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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.

Anti-anxiety medication dampens helping behavior in rats

Rats given midazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, were less likely to free trapped companions because the drug lessened their empathy, according to a new study by University of Chicago neuroscientists.

28 Jun 2016

Study pinpoints how PSEN1 gene mutations can cause early onset Alzheimer's disease

A University of Adelaide analysis of genetic mutations which cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease suggests a new focus for research into the causes of the disease.

27 Jun 2016

HDAC inhibitors may help regulate alcoholism-induced anxiety

Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modifying gene expression - by alcohol, for example - rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. Recent evidence suggests that alcohol can inhibit activity of an enzyme called histone deacetylase (HDAC) in the amygdala, a brain region that is crucial for storing memories and regulating fear, anxiety, and other emotions.

27 Jun 2016

Researchers receive grant to improve quality of donor limb, tissue for transplant

A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine faculty member has received $998,500 from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a new approach to improve the quality and quantity of limbs and tissues obtained from brain dead organ donors.

27 Jun 2016

Textual communication using smartphones can change rhythm of brain waves

Sending text messages on a smartphone can change the rhythm of brain waves, according to a new study published in Epilepsy & Behavior.

27 Jun 2016

Scientists discover link between two genes involved in PD and autoimmune diseases

A study publish in the journal CELL indicates that two genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) are key regulators of the immune system, providing direct evidence linking Parkinson's to autoimmune disease.

27 Jun 2016

Neural features can help predict initiation of adolescent alcohol use

Underage drinking is a major public health and social problem in the U.S. The ability to identify at-risk children before they initiate heavy alcohol use has immense clinical and public health implications.

27 Jun 2016

Vice President Biden to host Cancer Moonshot Summit in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a Cancer Moonshot Summit in Washington, D.C. at the White House. Cheryl Willman, MD, Director and CEO of The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, will attend.

25 Jun 2016

Re-engineering cardiac scarring process could improve clinical outcomes for heart disease patients

Literal heartbreak, from illness or injury, triggers the body's natural healing mechanisms.

25 Jun 2016

Novel combination therapy may help provide clinically successful treatment for AD

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemical produced in several plants, especially grapes skin and seeds. One epidemiological study reported a positive association between moderate red wine consumption and a low incidence of cardiovascular disease, known as the "French Paradox."

25 Jun 2016

Stent retriever devices revolutionize acute ischemic stroke care

New devices called stent retrievers, which effectively reverse strokes, have revolutionized the treatment of certain stroke patients, according to an article in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

25 Jun 2016

Mutant fruit flies provide insight into origins of Parkinson's disease

The neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson’s disease is a result of stress on the endoplasmic reticulum in the cell rather than failure of the mitochondria as previously thought, according to a study in fruit flies.

24 Jun 2016

Neurofibromatosis causes benign tumor formation in normal nervous tissue

Although neurofibromatosis (NF) is not commonly discussed, it affects more than 2 million people worldwide.

24 Jun 2016

Gamma-ray irradiation improves safety of stem cell transplantation in Parkinson’s disease patients

Replacing dopamine-producing cells in the brain represents a promising therapeutic approach in Parkinson's disease, and a new study shows how post-transplantation gamma-ray irradiation can reduce the risk of tumor formation.

24 Jun 2016

Positive environment can reverse trauma-related behavioral alterations in mice

Traumatic experiences in childhood increase the risk of developing behavioral and psychiatric disorders later in life. It is also known that the consequences of a trauma can likewise be observed in the children of people affected even if those children have themselves not experienced any trauma.

24 Jun 2016

Scientists isolate antibodies capable of neutralizing dengue and Zika virus

Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS, in collaboration with Imperial College London and the University of Vienna, Austria, have identified antibodies that can efficiently neutralize both the dengue virus and the Zika virus.

24 Jun 2016

SLU to conduct human clinical trial of vaccine to protect people from Zika virus

Saint Louis University's vaccine center has been tapped by the National Institutes of Health to conduct a human clinical trial of a vaccine to prevent the Zika virus, which can cause devastating birth defects in babies.

24 Jun 2016

Yale-led study shows how EGFR silences tumor suppressor genes

A Yale-led study describes how a known cancer gene, EGFR, silences genes that typically suppress tumors. The finding, published in Cell Reports, may lead to the development of more effective, individualized treatment for patients with lung cancer and other cancer types.

24 Jun 2016

Study reveals surprising diversity in single neuronal transcriptomes of the brain

A team of scientists at The Scripps Research Institute, University of California, San Diego and Illumina, Inc., has completed the first large-scale assessment of single neuronal "transcriptomes."

24 Jun 2016

IU researchers identify suite of genes that play role in nerve sensitivity

Indiana University researchers have that found a suite of genes in both fruit flies and humans -- including one dubbed "smoke alarm" -- plays a role in nerve sensitivity. The study could help lead to new drug targets in pain management.

24 Jun 2016

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Anti-anxiety medication dampens helping behavior in rats

Study pinpoints how PSEN1 gene mutations can cause early onset Alzheimer's disease

HDAC inhibitors may help regulate alcoholism-induced anxiety

Researchers receive grant to improve quality of donor limb, tissue for transplant

Textual communication using smartphones can change rhythm of brain waves

Scientists discover link between two genes involved in PD and autoimmune diseases

Neural features can help predict initiation of adolescent alcohol use

Vice President Biden to host Cancer Moonshot Summit in Washington, D.C.

Re-engineering cardiac scarring process could improve clinical outcomes for heart disease patients

Novel combination therapy may help provide clinically successful treatment for AD

Stent retriever devices revolutionize acute ischemic stroke care

Mutant fruit flies provide insight into origins of Parkinson's disease

Neurofibromatosis causes benign tumor formation in normal nervous tissue

Gamma-ray irradiation improves safety of stem cell transplantation in Parkinson’s disease patients

Positive environment can reverse trauma-related behavioral alterations in mice

Scientists isolate antibodies capable of neutralizing dengue and Zika virus

SLU to conduct human clinical trial of vaccine to protect people from Zika virus

Yale-led study shows how EGFR silences tumor suppressor genes

Study reveals surprising diversity in single neuronal transcriptomes of the brain

IU researchers identify suite of genes that play role in nerve sensitivity

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st 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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