Department of Laboratory Technology

Department of Medical Nutrition Therapy

Signet Diagnostic Corporation

January, 2009

The discovery that Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves a heretofore unrecognized form of T-cell (RD

notes: inflammatory marker we know is prominent in inflammatory processes)mediated

inflammatory response has led to evidence that an excess release of proinflammatory

mediators from circulating immunocytes is linked to the IBS symptom subtypes. (They found that

those with Diarrhea predominant IBS had excessive release of these inflammatory compounds over

healthy subjects.) Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions (DTH) to dietary components (foods and

food additives) are implicated in the elevated cytokine levels seen. (Cytokines are another

inflammatory compound, they found these compounds were produced to staple food items in the

gut.) A reliable laboratory method of detecting the source of both DTH and chemotoxic reactions

(those associated with cancer), and an effective medical nutrition therapy program based on that

testing, is becoming widely accepted among trained Practitioners of Medical Nutrition Therapy.

American College of Gastroenterology,

Annual Scientific & Educational Meeting,

Orlando, Florida, November, 2004

Fred H. Williams, M.D.,

Department of Gastroenterology, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center,

St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Diarrhea predominant IBS (D-IBS) is a common condition that is often refractory (not responsive) to

standard therapy. Though some treatments may improve certain symptoms, there is no treatment

that has been shown to result in improvement of global D-IBS symptoms. The Lifestyle Eating and

Performance Mediator Release Test (LEAP MRT) is an in vitro test (in this case using whole blood to

test adverse food reactions) that detects non-IgE mediated food reactions that can trigger D-IBS

symptoms. We report on our early experience with this dietary modification program.

III Children Clinic, University of Bialystok Medical School.

Signet Diagnostic Corporation – USA

In this paper results of an assessment of the diagnostic usefulness of the MRT test in 21 children

between the ages of 2 to 5 years hypersensitive to cow’s milk are discussed. The new feature of

MRT is the possibility of detecting cell reactions to harmful antigens using an in vitro method in

reference to granulocytes, lymphocytes and blood platelets (components of the immune system, can

be involved in inflammation.)  Using the test in question the method yielded the sensitivity

(probability that the MRT will correctly identify the correct symptom-provoking food/chemical) of

94.5 percent. It was also determined that the most frequent reactions were  to alfa lactoalbumin in

85.7 percent, beta-lactoglobuline in 66.7 percent, whey proteins in 57.1  percent and casein in 47.6

percent of the patients (all components of milk.) It was demonstrated that the differentiated cell

types reacted in following fashion: lymphocytes - 38.5%; granulocytes - 47.6%; mixed reactivity

(combination of lymphocytes an platelets) - 14.2%. In the control group consisting of 6 healthy

children, test- negative results were found in 66.6% for the four tested antigens. In two cases MRT

Test identified reactions to the fraction of alfa-globulune as high as 16.6% and beta-globuline as

high as 16.5% respectively. The MRT Test seems to be useful in diagnosing levels of food

hypersensitivity, possibly through detecting reactions of specific cell groups. The MRT Test

demonstrated better diagnostic results then the ALCAT Test.

Mucosal Immune Activation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Gender Dependence & Association with Digestive Symptoms.

American Journal of Gastroenterology,
Volume 104, Number 2, February 2009. 

IBS patients showed a significant 72% increase in mucosal immune cells compared to controls

(<0.001) (Showing that there is inflammation in the gut for these patients.) Further analysis

showed that increased immune cells were present in 50% of the IBS patients. The magnitude of the

immune infiltrate in IBS was significantly lower than that of microscopic colitis or ulcerative colitis

(42% & 124% increases vs. IBS, respectively, P< 0.001). (Those with microscopic or ulcerative

colitis had even higher immune cells releasing inflammation then those with IBS.)

Compared with controls, IBS patients had increased markers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, T-cells & mast

cells (P<0.001). (All types of inflammatory mediators of which there are hundreds.)

ORAL TOLERANCE AND ITS RELATION TO FOOD HYPERSENSITIVITIES

Current reviews of allergy and clinical immunology

(Supported by a grant from GlaxoSmithKline, Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC)

Series editor: Harold S. Nelson, MD

(Oral Tolerance can be lost or gained, when we loose oral tolerance to a food it can become reactive, releasing inflammation and food sensitivities can develop. This article helps explain the relationship between oral tolerance and food sensitivities.) 

 
CRITICAL ROLE OF MAST CELLS IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES AND THE EFFECT OF

ACUTE STRESS.

J Neuroimmunol. 2004 Jan;146(1-2):1-12, Theoharides TC, Cochrane DE.

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts-New England Medical Center,

Boston, MA, USA. theoharis.theoharides@tufts.edu



Abstract (Summary of Article): Mast cells (immune cells that release inflammatory compounds) are

not only necessary for allergic reactions, but recent findings indicate that they are also involved in a

variety of neuroinflammatory diseases, especially those worsened by stress. In these cases, mast

cells appear to be activated through their Fc receptors by immunoglobulins other than IgE, (the

mast cells appear in cases other than in classic food allergy which is referred to as IgE) as well as by

anaphylatoxins, neuropeptides and cytokines (other inflammatory compounds) to secrete mediators

selectively without overt degranulation (release of these inflammatory compounds.) These facts can

help us better understand  a variety of sterile inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis

(MS), migraines, inflammatory arthritis, atopic dermatitis, coronary inflammation, interstitial cystitis

and irritable bowel syndrome, in which mast cells are activated without allergic degranulation

(release of inflammatory compounds also referred to as mediators.)