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.

Zebrafish may help scientists reveal function of mysterious enzyme linked to steroid cortisol

Michael E. Baker, PhD, a researcher at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has discovered that zebrafish - an important animal model in disease and environmental studies - could provide the means to help scientists eventually reveal the function of a mysterious enzyme linked to the steroid cortisol, and found in the human brain.

20 May 2010

Study confirms inverse association of increase in BMI with lower brain volumes

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine determined that excess abdominal fat places otherwise healthy, middle-aged people at risk for dementia later in life. Preliminary findings suggest a relationship between obesity and dementia that could lead to promising prevention strategies in the future. Results of this study are published early online in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association.

20 May 2010

Inviragen initiates first clinical trial of DENVax vaccine to protect against dengue fever

Inviragen has announced the initiation of the first clinical trial of its vaccine to protect against dengue fever. The trial, to be conducted at Saint Louis University, is designed to assess the safety of Inviragen's investigational dengue vaccine.

20 May 2010

FDA grants 510(k) market clearance for EraGen's MultiCode-RTx HSV 1&2 Kit

EraGen Biosciences Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) market clearance for EraGen's MultiCode®-RTx HSV 1&2 Kit.

20 May 2010

Children with new/recent onset epilepsy have slowed expansion of white matter volume

A newly published study reported that children with new/recent onset epilepsy have significantly slowed expansion of white matter volume compared to healthy children over a two year interval. The reduced white matter volume may affect brain connectivity and influence cognition. Results of this study conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health are now available online and will appear in the July issue of Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy.

19 May 2010

USPTO issues Soligenix patent for use of beclomethasone dipropionate in treatment of IBS

Soligenix, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the United States Patent Office (USPTO) has issued a patent (US 7,704,985) entitled "Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Related Bowel Diseases." The patent claims the use of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a painful gastrointestinal condition that affects approximately 15% of the population in the industrialized world.

19 May 2010

Long-term smoking cessation success possible with treatment philosophy and individualized information

A recently completed randomized trial compared three ways to deliver a behavioral smoking cessation program using varenicline (Chantix®): by phone, web, or both. Although phone counseling had greater treatment advantage for early cessation and appeared to increase medication adherence, no differences in abstinence outcomes were seen at six months.

19 May 2010

Research team converts astroglia into two main classes of cortical neurons

The research team led by Professor Magdalena Götz of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich reports a major step forward in discovering a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or stroke. The researchers were able to convert glial cells of the brain into two different functional classes of neurons. The findings are published on May 18th in the renowned journal PLoS Biology.

19 May 2010

Study examines impact of APOE ε4 on cognitive function, brain anatomy in AD patients

In the most comprehensive study to date, neurologists have clearly identified significant differences in the ways that Alzheimer's disease affects patients with and without the apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disease, using a combination of cognitive and neuroanatomic measures. The study found that this gene influences the way the disease manifests, even at its mildest clinical stages.

19 May 2010

Research findings help explain diverse genetic susceptibility for alcohol use disorders

A genetic variant of a receptor in the brain's reward circuitry plays an important role in determining whether the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain following alcohol intake, according to a study led by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Dopamine is involved in transmitting the euphoria and other positive subjective effects produced by alcohol.

19 May 2010

Study confirms low levels of serotonin transporter in cerebral cortex of chronic ecstasy users

Levels of the serotonin transporter are low in the brains of users of ecstasy, according to a US National Institute of Drug Abuse-funded study by Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) published today in the journal Brain.

19 May 2010

Evotec announces compound in strategic alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim advances into clinical trials

Evotec AG today announced that a compound in its strategic alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim has advanced into clinical trials. With the initiation of the Phase I clinical studies for this compound, Evotec will receive a milestone payment of EUR 2.0 million.

19 May 2010

Pre-menopausal women with HSDD report clinically meaningful improvement with flibanserin

Significantly more pre-menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) reported a clinically meaningful improvement in their condition with flibanserin 100mg compared with placebo, according to new research announced today. Flibanserin is an investigational, non-hormonal treatment being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim for pre-menopausal women with HSDD.

19 May 2010

New book on history and future of medical technology

Some health care reform advocates complain that physicians rely too much on expensive technology. Published by Telescope Books, The History and Future of Medical Technology shows that today's medical technologies are worth every penny—saving lives, improving patients' quality of life, and helping doctors diagnose diseases during the earliest, most treatable stages.

19 May 2010

Neuro Kinetics releases new version of VEST control and analysis software

Neuro Kinetics, Inc., manufacturers of noninvasive medical diagnostic equipment used worldwide to test for neuro-otologic, vestibular and neurological dysfunctions, said today that it has released version 6.8 of its VEST control and analysis software.

19 May 2010

Psychological scientists review latest research on food cravings

Swimsuit season is almost upon us. For most of us, the countdown has begun to lazy days lounging by the pool and relaxing on the beach. However, for some of us, the focus is not so much on sunglasses and beach balls, but how to quickly shed those final five or ten pounds in order to look good poolside. It is no secret that dieting can be challenging and food cravings can make it even more difficult.

19 May 2010

Third International Epilepsy Colloquium to be hosted in Cleveland

About 200 epilepsy specialists, neurosurgeons and pediatric neurologists from around the nation and the world are registered to attend the Third International Epilepsy Colloquium in Cleveland from May 19 to 22. The conference is sponsored by the Neurological Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

19 May 2010

Researchers identify cancer gene that could help fight paediatric glioma

Researchers have identified an important cancer gene that could lead to more effective drugs being developed to fight paediatric high grade glioma, a disease which currently has a poor prognosis.

19 May 2010

IMI to provide University of California-Irvine Medical Center supplemental IONM services

Impulse Monitoring, Inc. (IMI), a leading provider of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) services to hospitals, today announced that it has signed an agreement with the University of California-Irvine Medical Center to provide supplemental IONM technologist and real-time physician oversight support services.

19 May 2010

GHESKIO awarded prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health

GHESKIO, an institution in Haiti founded nearly three decades ago to fight a mysterious killer disease later identified as AIDS, has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health for its years of groundbreaking clinical service, research and training to effectively treat and prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses.

19 May 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Zebrafish may help scientists reveal function of mysterious enzyme linked to steroid cortisol

Study confirms inverse association of increase in BMI with lower brain volumes

Inviragen initiates first clinical trial of DENVax vaccine to protect against dengue fever

FDA grants 510(k) market clearance for EraGen's MultiCode-RTx HSV 1&2 Kit

Children with new/recent onset epilepsy have slowed expansion of white matter volume

USPTO issues Soligenix patent for use of beclomethasone dipropionate in treatment of IBS

Long-term smoking cessation success possible with treatment philosophy and individualized information

Research team converts astroglia into two main classes of cortical neurons

Study examines impact of APOE ε4 on cognitive function, brain anatomy in AD patients

Research findings help explain diverse genetic susceptibility for alcohol use disorders

Study confirms low levels of serotonin transporter in cerebral cortex of chronic ecstasy users

Evotec announces compound in strategic alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim advances into clinical trials

Pre-menopausal women with HSDD report clinically meaningful improvement with flibanserin

New book on history and future of medical technology

Neuro Kinetics releases new version of VEST control and analysis software

Psychological scientists review latest research on food cravings

Third International Epilepsy Colloquium to be hosted in Cleveland

Researchers identify cancer gene that could help fight paediatric glioma

IMI to provide University of California-Irvine Medical Center supplemental IONM services

GHESKIO awarded prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st 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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