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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.

HealthSouth reports consolidated net operating revenues of $572.1 million for Q4 2013

HealthSouth Corporation, the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, today reported its results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.

20 Feb 2014

Deficiency in SNX27 explains learning impairment in Down's syndrome

Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have identified the precise role of the protein, SNX27, in the pathway leading to memory and learning impairment.

20 Feb 2014

Medications to lower blood pressure after stroke does not reduce likelihood of death

A major study has found that giving stroke patients medications to lower their blood pressure during the first 48 hours after a stroke does not reduce the likelihood of death or major disability.

20 Feb 2014

Researcher receives Pioneer Award for engineering herpes simplex virus gene delivery systems

Joseph C. Glorioso, III, PhD (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA) devoted much of his research career to developing herpes viruses as efficient vectors for delivering therapeutic genes into cells.

20 Feb 2014

New information on pathogenesis of feeding and swallowing difficulties in kids with autism

Collaborative research out of the George Washington University (GW) reveals new information on the pathogenesis of feeding and swallowing difficulties often found in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and intellectual disability.

20 Feb 2014

Cystinosis Research Foundation granted $2.15M in 2013 to researchers investigating cure for cystinosis

The Cystinosis Research Foundation awarded $2,153,048 in 2013 to researchers investigating better treatments and a cure for cystinosis, a rare metabolic and genetic disease that afflicts about 500 children and young adults in the United States and 2,000 worldwide.

19 Feb 2014

How do people become depressed? An interview with Anna Watters and Professor Lea Williams, University of Sydney

A clinical diagnosis of depression (i.e. major depressive disorder) is currently defined on the basis of reported symptoms.

19 Feb 2014

Omeros doses first patient in second Phase 2 clinical trial of OMS824

Omeros Corporation today announced dosing of the first patient in a second Phase 2 clinical trial of OMS824, the company's phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of schizophrenia, Huntington's disease (HD) and other cognitive disorders. The Phase 2 trial will evaluate the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics and performance on a battery of tests in patients with symptomatic HD.

19 Feb 2014

Exposure to family problems during childhood and early adolescence affects brain development

New research has revealed that exposure to common family problems during childhood and early adolescence affects brain development, which could lead to mental health issues in later life.

19 Feb 2014

Neuropsychological assessment efficiently tracks disease progression in memory clinic patients

Investigators at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, have shown that progression of disease in memory clinic patients can be tracked efficiently with 45 minutes of neuropsychological testing. MRI measures of brain atrophy were shown to be less reliable to pick up changes in the same patients.

19 Feb 2014

Study examines brain activity of alcohol-dependent women

A new Indiana University study that examines the brain activity of alcohol-dependent women compared to women who were not addicted found stark and surprising differences, leading to intriguing questions about brain network functions of addicted women as they make risky decisions about when and what to drink.

19 Feb 2014

Watching video of simple tasks may boost brain's structure, shows study

Watching video of simple tasks before carrying them out may boost the brain's structure, or plasticity, and increase motor skills, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 26 to May 3, 2014. Brain plasticity is the brain's ability to flex and adapt, allowing for better learning.

19 Feb 2014

Researchers find new ways to elucidate creation of toxic oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers studying peptides using the Gordon supercomputer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have found new ways to elucidate the creation of the toxic oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease.

19 Feb 2014

Tel Aviv University researchers win two prestigious melanoma research awards from MRA

Tel Aviv University researchers won two out of three prestigious melanoma research awards granted this year by The Melanoma Research Alliance and The Saban Family Foundation. The Team Science Awards are the centerpiece of the MRA research fund, which seeks to promote transformational melanoma research for swift clinical implementation.

18 Feb 2014

Scientists develop mathematical method for classifying forms of glioblastoma

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have developed a mathematical method for classifying forms of glioblastoma, an aggressive and deadly type of brain cancer, through variations in the way these tumor cells "read" genes. Their system was capable of predicting the subclasses of glioblastoma tumors with 92 percent accuracy. With further testing, this system could enable physicians to accurately predict which forms of therapy would benefit their patients the most.

18 Feb 2014

FDA grants accelerated approval to NORTHERA (droxidopa) for patients with symptomatic NOH

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval of NORTHERA (droxidopa) for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). NORTHERA is the first and only therapy approved by the FDA which demonstrates symptomatic benefit in patients with NOH.

18 Feb 2014

Interhemispheric disconnectivity highlighted in bipolar disorder

Research shows that patients with bipolar I disorder have reduced white matter integrity, including in the corpus callosum, which connects the brain’s hemispheres.

18 Feb 2014

Study shows how immune system reconstitutes itself following immune-depleting therapy

A new study describes the complexity of the new T cell repertoire following immune-depleting therapy to treat multiple sclerosis, improving our understanding of immune tolerance and clinical outcomes.

18 Feb 2014

Perceptual learning can improve vision and on field performance in baseball

With a little practice on a computer or iPad-25 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 2 months-our brains can learn to see better, according to a study of University of California, Riverside baseball players reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on February 17.

18 Feb 2014

New drug patent may help overcome problems associated with MDR-TB

A chemist based at the University of Copenhagen has just taken out a patent for a drug that can make previously multidrug-resistant bacteria once again responsive to antibiotics.

18 Feb 2014

Brain News and Research

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HealthSouth reports consolidated net operating revenues of $572.1 million for Q4 2013

Deficiency in SNX27 explains learning impairment in Down's syndrome

Medications to lower blood pressure after stroke does not reduce likelihood of death

Researcher receives Pioneer Award for engineering herpes simplex virus gene delivery systems

New information on pathogenesis of feeding and swallowing difficulties in kids with autism

Cystinosis Research Foundation granted $2.15M in 2013 to researchers investigating cure for cystinosis

How do people become depressed? An interview with Anna Watters and Professor Lea Williams, University of Sydney

Omeros doses first patient in second Phase 2 clinical trial of OMS824

Exposure to family problems during childhood and early adolescence affects brain development

Neuropsychological assessment efficiently tracks disease progression in memory clinic patients

Study examines brain activity of alcohol-dependent women

Watching video of simple tasks may boost brain's structure, shows study

Researchers find new ways to elucidate creation of toxic oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease

Tel Aviv University researchers win two prestigious melanoma research awards from MRA

Scientists develop mathematical method for classifying forms of glioblastoma

FDA grants accelerated approval to NORTHERA (droxidopa) for patients with symptomatic NOH

Interhemispheric disconnectivity highlighted in bipolar disorder

Study shows how immune system reconstitutes itself following immune-depleting therapy

Perceptual learning can improve vision and on field performance in baseball

New drug patent may help overcome problems associated with MDR-TB

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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