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.

New neuroimaging techniques yield new insights on Alzheimer's disease

Brain imaging can offer a window into risk for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A study conducted at the University of Kansas School of Medicine demonstrated that genetic risk is expressed in the brains of even those who are healthy, but carry some risk for AD. The results of this study are published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

18 Nov 2009

Smokers face increase risk of seizures; caffeine or alcohol does not increase seizure activity

A recent study determined there is a significant risk of seizure for individuals who currently smoke cigarettes. Boston-based researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School also found that long-term, moderate intake of caffeine or alcohol does not increase the chance of having a seizure or developing epilepsy.

18 Nov 2009

Phase 2 clinical trial to test gene therapy treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of 12 sites nationwide participating in the first Phase 2 clinical trial to test gene therapy treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The study is the first multicenter neurosurgical intervention in Alzheimer's research in the U.S.

18 Nov 2009

Maternal blood biomarkers may help predict pregnancy-induced hypertension

A new study that examines the value of maternal blood biomarkers will help identify and monitor patients at risk of developing preeclampsia and is set to change the way expectant mothers are cared for in prenatal clinics around the world.

18 Nov 2009

Monetary gain and risky tactics stimulate brain activity, says new study

Monetary gain stimulates activity in the brain. Even the mere possibility of receiving a reward is known to activate an area of the brain called the striatum.

18 Nov 2009

ScienceWorksForUS launched by the representatives of public and private research universities

Representatives of the nation's leading public and private research universities, joined by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Members of Congress, today announced the launch of ScienceWorksForUS, an initiative that will highlight the scientific research and related activities that have been made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the stimulus.

18 Nov 2009

Novel device may reduce ischemic stroke damage

Stroke researchers at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston are the only ones in Texas to offer a novel device that might extend the acute stroke treatment window from three hours to 24.

18 Nov 2009

Brain size does not affect animal's capability for intelligent behavior, says new research

Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

18 Nov 2009

Neuralstem provides financial and business updates for third-quarter 2009

Neuralstem, Inc. today provided a financial and business update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

17 Nov 2009

Consortium to define new modalities for treating hypertension and associated vascular complications

Top Institute Pharma has formed a consortium with Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Erasmus Medical Centre and Maastricht University to define new modalities for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated vascular complications such as heart and kidney failure, myocardial infarction and stroke.

17 Nov 2009

Recent developments at Burnham Institute for Medical Research

New antibiotics for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other pesky bacteria. Andrei Osterman and collaborators have used comparisons of bacterial genomes to identify new targets for antibiotics and produced first-generation chemical inhibitors of a class of bacterial enzymes, called NadDs (nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferases).

17 Nov 2009

Perceptual Control Theory may soon revolutionize psychological and social sciences

Just as 400 years ago a correct explanation of the solar system set the stage for major progress in the physical sciences, so today a correct explanation of control is setting the stage for major progress in the life sciences.

17 Nov 2009

Uniformly structured radiological test result reporting decreases the accuracy of the reports

As many software companies work to create programs that will give uniform structure to the way radiological test results are reported, a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that such a system does not improve, but rather decreases the completeness and accuracy of the reports.

17 Nov 2009

WHO urged to establish a schedule to phase out the use of dental mercury fillings as soon as possible

Today, at an expert meeting on the future use of dental fillings, a letter signed by over 70 non-governmental organisations from around the world was presented, calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a schedule to phase out the use of dental mercury fillings as soon as possible.

17 Nov 2009

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes results of SLIM Study

Results of the SLIM Study ("Slo-Niacin® and Atorvastatin Treatment of Lipoproteins and Inflammatory Markers in Combined Hyperlipidemia") were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

17 Nov 2009

VCU and RAA have improved resuscitation and survival rates for cardiac arrest patients

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and the Richmond Ambulance Authority have improved resuscitation and survival rates dramatically for cardiac arrest patients by training and equipping paramedics to begin lowering a patient's body temperature in the field during resuscitation and following up at the hospital with a host of high-tech strategies to improve the odds of survival.

17 Nov 2009

Genentech submits sBLAs to the FDA for Avastin

Genentech, Inc., a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that the company submitted two supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLAs) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Avastin® (bevacizumab) for the treatment of women who have not received chemotherapy for advanced (metastatic) HER2-negative breast cancer (first-line treatment). One sBLA is based on the Phase III study AVADO that investigated Avastin in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy.

17 Nov 2009

Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort commenced

Galapagos NV announced today that it has started a Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort's effectiveness in treating flares in multiple sclerosis (MS). Nanocort combines less frequent treatment with lower dosage and potentially more effective delivery than other MS flare treatments.

17 Nov 2009

BioSante Pharmaceuticals applauds Boehringer Ingelheim for developing a therapy to treat HSDD

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products for female sexual health, including LibiGel® for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), applauds the efforts of Boehringer Ingelheim to develop a therapy to treat this unmet medical need.

17 Nov 2009

Antidepressant drug is effective in treating women with low libido

The drug flibanserin, which was originally created as an antidepressant, is effective in treating women with low libido, pooled results from three separate clinical trials have found.

17 Nov 2009

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

New neuroimaging techniques yield new insights on Alzheimer's disease

Smokers face increase risk of seizures; caffeine or alcohol does not increase seizure activity

Phase 2 clinical trial to test gene therapy treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Maternal blood biomarkers may help predict pregnancy-induced hypertension

Monetary gain and risky tactics stimulate brain activity, says new study

ScienceWorksForUS launched by the representatives of public and private research universities

Novel device may reduce ischemic stroke damage

Brain size does not affect animal's capability for intelligent behavior, says new research

Neuralstem provides financial and business updates for third-quarter 2009

Consortium to define new modalities for treating hypertension and associated vascular complications

Recent developments at Burnham Institute for Medical Research

Perceptual Control Theory may soon revolutionize psychological and social sciences

Uniformly structured radiological test result reporting decreases the accuracy of the reports

WHO urged to establish a schedule to phase out the use of dental mercury fillings as soon as possible

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes results of SLIM Study

VCU and RAA have improved resuscitation and survival rates for cardiac arrest patients

Genentech submits sBLAs to the FDA for Avastin

Phase II clinical study to evaluate Nanocort commenced

BioSante Pharmaceuticals applauds Boehringer Ingelheim for developing a therapy to treat HSDD

Antidepressant drug is effective in treating women with low libido

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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