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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.

Physicians stimulate patients' medial forebrain bundles to reduce major depression

Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression with amazing results: In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly.

10 Apr 2013

Researchers develop new imaging system for mouse brain studies

Setting a mouse free to roam might alarm most people, but not so for nuclear imaging researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Maryland who have developed a new imaging system for mouse brain studies.

10 Apr 2013

Neurosurgeons remove hypothalamic hamartoma to combat hyperphagia, unhealthy weight gain

Neurosurgeons at the University of Texas-Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (Houston, Texas) report on the success they achieved when they removed a hypothalamic hamartoma from a 10-year-old girl to combat hyperphagia (excessive appetite and compulsive overeating) and consequent unhealthy weight gain.

10 Apr 2013

Lynch syndrome and cancer risk: an interview with Prof. Ellen Kampman, Wageningen University

Lynch syndrome is one of the inherited cancer syndromes characterized by the development of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and other cancers at an early age.

10 Apr 2013

Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation helps develop mathematical model to study evolution of cancer

The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation, a science foundation based in New York City, has helped finance the first mathematical model of how human cancer cells evolve, and more specifically, how they evolve to become immune to inhibitor drug therapy, a popular alternative to chemotherapy.

10 Apr 2013

Researchers develop verification method to detect software bugs in surgical robots

Surgical robots could make some types of surgery safer and more effective, but proving that the software controlling these machines works as intended is problematic. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have demonstrated that methods for reliably detecting software bugs and ultimately verifying software safety can be applied successfully to this breed of robot.

10 Apr 2013

REFRESH study: RP5063 shows promise for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

Reviva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and development company, today announces top-line results from REFRESH, a phase 2 clinical trial of RP5063 for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

10 Apr 2013

Autism spectrum disorder: Earlier diagnosis, better treatment

The age at which a child with autism is diagnosed is related to the particular suite of behavioral symptoms he or she exhibits, new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows.

10 Apr 2013

Elekta's Versa HD system accelerates radiation delivery to new levels

Featuring a revolutionary combination of speed and accuracy, Elekta's new Versa HD system will help clinicians at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Withington, Manchester) maximize the precision of therapeutic beams on the tumor target, while also accelerating radiation delivery to new levels.

From Elekta 10 Apr 2013

Cognoptix provides update on multi-site clinical trial of SAPPHIRE II eye test

Cognoptix announced today that it has reached the halfway point in a multi-site clinical trial of its SAPPHIRE II eye test designed to identify Alzheimer's disease patients via a beta amyloid ("Ab") signature in their eyes.

10 Apr 2013

Multiple genes strongly contribute to risk for schizophrenia

Multiple genes contribute to risk for schizophrenia and appear to function in pathways related to transmission of signals in the brain and immunity, according to an international study led by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy researchers.

10 Apr 2013

Research sheds light on malaria-related parasite's transition from acute to chronic stage

A new discovery about the malaria-related parasite Toxoplasma gondii -- which can threaten babies, AIDS patients, the elderly and others with weakened immune function -- may help solve the mystery of how this single-celled parasite establishes life-long infections in people.

10 Apr 2013

fMRI: A non-invasive tool to map critical areas of brain before surgery

A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a study in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

9 Apr 2013

UCSB researchers examine role played by Rhs proteins in bacterial intercellular competition

There's an epic battle taking place that's not on the national radar: intercellular competition. While it's not an Olympic event, new research from UC Santa Barbara demonstrates that this microscopic rivalry can be just as fierce as humans going for the gold.

9 Apr 2013

Research: ACOT7 enzyme keeps neurons' fat levels under control

We're all fatheads. That is, our brain cells are packed with fat molecules, more of them than almost any other cell type. Still, if the brain cells' fat content gets too high, they'll be in trouble. In a recent study in mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins pinpointed an enzyme that keeps neurons' fat levels under control, and may be implicated in human neurological diseases.

9 Apr 2013

Study: Transcendental meditation reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees

A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families.

9 Apr 2013

Study shows genetics could play a role in exercise motivation

Studies show 97 percent of American adults get less than 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is the minimum recommended amount based on federal guidelines. New research from the University of Missouri suggests certain genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less motivated to exercise and remain active.

9 Apr 2013

Nano-sized EVs play role in cancer growth and survival

The recent discovery of circulating "nano-sized extracellular vesicles" (EVs) carrying proteins and nucleic acids derived from brain tumors may lead to exciting new avenues for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, according to a special article in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

9 Apr 2013

Patients exposed to chest radiation are more likely to die after heart surgery

Patients who have open heart surgery for heart disease caused by radiation cancer treatment are nearly twice as likely to die in the years following their surgery compared to similar patients who did not undergo radiation treatment, according to new research from Cleveland Clinic published today in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

9 Apr 2013

TBI can increase depression, personality impulsivity, PTSD in PNES patients

A new study by a Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly increase the odds of having major depression, personality impulsivity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).

9 Apr 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Physicians stimulate patients' medial forebrain bundles to reduce major depression

Researchers develop new imaging system for mouse brain studies

Neurosurgeons remove hypothalamic hamartoma to combat hyperphagia, unhealthy weight gain

Lynch syndrome and cancer risk: an interview with Prof. Ellen Kampman, Wageningen University

Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation helps develop mathematical model to study evolution of cancer

Researchers develop verification method to detect software bugs in surgical robots

REFRESH study: RP5063 shows promise for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

Autism spectrum disorder: Earlier diagnosis, better treatment

Elekta's Versa HD system accelerates radiation delivery to new levels

Cognoptix provides update on multi-site clinical trial of SAPPHIRE II eye test

Multiple genes strongly contribute to risk for schizophrenia

Research sheds light on malaria-related parasite's transition from acute to chronic stage

fMRI: A non-invasive tool to map critical areas of brain before surgery

UCSB researchers examine role played by Rhs proteins in bacterial intercellular competition

Research: ACOT7 enzyme keeps neurons' fat levels under control

Study: Transcendental meditation reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees

Study shows genetics could play a role in exercise motivation

Nano-sized EVs play role in cancer growth and survival

Patients exposed to chest radiation are more likely to die after heart surgery

TBI can increase depression, personality impulsivity, PTSD in PNES patients

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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