Karen Pendergrass, Standards Team

The Genetic and Epigenetic Theory of Disease posits that genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications, influenced by environment and lifestyle, impact gene function and disease development, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential personalized treatments.

The Microbiome Theory posits that gut balance promotes health, while imbalances (dysbiosis) cause disease, suggesting restoration as treatment.

Müllerianosis theory posits that embryonic Müllerian duct remnants misplace and differentiate, forming endometrial-like tissues in non-uterine locations post-puberty, contributing to conditions like endometriosis.

Lymphovascular Metastasis Theory posits that endometrial cells spread via blood and lymph systems, causing distant endometriosis. Evidence is promising but limited.

Coelomic Metaplasia Theory could help explain the cases of endometriosis in men or in women who are not yet menstruating.

The environmental theory of endometriosis suggests exposure to toxins like dioxins and CBs may contribute to its development by disrupting hormones, modulating the immune system, and promoting inflammation.

Retrograde menstruation theory holds that during menstruation, some endometrial tissue reverses through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity. It implants on pelvic organs, thickens, breaks down, and bleeds cyclically, causing inflammation, pain, and scar tissue, characteristic of endometriosis.

An endometrioma is a type of ovarian cyst filled with old blood, arising from endometrial tissue outside the uterus, typically causing pain and potentially impacting fertility.

Transition metals like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese are crucial for the enzymatic machinery of organisms, but their imbalance can foster pathogenic environments within the gastrointestinal tract.

The Chronic Inflammation Hypothesis suggests that persistent inflammation contributes to the development and progression of various chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.

Bacteria regulate transition metal levels through complex mechanisms to ensure survival and adaptability, influencing both their physiology and the development of antimicrobial strategies.

Definition Molecular mimicry is a biological phenomenon where the molecules (usually proteins or peptides) of one organism mimic the molecular structures of another organism. This mimicry can occur between molecules of different viruses, between viruses and the host, or between different cellular components within an organism.Fundamental Molecules: At the most basic level, molecular mimicry involves […]

Virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to infect, colonize, and cause disease in host organisms by evading the immune system or damaging host tissues.

Dimethylglyoxime (MG) is a chemical compound known for its ability to selectively chelate Nickel ions (Ni^2+), forming a bright red precipitate. This property has made MG a useful reagent in analytical chemistry for detecting and quantifying nickel. In fighting pathogens with nickel-dependent enzymes, such as those possessing urease or hydrogenase essential for their survival and […]

Drug repurposing involves identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, offering a cost-effective and time-efficient pathway to enhance treatment options and address unmet medical needs.

A low-nickel diet (NiD) is a therapeutic dietary intervention that eliminates high-nickel foods, primarily plant-based sources such as legumes, nuts, whole grains, and cocoa, to reduce systemic nickel exposure. It is clinically validated for managing systemic nickel allergy syndrome (NAS) and nickel-induced eczema. Its relevance is well-established in microbiome modulation, with studies demonstrating clinical benefits in conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ERD.

Microbiome signatures are reproducible ecological and functional patterns—encompassing traits, interactions, and metabolic functions—that reflect microbial adaptation to specific host or environmental states. Beyond taxonomy, they capture conserved features like metal metabolism or immune modulation, enabling systems-level diagnosis and intervention in health and disease.

Your microbiome is the collection of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that live on and in your body. It is unique to you and can be influenced by various factors, including your diet, environment, and genetics. Determining your own unique Microbiome Signature can be performed by undergoing microbiome testing. This can be done […]

Photobiomodulation (BM), formerly known as Level Laser Therapy (LLT), is a non-invasive therapeutic technique involving the application of light, typically in the red to near-infrared (IR) spectrum, to promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation and pain, and provide various other therapeutic effects. This technique has gained significant attention in clinical and research settings due to its […]

This study explores oral, vaginal, and stool microbial signatures in patients with endometriosis, highlighting their potential as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. Findings suggest distinct microbial shifts in these sites, offering a promising avenue for early detection and targeted intervention in endometriosis management.

This study explores gut microbiome signatures across BS subtypes, highlighting distinct microbial and metabolic shifts. Findings reveal subtype-specific dysbiosis, with implications for personalized dietary interventions and microbiome-targeted therapies for BS-D, BS-C, and BS-U patients.

This study explores multi-omics profiles of the intestinal microbiome in BS subtypes, revealing distinct microbial and metabolic signatures. Findings highlight potential for microbiome-based diagnostics and targeted dietary interventions in BS-D, BS-C, and BS-M, enhancing personalized therapeutic strategies.

This study explores the alteration of the gut microbiota in BS patients, revealing distinct microbial shifts linked to BS subtypes. Findings highlight potential for microbiome-based therapies and personalized intervention strategies to alleviate symptoms and restore gut health in BS-D, BS-C, and BS-M patients.

This study identifies disrupted brain-gut-microbiome interactions in BS patients, revealing altered brain network dynamics and microbial shifts linked to symptom severity and cognitive dysfunction. These findings highlight the potential for targeted therapies addressing both brain connectivity and gut microbiota to improve BS management.

This study examines the association between endometriosis and gut microbiota, highlighting significant differences in microbial diversity and composition. Women with endometriosis showed altered gut microbial profiles compared to healthy controls, with specific bacterial shifts linked to gastrointestinal symptoms and hormonal therapy. These findings suggest microbiota-targeted therapies may benefit endometriosis management.

This study explores the gut microbiota imbalance and its correlations with hormone and inflammatory factors in stage 3/4 endometriosis. Key findings reveal distinct microbial shifts linked to hormonal dysregulation and inflammation, offering insights into disease mechanisms and potential microbiome-targeted therapeutic approaches.

This study explores the altered gut microbiota in BS and its association with caffeine and dietary fiber. Findings indicate that high caffeine intake is linked to increased microbial diversity and altered gut microbiome composition in BS patients, offering insights into dietary strategies for symptom modulation.

This study reveals that gut microbiota in BS-D patients is characterized by reduced Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria, alongside elevated Proteobacteria. Functional predictions indicate disrupted metabolism and increased inflammatory pathways, suggesting microbiome-targeted interventions may benefit BS-D symptom management.

This study identifies site-specific microbial patterns in BS-D patients, highlighting Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Oscillospira in the rectal mucosa as biomarkers. Findings suggest that rectal mucosa sampling may enhance diagnostic accuracy, paving the way for personalized microbiome-based treatments for BS-D.

This study identifies the vaginal microbiome as a predictor of endometriosis severity, highlighting microbial shifts that correlate with rASRM staging. Anaerococcus emerged as a key biomarker for advanced disease stages, while ST V dominance during menstruation suggests inflammatory shifts. Findings support the potential of non-invasive microbiome-based diagnosis for endometriosis.

This study reveals a distinct microbiome profile in deep endometriosis, with unique bacterial communities in lesion sites, suggesting a role in inflammation and disease progression. Potentially pathogenic genera like Pseudomonas and Alishewanella were abundant, highlighting their possible involvement in endometriotic lesion maintenance and inflammatory responses.

This study maps the microbiota composition along the reproductive tract in endometriosis patients, revealing microbial dysbiosis, reduced Lactobacillus, and increased Pseudomonas and Sphingobium in upper reproductive sites. These findings suggest potential microbial contributions to inflammation, lesion persistence, and new biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis.

This study identifies gut microbiota and metabolomic shifts in endometriosis, with altered bile acid biosynthesis and LA metabolism. Elevated DCA and DCA levels, coupled with microbial changes, suggest potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for managing inflammation in endometriosis.