Vilnius Santaros Klinikos Biobank

?? Liquid nitrogen is incredibly cold—around -200°C! For comparison, the world's coldest recorded temperature of -89.2°C was measured on July 21, 1983, at the high-altitude Vostok weather station in Antarctica. ?? Biobanks use liquid nitrogen to rapidly freeze samples for long-term storage. But did you know that: ?? Chefs use liquid nitrogen for “flash freezing.” It helps create unique textures in dishes like instant ice cream, frozen cocktails, and other frozen desserts. ?? Safety first! Handling liquid nitrogen requires protective gloves and goggles and should be done in well-ventilated areas. Direct skin contact must be avoided, as it can cause severe cold burns. ??? Liquid nitrogen has an extremely low boiling point, so when you drop something into it, it immediately begins to boil and evaporate into nitrogen gas, creating a visible cloud of mist or 'smoke.' Check out our video showcasing the flash freezing method, and pay close attention to how the liquid bubbles around the sample.

Did you know there are different types of biobanks???? You might already know that?biobanks?store biological samples like blood plasma, serum, cells, and organ tissues. But did you know that?not all biobanks are the same? They specialize in different areas, each playing a vital role in advancing science, medicine, and conservation. Here are a few types: ???1. Disease Biobanks?– Collect samples from individuals with specific diseases to drive medical research and the development of new treatments. ?????2. Population Biobanks?– Store genetic data and biological samples from large groups, often linked to demographic and health records to study traits, diseases, and genetic risks. ???3. Plant Biobanks?– Preserve plant genetic material (seeds, tissues, or DNA) to protect biodiversity and support agricultural, ecological, and scientific research. ???4. Animal Biobanks?– Safeguard genetic material from animals (DNA, sperm, eggs, and tissues) to support conservation efforts, breeding programs, and veterinary research. ???5. Data Biobanks?– Store and manage biological and medical data, often linked?to biological samples. These databases are essential for genetics, disease studies, and developing new treatments.

???? Happy Restoration of the State of Lithuania Day!????? On this special day, Vilnius Santaros Klinikos Biobank?invites you to look back at some of the key milestones in Lithuania’s life sciences history: ?? 1781?– The first independent Faculty of Life Sciences?is established at Vilnius University ?? 1975?– The Institute of Applied Enzymology?is founded ?? 1995?– UAB "Fermentas"?is established and later acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics?in 2010 ?? 2016?– A law defining biobank operations?comes into effect ?? 2018?– Professor Virginijus ?ik?nys?is awarded the prestigious Kavli Prize ?? 2019?– Lithuania becomes a member of EMBL?(European Molecular Biology Laboratory) ?? Lithuanian scientists have the knowledge, experience, and potential to be global leaders!?Our Biobank’s mission?is to help them achieve this faster, easier, and more effectively! ????

?? Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science!??? At Vilnius Santaros Klinikos Biobank, we want to celebrate and congratulate every incredible woman?who contributes to scientific progress—whether as a researcher, doctor, technician, or patient donating samples for future breakthroughs. ?????? Science thrives on diversity, dedication, and collaboration, and women play an essential role in shaping the future of research and medicine. Your work, courage, and contributions make a difference every single day! ?? Thank you for being part of this journey toward discovery and innovation. Let’s continue breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of women in science! ???

?? February 10th is International Epilepsy Day. Epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable brain disease that affects around 50 million people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent seizures—brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve either a specific part of the body (partial seizures) or the entire body (generalized seizures). At the Vilnius Santaros Klinikos Biobank, we store an epilepsy patient sample collection, which includes: ?? White blood cells ?? Blood plasma ?? Peripheral blood mononuclear cells By preserving these valuable samples, we contribute to ongoing epilepsy research and advancements in treatment.

??? February 4th – World Cancer Day. Cancer is not just a disease. It is a life-changing battle that millions of people face every day. The diagnosis can be frightening not only for the patient but also for their loved ones. However, hope arises from scientific research, and research begins with biobanks – vital repositories that help understand and overcome cancer. The Vilnius Santaros Clinics Biobank supports advanced discoveries by preserving invaluable biological samples and providing them to researchers seeking new diagnostic opportunities, testing new treatments, or studying the mechanisms of cancer development. Each sample is a story, a battle, and a hope for finding a cure. By expanding cancer research, we aim to turn fear into strength and loss into survival. ?? If your biomedical research requires biological samples or data, feel free to reach out.

?? The 'Blue Zones' phenomenon: A cautionary tale about the spread of misinformation? This article in Science Magazine delves into the fascinating (and controversial!) world of 'blue zones' - regions where people are believed to live exceptionally long lives (link in the comments). While the concept initially aimed to uncover the secrets of longevity, it has evolved into a global phenomenon, complete with books, documentaries, and even a company capitalizing on the idea. However, the article raises some critical questions: ?? Is the data behind the 'blue zones' truly reliable? ??How much of this phenomenon is rooted in scientific evidence vs. marketing and popular culture? ?? In an era of misinformation, how can we critically evaluate such claims and distinguish between genuine scientific findings and sensationalized narratives?

Thank you, Daniel Naumovas for your dedication to the Biobank and for inspiring us to take on new challenges! ?? We wish you all the best in your new endeavors, which we are sure you will approach with great enthusiasm!

Previously, we mentioned that we store valuable samples for biomedical research at ultra-low temperatures, typically -80°C or even -150°C ?? Biobanks are responsible for preserving samples for as long as possible to ensure their integrity and usefulness for future research. One of the most common and effective methods for achieving this is freezing. At these extremely low temperatures, biological processes within the samples are significantly slowed down or even halted. This helps to prevent: ?? Cell death and degradation: freezing minimizes the activity of enzymes and other cellular components, preventing them from breaking down the sample. ?? DNA damage: low temperatures help to protect the integrity of genetic material. ?? Contamination: freezing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms that could compromise the sample. It's important to remember, however, that even at these extremely low temperatures, samples are not preserved indefinitely. This is a crucial point to keep in mind when storing your own food in home freezers, as prolonged storage can still lead to some degradation over time. By carefully controlling storage conditions, we can ensure that the valuable sample within our Biobank remain viable for many years to come.

206 kamienini? kraujodaros l?steli? transplantacijos, i? kuri? net 103 alogenin?s - VUL Santaros klinikos rekordas! 2024 metais Hematologijos, onkologijos ir transfuziologijos centre atlikome net 103 alogenines kamienini? kraujodaros l?steli?/kaul? ?iulp? transplantacijas. Tai vienas sud?tingiausi? gydymo būd?, kurio metu transplantuojamos kito ?mogaus (sveiko donoro) kamienin?s kraujodaros l?stel?s, i? kuri? formuojasi sveikos kraujo l?stel?s ir nauja imunin? sistema, kovojanti su kraujo v??iu. Toks metinis alogenini? transplantacij? skai?ius yra did?iausias nuo pat 1999 met?, kai Lietuvoje jos buvo prad?tos. Viena pagrindini? to prie?as?i? - vis ger?jantis ūmi? leukemij? ikitransplantacinis gydymas, donor? prieinamumas bei galimyb? saugiai atlikti transplantacijas vyresniems pacientams. Per metus centre taip pat buvo atliktos 103 autologin?s transplantacijos, kuri? met? naudotos paties paciento kamienin?s kraujodaros l?stel?s, tad i? viso 2024 atlikome 206 kamienini? kraujodaros l?steli?/kaul? ?iulp? transplantacijas - tai taip did?iausias bendras transplantacij? skai?ius per vienerius metus. D?iugu, kad transplantacinis aktyvumas ir toliau nuosekliai auga, o tai leid?ia i?gelb?ti vis daugiau sunkiai sergan?i? pacient?! Labai did?iuojuosi, kad esu ?ios puikios komandos narys, ir kartu gelb?jame gyvybes! Kartu taip pat labai nor??iau paskatinti visus registruotis ? Nacionalin? kaul? ?iulp? donor? registr? https://bukgeras.lt ir tapti superherojumi, kurio l?stel?s gydo kraujo v??? ?? Arturas Slobinas Jucaitien? Renata Rita Kviliute Inga Slepikiene Linas Davainis Valdas Peceliunas Adomas Bukauskas MD Just? Strumskyt? Arturas Jakubauskas Gabriele Buikauskiene Mingaudas Busevi?ius Antanas Griskevicius Ona Jakoniene VUL Santaros klinikos Vilnius Santaros Klinikos Biobank Vilniaus universitetas / Vilnius University Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos Nacionalinis transplantacijos biuras prie SAM