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.

Increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea threatens public health and safety

Public health and safety are threatened by the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea, which now afflicts at least 25 million adults in the U.S., according to the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project. Several new studies highlight the destructive nature of obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic disease that increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and depression.

29 Sep 2014

Civitis Solutions acquires Mass Adult Day Health Alliance

The Mass Adult Day Health Alliance, the largest provider of adult day health programs for elders in Massachusetts, announced today that it has been acquired by Civitis Solutions Inc., a national organization of local health and human services providers that markets its services under the name The MENTOR Network.

29 Sep 2014

Cancer specialist outlines 10 symptoms that should never be ignored

Patients often ask, "Doc, is this something to worry about?" Patients fear the worst yet often choose to ignore potentially deadly warning signs.

29 Sep 2014

Scientists show how individual neurons in the human brain react to morphed faces

An international team of scientists, involving Professor Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, director of the Centre for Systems Neuroscience and Head of Bioengineering at the University of Leicester, has shown how individual neurons in the human brain react to ambiguous morphed faces.

29 Sep 2014

Scientists reveal that human brain can trigger random behavior

Many of the choices we make are informed by experiences we've had in the past. But occasionally we're better off abandoning those lessons and exploring a new situation unfettered by past experiences.

29 Sep 2014

FDA grants multiple Orphan Drug Designations for CytRx's aldoxorubicin

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted multiple Orphan Drug Designations for the Company's lead drug candidate, aldoxorubicin, in three indications: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer.

29 Sep 2014

Researchers create new Cas9 animal model for in vivo genome editing experiments

Researchers from the Broad Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a new mouse model to simplify application of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for in vivo genome editing experiments.

29 Sep 2014

New study exposes negative consequences of sleep deprivation among teens

While American paediatricians warn sleep deprivation can stack the deck against teenagers, a new study from Taylor & Francis reveals youth's irritability and laziness aren't down to attitude problems but lack of sleep.

29 Sep 2014

NIH-funded clinical trial aims to restore vision in people who have lost vision due to IIH

In an NIH-funded clinical trial, led at Saint Louis University by professor of ophthalmology Sophia Chung, M.D., researchers aim to bring sight back to those who have lost vision due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

29 Sep 2014

Understanding how neurons encode information

Nathan Urban, interim provost and the Dr. Frederick A. Schwertz Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences, and Robert Kass, professor of statistics and machine learning, have received a $930,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to apply biological and statistical neuroscience approaches in order to create a better overall understanding of how neurons encode information.

29 Sep 2014

Phase III trial: Rolapitant lessens chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Rolapitant reduces nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy, according to the results of a phase III trial presented for the first time today at the ESMO 2014 Congress in Madrid, Spain.

29 Sep 2014

Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti of Kessler Foundation receives Alumni Achievement in Science award

Nancy (Donofrio) Chiaravalloti, PhD, of Kessler Foundation received the Alumni Achievement in Science award from her alma mater, Muhlenberg College at the Alumni Association luncheon on September 13th.

27 Sep 2014

UCLA research may lead to novel treatment for PH1

Research by UCLA biochemists may lead to a new treatment - or even a cure - for PH1, a rare and potentially deadly genetic kidney disease that afflicts children. Their findings also may provide important insights into treatments for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative diseases.

27 Sep 2014

Virginia Tech participates in NCAA initiative to limit concussions among college athletes, military personnel

Virginia Tech is participating in a new, landmark $30 million national effort sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the U.S. Department of Defense to combat concussions among college athletes and active service military personnel.

26 Sep 2014

Cedars-Sinai to participate in a consortium studying motor neuron disorders

Investigators at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to participate in a consortium taking the study of motor neuron disorders - such as Lou Gehrig's disease and spinal muscular atrophy - to a new, comprehensive perspective.

26 Sep 2014

Virginia Tech participates in national effort to combat concussions

26 Sep 2014

Identification of neurotransmitter imbalance in Tourette Syndrome offers new treatment hope

Recent research, published yesterday, has identified a chemical transmitter in the brain that plays a vital role in Tourette Syndrome. This latest finding presents the potential for developing targeted, and therefore more effective, treatments to suppress the distressing symptoms of Tourette Syndrome.

26 Sep 2014

Anti-inflammatory treatment may prevent heterotopic ossification

An anti-inflammatory treatment, studied in the labs of regenerative medicine specialists and trauma surgeons, may prevent what's become one of the war-defining injuries for today's troops.

26 Sep 2014

Thirteen research projects to explore nondrug approaches to manage pain, other health conditions

Thirteen research projects totaling approximately $21.7 million over 5 years will explore nondrug approaches to managing pain and related health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and sleep issues. The effort seeks to enhance options for the management of pain and associated problems in U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families.

26 Sep 2014

Longer looks: ACOs and job shifts; abortion's racial gap; having a stroke at 33

It is now nearly a year since the roll-out of Obamacare. The launch was a shambles, and Obamacare is a totem for every American who hates big government. Republicans will deride it, yet again, in the mid-term elections. Obamacare is indeed costly and overcomplicated. Yet it is not to blame for America's health mess, and it could just contain the beginnings of a partial solution to it. But that will only happen if politicians treat health care like a patient: first, diagnose the disease, then examine whether Barack Obama's treatment helped, and then ask what will make the patient better (9/20).

26 Sep 2014