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.

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Current research suggests that nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis. The related report by Mittal et al, "Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide controls pathogen load and brain damage by enhancing phagocytosis of Escherichia coli K1 in neonatal meningitis," appears in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

24 Feb 2010

Genocea Biosciences secures licensing to extensive HSV antigen patent estate

Genocea Biosciences, a leading vaccine discovery and development company, today announced that it has licensed an extensive patent estate from the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for 25 pending and issued patents related to herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 antigens. The addition of these patents complements the novel antigens discovered by Genocea’s unique and proprietary antigen discovery technology. The combination of Genocea’s novel intellectual property with the patent estate from the University of Washington provides the Company with a broad compendium of HSV antigen patents.

24 Feb 2010

Sopris and Tufts University to publish reading intervention program for students

Sopris, a business unit of Cambium Learning Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABCD), announced today that the company has signed an agreement with Maryanne Wolf, Ed.D. and Tufts University to publish RAVE-O (Reading through Automaticity, Vocabulary, Engagement, and Orthography), an innovative, intensive, multisensory, small group reading intervention for grades two through four.

24 Feb 2010

Recreational drugs can trigger memory lapse

Have you ever forgotten to post an important letter or let an appointment slip your mind? A new study from UK researchers suggests that for those who regularly use ecstasy or other recreational drugs, this kind of memory lapse is more common.

24 Feb 2010

Enrollment complete in Ocera Therapeutics' ASTUTE Phase 2B trial for mild hepatic encephalopathy

Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the ASTUTE Study (AST-120 Used to Treat Hepatic Encephalopathy) has completed enrollment for its Phase 2B study ahead of schedule, with data expected mid 2010.

24 Feb 2010

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of P-tau231 may be an early diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have found that elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of phosphorylated tau231 (P-tau231), a damaged tau protein found in patients with Alzheimer's disease, may be an early diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease in healthy adults.

23 Feb 2010

Medtronic third-quarter revenues up by 10%

Medtronic, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010, which ended January 29, 2010.

23 Feb 2010

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

Gross sales of Acorda Therapeutics' ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and tablets increase 9.1% to $58.3M in 2009

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

Key mechanism that makes brain cells become tumorous identified

Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth (UK), the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Cornell University in New York, Weil Medical College in New York and the Center for Neural Tumour Research in Los Angeles, have for the first time identified a key mechanism that makes certain cells become tumorous in the brain. The resulting tumours occur most often spontaneously but can also occur in numbers as part of the inherited disease Neurofibromatosis type 2.

23 Feb 2010

Behavioral Neuroscience: Adolescents more susceptible to internal and environmental factors

While the otherworldly behavior of teenagers is well documented, University of Pittsburgh researchers have taken a significant step toward finally unraveling the actual brain activity that can drive adolescents to engage in impulsive, self-indulgent, or self-destructive behavior.

23 Feb 2010

Tel Aviv University unveils new synthetic supplement to stall age-related memory loss

Those who live in industrialized countries have easy access to healthy food and nutritional supplements, but magnesium deficiencies are still common. That's a problem because new research from Tel Aviv University suggests that magnesium, a key nutrient for the functioning of memory, may be even more critical than previously thought for the neurons of children and healthy brain cells in adults.

23 Feb 2010

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that a Phase III study (AVAGAST) did not meet its primary endpoint of showing Avastin® (bevacizumab) plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) or 5-FU and cisplatin chemotherapy extended the lives of people with inoperable or advanced stomach (gastric) cancer, compared to chemotherapy alone.

23 Feb 2010

Older diabetes patients with high stress levels are more likely to experience memory loss

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied more than 900 men and women aged between 60 and 75 with type-2 diabetes, which tends to be common after the age of 40.

23 Feb 2010

Head and neck tumors in close proximity to sensitive areas may lead to brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss

When head and neck tumors - from sinus tumors to acoustic neuromas attached to the hearing and balance nerve at the base of the skull - are located in close proximity to such sensitive areas such as the brain and eyes, they are particularly dangerous due to possible brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss.

23 Feb 2010

Newborn Possibilities program for babies at-risk for neurological injury

For every 1,000 children born in the U.S. today, two to three are at risk for developing cerebral palsy because of injuries to the brain that may have occurred prior to or during birth. There is currently no cure for cerebral palsy, but Newborn Possibilities is a first-of-its-kind program recently launched in Tucson, which may offer new options for newborns at-risk for neurological injury.

23 Feb 2010

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes improve substantially with stroke program

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes have improved significantly at hospitals participating in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, according to a large study in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association.

23 Feb 2010

AAN guideline evaluates drugs’ safety and efficacy for treatment of muscle cramps

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology recommends that the drug quinine, although effective, should be avoided for treatment of routine muscle cramps due to uncommon but serious side effects.

23 Feb 2010

FDA grants Fast Track designation for Curemark's CM-AT autism treatment

Curemark LLC, a drug research and development company focused on the treatment of neurological diseases, announced that its CM-AT autism treatment, now in Phase III clinical trials, has been designated as a Fast Track drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

22 Feb 2010

Neuroscience evidence in courts: A double-edged sword

A lawyer is trying to convince a jury that his client really is crazy. It's usually a tough argument to sell in a court of law. But what if the lawyer has a picture of his client's brain that shows there's something biologically wrong with it? Can that evidence help persuade a jury? Should it even be allowed as evidence?

22 Feb 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Genocea Biosciences secures licensing to extensive HSV antigen patent estate

Sopris and Tufts University to publish reading intervention program for students

Recreational drugs can trigger memory lapse

Enrollment complete in Ocera Therapeutics' ASTUTE Phase 2B trial for mild hepatic encephalopathy

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of P-tau231 may be an early diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

Medtronic third-quarter revenues up by 10%

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

Gross sales of Acorda Therapeutics' ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and tablets increase 9.1% to $58.3M in 2009

Key mechanism that makes brain cells become tumorous identified

Behavioral Neuroscience: Adolescents more susceptible to internal and environmental factors

Tel Aviv University unveils new synthetic supplement to stall age-related memory loss

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Older diabetes patients with high stress levels are more likely to experience memory loss

Head and neck tumors in close proximity to sensitive areas may lead to brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss

Newborn Possibilities program for babies at-risk for neurological injury

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes improve substantially with stroke program

AAN guideline evaluates drugs’ safety and efficacy for treatment of muscle cramps

FDA grants Fast Track designation for Curemark's CM-AT autism treatment

Neuroscience evidence in courts: A double-edged sword

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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