kalere, I., Konrade, I., Proskurina, A., Upmale S., Zake T., Limba N., Krievina G., Lejnieks, A., Tretjakovs, P. Melatonin concentrations and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 2019, 73(2), pp. 152-157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2019-0024
    https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/73/2/article-p152.xml
  • Lurins J, Lurina D, Tretjakovs P, Mackevics V, Lejnieks A, Rapisarda V, Baylon V. Increased serum chemerin level to predict early onset of aortic valve stenosis. Biomed Rep. 2018 Jan; 8(1):31-36. doi: 10.3892/br.2017.1010.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29387388
  • Brangulis K, Akopjana I, Petrovskis I, Kazaks A, Kraiczy P, Tars K. Crystal structure of the membrane attack complex assembly inhibitor BGA71 from the Lyme disease agent Borrelia bavariensis. Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 26;8(1):11286. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29651-9.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30050126
  • Krasilnikova J, Lauberte L, Stoyanova E, Abadjieva D, Chervenkov M, Mori M, De Paolis E, Mladenova V, Telysheva G, Botta B, Kistanova E. Oregonin from Alnus incana bark affects DNA methyltransferases expression and mitochondrial DNA copies in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2018 Dec;33(1):1055-1063. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2018.1476504.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29877148
  • Silina V, Tessma M K, Senkane S, Krievina G, Bahs G. Text messaging (SMS) as a tool to facilitate weight loss and prevent metabolic deterioration in clinically healthy overweight and obese subjects: a randomised controlled trial. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2017 Sep;35(3):262-270. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2017.1358435.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28812403
  • Sarmite Janceva, Liga Lauberte, Tatiana Dizhbite, Jelena Krasilnikova, Galina Telysheva, Marcis Dzenis. Protective effects of proanthocyanidins extracts from the bark of deciduous trees in lipid systems. Holzforschung, 2017, 71(7-8): 675-680. DOI:
    https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2016-0185
    https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/hfsg.2017.71.issue-7-8/hf-2016-0185/hf-2016-0185.xml
  • Brangule, A., Skadiņš, I., Reinis, A., Gross, K.A., Kroča, J. Key Engineering Materials, 2017, 720: 125-129.
    https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.720.125
    https://www.scientific.net/KEM.720.125
  • Brangule, A., Avotiņa, L., Zariņš, A., (...), Gross, K.A., Ķizane, G. Thermokinetic investigation of the drying conditions on amorphous calcium phosphate. Key Engineering Materials, 2017, 758 KEM, pp. 204-209.
    https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.758.204 https://www.scientific.net/KEM.758.204
  • Krievina G, Tretjakovs P, Skuja I, Silina V, Keisa L, Krievina D, Bahs G. Ectopic Adipose Tissue Storage in the Left and the Right Renal Sinus is Asymmetric and Associated With Serum Kidney Injury Molecule-1 and Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 Levels Increase. EBioMedicine. 2016 Nov;13: 274-283. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.10.020.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28005535
  • Zviedre A, Engelis A, Tretjakovs P, Jurka A, Zile I, Petersons A. Role of serum cytokines in acute appendicitis and acute mesenteric lymphadenitis among children. Medicina (Kaunas). 2016; 52(5):291-297. doi: 10.1016/j.medici.2016.10.002.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27793542
  • Zviedre A, Engelis A, Tretjakovs P, Jurka A, Zile I, Petersons A. Different Cytokine Profiles in Children with Acute Appendicitis and Acute Mesenteric Lymphadenitis. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 2015, 69(6), pp. 283-289.
    https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/69/6/article-p283.xml
  • Lundqvist A, Magnusson LU, Ullström C, Krasilnikova J, Telysheva G, Dizhbite T, Hultén L M. Oregonin reduces lipid accumulation and proinflammatory responses in primary human macrophages. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Mar 13;458(3):693-699. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.01.161.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25686497
  • Paparde A, Plakane L, Circenis K, Aivars JI. Effect of acute systemic hypoxia on human cutaneous microcirculation and endothelial, sympathetic and myogenic activity. Microvasc Res. 2015 Nov;102:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2015.07.005.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26211848

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