Eicosadienoic acid is the elongation product of Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and the direct precursor of Dihomogamma Linolenic (DGLA).

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is a Polyunsaturated Omega-3 Fatty Acid and is involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes and prevention of blood clots.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid with 20 carbons and 5 double bonds (20:5n3).

EPA can either be made from the downstream metabolism of ALA or it can be obtained in the diet. Food sources include oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod, and sardines. In addition to diet and ALA desaturation, EPA is also available as a fish oil supplement. The desaturation of ALA to EPA is not a very efficient process, therefore dietary intake or supplementation is important.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is a Polyunsaturated Omega-3 Fatty Acid and is involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes and prevention of blood clots.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid with 20 carbons and 5 double bonds (20:5n3).

EPA can either be made from the downstream metabolism of ALA or it can be obtained in the diet. Food sources include oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod, and sardines. In addition to diet and ALA desaturation, EPA is also available as a fish oil supplement. The desaturation of ALA to EPA is not a very efficient process, therefore dietary intake or supplementation is important.

Elaidic acid is the most commonly found trans fatty acid found in cell membranes.

Elaidic acid (EA) is an 18-carbon chained fatty acid with one double bond in the trans formation at the 9th carbon (18:1n9t). It is the trans isomer of oleic acid. EA is the principal and most abundant trans fatty acid in the Western diet. It is found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and margarine. There are trace amounts of EA in the meat and dairy products from ruminant animals. EA has been shown to induce oxidative stress and alter mitochondrial signaling. It is quickly incorporated into triglycerides and cholesterol esters. Once incorporated into plasma membranes, it activates nuclear factorkB to induce adhesion molecules and become proinflammatory leading to endothelial dysfunction.

Pancreatic elastase is an enzyme that digests protein. It’s only produced by the pancreas and when it is seen in the stool, it’s an excellent biomarker of how well the pancreas is performing.

Elastase is a pancreatic enzyme that digests and degrades a number of proteins. A finding of low elastase in a formed stool specimen is an indicator of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Moderate pancreatic insufficiency is defined at 100-200 μg/mL, and severe pancreatic insufficiency as <100 μg/mL. Fecal elastase can be artefactually low due to fluid dilution effects in a loose/watery stool sample. Check the
reported consistency of the stool specimen.

Fecal elastase measured by a sensitive immunoassay is a specific marker for pancreatic function and maintains a high diagnostic accuracy among patients with small intestinal diseases. This elastase marker allows for the diagnosis or exclusion of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and degree of severity, which can be caused by chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic tumor, cholelithiasis or diabetes mellitus.

Pancreatic elastase is an enzyme that digests protein. It’s only produced by the pancreas and when it is seen in the stool, it’s an excellent biomarker of how well the pancreas is performing.

The Extractable Nuclear Antigen (ENA) Screen, often referred to as an ENA panel, is a diagnostic blood test designed to detect specific autoantibodies in the bloodstream. These autoantibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that mistakenly target and attack the body's own healthy tissues, rather than foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. Identifying these autoantibodies is crucial for diagnosing certain autoimmune diseases.

The ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigens) to Smith (Sm) antibody test plays a pivotal role in the field of autoimmune diagnostics, particularly in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Smith antibodies are a subset of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), specifically targeting proteins found within the cell nucleus, known as Sm antigens. These antigens are integral to the splicing of pre-mRNA, making them vital for cell function.

In autoimmune conditions like SLE, the body's immune system mistakenly targets its own tissues, with Smith antibodies being one of the markers of this aberrant immune response. The presence of Smith antibodies is considered highly specific for SLE; while they are not found in all patients with SLE, their presence is rarely observed in other diseases. This specificity makes the ENA to Sm antibody test an invaluable tool in the differential diagnosis of SLE, distinguishing it from other autoimmune disorders that may present with similar symptoms.

The ENA-6 Reflexed test is a blood test used to help diagnose autoimmune diseases, particularly those that affect the connective tissues, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, and polymyositis. "ENA" stands for Extractable Nuclear Antigens, which are proteins found inside the nucleus of cells that can become targets of the immune system in autoimmune diseases. The "6" refers to six specific antigens included in this panel: SS-A (Ro), SS-B (La), Sm, RNP, Scl-70, and Jo-1. Each of these antigens is associated with different autoimmune conditions, and identifying antibodies against them can provide valuable clues for diagnosis. For example, antibodies against SS-A and SS-B are often found in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, while antibodies against Sm are highly specific for SLE.

Epidemiology:

- Fecal contamination of food or water

Clinical Implications:

- Considered non-pathogenic; individuals may be asymptomatic

- May be indicative of dysbiosis, conservative treatment may be indicated if clinical presentation is consistent with enteroparasitosis.