800 million people worldwide struggle with obesity, a disease which will cost over $1 trillion in medical consequences by 2025.  The CDC reports that severe obesity leads to life-altering and often life-threatening conditions like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. What is the “Incretin Effect”? To help understand the mechanisms behind obesity and to develop trea...

Introduction The prevalence of diabetes and obesity has been on the rise for several decades and research has demonstrated that other parts of the body, including the cardiovascular system and kidneys, can be affected by diabetes. The key to understanding the relationship between diabetes and these other areas begins with the role of energy homeostasis in diabetes. At the same time, investig...

Pancreatic Elastase (PE) Testing for Determination of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) Advantages of ALPCO PE Testing for Determination of EPI • No interference from PERT • Single sample collection without dietary restriction • Detection of both CELA3A and CELA3B isoforms • Compatibility with current clinical cut-offs • FDA Class I Device. For In Vitro Diagnostic Use. • Accura...

This handout briefly describes the role of several important hormones measured in research.

ALPCO is pleased to announce the availability of two new immunoassays, the Intact Proinsulin ELISA and the Total Proinsulin ELISA.  Proinsulin is a precursor molecule produced by pancreatic ß-cells, primarily in response to glucose, that is cleaved equally into insulin and c-peptide. Elevated levels of proinsulin are associated with insulinomas and insulin resistance while proinsulin to ins...

Melatonin is an endogenously expressed hormone present in a wide spectrum of organisms from bacteria to humans.  Primarily secreted by the pineal gland, melatonin enters the circulation via cerebrospinal fluid and plays a key role in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.  Melatonin levels help modulate mood, reproduction, and immune system activities.  The rise and fall of circulating level...

The Diabetes Pandemic According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization, more than 34 million Americans and 422 million people worldwide have diabetes.1,2 90 to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2.1 The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) estimates that more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults (~84 million) have prediabetes...

Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans function as a micro-organ with tightly coordinated hormone signaling between the different cell types. Understanding the network of islet cells is important in the fight against diabetes because of their relationship with glucose homeostasis. Download our research review to learn about: The five types of pancreatic islet cells Pancreatic islet hormone bi...

Today, multiple immunoassay platforms exist, providing scientists and clinicians with the means to measure a variety of biomarkers1,2,3. However, research indicates some immunoassay platforms have limitations that can inhibit progress in the laboratory4,5,6. In an effort to provide researchers with a tool to overcome some of these limitations, ALPCO developed its STELLUX® chemiluminescence immu...

We know that the proper collection and handling of samples is vital for accurately measuring GLP-1. ALPCO is here to help your lab reduce technical errors and improve assay results when running the STELLUX® Chemi Active GLP-1 (7-36) amide ELISA. Watch our video to learn how to properly collect and handle GLP-1 samples for more accurate results. https://youtu.be/j6_YgA2NCO8 Video Trans...