Prevalence of Multimorbidity in Lithuania: Insights from National Health Insurance Fund Data.

(1) Background: As the burden of multimorbidity is increasing worldwide, little is known about its prevalence in Lithuania. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic conditions and multimorbidity among Lithuanian adults and assess their impact on healthcare utilization. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Lithuanian National Health Insurance Fund database was performed in 2019.

Research on physical activity variability and changes of metabolic profile in patients with prediabetes using Fitbit activity trackers data.

Background: Monitoring physical activity with consumers wearables is one of the possibilities to control a patient's self-care and adherence to recommendations. However, clinically approved methods, software, and data analysis technologies to collect data and make it suitable for practical use for patient care are still lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the potential of patient physical activity monitoring using Fitbit physical activity trackers and find solutions for possible implementation in the health care routine.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Lithuania: Results of National Population Survey.

Summary Background: Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread in early 2020 worldwide just in several months. The official statistics are consistently collected, but this is mainly based on symptomatic reports. This study was aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Lithuanian population.

Total Genotype Score Modelling of Polygenic Endurance-Power Profiles in Lithuanian Elite Athletes.

Total genotype score (TGS) reflects additive effect of genotypes on predicting a complex trait such as athletic performance. Scores assigned to genotypes in the TGS should represent an extent of the genotype's predisposition to the trait. Then, combination of genotypes highly ranks those individuals, who have a trait expressed.

Variants in the Myostatin Gene and Physical Performance Phenotype of Elite Athletes.

The gene is a negative regulator of muscle growth that is attracting attention as a candidate gene for physical performance traits. We hypothesised that variants of might be associated with the status of elite athlete. We therefore sought to study the potential role of in the physical performance of athletes by analysing the whole coding sequence of the gene in a cohort of Lithuanian elite athletes ( = 103) and non-athletes ( = 127).

Association of salivary steroid hormones and their ratios with time-domain heart rate variability indices in healthy individuals.

Background: Stress system consists of the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the locus caeruleus/norepinephrine-autonomic nervous system (ANS). Traditionally, HPA axis activity is evaluated by measuring its end-product cortisol, while the activity of ANS is assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) indices. Alterations in cortisol levels and HRV measures during laboratory-based stress tasks were extensively studied in previous research.

Association of Hair Cortisol Concentration with Prevalence of Major Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Allostatic Load.

BACKGROUND The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases cannot be explained completely by conventional risk factors such as older age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Results of recent studies indicate that chronic stress may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the associations between the hair cortisol concentration (HCC), which is considered as a potential biomarker of long-term psychosocial stress, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity.

Insights Into Mutation Variation in Lithuanian Exome.

In the last decade, one of the biggest challenges in genomics research has been to distinguish definitive pathogenic variants from all likely pathogenic variants identified by next-generation sequencing. This task is particularly complex because of our lack of knowledge regarding overall genome variation and pathogenicity of the variants. Therefore, obtaining sufficient information about genome variants in the general population is necessary as such data could be used for the interpretation of mutations (DNMs) in the context of patient's phenotype in cases of sporadic genetic disease.

Improved perioperative care is associated with improved long-term survival in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To compare perioperative colorectal cancer care and survival in patient cohorts operated in 2005 and in 2010 in Lithuania.

Methods: Comparative observational cohort study was performed. The study was conducted in the three Lithuanian cancer hospitals.

Knowledge about traumatic dental injuries in the permanent dentition: A survey of Lithuanian dentists.

Background/aims: In Lithuania, dental trauma cases are often treated by general dentists, but it is unknown whether their age, self-evaluation of trauma knowledge and practice location can predict their actual knowledge and management of trauma cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether these factors can be used to predict the actual knowledge and management of trauma cases.

Methods: A 2-part questionnaire included 17 multiple-choice questions about practitioners' demographics, their self-evaluated knowledge and how frequently they treated traumatized permanent teeth as well as 13 clinical scenarios reflecting a variety of clinical trauma cases and their complications.

Potential to induce dentinal cracks during retreatment procedures of teeth treated with "Russian red": An ex vivo study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of treatment procedures on roots previously treated with resorcinol-formaldehyde resin and analyze the effectiveness of dye and magnification for the detection of dentin cracks.

Materials And Methods: Distal roots of 80 permanent first mandibular molars with a single canal were sectioned at 3mm and 9mm from the anatomical apex. Two groups were formed according to the method used for root canal penetration: group 1 (K-file and Pro Taper instruments) and group 2 (Ultrasound with Pro Ultra and Pro Taper files).

Beta-Binomial Model for the Detection of Rare Mutations in Pooled Next-Generation Sequencing Experiments.

Against diminishing costs, next-generation sequencing (NGS) still remains expensive for studies with a large number of individuals. As cost saving, sequencing genome of pools containing multiple samples might be used. Currently, there are many software available for the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Association analysis of ACE, ACTN3 and PPARGC1A gene polymorphisms in two cohorts of European strength and power athletes.

The performance of professional strength and power athletes is influenced, at least partly, by genetic components. The main aim of this study was to investigate individually and in combination the association of ACE (I/D), ACTN3 (R577X) and PPARGC1A (Gly482Ser) gene polymorphisms with strength/power-oriented athletes' status in two cohorts of European athletes. A cohort of European Caucasians from Russia and Lithuania (161 athletes: by groups - weightlifters (87), powerlifters (60), throwers (14); by elite status - 'elite' (104), 'sub-elite' (57); and 1,202 controls) were genotyped for ACE, ACTN3 and PPARGC1A polymorphisms.

The high frequency of GJB2 gene mutation c.313_326del14 suggests its possible origin in ancestors of Lithuanian population.

Background: Congenital hearing loss (CHL) is diagnosed in 1 - 2 newborns in 1000, genetic factors contribute to two thirds of CHL cases in industrialised countries. Mutations of the GJB2 gene located in the DFNB1 locus (13q11-12) are a major cause of CHL worldwide. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the contribution of the DFNB1 locus containing the GJB2 and GJB6 genes in the development of early onset hearing loss in the affected group of participants, to determine the population-specific mutational profile and DFNB1-related HL burden in Lithuanian population.

Heterogeneity of nutritional habits of Lithuanian ethnolinguistic groups: population-based study.

Background: Lithuania is a Northern European country consisting of two main ethnolinguistic groups: Samogitians and Highlanders. The objective of the paper is to investigate differences in nutritional habits of 18-65-year-old Lithuanians living in different ethnolinguistic regions.

Materials And Methods: A representative, population-based, random sample of the 18-65-year-old ethnic Lithuanian population was interviewed from 17 December 2008 to 20 May 2013.

AMPD1 rs17602729 is associated with physical performance of sprint and power in elite Lithuanian athletes.

Background: The C34T genetic polymorphism (rs17602729) in the AMPD1 gene, encoding the skeletal muscle-specific isoform of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD1), is a common polymorphism among Caucasians that can impair exercise capacity. The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to determine the C34T AMPD1 allele/genotype frequency distributions in Lithuanian athletes (n = 204, stratified into three groups: endurance, sprint/power and mixed) and compare them with the allele/genotype frequency distributions in randomly selected healthy Lithuanian non-athletes (n = 260) and (2) to compare common anthropometric measurements and physical performance phenotypes between the three groups of athletes depending on their AMPD1 genotype.

Results: The results of our study indicate that the frequency of the AMPD1 TT genotype was 2.

Haemorrhoids and anal fissures during pregnancy and after childbirth: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify the incidence and risk factors of haemorrhoids and fissures during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: University hospital and outpatient clinics in Lithuania.

RTN4 and FBXL17 Genes are Associated with Coronary Heart Disease in Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Lithuanian Families.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a complex and heterogeneous cardiovascular disease. There are many genome-wide association studies (GWAS) performed worldwide to extract the causative genetic factors. Moreover, each population may have some exceptional genetic characteristic.

Variation in the ACE, PPARGC1A and PPARA genes in Lithuanian football players.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of ACE (I/D), PPARGC1A (G/A) and PPARA (G/C) polymorphisms on footballers performance among 199 Lithuanian professional footballers and 167 sedentary, healthy men (controls). Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods on DNA from leucocytes. Results revealed that the angiotensin-1-coverting enzyme gene (ACE) genotype distribution was significantly different between total football players group (II 23.

The pattern of colorectal cancer surgery in Lithuania in 2005: do results meet expectations?

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to expose the pattern of the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer in Lithuania in 2005.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 590 patients treated for colorectal cancer in the surgical departments of the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, the Institute of Oncology of Vilnius University, and Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos in 2005 was performed. Demographic data, preoperative evaluation, postoperative complications assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, the quality of pathological examination, and survival rates were analyzed.

Genetic variation of the human ACE and ACTN3 genes and their association with functional muscle properties in Lithuanian elite athletes.

Background And Objective: Based on the results of many studies, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) genes are considered strong candidate genes associated with human physical performance. On the other hand, the data regarding the association of the ACE I/D and ACTN3 R/X polymorphisms with human physical performance in different populations have been conflicting. The objective of our research was to evaluate the significance of these genetic variants on muscle performance phenotype in Lithuanian athletes.