Brain News and Research

RSS

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.

Worsening suicidality thoughts while on antidepressants linked to specific changes in brain function

While antidepressant medications have proven to be beneficial in helping people overcome major depression, it has long been known that a small subset of individuals taking these drugs can actually experience a worsening of mood, and even thoughts of suicide. No clinical test currently exists to make this determination, and only time - usually weeks - can tell before a psychiatrist knows whether a patient is getting better or worse.

12 Apr 2010

Accumulation of mutated protein may explain damaging cellular behavior in Huntington's disease

In a step towards a possible treatment for Huntington's disease, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have shown for the first time that the accumulation of a mutated protein may explain damaging cellular behavior in Huntington's disease. Their research is described in the April 11 online edition of Nature Neuroscience.

12 Apr 2010

World first - newborn receives xenon gas in bid to prevent brain injury

In a world first, xenon gas has been successfully delivered to a newborn baby in a bid to prevent brain injury following a lack of oxygen at birth. This pioneering technique was developed by Professor Marianne Thoresen of the University of Bristol and carried out at St Michael’s Hospital, part of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

12 Apr 2010

U-M Medical School researchers earn $366M in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2009

University of Michigan Medical School physicians and scientists earned more than $366 million in National Institutes of Health research funding in federal fiscal year 2009, according to NIH data. In all, the School's faculty brought in more than $435 million in research funding from all sources in U-M fiscal year 2009.

12 Apr 2010

GE Healthcare to present results of phase 2 study of flutemetamol at HAI Meeting

GE Healthcare will today present results from its multicenter phase 2 study of flutemetamol at the 4th annual Human Amyloid Imaging Meeting in Toronto, Canada. Flutemetamol is a positron emission tomography imaging agent in development by GE Healthcare, in the field of brain imaging.

12 Apr 2010

Scientists discover and block pathway responsible for link between stress, anxiety and depression

Scientists at The University of Western Ontario have discovered the biological link between stress, anxiety and depression. By identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, this high impact research led by Stephen Ferguson of Robarts Research Institute shows exactly how stress and anxiety could lead to depression.

12 Apr 2010

AED Vimpat to be the subject of numerous studies and analyses at AAN meeting

The antiepileptic drug Vimpat- (lacosamide) (C-V) will be the subject of numerous studies and analyses-both UCB-sponsored and independent-at the 62nd annual American Academy of Neurology meeting, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto from April 10-17.

9 Apr 2010

A*STAR announces fifth major collaboration with Italian research centres and universities

Two research units under Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) and Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), are collaborating with Italy's Siena Biotech S.p.A. to develop new drugs and targeted antibodies respectively, which will potentially help millions of cancer and bone loss patients across the world. This is the fifth major collaboration A*STAR has with research centres and universities in Italy .

9 Apr 2010

Drugs that affect methylation state of genes could reverse autism's effects: The FASEB Journal

A new discovery raises hope that autism may be more easily diagnosed and that its effects may be more reversible than previously thought. In a new study appearing online in The FASEB Journal, scientists have identified a way to detect the disorder using blood and have discovered that drugs which affect the methylation state of genes could reverse autism's effects.

9 Apr 2010

World's largest autism science and advocacy organization awards 16 new research grants

Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the awarding of 16 new research grants totaling $5,223,743 over the next three years.

9 Apr 2010

Omega-3 fatty acids improve nerve regeneration, prevent psychotic disorders and reduce cellular aging

Improving nerve regeneration after corneal surgery, preventing psychotic disorders in those at high risk for them and reducing cellular aging are three emerging benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood, according to milestone research described in the April 2010 PUFA Newsletter and Fats of Life online publications for health professionals and consumers, respectively.

9 Apr 2010

No link between dyslexia and lack of musical ability

There is no link between a lack of musical ability and dyslexia. Moreover, attempts to treat dyslexia with music therapy are unwarranted, according to scientists in Belgium writing in the current issue of the International Journal of Arts and Technology.

9 Apr 2010

Blood levels of carbon dioxide may be linked to near death experiences after heart attack

Near death experiences have often been described as “seeing life flash before one’s eyes” or “intense feelings of joy and peace.” Now researchers claim that levels of Carbon Dioxide or CO2 may be the causal link for these sensations. They believe that the CO2 alters the levels of certain chemicals in the brain and makes it see lights at the ends of tunnels or dead loved ones.

9 Apr 2010

Combination telaprevir treatment beneficial for retreatment of hepatitis C

A study co-authored by a Saint Louis University researcher found telaprevir, a protease inhibitor, combined with standard hepatitis C treatment, cures a significantly higher number of difficult-to-treat patients than standard treatment alone. The findings were published in the April issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

9 Apr 2010

Triclosan antibacterial found in soap in the spotlight

If a chemical is banned in other countries and by the European Union, it does merit a study by the FDA, even if there is no existing study to suggest that it is harmful to humans. While there may be no current evidence available that triclosan is hazardous to humans, it has been linked to hormone alterations in animals.

9 Apr 2010

ZIOPHARM Oncology commences Phase I/II study of Zybulin for metastatic breast cancer

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc., announced today it has initiated a Phase I/II study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for the novel, mathematically - determined administration of oral indibulin (Zybulin™ or ZIO-301) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

9 Apr 2010

WTC FDNY Rescue Workers have not recovered normal lung function, yet

A study of nearly 13,000 rescue workers from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) shows that the significant proportion who suffered acute lung damage after exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust have not recovered normal lung function in the years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

8 Apr 2010

Study shows benefits of oxytocin nasal spray in children with ASD

Autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders usually diagnosed in childhood. Children with ASDs have impairments in social interactions and communication, and a tendency towards repetitive behaviors. A hallmark of autism is a difficulty in understanding and reciprocating the emotion of others.

8 Apr 2010

Smoking may increase risk of MS in people who have established risk factors for MS

A new study shows that smoking may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis in people who also have specific established risk factors for MS. The research is found in the April 7, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

8 Apr 2010

Role of beta defensins in development of chronic inflammatory response in the brain

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine will look for evidence within the brain for human beta defensin peptide function-proteins important to the peripheral body's natural defense system against infection from the outside environment.

8 Apr 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Worsening suicidality thoughts while on antidepressants linked to specific changes in brain function

Accumulation of mutated protein may explain damaging cellular behavior in Huntington's disease

World first - newborn receives xenon gas in bid to prevent brain injury

U-M Medical School researchers earn $366M in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2009

GE Healthcare to present results of phase 2 study of flutemetamol at HAI Meeting

Scientists discover and block pathway responsible for link between stress, anxiety and depression

AED Vimpat to be the subject of numerous studies and analyses at AAN meeting

A*STAR announces fifth major collaboration with Italian research centres and universities

Drugs that affect methylation state of genes could reverse autism's effects: The FASEB Journal

World's largest autism science and advocacy organization awards 16 new research grants

Omega-3 fatty acids improve nerve regeneration, prevent psychotic disorders and reduce cellular aging

No link between dyslexia and lack of musical ability

Blood levels of carbon dioxide may be linked to near death experiences after heart attack

Combination telaprevir treatment beneficial for retreatment of hepatitis C

Triclosan antibacterial found in soap in the spotlight

ZIOPHARM Oncology commences Phase I/II study of Zybulin for metastatic breast cancer

WTC FDNY Rescue Workers have not recovered normal lung function, yet

Study shows benefits of oxytocin nasal spray in children with ASD

Smoking may increase risk of MS in people who have established risk factors for MS

Role of beta defensins in development of chronic inflammatory response in the brain

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

Latest News