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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.

Recent research on schizophrenia published in journal Current Directions in Psychological Science

It has been nearly a century since the term "schizophrenia" was first used to describe what was then considered a hopeless and incurable disorder of thought and emotion. Schizophrenia is still baffling to both scientists and the general public, but it is no longer considered hopeless. Significant advances have been made on several fronts in fathoming and combating this debilitating mental illness-from genetics to neuroscience to the psychosocial aspects of the disorder.

16 Aug 2010

MeCP2 protein regulates properties of psychostimulant drugs: Research

When a certain protein is mutated or missing, symptoms of the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome arise, causing a gradual loss of brain function during early development.This fact led Duke University Medical Center researchers to test a theory that the protein might also contribute to nerve-cell connection (synapse) changes in a fully formed adult mouse brain when exposed to psychostimulant use.

16 Aug 2010

National Mentor Holdings third-quarter revenue increases 6.1% to $259.7 million

National Mentor Holdings, Inc. today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended June 30, 2010.

16 Aug 2010

Medicare disability recipient dies of brain tumor after having coverage interrupted

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Paula Oertel, whose brain tumor disappeared for nine years while she was on an expensive drug and returned after she temporarily lost her insurance coverage, has died as a result of the tumor spreading through her brain. The interruption of her Medicare coverage of the drug directly contributed to her death, contends her doctor, Mark Malkin, chief of neuro-oncology at Froedtert Hospital.

16 Aug 2010

Psychological stress in middle age can lead to dementia: Research

Psychological stress in middle age could lead to the development of dementia later in life, especially Alzheimer's disease, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Based on data from a study which followed women for 35 years, this is the first research in Sweden to indicate a link between stress and dementia.

16 Aug 2010

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

A large study focused on documenting the strength and fitness of childhood brain tumor survivors has found that many face health challenges as they age. The study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators showed that although most participants were young adults in their 20s, many functioned like people in their 60s, making them less likely to live independently or attend college.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

Malignant gliomas are the most common subtype of primary brain tumor - and one of the deadliest. Even as doctors make steady progress treating other types of solid tumor cancers, from breast to prostate, the most aggressive form of malignant glioma, called a glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, has steadfastly defied advances in neurosurgery, radiation therapy and various conventional or novel drugs. But an international team of scientists, headed by researchers at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, reports in the August 15 issue of Genes & Development that they have discovered a new signaling pathway between GBM cells - one that, if ultimately blocked or disrupted, could significantly slow or reduce tumor growth and malignancy.

16 Aug 2010

MeCP2 regulatory protein determines vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Research

A regulatory protein best known for its role in a rare genetic brain disorder also may play a critical role in cocaine addiction, according to a recent study in rats, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health. The study was published today in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

16 Aug 2010

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, OCNA urge FDA to allow use of Avastin

Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continue to allow the use of the drug bevacizumab, commonly known as Avastin, for metastatic breast cancer patients, noting that it is effective for some patients and warning of a chilling effect on new drug development if approval is withdrawn.

13 Aug 2010

Play It Safe Concussion Care Solution to use Axon Sports CCAT for Baseline testing

Wells Fargo Insurance Services' Student Insurance Division announced today that its Play It Safe Concussion Care Solution will use Axon Sports Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool for its Baseline testing. Launched in 2009, the Play It Safe Concussion Care Solution is a broad concussion management treatment and services solution for athletes nationwide.

13 Aug 2010

Researchers identify second type of complete sporadic disease

A new sporadic prion protein disease has been discovered. Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy, as it has been named, is the second type of complete sporadic disease to be identified since Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was reported in the 1920s. The landmark finding from the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center at Case Western Reserve University is published in the August issue of Annals of Neurology.

13 Aug 2010

Management of therapy-resistant schizophrenia

The psychotic symptoms of up to 30% of schizophrenic patients do not respond adequately to treatment with antipsychotic drugs, other than clozapine. These refractory patients are generally among the most disabled of all people with schizophrenia and require special assessment and treatment.

13 Aug 2010

Lamictal can cause aseptic meningitis: FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned that the drug Lamictal (lamotrigine), approved to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, can cause aseptic meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord not caused by bacterial infection.The agency is working with the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, to update the prescribing information and patient medication guide to include this risk.

13 Aug 2010

New multidisciplinary approach to glioblastoma multiforme treatment offers extended survival rates

The Hospital Universitario Donostia (at the city of Donostia-San Sebasti-n in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa) has incorporated a new glioblastoma multiforme treatment protocol, which could be the starting point for a more effective treatment of this type of cancer. Doctor Nicol-s Sampr-n, specialist in Neurosurgery at the hospital, has presented his PhD at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) based on the first results of the new treatment method. The work is entitled Glioblastoma multiforme. Analysis of survival and prognostic factors.

13 Aug 2010

Neurologix second-quarter net loss increases to $4.5 million

Neurologix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing innovative gene therapies for the brain and central nervous system, today reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

13 Aug 2010

Exposure to immune proteins during pregnancy increases risk for schizophrenia in offspring

Infections like the flu are common occurrences during pregnancy, and research has shown that children born to mothers who suffered from flu, viruses and other infections during pregnancy have about a 1.5 to 7 times increased risk for schizophrenia. A new study out of Temple University examines what's behind that link.

13 Aug 2010

Study examines impact of microvascular decompression surgery for type 2 diabetes

A team of Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) physicians led by neurosurgical pioneer Peter Jannetta, MD, has made an important new discovery linking the central nervous system to the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Reporting today in the journal Surgical Neurology International, Dr. Jannetta and his colleagues present evidence from a prospective clinical trial that vascular compression of a section of the brain called the medulla oblongata is a factor in some patients with type 2 diabetes and that microvascular decompression surgery (MVD) may be an effective treatment for the condition.

13 Aug 2010

Tracking heart rate can provide important marker of health issues: Research

An elevated resting heart rate that develops or persists during follow-up is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, whether from heart disease or other causes, researchers from the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center found studying outcomes in more than 9,000 patients.

13 Aug 2010

Single neurons in brain distinguish different temporal sequences of incoming information

Single neurons in the brain are surprisingly good at distinguishing different sequences of incoming information according to new research by UCL neuroscientists.The study, published today in Science and carried out by researchers based at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at UCL, shows that single neurons, and indeed even single dendrites, the tiny receiving elements of neurons, can very effectively distinguish between different temporal sequences of incoming information.

13 Aug 2010

New research with agitated monkeys may help predict childhood anxiety & depression

According to the latest discovery from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, there may be a possible link between brain activity and childhood anxiety.

12 Aug 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Recent research on schizophrenia published in journal Current Directions in Psychological Science

MeCP2 protein regulates properties of psychostimulant drugs: Research

National Mentor Holdings third-quarter revenue increases 6.1% to $259.7 million

Medicare disability recipient dies of brain tumor after having coverage interrupted

Psychological stress in middle age can lead to dementia: Research

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

MeCP2 regulatory protein determines vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Research

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, OCNA urge FDA to allow use of Avastin

Play It Safe Concussion Care Solution to use Axon Sports CCAT for Baseline testing

Researchers identify second type of complete sporadic disease

Management of therapy-resistant schizophrenia

Lamictal can cause aseptic meningitis: FDA

New multidisciplinary approach to glioblastoma multiforme treatment offers extended survival rates

Neurologix second-quarter net loss increases to $4.5 million

Exposure to immune proteins during pregnancy increases risk for schizophrenia in offspring

Study examines impact of microvascular decompression surgery for type 2 diabetes

Tracking heart rate can provide important marker of health issues: Research

Single neurons in brain distinguish different temporal sequences of incoming information

New research with agitated monkeys may help predict childhood anxiety & depression

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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