Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is one of the most common STIs, affecting millions of individuals worldwide annually. Gonorrhea primarily infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in both men and women. It can also affect the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum.

The transmission of gonorrhea typically occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. A significant concern with gonorrhea is its capacity to be asymptomatic, particularly in women. When symptoms are present, they can vary. In men, common symptoms include a burning sensation during urination and a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Women may experience increased vaginal discharge, painful urination, vaginal bleeding between periods, and abdominal or pelvic pain. If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health complications. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can result in infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. In men, gonorrhea can lead to painful inflammation of the ducts in the testicles, which can also result in infertility.

GRAN# (Absolute Granulocyte Count) measures the total number of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) per microliter (uL) of blood. Granulocytes play a critical role in the immune system, helping the body fight infections and inflammation.

What Are Granulocytes?

Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that contain granules filled with enzymes to destroy pathogens. They include:

• Neutrophils (Most Abundant) – Primary defenders against bacterial and fungal infections.
• Eosinophils – Active in allergic reactions and parasitic infections.
• Basophils (Least Abundant) – Involved in allergic responses and inflammation.

Since neutrophils make up the majority of granulocytes, GRAN# is often closely related to the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC).

Gran% (Granulocyte Percentage) represents the proportion of granulocytes—a type of white blood cell (WBC)—relative to the total WBC count in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential test. Granulocytes are a crucial part of the immune system, defending the body against infections and inflammation.

GM-CSF stands for Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor. It is a protein that functions as a growth factor and cytokine in the immune system. GM-CSF is produced by various cells, including immune cells like T cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, as well as some non-immune cells.

Its main role is to stimulate the production and differentiation of a type of white blood cell called granulocytes (including neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) and macrophages from their precursor cells in the bone marrow. These cells play critical roles in the immune response, including defense against infections and regulation of inflammatory processes.

Elevated antibody levels can be clinically significant — while the antibodies themselves don’t destroy anything, they do trigger an inflammatory response that can cause significant destruction of tissue and resulting symptoms. This response is not necessarily dependent on antibody levels. However, an equivocal result may mean you are just beginning to exhibit an immune reaction, so this is an important time to take measures to support the body in damping immune reactivity.

Growth Hormone and Its Functions

What is Growth Hormone? Growth hormone is essential for growth and development in children.

Where is Growth Hormone Produced? Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, a small gland located at the base of the brain behind the bridge of the nose. It is normally released into the blood in pulses throughout the day and night, with peaks mostly occurring during the night. Due to this pulsatile release, a single measurement of GH level in the blood is difficult to interpret and is not usually clinically useful. The value will be higher if the sample is taken during a pulse and lower if taken between pulses.

Normal Range for Growth Hormone Levels:

→ Adult Males: 0.05 to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)

→ Adult Females: 0.05 to 8 ng/mL

→ Children: Varies with age and gender; consult your healthcare provider for the normal range for your child.

Glutamate/ [Serine + Glycine] GSG Index

The GSG index was higher in NAFLD (Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), positively correlating with intrahepatic fat content and liver enzymes.

Weight loss is linked to reduction in the GSG Index and a correlated reduction in homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

The health implications of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) are significant, as GST is crucial for Phase II detoxification of xenobiotics, carcinogens, and oxidative stress products. GSTM1, a specific variant of GST, is primarily located in the liver. The GSTM1 gene can be either present or absent (null). When at least one copy of the gene is present, it is classified as present; when both copies are absent, it is classified as absent. Polymorphisms in Glutathione S-Transferase are linked to a reduced ability to detoxify a wide range of substances, leading to increased oxidative stress and a higher risk of chronic diseases. This decreased detoxification capacity can impair the body's ability to handle environmental toxins, potentially resulting in long-term health consequences.

Gum tragacanth is one of the most widely used natural emulsifiers and thickeners available to the food, drug, and allied industries. The high viscosity imparted to water by the gum makes it useful for preparing aqueous suspensions of insoluble substances. Gum tragacanth has the food additive E number E413. Gum tragacanth is the dried gummy exudation of several species of Astragalus (family Leguminosae).

The Gut Microbiome Index (GMI) is an overall score for gut microbiome health. A score above 30 is considered excellent. It is calculated by assessing four key indicators of your gut microbiome's health and comparing them to those of a typical healthy gut microbiome. The four key indicators include Alpha Diversity (species richness), Beta Diversity (composition), Pathogen Occurrence (population of pathogens) and Resistome Occurrence (population of antibiotic resistance genes).