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.

Pre-travel consultation can help international travelers to prepare for trip

International tourism exceeds 1.2 billion persons each year, with more than 20 percent of travelers reporting some type of illness.

31 Aug 2016

SAGA funding initiative aims to advance understanding of potential sex differences in Alzheimer's

The first-ever Alzheimer's Association Sex and Gender in Alzheimer's research grant awards will provide $2.2 million to nine projects to advance understanding of the disproportionate effect of Alzheimer's disease on women.

31 Aug 2016

Alcohol cravings may be initiated in right ventral striatum of the brain

If you really want a drink right now, the source of your craving may be a pea-sized structure deep inside the right side of your brain, according to scientists at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

31 Aug 2016

Scientists discover neural factors that can help identify adolescents at risk for alcohol consumption

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified 34 neural factors that predict adolescent alcohol consumption.

31 Aug 2016

Investigational biomarker surpasses current gold standard test for identifying brain shunt infections

In a study of children with brain shunts at Children's of Alabama, a University of Alabama at Birmingham investigational biomarker outperformed the current "gold standard" test for detecting bacterial infections in the shunts.

30 Aug 2016

The brain remembers missing hands and fingers even decades after amputation, study reveals

Our brains have a detailed picture of our hands and fingers, and that persists even decades after an amputation, Oxford University researchers have found. The finding could have implications for the control of next generation prosthetics.

30 Aug 2016

Novel technology LifeVest can help newborns breathe

LifeVest, a technology being developed at St. Michael's Hospital to help newborns breathe, won the Global Healthcare Innovation Academy's international competition in Calgary.

30 Aug 2016

Surgically implanted neurostimulator system helps alleviate chronic pain

When the damaged nerves in Anthony Newberry's foot healed incorrectly after a workplace accident, it left him feeling "like my foot was exploding for hours at a time," he says.

30 Aug 2016

Study shows how caffeine counteracts age-related cognitive deficits in animals

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports from Nature publishing group, describes the mechanism by which caffeine counteracts age-related cognitive deficits in animals.

30 Aug 2016

Endogenous cannabinoid plays crucial role in activating spermatozoa for fertilization

During fertilization, a sperm must first fuse with the plasma membrane and then penetrate the female egg in order to penetrate it.

30 Aug 2016

New research shows female mosquitoes can pass Zika virus to their offsprings

New research from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston has shown that female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can pass the Zika virus to their eggs and offspring.

30 Aug 2016

Transplantation of placenta-derived MSCs can prevent diabetes-related CLI in rats

In an effort to determine if stem cell therapy can prevent or improve a condition called "diabetic foot" caused by poor blood flow in patients with diabetes, a team of researchers in China has found that transplanting human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into rats modeled with diabetes can affect blood vessel growth, potentially improving blood flow and preventing critical limb ischemia (CLI), a condition that results in diabetic foot and frequently leads to amputation.

30 Aug 2016

Study suggests autologous EPC transfusion may prevent miscarriage in high-risk pregnancies

In a study focusing on the role of self-donated (autologous) bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in placental vascular development, researchers in Japan have discovered that when transplanted into pregnant mice, EPCs can contribute to better blood vessel growth that helps in forming "normalized" placental vascularization, leading, in turn, to reduced recurrent miscarriages by providing a healthier fetal environment during gestation.

30 Aug 2016

Multi-purpose protein may offer clues for successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease

The tidal wave approaches. In the coming decades, Alzheimer's disease is projected to exact a devastating economic and emotional toll on society, with patient numbers in the US alone expected to reach 13.5 million by mid-century at a projected cost of over a trillion dollars.

30 Aug 2016

Novel drug delivery system may offer new hope for patients with rare fatal genetic disorder

Researchers at Oregon State University and other institutions have discovered a type of drug delivery system that may offer new hope for patients with a rare, ultimately fatal genetic disorder - and make what might become a terrible choice a little easier.

30 Aug 2016

Deficiency in important enzyme leads to alcohol dependency

A research group under the leadership of Linköping University Professor Markus Heilig has identified an enzyme whose production is turned off in nerve cells of the frontal lobe when alcohol dependence develops.

30 Aug 2016

Study examines link between PTSD and cognitive impairment in WTC responders without head injury

New research published by the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring confirms the connection between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive impairment - in this case, among those who helped with search, rescue and cleanup efforts following the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks.

30 Aug 2016

New research finds decrease in brain blood flow after stopping exercise in healthy older adults

We all know that we can quickly lose cardiovascular endurance if we stop exercising for a few weeks, but what impact does the cessation of exercise have on our brains? New research led by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers examined cerebral blood flow in healthy, physically fit older adults (ages 50-80 years) before and after a 10-day period during which they stopped all exercise.

29 Aug 2016

Gentle combination of FDA-approved drugs could combat photoreceptor degeneration in mice

In microseconds, every light ray that enters the eye triggers an explosion of coordinated cellular events.

29 Aug 2016

NCATS scientists identify promising compounds effective in inhibiting Zika virus replication

Researchers at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences recently identified compounds that potentially can be used to inhibit Zika virus replication and reduce its ability to kill brain cells.

29 Aug 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Pre-travel consultation can help international travelers to prepare for trip

SAGA funding initiative aims to advance understanding of potential sex differences in Alzheimer's

Alcohol cravings may be initiated in right ventral striatum of the brain

Scientists discover neural factors that can help identify adolescents at risk for alcohol consumption

Investigational biomarker surpasses current gold standard test for identifying brain shunt infections

The brain remembers missing hands and fingers even decades after amputation, study reveals

Novel technology LifeVest can help newborns breathe

Surgically implanted neurostimulator system helps alleviate chronic pain

Study shows how caffeine counteracts age-related cognitive deficits in animals

Endogenous cannabinoid plays crucial role in activating spermatozoa for fertilization

New research shows female mosquitoes can pass Zika virus to their offsprings

Transplantation of placenta-derived MSCs can prevent diabetes-related CLI in rats

Study suggests autologous EPC transfusion may prevent miscarriage in high-risk pregnancies

Multi-purpose protein may offer clues for successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Novel drug delivery system may offer new hope for patients with rare fatal genetic disorder

Deficiency in important enzyme leads to alcohol dependency

Study examines link between PTSD and cognitive impairment in WTC responders without head injury

New research finds decrease in brain blood flow after stopping exercise in healthy older adults

Gentle combination of FDA-approved drugs could combat photoreceptor degeneration in mice

NCATS scientists identify promising compounds effective in inhibiting Zika virus replication

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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