Background: The Genome Database of the Latvian Population (LGDB) is a national biobank that collects, maintains, and processes health information, data, and biospecimens collected from representatives of the Latvian population. These specimens serve as a foundation for epidemiological research and prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.
Methods: Participant recruitment and biomaterial and data processing were performed according to specifically designed standard protocols, taking into consideration international quality requirements. Legal and ethical aspects, including broad informed consent and personal data protection, were applied according to legal norms of the Republic of Latvia.
Results: Since its start in 2006, the LGDB is comprised of biosamples and associated phenotypic and clinical information from over 31,504 participants, constituting approximately 1.5% of the Latvian population. The LGDB represents a mixed-design biobank and includes participants from the general population as well as disease-based cohorts. The standard set of biosamples stored in the LGDB consists of DNA, plasma, serum, and white blood cells; in some cohorts, these samples are complemented by cancer biopsies and microbiome and urine samples. The LGDB acts as a core structure for the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), representing the national node of Latvia in Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC).
Conclusions: The development of the LGDB has enabled resources for biomedical research and promoted genetic testing in Latvia. Further challenges of the LGDB are the enrichment and harmonization of collected biosamples and data, the follow-up of selected participant groups, and continued networking and participation in collaboration projects.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048300 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.2188/jea.JE20170079 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Oral health care knowledge among Phenylketonuria patients in the Latvian population.
Mol Genet Metab Rep
December 2024
Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Rīga Stradiņš University, LV-1007 Rīga, Latvia.
Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism that results from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Patients with PKU rely on amino acid mixtures and low-protein diets, which often exhibit an acidic nature and pose various challenges to oral health. The objective of the study was to evaluate oral care habits of PKU patients in Latvia and the impact of the recommendations developed on improving oral care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPopulations of Latvia and Lithuania in the context of some Indo-European and non-Indo-European speaking populations of Europe and India: insights from genetic structure analysis.
Front Genet
November 2024
Faculty of Medicine Population Genomics Laboratory, Translational health research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among Lithuanian, Latvian, Indian, and some other populations through a genome-wide data analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Limited data of Baltic populations were mostly compared with geographically closer modern and ancient populations in the past, but no previous investigation has explored their genetic relationships with distant populations, like the ones of India, in detail. To address this, we collected and merged genome-wide SNP data from diverse publicly available sources to create a comprehensive dataset with a substantial sample size especially from Lithuanians and Latvians.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFitness and psychological effects of tele-exercise in healthy populations. Preliminary study.
Front Digit Health
November 2024
Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy.
Background: The study investigates the impact of tele-exercise on physical fitness and psychological well-being in healthy individuals. Tele-exercise, facilitated by technology, offers a flexible and accessible alternative to traditional exercise, particularly beneficial during restricted in-person interactions.
Methods: In this study, 52 participants were divided into three groups: athletes, women, and young adults.
Ecological and intrinsic drivers of foraging parameters of Eurasian lynx at a continental scale.
J Anim Ecol
November 2024
Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The estimation of foraging parameters is fundamental for understanding predator ecology. Predation and feeding can vary with multiple factors, such as prey availability, presence of kleptoparasites and human disturbance. However, our knowledge is mostly limited to local scales, which prevents studying effects of environmental factors across larger ecological gradients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenetic variations in Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) impact vitamin D level and asthma susceptibility across the four ethnic populations.
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol
November 2024
Research Center of Allergy, Immunology, and Microbiome (A.I.M.), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of genetic variations in VDBP on vitamin D levels and asthma susceptibility across different ethnic groups.
- Findings indicate significant ethnic differences in vitamin D levels, with asthmatic individuals generally having lower levels compared to non-asthmatics.
- VDBP polymorphisms were linked to asthma risk in the Latvian group but not in others, highlighting the complexity of these associations across diverse populations.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!