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.

Study finds similar brain anomalies in people with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder

People with anorexia nervosa and with body dysmorphic disorder have similar abnormalities in their brains that affect their ability to process visual information, a new UCLA study reveals.

9 Mar 2015

New study reveals differences in brain structure according to how trusting people are of others

A recent study from the University of Georgia shows differences in brain structure according to how trusting people are of others.

9 Mar 2015

CPRIT awards research and recruitment grants to improve cancer research

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers more than $7.5 million in research grants to improve diagnostic and therapeutic services and research relating to cancers of the brain, breast, throat, and bone, as well as to improve scientific understanding of cancer biology.

9 Mar 2015

Low and high maternal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy may affect infant's IQ

A new study finds that not only low but also high maternal thyroid hormone levels during early pregnancy may significantly lower the infant's IQ later in childhood. The study results, which will be presented Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego, suggest that the common practice of treating pregnant women who have mild thyroid hormone deficiency may pose unexpected risks to the developing baby's brain.

9 Mar 2015

New type of vaccine holds promise for prevention of genital herpes

Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have designed a new type of vaccine that could be the first-ever for preventing genital herpes--one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affecting some 500 million people worldwide.

9 Mar 2015

Naturally occurring melatonin may help us fall asleep

If you walk into your local drug store and ask for a supplement to help you sleep, you might be directed to a bottle labeled "melatonin." The hormone supplement's use as a sleep aid is supported by anecdotal evidence and even some reputable research studies.

9 Mar 2015

Study sheds new light on perception and memory of human brain

The human brain can select relevant objects from a flood of information and edit out what is irrelevant. It also knows which parts belong to a whole.

6 Mar 2015

1 in 3 people in the US could not access a stroke centre within an hour

A new study published today reports that a large proportion of the United States would be unable to access primary a stroke centre within one hour by ambulance. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability and rapid treatment is essential to minimise damage to the brain and reduce the risk of prolonged disability.

6 Mar 2015

Researchers present new findings about 'key players' involved in brain inflammation

Inflammatory processes occur in the brain in conjunction with stroke and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Researchers from Lund University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, in close cooperation with a group led by Professor José L. Venero at the University of Seville, have presented new findings about some of the 'key players' in inflammation.

6 Mar 2015

ULB researchers test therapeutic potential of cortical neurons developed in laboratory

Researchers at the ULB - IRIBHM and ULB Neuroscience Institute - have tested the therapeutic potential of cortical neurons generated at the laboratory, by transplantation in the brains of adult mice.

6 Mar 2015

Oxytocin nasal spray helps healthy men reduce consumption of fatty foods

A synthetic nasal formulation of the hormone oxytocin reduced caloric intake in healthy men, particularly consumption of fatty foods, after a single treatment, a new study finds. The results, to be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego, confirm those of animal studies showing oxytocin reduces food intake.

6 Mar 2015

Wings for Life World Run to fund breakthrough clinical study on spinal cord injury

It all started with a single toe. Even today, Dr. Susan Harkema recalls the words spoken by one of the research participants: "Look Susie, I can move my toe." The patient's name was Rob Summers and he was completely paralyzed from the neck down. After a car accident he was told he would never be able to walk again.

6 Mar 2015

Multimodal approach to distinguish people with autism spectrum disorder

In an ancient Indian parable, a group of blind men touches different parts of a large animal to find what it is. Only when they share the descriptions of an ear, tail, trunk and leg do they know it is an elephant.

6 Mar 2015

Plant molecule helps female mice combat weight gain

A molecule found in some plants can combat weight gain induced by a high-fat diet, but only in female mice, not males. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is thought to mimic the effects of a growth factor induced by exercise.

6 Mar 2015

CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology targets every gene in the genome in animal cancer model

For the first time, CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology has been employed in a whole organism model to systematically target every gene in the genome.

6 Mar 2015

Obesity drug under clinical trials could help treat anxiety

Did you know that our body produces its own marijuana-like compound to protect us against anxiety? A study led by Ottawa researchers, published today in Neuron, reveals a new biological pathway that regulates this system and suggests that a drug currently in clinical trials to treat obesity might also provide an attractive way to combat anxiety disorders.

6 Mar 2015

Possible therapies to address cognitive symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia

By studying specially bred mice with specific developmental and cognitive traits resembling those seen in schizophrenia, UC San Francisco researchers have provided new evidence that abnormal rhythmic activity in particular brain cells contributes to problems with learning, attention, and decision-making in individuals with that disorder.

6 Mar 2015

Better interventions possible for children experiencing acute psychosis with antibodies

Antibodies defend the body against bacterial, viral, and other invaders. But sometimes the body makes antibodies that attack healthy cells. In these cases, autoimmune disorders develop.

6 Mar 2015

New research challenges current theories of ageing

Older brains may be more similar to younger brains than previously thought.

5 Mar 2015

Asterias begins enrollment for AST-OPC1 Phase 1/2a trial to treat complete cervical spinal cord injury

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a leading biotechnology company in the emerging field of regenerative medicine, announced today that Atlanta-based Shepherd Center, one of the nation's top rehabilitation hospitals for spinal cord injury and brain injury, has commenced enrollment for the Phase 1/2a clinical trial of AST-OPC1 (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells) in newly injured patients with sensory and motor complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI).

5 Mar 2015

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study finds similar brain anomalies in people with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder

New study reveals differences in brain structure according to how trusting people are of others

CPRIT awards research and recruitment grants to improve cancer research

Low and high maternal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy may affect infant's IQ

New type of vaccine holds promise for prevention of genital herpes

Naturally occurring melatonin may help us fall asleep

Study sheds new light on perception and memory of human brain

1 in 3 people in the US could not access a stroke centre within an hour

Researchers present new findings about 'key players' involved in brain inflammation

ULB researchers test therapeutic potential of cortical neurons developed in laboratory

Oxytocin nasal spray helps healthy men reduce consumption of fatty foods

Wings for Life World Run to fund breakthrough clinical study on spinal cord injury

Multimodal approach to distinguish people with autism spectrum disorder

Plant molecule helps female mice combat weight gain

CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology targets every gene in the genome in animal cancer model

Obesity drug under clinical trials could help treat anxiety

Possible therapies to address cognitive symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia

Better interventions possible for children experiencing acute psychosis with antibodies

New research challenges current theories of ageing

Asterias begins enrollment for AST-OPC1 Phase 1/2a trial to treat complete cervical spinal cord injury

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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