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Scientific Docs

Calprotectin Test Differentiates IBD from IBS
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Calprotectin Test Differentiates IBD from IBS

 Brochure: Start More GI Patients on the Right Treatment Path Download In an effort to improve patient care, an increasing number of gastroenterologists are using fecal calprotectin levels as a first step in the diagnosis of IBD versus IBS. ALPCO provides a highly accurate test to minimize the number of IBS patients recommended for colonoscopy due to a false positiv...

Improving Food Elimination Diets with IgG Testing
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Improving Food Elimination Diets with IgG Testing

Food sensitivity or food intolerance involves a non-allergic response to a food or food additive. In a recent on-line survey conducted in the U.S., 24% of adults aged 18 to 79 reported a food intolerance. While a food allergy is typically mediated by IgE antibodies, adverse reactions to food observed in patients with functional GI  disorders, such as IBS, may be due to a delayed immunological response involving Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Problem foods and food additives are believed to activate mast cells through the binding of IgG antibodies. Increased intestinal mast cell activation has been demonstrated in cases of IBD and IBS.

Understanding IgE Allergy Test Results
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Understanding IgE Allergy Test Results

Cases of food and environmental allergies have been increasing over the last decade. While conservative estimates suggest IgE-mediated allergy affects 6-8% of children and 2-3% of adults, some estimates are as high as 30%.3, 2 Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include itching, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and constricted breathing. A severe allergic reaction, termed anaphylaxis, ...
Circadian Rhythm and Obesity: The Role of the Body’s Clocks in Metabolic Disorders
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Circadian Rhythm and Obesity: The Role of the Body’s Clocks in Metabolic Disorders

800 million people worldwide struggle with obesity, a disease poised to cost over $1 trillion in medical consequences by 2025. Over 40% of the US population is impacted, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Obesity is a major risk factor in the development of illnesses that lead to diabetes, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and other metabolic disorders. Long-term disrupti...
Diagnostic Testing in GI Health
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Diagnostic Testing in GI Health

  60 to 70 million Americans are affected by gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders each year. The estimated annual U.S. cost associated with GI disorders is over 140 billion dollars.1 Gl diseases and disorders can have a significant impact on quality of life, often contributing to anxiety and depression.2 The ongoing challenge relates to overlapping symptoms and the compl...
5 Reasons to add GI Biomarker Testing
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5 Reasons to Add GI Biomarker Testing to Your Lab’s Menu

Digestive Diseases Affect More than 70 Million Americans Each Year. The estimated annual cost of GI disorders is $135 billion, with patients reporting a higher incidence of depression and absenteeism. Comparatively, approximately 34 million Americans have diabetes.

The Role of IgE and IgG in Allergy Testing
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The Role of IgE and IgG in Allergy Testing

Cases of food and environmental allergies have been increasing over the last decade. While conservative estimates suggest IgE-mediated allergy affects 6-8% of children and 2-3% of adults, some estimates are as high as 30%.3, 2 Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include itching, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and constricted breathing. A severe allergic reaction, termed anaphylaxis, ...
Incretins GIP and GLP-1 in Diabetes and Obesity
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Incretins GIP and GLP-1 in Diabetes and Obesity

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...
Role of Energy Homeostasis in Diabetes
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Understanding the Role of Energy Homeostasis in Diabetes

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...
Molecular Testing for Gastrointestinal Pathogens
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Molecular Testing for Gastrointestinal Pathogens

This flyer offers an overview of the gastrointestinal pathogen PCR / RT-PCR kits available from ALPCO.