Biomedical subjects

Agne Babusyte

Publications and source records attributed to Agne Babusyte.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Genetic features during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the leading causes of mortality, which is caused by the interaction of genetic susceptibility with environmental factors (especially smoking); however, genetic features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease still remain unknown. The only proven genetic risk factor is severe deficiency of plasma protease inhibitor, alpha-1 antitrypsin. A large number of candidate genes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have already been identified in many experimental and clinical studies; however, polygenic etiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the main reason for conflicting molecular and genetic findings. This review describes the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphism of alpha-1 antitrypsin, alpha-1 antichymotrypsin, microsomal epoxide hydrolase-1, matrix metalloproteinases-1,-9,-12, glutathione S-transferases, heme oxygenase-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, interleukins-1,-4,-13, beta2-adrenergic receptor, G-globulin genes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Regions on chromosomes 1, 2, 12, and 17 are indicated as candidate chromosomal regions influencing the decrease in spirometric parameters. Genome-wide scan shows direct evidence for linkage of decreased FEV1/FVC ratio to one or more genes on chromosome 2q influencing the development of airflow obstruction. Genetic markers on chromosome 12p suggest evidence for linkage of FEV1 to this region, and observations on chromosome 1p show the relationship between FVC and genes of this region. All these findings also need to be proven, and linkage analysis among combinations of gene candidates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has to be done.

Genetic Linkage↗

PubMed2004

[Effect of pyruvate on the dependence of electromechanical activity on stimulation frequency in human myocardium].

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of pyruvate, a substrate of energetic metabolism, on the dependence of electromechanical activity on stimulation frequency in human myocardium. The experiments were performed on human ventricle myocardium from patients undergoing cardiac corrective open heart surgery at Clinic of Cardiac Surgery in Kaunas University of Medicine by using standard method of registration of myocardium electromechanical activity. The stimulation frequency of myocardial strips were 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3 Hz, duration of pulses -2-5 ms. In control, i.e. at perfusion of mycoardial strips by Tyrode solution and stimulation frequency 1 Hz, an average of contraction force (P) was 0.94+/-0.18 mN (n=12), half time of relaxation (t(a)) - 178.88+/-9.31 ms (n=12), and action potential duration measured at 50% repolarization level (VP(50)) - 294.75+/-27.95 ms (n=9). Pyruvate (10 mM) increased P to 159.9+/-13.4% (p<0.00), t(a)- 106.9+/-2.2% (n=12) (p<0.001), and VP(50)- 111.1+/-7.4% (n=5) (p<0.05), as compared to control. In the absence of pyruvate values of P, t(a) and VP(50) of myocardial strips were higher at 0.2 Hz and 0.5 Hz and lower at 3 Hz compared with those at 1 Hz of stimulation frequency. Although the dependence of these parameters on stimulation frequency in the presence of pyruvate (10 mM) was not altered but their values were persistently increased at all stimulation frequencies. The present data indicate that pyruvate is an effective inotropic agent, which can improve contractility function in wide-ranging diapason of stimulation frequency in failing human heart.

Action Potentials↗