Publications by authors named "Leja M"

Background: Neurohormonal blocking drugs, like beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), are recommended for treating anthracycline-induced left ventricular dysfunction (AILVD). However, there is limited evidence supporting their benefit. Therefore, this study evaluated associations of neurohormonal blockers and other clinical factors with recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with AILVD.

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Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, requiring the urgent development of innovative diagnostic tools for early detection. This study presents an integrated infrared spectroscopic electronic nose system, a novel device that combines infrared (IR) spectroscopy and electronic nose (eNose) concepts for analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. This system was calibrated using relevant gas mixtures and then tested during a feasibility study involving 26 gastric cancer patients and 32 healthy controls using chemometric analyses to distinguish between exhaled breath profiles.

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  • Genetic variants in the TBC1D24 gene are linked to non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss (ADHL), but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Researchers used zebrafish to study TBC1D24's role in hearing and how specific harmful mutations affect its function.
  • Experiment results showed that knocking down TBC1D24 led to ear structure defects and movement issues in zebrafish embryos, with harmful mutations interfering more than normal gene expression, thus pinpointing TBC1D24's critical role in inner ear development and ciliary function.
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  • Bismuth quadruple therapies (BQTs) have been effective in treating Helicobacter pylori infections in Europe, particularly in the face of antibiotic resistance, with notable use increasing from 8.6% in 2013 to 39% in 2021.
  • An analysis of data from nearly 50,000 patients indicated that the single-capsule BQT was the most common regimen and achieved over 90% effectiveness with certain combinations.
  • Key factors that improved treatment success included adherence to the regimen, use of high-dose proton pump inhibitors, and implementing the therapy as a first-line treatment.
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  • The integration of artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics significantly enhances the management of upper gastrointestinal cancer, particularly gastric cancer, where early detection is crucial.
  • Foundation models (FMs) are advanced machine learning tools that improve the accuracy of endoscopic procedures and pathology image analysis.
  • This review discusses the principles, emerging trends, and challenges in implementing FMs in clinical practice, aiming to guide researchers and healthcare professionals in improving patient outcomes related to gastric cancer.
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The absolute number of annual cases of gastric cancer in Europe is rising. The Council of the European Union has recommended implementation of gastric cancer screening for countries or regions with a high gastric cancer incidence and death rates. However, as of 2024 no organised gastric cancer screening programme has been launched in Europe.

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  • A study examined how different reasons for testing for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) affect treatment prescriptions and their success rates across Europe from 2013 to 2023.
  • Out of 53,636 cases, the most common reasons for testing included dyspepsia with normal endoscopy and various types of ulcers, with treatment effectiveness ranging from 87% to 91% based on the indication.
  • Patients with ulcers and preneoplastic lesions experienced higher treatment success and compliance, while those tested for dyspepsia had higher rates of adverse effects.
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Background: Adherence to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment is a cornerstone for achieving adequate treatment efficacy.

Objective: To determine which factors influence compliance with treatment.

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Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most prevalent type of bacterial infection. Current guidelines from different regions of the world neglect specific African conditions and requirements.

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Volatilomics is a powerful tool capable of providing novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of gastric cancer. The main objective of this study was to characterize the volatilomic signatures of gastric juice in order to identify potential alterations induced by gastric cancer. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, coupled with headspace solid phase microextraction as the pre-concentration technique, was used to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by gastric juice samples collected from 78 gastric cancer patients and two cohorts of controls (80 and 96 subjects) from four different locations (Latvia, Ukraine, Brazil, and Colombia).

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Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most extensively studied risk factor for gastric cancer. As with any bacteria, H.

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The human body emits a multitude of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via tissues and various bodily fluids or exhaled breath. These compounds collectively create a distinctive chemical profile, which can potentially be employed to identify changes in human metabolism associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and, consequently, facilitate the diagnosis of this disease. The main goal of this study was to investigate and characterize the VOCs' chemical patterns associated with the breath of CRC patients and controls and identify potential expiratory markers of this disease.

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  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can lead to various cardiovascular complications, and this study aimed to assess the occurrence and risk factors of these events in patients post-transplant.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 3,354 adult patients who underwent HSCT from 2008 to 2019, tracking cardiovascular outcomes within 100 days and beyond, with a focus on incidents like heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
  • Results showed a low short-term incidence of cardiovascular events (4.1%) but a higher long-term incidence (13.9%), particularly among allogeneic transplant recipients and individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
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The role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remains controversial. We studied antiparietal cell antibody (anti-PCA) and anti-intrinsic factor antibody (anti-IFA) levels and their associations with pepsinogen I/pepsinogen II levels in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma compared to a control group with mild or no atrophy of the stomach mucosa. Plasma levels of anti-PCA and anti-IFA were measured by ELISA (Inova Diagnostics Inc, San Diego, California, USA).

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  • A study aimed to create a risk score for assessing cardiovascular risks in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to limited existing guidelines.
  • Using data from the CARE-BMT study, researchers analyzed various predictive factors related to cardiovascular events in over 2,400 HSCT patients, leading to the development of a point-based risk score.
  • This score categorizes patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups for cardiovascular issues post-transplant, potentially aiding in specialist referrals and long-term monitoring of high-risk individuals.
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  • Antibiotic resistance significantly affects the treatment success rates for Helicobacter pylori infections, with noted resistance levels in Europe.
  • A study analyzed 2,852 naive patients and found that the 3-in-1 single capsule with bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline, as well as a quadruple therapy with bismuth, had the highest effectiveness against H. pylori, even with existing resistances.
  • For non-naive patients, resistance was even higher, but the same 3-in-1 capsule and triple therapy with levofloxacin showed promising results, highlighting the need for effective treatment options based on resistance patterns.
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Background And Aims: Cancer and atherosclerosis share common risk factors and inflammatory pathways that promote their proliferation via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Because CCs cause mechanical injury and inflammation in atherosclerosis, we investigated their presence in solid cancers and their activation of IL-1β, VEGF, CD44, and Ubiquityl-Histone H2B (Ub-H2B), that promote cancer growth.

Methods: Tumor specimens from eleven different types of human cancers and atherosclerotic plaques were assessed for CCs, free cholesterol content and IL1-β by microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While CRC screening is already part of organized programs in many countries, there remains a need for improved screening tools. In recent years, a potential approach for cancer diagnosis has emerged via the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using sensor technologies.

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Background: Standard triple therapy is commonly prescribed Helicobacter pylori eradication regimen in Europe. However, the world is witnessing declines in eradication success. It is crucial to find better treatment options.

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Despite rapid improvements in the accessibility of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), understanding the extent of human genetic variation is limited by the scarce availability of genome sequences from underrepresented populations. Developing the population-scale reference database of Latvian genetic variation may fill the gap in European genomes and improve human genomics research. In this study, we analysed a high-coverage WGS dataset comprising 502 individuals selected from the Genome Database of the Latvian Population.

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The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori remains high in the older population. Specific age-related peculiarities may impact the outcomes of H. pylori treatment.

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The segmentation of patients into homogeneous groups could help to improve eradication therapy effectiveness. Our aim was to determine the most important treatment strategies used in Europe, to evaluate first-line treatment effectiveness according to year and country. : All first-line empirical treatments registered at AEGREDCap in the European Registry on management (Hp-EuReg) from June 2013 to November 2022.

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  • Global collaboration is essential in cardio-oncology to study cardiovascular toxicity from cancer treatments across various demographics and settings, as socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities affect care access and outcomes.
  • The Global Cardio-Oncology Registry was created with input from cardiologists and oncologists from both academic and community practices, utilizing an online platform to gather data from international sites.
  • The registry received responses from 119 sites, predominantly led by cardiologists and located in university settings, focusing on key cancer priorities such as breast cancer and patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments, with a pilot phase for enrollment already underway.
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