Volatile substances in the blood include ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and acetone. Acetone is generally elevated in metabolic conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Methanol and isopropanol are highly toxic and result from exogenous ingestion.

The presence of acetone may indicate exposure to acetone; it is also a metabolite of isopropanol and may be detected during ketoacidosis.

At the normal neuromuscular junction, a nerve cell tells a muscle cell to contract by releasing the chemical acetylcholine (ACh). ACh attaches to the ACh receptor — a pore or “channel” in the surface of the muscle cell — twisting it open and allowing an inward flux of electrical current that triggers muscle contraction.

Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies are autoantibodies produced by the immune system that mistakenly target proteins called acetylcholine receptors that are located on muscles that you can consciously or voluntarily control (known as skeletal muscle fibers). This test detects and measures AChR antibodies in the blood.

The AChR Binding Antibodies, Serum test measures the presence of autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in the blood. These antibodies interfere with the normal communication between nerves and muscles and are commonly associated with myasthenia gravis (MG) — a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and fatigue.

This test specifically looks for binding antibodies, the most common type found in people with MG.

What Are AChR Blocking Antibodies?

AChR Blocking Antibodies are a type of autoantibody that interfere with how acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) work at the neuromuscular junction—the place where nerves signal muscles to contract. These antibodies block the receptors, preventing proper nerve-to-muscle communication.

This test measures the blocking antibodies specifically, which are one subset of acetylcholine receptor antibodies commonly involved in myasthenia gravis (MG)—a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in voluntary muscles.

Why Is This Test Important?

AChR Blocking Antibodies are found in a significant number of people with myasthenia gravis, especially those with generalized symptoms affecting the face, limbs, and respiratory muscles. This test helps confirm a diagnosis and can be especially helpful when other types of AChR antibodies (like binding or modulating) are also being evaluated.

What Is the AChR-Modulating Antibody?

The AChR-Modulating Antibody test detects autoantibodies that disrupt communication between nerves and muscles by targeting and altering acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on muscle cells. These antibodies are commonly found in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder.

The term “modulating” refers to the antibody’s ability to change the number or function of acetylcholine receptors, making it harder for muscles to respond to nerve signals, which leads to muscle weakness and fatigue.

Why Is This Test Important?

This test is part of a broader diagnostic panel for myasthenia gravis. While other AChR antibody tests (such as binding or blocking antibodies) show whether antibodies are present, the modulating antibody test specifically shows whether those antibodies are actively interfering with receptor function on the surface of muscle cells.

Acinetobacter is a non-motile, gram-negative bacterium. Acinetobacter may cause infections of the lung, urinary tract, bloodstream or surgical wounds. Due to cross-reactivity with major neurological tissues, Acinetobacter has been shown to play a role in multiple sclerosis.

If the Acinetobacter level is equivocal, it means that the test results are unclear or borderline, not definitively indicating either a positive or negative result for the presence of Acinetobacter. This uncertainty could be due to various factors, such as low levels of antibodies, cross-reactivity with other pathogens, or technical variations in the test.

In this situation, the following steps are generally recommended:

1. Consult with Your Healthcare Provider: Discuss the equivocal result with your doctor, who can interpret the findings in the context of your overall health and symptoms.

2. Repeat the Test: Your doctor may suggest repeating the test after a certain period to see if the results become clearer. Sometimes, immune reactivity levels can change over time.

3. Additional Testing: Further diagnostic tests may be recommended to get a more definitive understanding. This could include blood tests, cultures, or imaging studies.

4. Review Symptoms and History: Your healthcare provider will consider your medical history, any current symptoms, and potential risk factors for Acinetobacter infection. This information can help determine the likelihood of an infection and guide further action.

5. Monitor Health: In the absence of symptoms, your doctor may recommend monitoring your health and watching for any signs of infection. If symptoms develop, prompt medical evaluation will be necessary.

6. Consider Possible Contamination or Technical Issues: Sometimes, an equivocal result may be due to technical issues or contamination. Ensuring the quality and accuracy of the testing process is important.

By taking these steps, you and your healthcare provider can work towards a clearer diagnosis and appropriate management plan.

Acinetobacter junii is rarely a cause of disease in humans. A. junii has mainly been associated with bacteremia in preterm infants and pediatric oncologic patients.

Acinetobacter junii is one of more than 50 different species belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, most of which are nonpathogenic environmental organisms. They may cause opportunistic infections only in people with compromised immune status or with an indwelling device (such as urinary catheters, vascular access devices, endotracheal tubes, tracheostomies, enteral feeding tubes and wound drains), or both.

Acinetobacter species are ubiquitous and can be isolated from many sources including soil, water, sewage, and food. Acinetobacter species can colonize skin, wounds, the oral mucosa, and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

Elevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.

Elevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.

Elevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.

Elevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.

Elevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.

ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone), a pituitary hormone, stimulates cortisol production from the adrenal glands. If ACTH levels are too low or too high, it can indicate that the pituitary or the adrenal glands are diseased.

Actin (Smooth Muscle) Antibody (IgG) - Actin is the major antigen to which smooth muscle antibodies react in autoimmune hepatitis.

F-Actin IGG antibodies are found in 52-85% of patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) or chronic active hepatitis and in 22% of patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC). Anti-Actin antibodies have been reported in 3-18% of sera from normal healthy controls.

Actinobacteria is one of the largest bacterial phyla, comprised of Gram-positive bacteria.