0000000000456511
AUTHOR
Valdis Pīrāgs
showing 13 related works from this author
Iodine Deficiency in Latvia: Current Status and Need for National Recommendations
2017
Abstract In the absence of a mandatory salt iodisation programme, two nationwide cross-sectional cluster surveys revealed persisting iodine deficiency among Latvian schoolchildren during the spring season and a noteworthy iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Latvia; these deficiencies warrant intervention. The consequences of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy and lactation can adversely affect foetal brain development. Data from a Latvian population survey revealed the consumption of approximately 100 μg of iodine per day through foods and iodised salt. Therefore, strategies to increase the consumption of iodine-containing products should be implemented, particularly for…
Genome-Wide Association Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease Highlights Biology Involved in Glomerular Basement Membrane Collagen
2019
BACKGROUND: Although diabetic kidney disease demonstrates both familial clustering and single nucleotide polymorphism heritability, the specific genetic factors influencing risk remain largely unknown.METHODS: To identify genetic variants predisposing to diabetic kidney disease, we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses. Through collaboration with the Diabetes Nephropathy Collaborative Research Initiative, we assembled a large collection of type 1 diabetes cohorts with harmonized diabetic kidney disease phenotypes. We used a spectrum of ten diabetic kidney disease definitions based on albuminuria and renal function.RESULTS: Our GWAS meta-analysis included association result…
Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders
2016
To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the page Programs initiated to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) may not remain effective due to changes in government policies, commercial factors, and human behavior that may affect the efficacy of IDD prevention programs in unpredictable directions. Monitoring and outcome studies are needed to optimize the effectiveness of IDD prevention. Although the need for monitoring is compelling, the current reality in Europe is less than optimal. Regular and systematic monitoring surveys have only been established in a few countries, and comparability across the studies is hampered by the lack o…
Similar cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes and established or high risk for coronary vascular disease treated with dulaglutide with an…
2020
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Consumption of Thyroid Medications as an Indicator of Increase of Thyroid Morbidity in Latvia from 2011 to 2014
2019
Abstract The most common autoimmune disorders with clinically opposite manifestations are hypothyroidism in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism in Graves’ disease. The healthcare burden of thyroid disease is substantial, resulting in substantial health care costs. The aim of the present analysis is to assess the use of thyroid medications in Latvia from 2011 to 2014 by age and gender. Our study used reimbursed medication prescriptions data, collected by the National Health Service of Latvia. The main indicator was the number of prevalent users of thyroid medications each year from 2011 to 2014, stratified by age and gender. From 2011 to 2014, the number of thyroxine users per 100 00…
Genome-wide association study of diabetic kidney disease highlights biology involved in renal basement membrane collagen
2018
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a heritable but poorly understood complication of diabetes. To identify genetic variants predisposing to DKD, we performed genome-wide association analyses in 19,406 individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using a spectrum of DKD definitions basedon albuminuria and renal function. We identified 16 genome-wide significant loci. The variant with the strongest association (rs55703767) is a common missense mutation in the collagen type IV alpha 3 chain(COL4A3)gene, which encodes a major structural component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) implicated in heritable nephropathies. The rs55703767 minor allele (Asp326Tyr) is protective against several definit…
Iodine deficiency during pregnancy: a national cross-sectional survey in Latvia
2015
AbstractObjectiveLow iodine intake during pregnancy may cause thyroid dysfunction, which results in inadequate fetal brain development. In the absence of a universal salt iodization programme, we conducted a nationwide survey of iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Latvia.DesignA countrywide twenty-cluster survey, with at least twenty women per cluster. Participants completed a questionnaire on dietary habits concerning iodine intake (n 739). Thyroid function (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and thyroperoxidase antibodies) was measured (n 550). Urinary iodine was measured using the ammonium persulfate method (n 696).SettingThe survey was performed in all regions of Latvia duri…
Rapid Elevation of Vitamin D Level Reduces C-Reactive Protein Level in COVID-19 Patients With Vitamin D Insufficiency
2022
Background: According to newly published studies, patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels than those without the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vitamin D insufficiency may be a predictor of poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D supplementation is related to improved clinical outcomes in terms of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death, particularly in individuals with moderate-to-severe forms of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Materials and methods: This placebo-controlled five-day study was performed on 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with vitamin D insufficiency randomized into two groups. Vitamin D i…
A cross-sectional survey of urinary iodine status in Latvia
2014
Background and objective: A nationwide survey of schoolchildren was conducted to detect regional differences in urinary iodine excretion in Latvia and to compare the results with data from the newborn thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) screening database as well with the results of a similar study performed in Latvia 10 years ago. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional school-based cluster survey of 915 children aged 9–12 years in 46 randomly selected schools in all regions of Latvia. Urine samples, questionnaires on the consumption of iodized salt and information on socioeconomic status were collected. TSH levels in newborns were also measured. Results: The median creatinine-…
Fatty liver indexandhepatic steatosis index for prediction ofnon-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 1 diabetes
2017
Background and Aim Little is known about the diagnostic value of hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and fatty liver index (FLI), as well as their link to metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes mellitus. We have screened the effectiveness of FLI and HSI in an observational pilot study of 40 patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods FLI and HSI were calculated for 201 patients with type 1 diabetes. Forty patients with FLI/HSI values corresponding to different risk of liver steatosis were invited for liver magnetic resonance study. In-phase/opposed-phase technique of magnetic resonance was used. Accuracy of indices was assessed from the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results Tw…
Validity of multiplex biomarker model of 6 genes for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules
2011
Abstract Background Currently the cytological examination of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies is the standard technique for the pre-operative differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. However, the results may be non-informative in ~20% of cases due to an inadequate sampling and the lack of highly specific, measurable cytological criteria, therefore ancillary biomarkers that could aid in these cases are clearly needed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of 8 candidate marker genes as the diagnostic biomarkers for the discrimination of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and to find a combination of biomarkers with the highest diagnostic value. Materials an…
Achievement of treatment targets predicts progression of vascular complications in type 1 diabetes.
2021
Abstract Background and aim To study the association between achievement of guideline-defined treatment targets on HbA1c, low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), and blood pressure with the progression of diabetic complications in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods The study included 355 patients at baseline and 114 patients with follow-up data after 3–5 years. Outcome variables were the progression of diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy, or cardiovascular disease (CVD). We used logistic regression and other machine learning algorithms (MLA) to model the association of achievement of treatment targets and probability of progression of complications. Results Achievement of the target bl…
Relation of Endothelial Dysfunction and Adipokines Levels to Insulin Resistance in Metabolic Syndrome Patients
2009
Relation of Endothelial Dysfunction and Adipokines Levels to Insulin Resistance in Metabolic Syndrome Patients Obese metabolic syndrome (MS) patients were categorised into three groups: 44 with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)(D); 20 with T2DM and coronary artery disease (CAD) (DC), and 26 with MS alone (M). Eighteen healthy subjects were selected as controls (C). Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed by HOMA-IR. Adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations were measured by xMAP technology. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by ELISA. We used laser Doppler imaging for evaluating cut…