Neurology

Lyme borreliosis is the most common bacterial disease in Europe transmitted by ticks. Depending on the region 5-35% of the ticks are infected. The clinical manifestations are multi-faceted; especially the chronic form with inflammation of the nervous system, the heart muscle and the joints is a therapeutic challenge. Efficient diagnostic tests are therefore essential for appropriate treatment measures.

The following tests are available at Laboratoires Réunis for targeted diagnostics and prevention:

• Serology
• ELIspot (only available in Luxembourg)
• Borrelia detection in ticks (PCR)
• LTT (only available in Luxembourg)

Oxidative stress

Oxygen is vital because it allows the production of energy from organic matter. Paradoxically, oxygen can also be harmful: physiological processes such as cellular respiration or protective mechanisms of the body constantly produce highly reactive oxygen compounds, including free radicals, all highly toxic.

Oxidative stress is defined as a disturbance in the balance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to neutralize them leading to an accumulation of free radicals. Oxidative stress over a long period may promote the development of diseases: cardiovascular diseases, chronic infectious diseases, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases and even cancer. Besides, oxidative stress plays also an important role in aging.

The factors or conditions below may contribute to oxidative stress:

• Heavy physical efforts
• Unbalanced diet
• Consumption of tobacco and alcohol
• Chronic fatigue
• Physical or mental stress
• Chronic and inflammatory diseases
• Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, oral contraception
• Pollution, UV radiation
• Infections

There is a conclusive link between high levels of oxidative stress and a patient’s health.
However, in more than 80% of cases, it is possible to reduce oxidative stress and thus to improve health status, regardless of clinical context or patient’s age.

Targeted laboratory diagnoses are therefore essential for an early diagnosis and treatment of oxidative stress.

Laboratoires Réunis offers, in addition to a wide range of individual analyses, the following laboratory diagnostic profiles for the detection of oxidative stress:

• Oxidative stress-base profile: antioxidative capacity, oxidized LDL and 8-OHdG
• Profile of complete oxidative stress: antioxidant capacity, 8-OHdG, oxidized LDL, SOD, GPX, Se, Zn, Vit A & E, ubiquinone, citrulline, nitrotyrosine,
• Nitrosative stress profile: ubiquinone, nitrotyrosine, nitrophenylacetic acid, citrulline

Actual Biological Age estimation 

Feeling old too soon? Test if your Lifestyle affects your metabolism. 

Epigenetics is a mechanism that allows to adapt gene expression to environmental factors. Your birthday gives a chronological age, some epigenetic biomarkers may give another biological one. This test will help change or reinforce good habits for a younger biological age. 

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used by the nervous system to relay information from one nerve to another. An optimal neurotransmitter balance is necessary to maintain proper health. Imbalances can cause the brain and the body to be over- or under-stimulated, producing neurological or psychological symptoms as anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia or impulsivity.

At Laboratoires Réunis we offer the following neurotransmitters stress profiles:

• Neurotransmitter stress profile basic (serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline)
  
• Neurotransmitter stress profile complete (catecholamines, glutamate, GABA, serotonin, creatinine)
  

These three neurotransmitter catabolites reflect the activity of neurotransmitters involved in cognitive functions and in the control of mood:

• Vanillylmandelic acid
• Homovanillic acid
• 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid

Laboratoires Réunis offers various  targeted examination methods for the detection of histamine intolerance:

• Determination of DAO activity in serum
• Determination of histamine concentration in stool