Photo by Павел Сорокин via Pexels Recently a US man became the first to receive a pig heart transplant. While this new technology opens many possibilities, it is important to address the pitfalls. Despite numerous safeguards including extensive pathogen screening and protection, the man seems to have acquired a virus from a latent infection in [...]
Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Photo by Josh Willink via Pexels May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. It is a month to share information, stories, and preventative care about a disease that affects so many around the world. Let’s take a moment and look at the big picture of what we know about Lyme disease. Lyme disease was identified in [...]
Amyloid Beta Plaques, Pathogens, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Photo via Pexels by Andrea Piacquadio Amyloid beta plaques are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but they also occur in people who do not develop dementia. What causes the plaques, and what is the difference between people with plaques who develop dementia and those who do not? The answers to these questions are still unclear, but [...]
Autoimmune Disorders and the X Chromosome
Autoimmune disorders are conditions in which the immune system attacks the body. They can be sporadic and only cause complications occasionally, but most people who suffer from them experience symptoms more regularly. These disorders primarily affect women, and more is being understood about how sex, genetics, and hormones impact autoimmune disorders. Photo via Pexels by [...]
Borrelia Diagnostics Update Webinar with Dr. Miller
Galaxy Diagnostics recently hosted a webinar where our CEO, Dr. Amanda Elam, and our Director of Research and Development/Asst. Lab Director, Dr. Jennifer Miller, provided clinicians with an update on our Borrelia test offerings. Dr. Miller discussed current recommendations for use based on the published research. The webinar covered: Borrelia spp.infection prevalence and pathogenesis Utility and [...]
Bell’s Palsy and Lyme Disease
Photo via Pexels by Pavel Danilyuk Worried about finals, Sarah wasn’t sleeping and had become a bit run down. She had noticed a cold sore the week before, but that always occurred around finals. One day, she woke up and her face felt a little numb. The next day, her eye was dry and her [...]