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.

Slitrk5 gene linked to development of OCD-like behaviors

Researchers at the Ansary Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College discovered that mice missing a single gene developed repetitive obsessive-compulsive-like behaviors. The genetically altered mice, which behaved much like people with a certain type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), could help scientists design new therapies for this debilitating condition.

27 Apr 2010

Study links progression of lethal type of brain tumor with reduced expression of immune system genes

A new study links progression of a lethal type of brain tumor with reduced expression of more than 600 immune system genes, suggesting how complex the immune response is to the cancer and the resulting difficulty in targeting specific immune system proteins for treatment.

27 Apr 2010

CocE exhibits potential for clinical treatment of cocaine toxicity

Cocaine toxicity due to drug overdose results in more than half a million emergency room visits annually. Despite these alarming statistics, there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapy specifically designed to treat cocaine toxicity. Emergency medical personnel are limited to treating only the immediate life-threatening symptoms of patients, while toxic levels of cocaine and its metabolic break-down products persist and continue to damage the cardiovascular system, liver and brain.

27 Apr 2010

Melanin-covered nanoparticles may protect bone marrow from harmful radiation therapy effects: Research

Tiny, melanin-covered nanoparticles may protect bone marrow from the harmful effects of radiation therapy, according to scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University who successfully tested the strategy in mouse models.

27 Apr 2010

New discovery links Slitrk5 gene to development of OCD-like behaviors

27 Apr 2010

LCT receives grant of $500,000 for Phase II clinical trial of DIABECELL in New Zealand

Living Cell Technologies Limited, a global company pioneering the development of a cell implant to treat diabetes, has received a grant of US$500,000 for its on-going Phase II clinical trial of DIABECELL in New Zealand from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, a world leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research and the largest charitable funder and advocate for research in type 1 diabetes.

27 Apr 2010

Evotec to receive EUR 1.5M from German BMBF for advancing H3 receptor antagonist programme

Evotec AG today announced that it will receive funding of up to EUR 1.5 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to advance its H3 receptor antagonist programme into the clinic.

27 Apr 2010

Tel Aviv University researcher maps drug target to wipe pain away

In most cases of chronic pain -- lingering pain that never seems to go away after accidents or prolonged illnesses ― no pill exists to dull the hurt. Billions of dollars are lost every year in sick days taken to alleviate chronic pain, and as much money is spent by the healthcare system to diagnose what's wrong.

27 Apr 2010

Phase 2b clinical study initiated to evaluate GI safety of LT-NS001

Logical Therapeutics, Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based biotechnology company announced today the initiation of a Phase 2b clinical study to evaluate the gastrointestinal safety of its investigational drug LT-NS001 (naproxen etemesil). The study will compare the cumulative rate of gastric ulcers vs. Naprosyn after 12 weeks of treatment.

27 Apr 2010

Phytonutrient intake may help decrease risk for certain chronic diseases: Study

Topping that bowl of cereal with raspberries instead of strawberries, or saut-ing kale instead of spinach for dinner can boost phytonutrient intake, which may help decrease risk for certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

27 Apr 2010

Regular exercise speeds learning, improves blood flow to the brain: Study

Regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain, according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that is the first to examine these relationships in a non-human primate model. The findings are available in the journal Neuroscience.

27 Apr 2010

Chocolate and depression?

The ‘chocoholics’ of the world may also be the most depressed people around. A recent study found that those who were suffering from depression ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate a month, compared to just 5.4 servings eaten by those who were not depressed. And the people who suffered from major depression ate 11.8 servings per month.

27 Apr 2010

Popular antidepressants may have beneficial side effects for cardiovascular health: Study

A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may provide a boost to cardiovascular health by affecting the way platelets, small cells in the blood involved in clotting, clump together, say researchers at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill.

26 Apr 2010

Aton Pharma acquires the U.S. marketing rights to LODOSYN tablets from BMS

Aton Pharma, Inc., a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has acquired the U.S. marketing rights to LODOSYN (carbidopa) tablets from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

26 Apr 2010

Intellect Neurosciences completes restructuring of balance sheet

Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on development of disease-modifying therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease, announced today it has completed a restructuring of its balance sheet. The result is the extinguishment of approximately $24 million of aggregate face amount plus accrued interest of debt and preferred stock through the issuance of common stock.

26 Apr 2010

Medtronic receives FDA 510(K) clearance for PoleStar N30 Surgical MRI system

Medtronic today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(K) clearance and U.S. launch of the PoleStar® N30 Surgical MRI system, the latest in neuro oncology surgical solutions.

26 Apr 2010

Odors classified into groups by discrete activity states of neuronal circuits: Scientists

Scientists at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI, part of the Novartis Research Foundation), are unraveling how odors are processed by the brain. As they report in Nature, odors in the olfactory brain are classified into groups represented by discrete activity states of neuronal circuits.

26 Apr 2010

University of Bern purchases Sectra's SyMRI software for synthetic MR

Sectra has secured the first order for the software SyMRI Suite from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern. The software will enhance quality in conjunction with virtual autopsies.

26 Apr 2010

Successful full face transplant in a 22 hour long operation: Barcelona

In a recent development a team of 30 Spanish surgeons have succeeded in a World’s first full face transplant. The patient had accidentally injured a large part of his face with a shotgun five years ago. This had left him disfigured an unable to breathe, swallow or talk properly. He has undergone nine unsuccessful operations before this operation was planned. In this operation he received the whole of his facial skin, muscles, nose, lips, teeth and cheek bones from a donor in a 22 hour operation at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital on 20th March. He is on his way to recovery now. This is not the first face transplant but the first full face transplant and also the most complex of its kind.

26 Apr 2010

Study finds changes in astrocytes key to brain dysfunction

Neuroscience researchers have zeroed in on a novel mechanism that helps control the firing of electrical signals among neurons. By isolating the molecular and electrical events that occur when this control is disrupted, the new research sheds light on epileptic seizures and potentially on other prominent diseases involving poorly regulated brain activity.

26 Apr 2010