Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry

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.

Department's page on RSU research portal

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