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 studies question wide-spread hypothesis that CCSVI contribute to development of MS

Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have performed a study that indicates that neither blood flow nor the flow of spinal fluid in the brain contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis, MS. The findings run directly counter to a much-discussed and widely spread Italian theory.

5 Aug 2010

Modified music program improves speech skills in children with Down syndrome: Study

Advanced Brain Technologies today announced results demonstrating that a modified music program followed for ten weeks, improved speech skills in children with Down syndrome. The results of the study, conducted in Nottingham, United Kingdom, were published Monday, in an early online before print version of the article scheduled to appear in the journal Music and Medicine.

5 Aug 2010

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

This week's publication of the complete genomic sequence of a living marine sponge reveals genes dating back hundreds of millions of years -- a result far exceeding the expectations of the scientific world.

5 Aug 2010

PFF announces introduction of Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act in US Senate

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) today announced that the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act (PFREA) was introduced in the United States Senate. The PFREA was introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), and the PFF has offered its unconditional endorsement to pass this important legislation on behalf of the pulmonary fibrosis community.

5 Aug 2010

Posterior parietal cortex brain activity linked with subjects’ performance perceptions

Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task-and the consequences of winning or losing-directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology.

5 Aug 2010

Micrus Endovascular first-quarter fiscal 2011 total revenues increase 16% to $24.6 million

Micrus Endovascular Corporation today reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

University of Pennsylvania announces recipients of 2010 Templeton Positive Neuroscience Awards

The Positive Psychology Center of the University of Pennsylvania and the John Templeton Foundation have announced the recipients of the 2010 Templeton Positive Neuroscience Awards, $2.9 million given to 15 new research projects at the intersection of neuroscience and positive psychology.

5 Aug 2010

Scientists suggest home genetic tests may cause unnecessary stress

In the age of the Internet, where cybercondriacs are just a mouse click away from a diagnosis, do-it-yourself home genetics test may seem like the next logical step in managing health. But these tests, which are relatively new and available online, are often not comprehensive and may cause unnecessary stress, warns Suzanne Mahon, DNSc., a clinical professor of hematology and oncology at Saint Louis University.

5 Aug 2010

Scientists discover Deep Brain Stimulation as potential treatment for early Alzheimer's

In a world first, Dr. Andres M. Lozano and his team at Toronto Western Hospital has shown using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on patients with early signs of Alzheimer's disease is safe and may help improve memory. The phase one safety trial of six Ontario patients took place from 2005 to 2008. All patients left hospital within 2 to 3 days of surgery, and continue to participate in regular follow-up cognitive assessments.

5 Aug 2010

EEG patterns can predict schizophrenia patients' response to clozapine therapy

A commonplace electroencephalography (EEG) test may hold the key to predicting whether a person will respond to certain prescribed drugs, particularly those related to psychiatric conditions.In a study to be published by Clinical Neurophysiology, and now posted online, engineering and health sciences researchers at McMaster University applied machine learning to EEG patterns and successfully predicted how patients with schizophrenia would respond to clozapine therapy.

5 Aug 2010

Thinking of God reduces distress to anxiety-provoking mistakes: Study

Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The researchers measured brain waves for a particular kind of distress-response while participants made mistakes on a test. Those who had been prepared with religious thoughts had a less prominent response to mistakes than those who hadn't.

5 Aug 2010

Scientists develop laser probe for early detection of oral cancer

UC Davis researchers have developed a laser probe for the early detection of oral cancer. A trial with human subjects shows that the device could also be used during surgery to locate the edges of a tumor.

5 Aug 2010

Pregnancy weight gain liked to childhood obesity: Study

Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy have a greater chance their babies will be born too big. Scientists are trying to find whether this relationship of gaining too much weight by mother and baby is genetic and can predispose the child to be obese later in life.

4 Aug 2010

Detection of Alzheimer's before symptoms occur

Research is on to detect the dreaded Alzheimer's disease even before any symptoms occur. In a newly proposed diagnostic criteria developed by experts from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association three stages of the disease viz. pre-clinical Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia are described.

4 Aug 2010

Research examines effects of orthostatic hypotension in adults, children

A simple variation to the tried and true method of checking blood pressure can reveal startling information about both older and younger persons, new research suggests.

4 Aug 2010

Influence of culture on brain structure and function

Where you grow up can have a big impact on the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and even how your brain works. In a report in a special section on Culture and Psychology in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, psychological scientists Denise C. Park from the University of Texas at Dallas and Chih-Mao Huang from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discuss ways in which brain structure and function may be influenced by culture.

4 Aug 2010

New MIC platform measures cell-signaling pathways in brain tumor samples at single-cell level

New technologies for the diagnosis of cancer are rapidly changing the clinical practice of oncology. As scientists learn more about the molecular basis of cancer, the development of new tools capable of multiple, inexpensive biomarker measurements on small samples of clinical tissue will become essential to the success of genetically informed and personalized cancer therapies.

4 Aug 2010

FSU biologist-mathematician team receives $2.64 million grant to study prolactin secretion

A Florida State University biologist and mathematician have joined forces to find out exactly how the brain oversees the secretion of the hormone prolactin from the pituitary gland, research that could lead to new ways to treat hundreds of disorders, including infertility.

4 Aug 2010

Special issue on new developments in vestibular rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is essential for patients with disabling symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness caused by disorders of the vestibular system. A special issue of The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) presents an update on new and emerging vestibular rehabilitation techniques, highlighting the physical therapist's role on the multidisciplinary teams providing patient care and research.

4 Aug 2010

Proton therapy to treat patient’s tumor without compromising quality of life

The radiation oncologist's mantra is to deliver the maximum dose of radiation to the malignant tumor, while limiting damage to healthy surrounding tissue. In proton therapy, this balance is achieved by using proton particles, accelerated to nearly the speed of light, to mimic the shape of a tumor and effectively deposit their energy within the confines of it with sub-millimeter precision.

4 Aug 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

New studies question wide-spread hypothesis that CCSVI contribute to development of MS

Modified music program improves speech skills in children with Down syndrome: Study

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

PFF announces introduction of Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act in US Senate

Posterior parietal cortex brain activity linked with subjects’ performance perceptions

Micrus Endovascular first-quarter fiscal 2011 total revenues increase 16% to $24.6 million

University of Pennsylvania announces recipients of 2010 Templeton Positive Neuroscience Awards

Scientists suggest home genetic tests may cause unnecessary stress

Scientists discover Deep Brain Stimulation as potential treatment for early Alzheimer's

EEG patterns can predict schizophrenia patients' response to clozapine therapy

Thinking of God reduces distress to anxiety-provoking mistakes: Study

Scientists develop laser probe for early detection of oral cancer

Pregnancy weight gain liked to childhood obesity: Study

Detection of Alzheimer's before symptoms occur

Research examines effects of orthostatic hypotension in adults, children

Influence of culture on brain structure and function

New MIC platform measures cell-signaling pathways in brain tumor samples at single-cell level

FSU biologist-mathematician team receives $2.64 million grant to study prolactin secretion

Special issue on new developments in vestibular rehabilitation

Proton therapy to treat patient’s tumor without compromising quality of life

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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