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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.

Periodontal disease may increase risk of cognitive dysfunction: Researchers

NYU dental researchers have found the first long-term evidence that periodontal (gum) disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired.

4 Aug 2010

Scientists discover single-chain protein to destroy GBM cancer cells

A major breakthrough in how to target and destroy the most malignant and aggressive brain cancer cells has been made by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.Scientists have identified a way to target and destroy Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells without harming healthy cells.

4 Aug 2010

Sensory dysfunction affects quality of life of patients with Autism

The way the brain reacts differently to the sense of touch in people with Autism will be examined as part of an innovative Cardiff University study designed to create better understanding of the condition. Dr David McGonigle from Cardiff University's Schools of Psychology and Biosciences will use the latest brain imaging techniques to create a clearer picture of how touch is processed differently.

4 Aug 2010

BCM collaborates with Roche NimbleGen for high throughput exome capture technology

The Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center has standardized its target enrichment human disease research studies on Roche NimbleGen Sequence Capture Exome technology. The Baylor HGSC will sequence over 5,000 exomes in the next two years to identify genetic variants underlying multiple human diseases and will employ NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Exome and customized NimbleGen exome designs as the exome capture technology of choice. More than 15 different diseases will be investigated by Baylor HGSC, including brain, liver, pancreatic, colon, ovarian and bladder cancers, heart disease, diabetes, autism, and other inherited diseases with the goal of better understanding causative mutations and their impact on these diseases.

4 Aug 2010

Special hearing on potential environmental health factors associated with autism spectrum disorders

Autism Speaks' Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. emphasized the importance of research on environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders as the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, Subcommittee on Children's Health convened a special hearing on potential environmental health factors associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental disorders. The hearing is examining the latest research on potential environmental factors that may increase the risk for autism spectrum disorders.

4 Aug 2010

Scientists study specific cell interactions for reasearch on human developmental disorders

Two University of Iowa biologists have published a paper on how cells make specific interactions during development -- in the hope of one day learning more about human developmental disorders -- in the Aug. 2 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

4 Aug 2010

Acorda second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.8 million

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Insulin resistance from obesity leads to lower cognitive performance in children: Research

A study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have found that obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes have diminished cognitive performance and subtle abnormalities in the brain as detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Identification of cognitive impairments as a complication of type 2 diabetes emphasizes the importance of addressing issues of inactivity and obesity, two important risk factors for the development of the disease among the young.

3 Aug 2010

NWBT reports long-term follow-up data from DCVax-Brain immune therapy clinical trials for GBM

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. today announced further positive long-term follow-up data from its prior Phase I and Phase I/II clinical trials, in which patients with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme ("GBM"), the most rapid and lethal type of brain cancer, were treated with NWBT's DCVax®-Brain personalized immune therapy.

3 Aug 2010

Abnormal eye movements, neurobehavioral impairments common among relatives of patients with autism: Report

Abnormal eye movements and other sensorimotor and neurobehavioral impairments appear common in unaffected family members of individuals with autism, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Aug 2010

Antisense Pharma receives FDA IND authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for high-grade glioma

The biopharmaceutical company Antisense Pharma announced today that the US-American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Investigational New Drug (IND)-authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for patients with high-grade glioma. This authorisation entitles the company to include US-American clinics both in the phase III study SAPPHIRE and in further studies.

3 Aug 2010

Particles of iron oxide enhance tumor visibility through MRI

Tiny particles of iron oxide could become tools for simultaneous tumor imaging and treatment, because of their magnetic properties and toxic effects against brain cancer cells. In mice, researchers from Emory University School of Medicine have demonstrated how these particles can deliver antibodies to implanted brain tumors, while enhancing tumor visibility via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

3 Aug 2010

Exercise, restricted-calorie diets help to stave off mental, physical degeneration of aging: Research

Harvard University researchers have uncovered a mechanism through which caloric restriction and exercise delay some of the debilitating effects of aging by rejuvenating connections between nerves and the muscles that they control.

3 Aug 2010

Other brain regions compensates loss of amygdale: Research

Many neuroscientists believe the loss of the brain region known as the amygdala would result in the brain's inability to form new memories with emotional content. New UCLA research indicates this is not so and suggests that when one brain region is damaged, other regions can compensate.

3 Aug 2010

Oxygen Biotherapeutics collaborates with U.S. Navy to develop treatment for DCS

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. today announced it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) to conduct preclinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of Oxygen Biotherapeutics' proprietary Oxycyte perfluorocarbon emulsion (PFCE) for the prevention and treatment of decompression sickness and related injuries.

3 Aug 2010

Placebo response in Parkinson's disease treatment varies with patient expectations

Individuals with Parkinson's disease were more likely to have a neurochemical response to a placebo medication if they were told they had higher odds of receiving an active drug, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Aug 2010

Healthy heart may slow down aging of brain: Study

Keep your heart healthy and you may slow down the aging of your brain, according to a new study reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.In the study, people whose hearts pumped less blood had brains that appeared older than the brains of those whose hearts pumped more blood. Decreased cardiac index, the amount of blood that pumps from the heart in relation to a person's body size, was associated with decreased brain volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

3 Aug 2010

Ketamine reduces depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: Study

A single intravenous dose of the anesthetic agent ketamine appears to reduce symptoms of depression within 40 minutes among those with bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Aug 2010

GG genotype may increase severity of multiple sclerosis symptoms: Study

A new study shows a gene variant may increase the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. The research will be published in the August 3, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.For the study, researchers screened the oligoadenylate synthetase gene in 401 people with MS, 394 people without MS and 178 people receiving the MS treatment beta interferon.

3 Aug 2010

Neuroglobin may protect against Alzheimer's disease: Study

A team of scientists at the University of California, Davis and the University of Auckland has discovered that neuroglobin may protect against Alzheimer's disease by preventing brain neurons from dying in response to natural stress. The team published the results of their study in the April, 2010 issue of Apoptosis.

3 Aug 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Periodontal disease may increase risk of cognitive dysfunction: Researchers

Scientists discover single-chain protein to destroy GBM cancer cells

Sensory dysfunction affects quality of life of patients with Autism

BCM collaborates with Roche NimbleGen for high throughput exome capture technology

Special hearing on potential environmental health factors associated with autism spectrum disorders

Scientists study specific cell interactions for reasearch on human developmental disorders

Acorda second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.8 million

Insulin resistance from obesity leads to lower cognitive performance in children: Research

NWBT reports long-term follow-up data from DCVax-Brain immune therapy clinical trials for GBM

Abnormal eye movements, neurobehavioral impairments common among relatives of patients with autism: Report

Antisense Pharma receives FDA IND authorisation for clinical studies with trabedersen for high-grade glioma

Particles of iron oxide enhance tumor visibility through MRI

Exercise, restricted-calorie diets help to stave off mental, physical degeneration of aging: Research

Other brain regions compensates loss of amygdale: Research

Oxygen Biotherapeutics collaborates with U.S. Navy to develop treatment for DCS

Placebo response in Parkinson's disease treatment varies with patient expectations

Healthy heart may slow down aging of brain: Study

Ketamine reduces depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: Study

GG genotype may increase severity of multiple sclerosis symptoms: Study

Neuroglobin may protect against Alzheimer's disease: Study

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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