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.

Far-reaching neurons connect amygdala with fear response center to control behavior

Fear is primal. In the wild, it serves as a protective mechanism, allowing animals to avoid predators or other perceived threats. For humans, fear is much more complex. A normal amount keeps us safe from danger. But in extreme cases, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), too much fear can prevent people from living healthy, productive lives.

12 Feb 2014

Cocaine increases ischemic stroke risk in young adults within 24 hours of use

Cocaine greatly increases ischemic stroke risk in young adults within 24 hours of use, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.

12 Feb 2014

International study examines link between infections and ischemic stroke in children

Common infections are associated with a significantly higher chance of stroke in children, but routine vaccinations may help decrease risk, according to preliminary research (abstract 39) presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.

12 Feb 2014

Stroke hospitalization and death rates associated with weather changes

Stroke hospitalization and death rates may rise and fall with changes in environmental temperature and dew point, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2014.

12 Feb 2014

Neuroscientists identify white matter "scaffold" of human brain

For the first time, neuroscientists have systematically identified the white matter "scaffold" of the human brain, the critical communications network that supports brain function.

12 Feb 2014

Chronic stress generates long-term changes in brain that lead to mental problems

University of California, Berkeley, researchers have shown that chronic stress generates long-term changes in the brain that may explain why people suffering chronic stress are prone to mental problems such as anxiety and mood disorders later in life.

12 Feb 2014

Cedars-Sinai receives $1M grant to study molecular changes in brain due to air pollutants

Researchers at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute and Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai will conduct a study to determine if several potentially toxic compounds that exist in polluted air are capable of entering the brain from the bloodstream and causing brain cancer.

12 Feb 2014

Researchers investigate sex differences in brain structure

Reviewing over 20 years of neuroscience research into sex differences in brain structure, a Cambridge University team has conducted the first meta-analysis of the evidence, published this week in the prestigious journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.

12 Feb 2014

Being overweight may cause changes in brain that is crucial to appetite, emotions and memory

Being overweight appears related to reduced levels of a molecule that reflects brain cell health in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory, learning, and emotions, and likely also involved in appetite control, according to a study performed by researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and other institutions.

12 Feb 2014

Study shows dye brilliant blue G may improve recovery from traumatic brain injuries

A close cousin of the dye that makes fabric, M&M's and sports drinks blue may improve recovery from traumatic brain injuries.

12 Feb 2014

Doctors receive €3.5M European Union funding to diagnose, treat balance disorders

GPs and other doctors will be equipped with a new, online information system to help diagnose and treat a range of balance disorders, thanks to €3.5m European Union funding for EMBalance.

12 Feb 2014

EMT program in human cells may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer

A new study led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Peter Zhou shows that targeting Twist, a nuclear protein that is an accelerant of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in human cells, may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer.

12 Feb 2014

Athletic scholarships could lead to long-term health consequences, warns Loyola sports medicine physician

College athletes are putting themselves at risk for health problems that could persist long after they graduate, warns Loyola University Medical Center sports medicine physician Dr. Pietro Tonino.

11 Feb 2014

Tamoxifen drug appears to kill fungus associated with deadly brain infection

The drug tamoxifen appears to kill a fungus associated with a deadly brain infection that afflicts HIV/AIDS patients, according to a University of Rochester study published online today by mBio, the journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

11 Feb 2014

Omeros announces additional positive data from OMS824 Phase 1 program

Omeros Corporation today announced additional positive data from its Phase 1 program for OMS824, the lead compound in Omeros' phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10) program. This clinical trial evaluated the extent to which OMS824 binds to PDE10, an enzyme expressed in the region of the brain that has been linked to a wide range of diseases that affect cognition. In the latest cohort enrolled in this trial, OMS824 achieved a high of approximately 70‑percent engagement at PDE10 without evidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).

11 Feb 2014

Concussions account for 5.8% to 8.6% of injuries in soccer games

Soccer is the most-popular and fastest-growing sport in the world and, like many contact sports, players are at risk of suffering concussions from collisions on the field.

11 Feb 2014

Combination of SYK and FLT3 enzymes promotes progression of acute myelogenous leukemia

Reinforcing the need to look beyond genomic alterations to understand the complexity of cancer, researchers from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center report that a normal enzyme called SYK pairs with FLT3, the most commonly mutated enzyme found in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), to promote progression of the disease.

11 Feb 2014

Body regulates hormone crucial for motivation and stress response, reveals research

New research has revealed a previously unknown mechanism in the body which regulates a hormone that is crucial for motivation, stress responses and control of blood pressure, pain and appetite. The breakthrough could be used to design drugs to help fight health problems connected with these functions in the future.

11 Feb 2014

Scientists identify gene linking thickness of grey matter in brain to intelligence

For the first time, scientists at King's College London have identified a gene linking the thickness of the grey matter in the brain to intelligence. The study is published today in Molecular Psychiatry and may help scientists understand biological mechanisms behind some forms of intellectual impairment.

11 Feb 2014

Pitt’s CMI funds 6 research groups for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development

The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded a total of $82,000 to six research groups through its 2013 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development.

11 Feb 2014

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Far-reaching neurons connect amygdala with fear response center to control behavior

Cocaine increases ischemic stroke risk in young adults within 24 hours of use

International study examines link between infections and ischemic stroke in children

Stroke hospitalization and death rates associated with weather changes

Neuroscientists identify white matter "scaffold" of human brain

Chronic stress generates long-term changes in brain that lead to mental problems

Cedars-Sinai receives $1M grant to study molecular changes in brain due to air pollutants

Researchers investigate sex differences in brain structure

Being overweight may cause changes in brain that is crucial to appetite, emotions and memory

Study shows dye brilliant blue G may improve recovery from traumatic brain injuries

Doctors receive €3.5M European Union funding to diagnose, treat balance disorders

EMT program in human cells may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer

Athletic scholarships could lead to long-term health consequences, warns Loyola sports medicine physician

Tamoxifen drug appears to kill fungus associated with deadly brain infection

Omeros announces additional positive data from OMS824 Phase 1 program

Concussions account for 5.8% to 8.6% of injuries in soccer games

Combination of SYK and FLT3 enzymes promotes progression of acute myelogenous leukemia

Body regulates hormone crucial for motivation and stress response, reveals research

Scientists identify gene linking thickness of grey matter in brain to intelligence

Pitt’s CMI funds 6 research groups for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development

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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