Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

UCI-led consortium receives $8 million from NSF to develop brain-computer interface

The National Science Foundation has awarded $8 million to a consortium led by the University of California, Irvine to develop a brain-computer interface that can restore walking ability and sensation in individuals with spinal cord injury.

13 Sep 2017

Disrupting DNA loops could be potential strategy to reduce tumor proliferation

The discovery of a mechanism by which normal brain cells regulate the expression of the NFIA gene, which is important for both normal brain development and brain tumor growth, might one day help improve therapies to treat brain tumors. The study appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

13 Sep 2017

Research finds serious visual impairment among children with congenital Zika syndrome

Although one of the most serious consequences of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in infants is microcephaly, there is a broad collection of anomalies now known as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Some of the most serious are ophthalmologic, including macular scarring, retinal defects, low visual acuity, strabismus, and nystagmus.

13 Sep 2017

Japanese researchers find new way for increasing effectiveness of drug delivery to brain tumors

For a cancer drug to be successful, it needs to reach the malignant tumor site. Researchers in Japan have now found a way for increasing the effectiveness of drug delivery to certain types of brain tumors, by packing epirubicin, a known antitumor agent, in specially designed polymeric micelles.

13 Sep 2017

Researchers use magnetic brain stimulation to alleviate anxiety

It is possible to unlearn fears. And this works even better when a specific region of the brain has previously been stimulated magnetically. This has been shown by researchers from the Würzburg University Hospital in a new study.

13 Sep 2017

Most Americans consider tackle football to be dangerous for young children, new poll reveals

A majority of Americans believe it is not safe for children to play tackle football before they reach high school, according to results of a UMass Lowell-Washington Post poll released today.

12 Sep 2017

Female cancer survivors have higher risks of poor pregnancy outcomes, study finds

An International Journal of Cancer study found that female survivors of certain types of cancer have higher risks of poor outcomes in pregnancies conceived after diagnosis than women without cancer.

12 Sep 2017

Caltech researchers develop miniature device for use in ‘smart pills’ to diagnose and treat diseases

Researchers at Caltech have developed a prototype miniature medical device that could ultimately be used in "smart pills" to diagnose and treat diseases.

12 Sep 2017

Perineuronal nets play key role in memory processing, research shows

Kristian Lensjø has taken a PhD at the University of Oslo investigating the mechanisms of learning and memory. His work has contributed to the understand if the role of the perineuronal nets.

12 Sep 2017

New method to 'sneak' biological drugs into brain cells offers hope to cure neurological diseases

The treatment of brain diseases is on the verge of a breakthrough. Researchers from Aalborg University are developing a new method that 'smuggles' medicine past the brain's defense systems, giving hope that diseases such as Alzheimer's can one day be cured.

12 Sep 2017

Researchers identify source of spontaneous neuronal bursts in the brains of preterm babies

The source of spontaneous, high-amplitude bursts of activity seen in the brains of preterm babies, which are vital for healthy development, has been identified by a team led by researchers at UCL and King's College London.

12 Sep 2017

If you’re blindsided by health plan changes, learn the root causes — and your rights

How much notice is required if benefits change? Do insurers have to give you a heads up if your plan doesn't meet the minimum coverage standard under the Affordable Care Act? Readers' questions this month are centered around insurance notification requirements.

12 Sep 2017

Researchers discover genetic calendar of brain aging

The program controls how and when brain genes are expressed at different times in a person's life to perform a range of functions, the study found.

12 Sep 2017

UAlberta chemistry professor develops revolutionary neuroscience tools

UAlberta chemistry professor Robert Campbell is developing new ways to see and manipulate the activity of neurons in the brain, which could revolutionize the way we understand the organ that controls most of the activities of the body.

11 Sep 2017

Cocaine users have ‘global impairment’ in brain area linked to impulse and self-control, study finds

Cocaine-addicted individuals say they find the drug much less enjoyable after years of use, but they have great difficulty quitting.

11 Sep 2017

Researchers develop model to explore hard-to-study mutations in human genome

A team of researchers led by a bioinformatician at the University of California San Diego has developed a method to help determine whether certain hard-to-study mutations in the human genome, called short tandem repeats or microsatellites, are likely to be involved in harmful conditions.

11 Sep 2017

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Myriad Genetics working to educate public about hereditary cancer risk assessment

Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, is working to educate the public about hereditary cancer risk assessment and testing during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September.

11 Sep 2017

Most patients treated for atrial fibrillation have sleep apnea, study shows

A study involving cardiac patients at the University Hospital of Umeå shows that over 80 percent of patients treated for atrial fibrillation also have sleep apnea - a condition with pauses in breathing during sleep.

11 Sep 2017

A rare dementia gene runs in the family, but he’s fine — so far

John Janda knows he takes after his mother. At 68, the graying building contractor is sentimental, just as she was. He smiles indulgently as he shows off photos of his 9-month-old grandson; he tears up at the memory of losing his dad in a construction accident more than 40 years ago.

11 Sep 2017

Scientists redefine how emotions should be categorized

Scientists have found that humans experience 27 distinct categories of emotion, thereby challenging the long-held assumption in psychology that humans have just six main categories, namely happiness sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise.

11 Sep 2017

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

UCI-led consortium receives $8 million from NSF to develop brain-computer interface

Disrupting DNA loops could be potential strategy to reduce tumor proliferation

Research finds serious visual impairment among children with congenital Zika syndrome

Japanese researchers find new way for increasing effectiveness of drug delivery to brain tumors

Researchers use magnetic brain stimulation to alleviate anxiety

Most Americans consider tackle football to be dangerous for young children, new poll reveals

Female cancer survivors have higher risks of poor pregnancy outcomes, study finds

Caltech researchers develop miniature device for use in ‘smart pills’ to diagnose and treat diseases

Perineuronal nets play key role in memory processing, research shows

New method to 'sneak' biological drugs into brain cells offers hope to cure neurological diseases

Researchers identify source of spontaneous neuronal bursts in the brains of preterm babies

If you’re blindsided by health plan changes, learn the root causes — and your rights

Researchers discover genetic calendar of brain aging

UAlberta chemistry professor develops revolutionary neuroscience tools

Cocaine users have ‘global impairment’ in brain area linked to impulse and self-control, study finds

Researchers develop model to explore hard-to-study mutations in human genome

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Myriad Genetics working to educate public about hereditary cancer risk assessment

Most patients treated for atrial fibrillation have sleep apnea, study shows

A rare dementia gene runs in the family, but he’s fine — so far

Scientists redefine how emotions should be categorized

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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