Gene Pathway Analysis In Action – 3×4 DNA Test Review

Over the last few years, I have had at least 10 genetic testing, including this most recent one from 3×4 Genetics. Although this may seem excessive, I have my reasons. My doctorate was as a geneticist, and I completed my PhD in clinical genomics research. Although I am now interested in medical futurism, I still love my field. I am curious about the progress of these tests and would like to be able provide insight for patients around the world about what they can and cannot deliver.

So I didn’t hesitate to take yet another test and see what the pathway analysis 4 Genetics offered.

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What is a path analysis?

“Traditional” DNA tests usually give percentage values of disease risk, such as “You have 34% diabetes chance”. It’s difficult to determine what to do with this number, even if it is accurate. These values would be more telling if they were compared with the Central European Caucasian population. While you may receive quantified results, it is difficult to use them in your health and disease management.

Pathway analysis is a new approach that focuses not on individual genes but the “functions” of those genes. Pathway Analysis (PA), aims to identify relevant groups of related genes. It also seeks to solve the problem of interpret[ing] large, isolated lists of important genes that are not connected to each other.

PA, in plain English, aims to analyze the way our bodies function and identify any problems.

How to perform the DNA test

The 3×4 test was not significantly different from other tests. The company will then receive your sample via a cheek swab. The results will take about a month to analyze the sample in a laboratory.

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You will be asked to complete a questionnaire which provides background information. This includes basic information such as your age, weight, lifestyle questions regarding how much exercise you do, and questions about your general well-being.

The report covers 36 pathways

3×4 Genetics was first to offer an encrypted version of the final report. This is a huge plus. My results were evaluated in 36 pathways. These results are from 6 main categories (and many sub-categories).

Cellular (Methylation. Inflammation. Oxidative stress. Detoxification).
Systems (Mood & behaviour, Collagen and joints, Bone health Glucose insulin, Memory & Brain health, Histamine overdose, Hormone balance).
Cardiovascular health (Vascular health, Cholesterol, Blood clotting, Blood pressure)
Energy (Adipogenesis, Weight gain & weight loss resistance, Exercise response, Pro-inflammatory fat, Energy expenditure, Appetite/Satiety/Intake)
Activity (Power, Injury, Recovery, Training response, Endurance)
Nutritients (Caffeine and Choline, Folate Vitamin B12, Vitamin D Fatty acids, Vitamin C, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D Vitamin D, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D Vitamin D, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin C, Iron overload)

The workings of my 36 pathways were evaluated on a 4-grade scale (low-medium-high-very high), showing how close/far I am from the optimal, with low being the closest to the ideal.

Excellent counselling

A follow-up counseling session is an essential part of any genetic test. I wouldn’t recommend anyone taking a DNA test without professional assistance to analyse the results.

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This was the best counselling session I have ever had. It offered dietary and supplement advice as well as methods to combat my problems. For example, I learned how anxiety can be turned into anxiety by not getting enough rest. Or how histamine could affect my psychological well being.

Some new concepts were learned, and they made sense.

Although the report covered many of the same things that I knew from previous genetic tests, it also provided some new insights.

It revealed that I am “highly resistant to releasing fat from shops”, which is consistent with my extended family being obese. If I hadn’t managed my weight carefully, I would have been overweight. My lifestyle has kept me under 23 throughout my life, and I intend to continue doing so.
This report explained why I was so good at sprint running but terrible at long-distance running: I am at the lower end on the endurance scale. However, I excel in power sports. Also, I learned that I am slow to recover from exercise and require support in many different ways.
“As a slow-metabolizer, I need to limit my caffeine intake. This is another lesson I have learned through experience. I will not be able to sleep if I drink coffee after 3 p.m. You can rest assured that I am not imagining this.
I scored “very high” on the mood&balance scale. This means that I could be very susceptible to imbalances (anxiety and depression) or related behaviours. This makes sense as it explains why I am constantly looking for novelty. Counsellor explained to me how important it was for me to find balance in order to ensure that my adventure-seeking wouldn’t cause anxiety.

Both pros and cons

Overall, I was satisfied with the process and the final results. The company offered great customer support. However, it is difficult to interpret the report properly without the counselling session.

Pros:

Focus on genetic pathways
Excellent counselling session
Strong privacy measures

Cons:

It was difficult to interpret the results without genetic counseling
There is no online dashboard, only a static PDF.

The Medical Futurist published the post Gene Pathway Analysis In Action: 3×4 DNA Test Review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible for a holistic doctor to prescribe prescriptions?

Holistic medicine is based around the assumption that all diseases are caused and exacerbated by a combination many factors. These include diet, lifestyles, stress levels, emotional state, genetics, environmental problems, stress, stress, and other health-related concerns.

A well-rounded approach to treating patients includes considering these variables when prescribing medication.

Physicians must know both modern science and traditional methods, such as homeopathy and herbs, to fully understand the impact of each factor on patients.

Many doctors have been certified in complementary or alternative medicine (C&A). This allows doctors to offer a broad range of services to their patients.

How safe is holistic medicine?

Holistic remedies are safe, as they are not dangerous drugs, but natural remedies for people who have used them for centuries.

Many illnesses have been treated with them, including arthritis, chronic pain and asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes (heart disease), obesity, depression anxiety, stress, insomnia, infertility, and sexual dysfunction.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from various diseases and can also use holistic medicines. They include homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbal treatments, massage therapy, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, nutrition, counseling, physical fitness, exercise, and other complementary therapies. These therapies treat the whole person rather than just treating the symptoms.

What is the opposite of holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine refers to a holistic approach to health care. It considers all aspects and their emotional, spiritual, and environmental dimensions. It recognizes that each illness must have multiple causes, and therefore requires a combination or several treatments to be most effective.

Holistic medicine doctors believe that prevention is more effective than treatment. To help patients achieve optimal health, they work closely with them.

They look for the root causes of disease to prevent them from returning. Holistic physicians look at the whole person and not just the physical organs. They sometimes refer to “the whole body” as the entirety of their being.

They treat the whole body, not just the skin. The doctor may suggest lifestyle and diet changes. The doctor may recommend meditation, yoga, massage, acupuncture or chiropractic treatment.

What’s the difference between holistic medicine versus alternative medicine?

Holistic medicine treats all aspects of the person: mind, body, soul, and spirit. It considers all aspects a person’s wellbeing, including the emotional, spiritual, as well as environmental factors, that are often ignored by traditional medicine. Alternative medicine is used to treat conditions like arthritis, asthma, and allergies.

Statistics

In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)

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How To

What are the main 4 categories of complementary and/or alternative medicine?

There are four major types of CAM: mind-body medicine (natural products), manipulative therapies (energy healing), and manipulative therapies (natural products). Mind-body medicine can include yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. Natural products include herbs vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, and botanicals. Manipulative therapies include physical manipulation such as osteopathic and chiropractic care, acupuncture, therapeutic exercise, and bodywork. Prayer and visualization are some of the techniques used for energy healing.

CAM refers to a variety of health practices that are not in line with Western medical models. The scientific evidence supporting these practices is varied, as are the types of drugs they use and what conditions they treat. Some CAM practitioners can also do diagnostic testing (e.g., blood test) and prescribe medication. Others do both.

These four categories are not the only ones. There are many subcategories within each one. Mind-body medicine includes relaxation techniques, mindfulness training and guided imagery. It also includes self-hypnosis, meditation, qigong and Tai chi. Natural products include nutritional supplements as well botanical medicines, homeopathic treatments, essential oils and herbal preparations. Manual, movement, traction and electrotherapies are all forms of manipulative therapy. They include cupping, stretching and myofascial release. Trigger point therapy, orthotics, neurostimulation, trigger point therapy, manuals, trigger points, trigger point therapy, orthopedics. Spiritual healing includes faith healing and prayer.

Many CAM remedies treat symptoms, but don’t address the cause. Some chronic diseases can be helped by CAM. If used in the right way, CAM can supplement conventional treatment options.

There are many reasons people use CAM.

To improve their overall well-being.
To manage a condition.
To lessen pain and discomfort.
To prevent illness.
To promote wellness.
To address a personal belief.

Because it gives them more control than traditional medicine, some people choose CAM. They may believe it has fewer side effects. Others opt for CAM to avoid prescription medication. Some prefer not taking prescription medications if at all possible. Others seek out CAM after having bad experiences with traditional medicine.

Some people who use CAM say they want to be sure about what they are doing before trying something new. Many CAM users are concerned about the safety and effectiveness. Others rely on the word of mouth among family and friends.

Although CAM is sometimes viewed negatively in society, many users have positive feelings about it. People who use CAM are healthier and happier than those that don’t. This is true regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, income, education level, occupation, insurance status, or other factors.

An overwhelming majority of Americans are familiar with some form of complementary or alternative medicine. Nearly 95% of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine at least once in their lifetime. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), approximately 40 million visits were made to CAM providers in 2010 alone.

The NCCIH estimates that 10% of the U.S. population is treated by chiropractors or massage therapists.

The American Medical Association reiterated its support for integrative medical care in 2013. It stated that doctors should incorporate scientifically validated complementary and alternative medicine into their clinical practice to meet patients’ expectations and needs.

The Institute of Medicine published a landmark study in 2007 titled “Releasing Constraints – Improving Access to Complementary and Alternative Healthcare” which concluded that “there is no credible evidence of any specific CAM intervention being effective in preventing, treating, and curing cancer.”

CAM is still gaining popularity despite this conclusion. The 2008 number of CAM practitioners increased 8 percent compared with 2007.

A recent study revealed that almost half of respondents use CAM as partof their primary healthcare regime.

CAM therapies include natural products, mind-body practices, manipulative techniques, energy healing modalities, exercise, dietary supplements, and other approaches.

Many CAM therapies can be used for pain relief, but many have other benefits such as improved mood, reduced stress and increased immunity.

For example, acupuncture can help relieve chronic back pain, reduce anxiety and depression, improve immune function, promote weight loss and improve menstrual symptoms.

Many CAM treatments draw on Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine. These roots can be traced back thousands of decades.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was first practiced in China over 5,000 year ago.

TCM was only in the mid-1800s that Western science gained prominence. However, it is still an important part of modern health care.

Today, it’s estimated that more than 70 percent of people in the United States rely on TCM for treatment.

Another popular CAM therapy is yoga. Yoga was founded in India approximately 5000 B.C. and is now embraced worldwide.

Yoga has gained popularity due to its physical, mental, as well as spiritual benefits.

Yoga can ease stress, improve flexibility and increase strength.

Although there isn’t much scientific research on yoga, it appears that it has positive effects on sleep33. Yoga may be beneficial for people with insomnia.

Other CAM therapies are also gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine, including meditation, homeopathy, and aromatherapy.

Herbal medicine is one the most commonly used types of CAM.

Herbal medicines include herbs, spices and flowers, seeds, fruits and mushrooms, bark, leaves roots, stems, and bark.

They are often considered safer than prescription drugs and are used widely by consumers.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that about 90 million Americans use some form of complementary/alternative medicine.

According to the American Cancer Society, 45% of adults diagnosed with cancer said they used alternative medicine during their illness.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 60% of cancer patients use CAM. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 50% of cancer survivors have used CAM.

According to a recent study, 51% cancer survivors have used at the very least one type of CAM.

However, only 8.8% of them discussed it with their physicians.

This lack of communication between conventional medical providers and CAM users represents a significant gap in healthcare delivery.

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