The "Sodium/Creatinine Ratio" marker is an important test used to assess the concentration of sodium in relation to creatinine in urine. This ratio is crucial for determining how well the kidneys are managing sodium and water balance in the body. Sodium, a key electrolyte, helps regulate blood pressure, blood volume, and cellular function, while creatinine, a waste product produced by muscle metabolism, serves as a marker for kidney function. By measuring the amount of sodium per unit of creatinine, this test provides a normalized value that isn't affected by urine concentration, which can vary greatly. This makes the Sodium/Creatinine Ratio a reliable indicator for evaluating kidney health, particularly in diagnosing conditions related to abnormal sodium handling such as dehydration or conditions that cause excessive sodium loss. Understanding this ratio can help healthcare providers manage and diagnose various renal and systemic disorders effectively.

The Sodium/Potassium (Na/K) ratio is a key metric derived from sodium and potassium levels measured on a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). This ratio reflects the balance between these two essential electrolytes in the body, both of which play crucial roles in maintaining cellular function, fluid balance, and overall health.

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.

Solobacterium moorei is an intriguing and less commonly known marker in the analysis of gut microbiota. This bacterium belongs to the Clostridia class and is a Gram-positive, anaerobic species. It has been relatively recently identified and characterized in the context of human gut flora. Solobacterium moorei is noteworthy for its association with oral and gastrointestinal malodor, as it is known to produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) which are often linked to conditions such as halitosis.

Anti-soluble liver antigen antibodies are detected in 10% - 30% of patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), but not in patients with type 2 AIH, primary sclerosing cholangitis or primary biliary cirrhosis.

The presence of antibodies to Sorghum is an indication of food immune reactivity. The offending food and its known cross-reactive foods should be eliminated from the diet. Sorghum flour, although difficult to process, is becoming a popular alternative flour to use in gluten-free baking. A study on the effects of Sorghum in celiac patients showed that the flour was not antigenic. If a recently diagnosed gluten-reactive patient results with high levels of antibodies against Sorghum, it is most likely due to the late introduction of the food to the patient’s diet, rather than a gluten-associated reaction.

The presence of antibodies to Soy is an indication of food immune reactivity. The offending food and its known cross-reactive foods should be eliminated from the diet. Soy allergy/intolerance is becoming more common as more people begin to seek a healthy protein-rich food. Additionally, patients with immediate or delayed immune reactivities should not only avoid ingesting the food, but should also abstain from using topical products that contain Soy.

The presence of salivary antibodies to Soy is an indication of loss of mucosal tolerance and the onset of food immune reactivity. The offending food and its known cross-reactive foods should be eliminated from the diet. Soy allergy/intolerance is becoming more common as more people begin to seek a healthy protein-rich food. Additionally, patients with immediate or delayed sensitivities should not only avoid ingesting the food, but should also abstain from using topical products that contain Soy.

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.

Special Stains Test is a lab test performed on a skin sample (biopsy) to determine the pathology and confirm there is a skin disease present. It may also be used to monitor the effects of treatment of the skin disease.

The speckled pattern in ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) testing is one of the most common and diagnostically significant patterns, characterized by its distinctive, fine or coarse speckled appearance under a fluorescence microscope. This pattern indicates the presence of antibodies targeting various extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs), including but not limited to Smith (Sm) antigen, ribonucleoprotein (RNP), SS-A (Ro), and SS-B (La). The diversity of these antigens means that the speckled pattern is associated with a range of autoimmune disorders, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and systemic sclerosis.

Sperm count is a key biomarker measured in a semen analysis to evaluate male fertility. It refers to the number of sperm present in a milliliter (mL) of semen. A normal sperm count is typically considered to be 15 million or more sperm per milliliter. A higher sperm count increases the chances of fertilization, as more sperm are available to reach and fertilize the egg.

What Does Sperm Count Mean?

- Normal sperm count: A healthy sperm count is important because it increases the likelihood that sperm will reach the egg for fertilization. A count of 15 million sperm per mL or higher is considered normal by the World Health Organization (WHO).

- Low sperm count: If the sperm count is less than 15 million sperm per mL, it is called oligospermia, which may reduce the chances of conceiving naturally. However, even with a lower sperm count, pregnancy is still possible, though it might be more challenging.

- No sperm count: If there is no sperm found in the semen, this condition is called azoospermia, which can be caused by blockages, genetic factors, or issues with sperm production in the testicles.