Laura Šiaulienė has defended her thesis entitled "Investigation of cytogenetic and epigenetic markers in lymphocytes from diabetic patients" for the degree of Doctor of Science in Biology.
The scientific supervisor is Prof. Habil. Dr. Juozas Rimantas Lazutka.
The scientific consultant is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Žydrūnė Visockienė (Vilnius University, Medical and Health Sciences, Medicine).
Composition of the Dissertation Defense Board: Chairperson - Prof. Dr. Eglė Lastauskienė (Vilnius University, Natural Sciences, Biology); Prof. Dr. Laima Ambrozaitytė (Vilnius University, Natural Sciences, Biology); Prof. Dr. Vytautas Kasiulevičius (Vilnius University, Medical and Health Sciences, Medicine); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jurga Laurenčikienė (Karolinska Institute, Sweden, Natural Sciences, Biology); Prof. Dr. Donatas Žvingila (Vilnius University, Natural Sciences, Biology).
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is rapidly increasing worldwide and has reached pandemic levels in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized DM as one of the leading causes of disability and mortality, including it in the list of priority non-communicable diseases. This inclusion aims to reduce the prevalence of DM and its complications through science-based recommendations.
However, DM is a highly heterogeneous and complex disease, and its pathogenesis, along with that of diabetic complications, remains incompletely understood. There is a lack of data—or conflicting evidence—regarding the impact of oxidative stress on the body, DNA damage, epigenetic changes, the specifics of developing diabetic complications, and the differences between DM types. The treatment of microvascular diabetic complications, especially diabetic polyneuropathy, has also shown limited success.
In this scientific study, DM patients were examined using various instrumental methods to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, and these methods were compared among themselves and across different types of DM. Cytogenetic analyses (chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and micronuclei), epigenetic studies (microRNAs), and oxidative plasma markers were conducted on DM patients and a control group. The results were correlated with clinical data. Additionally, the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (an antioxidant used in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy) on the cytogenetic and oxidative markers of patients were evaluated.
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