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.

Scientist honored with 2010 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Psychology

A scientist who broadened the understanding of how we experience pain -- and ways we can control and relieve it -- has won the 2010 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Psychology.

2 Dec 2009

Research study on the function of orexin neurons in brain

Japanese research group led by Professor Yasuhiko Minokoshi and Dr. Tetsuya Shiuchi, scientists at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, NIPS, Japan, found that meals stimulated with sweet taste and motivated with its anticipation regularly activates "orexin" in the brain and it stimulates muscle glucose metabolism via the sympathetic nervous system, thereby reducing blood glucose level in mice.

2 Dec 2009

Missouri scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol can inhibit vaccine efficacy

With flu season in full swing and the threat of H1N1 looming, demand for vaccines is at an all-time high. Although those vaccines are expected to be effective, University of Missouri researchers have found further evidence that some over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and Tylenol, that inhibit certain enzymes could impact the effectiveness of vaccines.

1 Dec 2009

Optoacoustics' FOMRI-III optical microphone now available for use in fMRI environments

Optoacoustics has announced availability of the FOMRI-III(TM) dual channel microphone, the most advanced optical microphone available for use in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) environments.

1 Dec 2009

StemCyte concludes exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Academia Sinica

StemCyte, Inc. concluded an exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Academia Sinica, the National Laboratory of Taiwan, for certain proprietary methods and Intellectual Property (IP) related to the treatment of Chronic Stroke with stem cells.

1 Dec 2009

Glutamatergic nerve cells regularly generated in the brain

Until only a few years ago, neurogenesis - the process of nerve cell development - was considered to be impossible in the adult brain. The textbooks asserted that dead nerve cells could not be replaced. Then researchers discovered regions in the forebrain in humans in which new nerve cells can be generated throughout life. These so-called GABAergic cells use gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system.

1 Dec 2009

Study suggests humans naturally process tactile information to perceive speech sounds

Humans use their whole bodies, not just their ears, to understand speech, according to University of British Columbia linguistics research.

1 Dec 2009

MHI performs its first Amptlazer- Cardiac Plug implant

A multidisciplinary team from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), which is affiliated to the Universit- de Montr-al, performed its first catheter implantation of a new prosthesis (Amptlazer- Cardiac Plug) closing the appendage of the left atrium of the heart, which will have the effect of preventing the formation of blood clots and avoiding open-heart surgery.

1 Dec 2009

Brain study may yield better treatment for brain injuries associated with stroke and heart attack

Two University of Illinois at Chicago researchers report in the Dec. 9 issue of NeuroReport (now on-line) that adult naked mole rat brain tissue can withstand extreme hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, for periods exceeding a half-hour -- much longer than brain tissue from other mammals.

1 Dec 2009

Tel Aviv University is defining the leap from unconscious to conscious mind

There is a tiny period of time between the registration of a visual stimulus by the unconscious mind and our conscious recognition of it ― between the time we see an apple and the time we recognize it as an apple. Our minds lag behind our eyes, but by how long? And how does this affect our reactions to the world around us?

1 Dec 2009

DFG approves establishment of new CRCs; research topics range from modern prostheses to political reforms to marine bacteria

The DFG has approved the establishment of 17 new Collaborative Research Centres as of 1 January 2010. This decision was made recently by the relevant Grants Committee in Bonn.

1 Dec 2009

Article on TYSABRI for treating patients with multiple sclerosis published

Best-practice recommendations for the selection and management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who may benefit from, or are receiving treatment with TYSABRI- (natalizumab) were published today in a supplement to the medical journal Multiple Sclerosis.

1 Dec 2009

$2.6M NIH grant for survey of in situ protein-protein interaction networks

Our brain is composed of over one trillion cells called neurons. Each neuron contains millions of proteins. Exactly how individual proteins interact with one another and together form complex signaling networks within neurons has never been examined directly in live animals.

1 Dec 2009

GE Healthcare to investigate the performance of MBIR

GE Healthcare, a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company, announced today a multi-center study to investigate the performance of Model Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) as a method to maintain or improve diagnostic information available to clinicians while dramatically lowering radiation dose in routine CT imaging.

1 Dec 2009

Brain monitors help avoid postop dementia from routine anesthesia over-medication

To date, hospitals have not found a billing code that insurers will reimburse them for the $20 cost of the disposable sensor for your brain monitor for 'going under' for surgery.

1 Dec 2009

University of Navarra Hospital launches clinical trials to assess the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment

The University of Navarra Hospital has launched a series of clinical trials in order to assess the efficacy of an immunotherapy treatment. This approach involves the application of personalised vaccines -produced from healthy and tumour cells from the patient him or herself- and designed to combat glioblastomas, one of the most aggressive and frequent malignant tumours.

1 Dec 2009

New study reveals childhood lead exposure can cause permanent brain injury

A study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate brain function revealed that adults who were exposed to lead as children incur permanent brain injury. The results were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

1 Dec 2009

Neurotoxic heavy metal can slow the progression of Lou Gehrig's disease

New discoveries have been made about how an elevated level of lead, which is a neurotoxic heavy metal, can slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease - findings that could point the way to a new type of therapy.

1 Dec 2009

New research suggests people cannot survive cardiac arrest without oxygen during CPR

People can survive cardiac arrest if they receive only chest compressions during attempts to revive them - as advised by the current American Heart Association guidelines. But they cannot survive without access to oxygen sometime during the resuscitation effort, research suggests.

1 Dec 2009

Americans living in the Southern region may have elevated risk of dying from stroke

The "stroke belt" has a tight hold. People born in the Southern stroke belt have a higher risk of dying from stroke as adults, even if they later move away, compared to people who were born in other parts of the country.

1 Dec 2009

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Scientist honored with 2010 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Psychology

Research study on the function of orexin neurons in brain

Missouri scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol can inhibit vaccine efficacy

Optoacoustics' FOMRI-III optical microphone now available for use in fMRI environments

StemCyte concludes exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Academia Sinica

Glutamatergic nerve cells regularly generated in the brain

Study suggests humans naturally process tactile information to perceive speech sounds

MHI performs its first Amptlazer- Cardiac Plug implant

Brain study may yield better treatment for brain injuries associated with stroke and heart attack

Tel Aviv University is defining the leap from unconscious to conscious mind

DFG approves establishment of new CRCs; research topics range from modern prostheses to political reforms to marine bacteria

Article on TYSABRI for treating patients with multiple sclerosis published

$2.6M NIH grant for survey of in situ protein-protein interaction networks

GE Healthcare to investigate the performance of MBIR

Brain monitors help avoid postop dementia from routine anesthesia over-medication

University of Navarra Hospital launches clinical trials to assess the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment

New study reveals childhood lead exposure can cause permanent brain injury

Neurotoxic heavy metal can slow the progression of Lou Gehrig's disease

New research suggests people cannot survive cardiac arrest without oxygen during CPR

Americans living in the Southern region may have elevated risk of dying from stroke

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