Biomarkers:

- Parasitic Infection Pathogenic and potentially pathogenic parasites i.e., Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, all others)

- Pathogenic Bacteria (Clostridium difficile toxin, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter spp., Shiga toxin E. coli)

- PP Bacteria/Yeast (Known Pathogen i.e., Salmonella, Aeromonas, all others)

- Total Abundance: The total commensal abundance is a sum-total of the reported commensal bacteria compared to a healthy cohort. Low levels of commensal bacteria are often observed after antimicrobial therapy, or in diets lacking fiber and/or prebiotic-rich foods and may indicate the need for microbiome support. Conversely, higher total commensal abundance may indicate potential bacteria overgrowth or probiotic supplementation.

Infection Score:

This is where common infectious microorganisms are reported and includes pathogenic bacteria and intestinal parasites.

Therapeutic Support Options: 

Therapeutic support options are static to serve as potential treatment ideas. Clinician discretion is advised when selecting appropriate therapeutics for individual patients.

- Antibiotics (if warranted)

- Antimicrobial Herbal Therapy

- Antiparasitic Herbal Therapy (if warranted)

- Saccharomyces boulardii

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ or IFNG) is a critical cytokine in the immune system, essential for both innate and adaptive immunity. It is the only member of the type II interferon family and is primarily produced by natural killer (NK) cells, T helper 1 (Th1) cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Biomarkers:

- Calprotectin is a marker of neutrophil-driven inflammation. Produced in abundance at sites of inflammation, this biomarker has been proven clinically useful in differentiating between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). [1,2]

- Eosinophil Protein X is a marker of eosinophil-driven inflammation and allergic response.

- Fecal Secretory IgA is a marker of gut secretory immunity and barrier function.

- Fecal Occult Blood Test detects hidden blood; fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) has been recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology as the preferred noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening/detection.

Score explanation:

The functional imbalance scores are generated using weighted algorithms that incorporate biomarkers belonging to each functional category. 

0 to 2: This represents a low need for support.

2 to 3: This represents an optional need for support.

4 to 6: This represents moderate need for support.

7 to 10: This represents high need for support.

Therapeutic Support Options: 

Therapeutic support options are static to serve as potential treatment ideas. Clinician discretion is advised when selecting appropriate therapeutics for individual patients.

- Elimination Diet/ Food Sensitivity Testing

- Mucosa Support: Slippery Elm, Althea, Aloe, DGL, etc.

- Zinc Carnosine

- L-Glutamine

- Quercetin

- Turmeric

- Omega-3's

The Inflammation-Associated Dysbiosis (IAD) score serves as a crucial metric for evaluating the interplay between gut inflammation and microbiota composition. This score holds significance as it illuminates how inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract impacts the delicate balance between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria.

Derived from a pattern-based algorithm, the Inflammation-Associated Dysbiosis score categorizes patients based on their scores, revealing a negative correlation between mean IAD score and commensal bacteria abundance, alongside positive associations with fecal calprotectin, EPX, and sIgA levels. Validation studies, encompassing Genova’s database of IBD patients and an independent UCLA study with IBD cohorts, underscore its reliability.

The causal relationship between inflammation-associated dysbiosis and inflammation remains uncertain. A low IAD score coupled with elevated inflammatory markers suggests that the gut microbiome might not be a contributing factor to the inflammatory condition, warranting exploration of alternative etiologies. Longitudinal investigations are imperative to unravel the implications of a high IAD score in the absence of elevated inflammatory markers. It's plausible that an inflammatory microbiome pattern may precede the onset of elevated inflammatory markers, underscoring the need for further research.

Influenza Type A antibody serum refers to the specific antibodies present in the blood serum that are directed against Influenza virus Type A, a highly variable virus responsible for seasonal flu epidemics and occasional pandemics. These antibodies are part of the body's adaptive immune response, produced by B cells as a defense mechanism following exposure to the virus or vaccination. The presence and concentration of these antibodies can be quantified through serological assays, such as hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays, neutralization tests, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The detection and quantification of Influenza Type A antibodies are crucial for several purposes: epidemiological surveillance, to assess the spread and impact of the virus in populations; vaccine efficacy studies, to evaluate the immune response elicited by flu vaccines; and individual diagnosis, to understand a person's immune status or history of exposure to the virus.

The marker "Influenza Type B Antibody Serum" refers to the presence of specific antibodies in the serum that are produced in response to infection with Influenza Type B virus or following vaccination against this virus. These antibodies are a crucial component of the immune response and serve as indicators of an individual's exposure to the virus or their immunization status. Influenza Type B is one of the three main types of influenza viruses (alongside Types A and C) that infect humans and can cause seasonal epidemics of disease. The presence of these antibodies is detected through serological assays, which are laboratory tests that measure the concentration of antibodies in the blood serum.

Function: An essential nutrient, inositol is found in cell membranes and is needed for proper function of hormones. Inositol, similar to choline, is a component of phospholipids (phosphatidyl inositols). Phosphatidyl inositols function as cell membrane components and as regulators of cell membrane transport by acting as a calcium-mobilizing system (the “PI effect”). Thus, inositol status interacts with a wide variety of hormonal and regulatory events in cells. Lipotropic activity (reduction of blood or tissue lipid levels) of inositol centers around the role of phosphatidyl inositol in lipoproteins. Since inositol is widely available from dietary sources, endogenous synthesis and gut microfloral synthesis, inositol is not classified as a vitamin. Nevertheless, inositol has been considered as a component of the B vitamin complex.

The presence of antibodies to Instant Coffee is an indication of food immune reactivity. The offending food and its known cross-reactive foods should be eliminated from the diet. Adverse reactions to Coffee plant, inhaled grounds and consumed food products have been reported.

Insulin is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body, and its primary function is to facilitate the absorption of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body (muscular and fat), as well as the liver. 

--------------------

When insulin enters your bloodstream, it helps cells throughout your body to absorb glucose.

Insulin allows your body to:

- Use glucose from the food that you eat for energy; and

- Store glucose for future use.

Associated with:

- Insulinoma

- Type 1 Diabetes

- Unexplained Hypoglycemia

- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults

The anti-insulin antibody test checks to see if your body has produced antibodies against insulin.

Antibodies are proteins the body produces to protect itself when it detects anything "foreign," such as a virus or transplanted organ.

A score below 33 is optimal. The insulin resistance score correlates with steady state glucose levels achieved during an insulin suppression test, a standard research test for insulin resistance. The score is based on insulin and C-peptide results.

The Insulin Resistance Score, a pivotal metric in the realm of metabolic health, serves as a critical tool for assessing the body's sensitivity to insulin and identifying the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.

The marker "Insulin, Free (Bioactive)" refers to a test that measures the level of unbound, bioactive insulin in the blood. This measurement is particularly useful for understanding the concentration of insulin that is actively available in the bloodstream, separate from any insulin that may be bound to antibodies. Patients with diabetes, especially those who are being treated with insulin injections, may develop antibodies to insulin. These antibodies can bind to injected insulin, making it difficult to accurately assess how much insulin is freely available to act on cells and regulate blood sugar levels. The "Insulin, Free (Bioactive)" test helps in interpreting blood sugar levels and their relationship to insulin injections in such insulin-treated patients by measuring the portion of insulin that is not bound to antibodies and is free to act on cells. This information can be crucial for managing diabetes effectively, as it provides a clearer picture of the patient's insulin dynamics and how well their treatment regimen is working.

Insulin, Intact, LC/MS/MS is an advanced and precise laboratory test utilized to measure intact insulin levels in the blood, employing the state-of-the-art Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) technology. This test stands out for its exceptional accuracy and specificity, making it a crucial tool in diagnosing and managing various disorders related to insulin production and regulation, including diabetes mellitus, insulinoma (a rare tumor of the pancreas that produces insulin), and other metabolic conditions.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone that is similar in structure to insulin and works with Growth Hormone to reproduce and regenerate cells.

Growth Hormone, made by the pituitary gland, stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1 and IGF-1 subsequently stimulates growth in cells throughout the body, leading to growth and development (as in the womb and through adolescence), strengthening of tissues (improving bone density, building muscle), and healing (skin, bones, gut lining, etc.), depending on what the body needs. 

IFN-γ is a helper T-cell 1 (Th1)-derived cytokine and plays a critical role for both innate and adaptive immunity against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and tumor control.

Interleukin-1-beta, one form of interleukin-1, is made mainly by one type of white blood cell, the macrophage, and helps another type of white blood cell, the lymphocyte, fight infections. It also helps leukocytes pass through blood vessel walls to sites of infection and causes fever by affecting areas of the brain that control body temperature. The other form of interleukin-1, interleukin-1-alpha, acts the same as interleukin-1-beta.