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.

Researchers discuss the synergy between nanoscience and neuroscience

Is it possible to build supercomputers that can replicate the human brain, or to develop nanotechnology that can lead to an implantable chip for interfacing with neurons and other types of cellular networks?

5 Mar 2010

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with an inherited, aggressive form of Lou Gehrig's disease also known as familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

5 Mar 2010

Study shows encouraging results of DBS in psychiatric disorder treatment

Psychosurgery is making a comeback. Recently published case series have shown encouraging results of so-called deep brain stimulation (DBS) in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder, depressive disorders, and Tourette syndrome.

5 Mar 2010

Crowding essentially 'blends' nearby objects together and makes the world appear more regular

As you read this, you may notice that the word directly in front of you is clear, but all the surrounding words are hard to make out. For most people, this effect - known as 'crowding' - is not a problem. However, for the millions of people worldwide who have lost their central vision through eye disease such as macular degeneration, it can make everyday tasks such as reading or recognising friends a challenge.

5 Mar 2010

Joint Hearing of Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs: MOPH National Commander testifies

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, National Commander Jim Sims will testify on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) before a Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.

5 Mar 2010

Proper treatment can help control psoriasis in most cases

For the approximately 7.5 million Americans affected by psoriasis, the thick, red, scaly, itchy plaques it causes only scratch the surface when it comes to the overall implications of this disease. Now, ongoing research linking psoriasis to other serious medical conditions and the incredible toll it can take on a person's overall quality of life are shifting the way psoriasis is viewed - from a common skin disease to a complex systemic condition.

5 Mar 2010

Endothelial cells can produce copious amounts of adult stem cells: Study

In a leap toward making stem cell therapy widely available, researchers at the Ansary Stem Cell Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered that endothelial cells, the most basic building blocks of the vascular system, produce growth factors that can grow copious amounts of adult stem cells and their progeny over the course of weeks.

5 Mar 2010

Transcendental Meditation technique produces unique state of "restful alertness"

A new EEG study conducted on college students at American University found they could more highly activate the default mode network, a suggested natural "ground state" of the brain, during their practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. This three-month randomized control study is published in a special issue of Cognitive Processing dedicated to the Neuroscience of Meditation and Consciousness, Volume 11, Number 1, February, 2010.

5 Mar 2010

HMS study suggests new targets for treating Angelman syndrome

Angelman Syndrome is a rare but serious genetic disorder that causes a constellation of developmental problems in affected children, including mental retardation, lack of speech, and in some cases, autism. Over a decade ago, researchers found that AS was caused by mutation in a single gene, but no one had been able to explain how this defect resulted in the debilitating neurological symptoms of the disease.

5 Mar 2010

Data evaluating safety, efficacy of STELARA and REMICADE in patients with plaque psoriasis to be presented

Data evaluating the efficacy and safety of STELARA™ (ustekinumab) and REMICADE® (infliximab) in patients with plaque psoriasis who had an inadequate response to Enbrel® (etanercept) will be presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in Miami, Fla., from March 5-9, 2010.

5 Mar 2010

New generation of marketing experts may be able to test products' appeal with neuromarketing

Using advanced tools to see the human brain at work, a new generation of marketing experts may be able to test a product's appeal while it is still being designed, according to a new analysis by two researchers at Duke University and Emory University.

4 Mar 2010

'Fake pot' can cause hallucinations and seizures

In the last month, Anthony Scalzo, M.D., professor of toxicology at Saint Louis University, has seen nearly 30 cases involving teenagers who were experiencing hallucinations, severe agitation, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting and, in some cases, tremors and seizures.

4 Mar 2010

Natus Medical reports increased revenue for 2009 fourth quarter

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, Natus reported revenue of $51.6 million, compared to $43.4 million reported in the comparable quarter of the previous year. Net income was $4.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with net income of $6.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008.

4 Mar 2010

Beneficial Alzheimer's therapies, update on prevention efforts focused at ADI International Conference

Beneficial Alzheimer's therapies that don't use drugs, and an update on prevention efforts, are the focus of the second day's plenary sessions at the 25th International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International, March 12, 2010 at the Grand Hotel Palace, Thessaloniki, Greece.

4 Mar 2010

Parkinson's patients find facial and vocal expression difficult to read; deep brain stimulation seems to make it worse

Scientists are beginning to find out why people with Parkinson's disease often feel socially awkward. Parkinson's patients find it harder to recognize expressions of emotion in other people's faces and voices, report two studies published by the American Psychological Association.

4 Mar 2010

Brain study may lead to new forms of treatment for Alzheimer's disease

A study from EPFL's (Ecole Polytechnique F-d-rale de Lausanne) Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Cellular Dynamics in Lausanne Switzerland, published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, may lead to new forms of treatment following a better understanding of how Amyloid-Beta found in cerebral plaques, typically present in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, may lead to neurodegeneration.

4 Mar 2010

MIT Technology Review recognizes Medtronic for taking leadership in developing DBS Therapy

Medtronic, Inc. today announced that it has been selected as one of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technology Review's 50 most innovative companies. Known as TR50, the first annual list includes companies that Technology Review believes have demonstrated superiority in inventing technology and in using it both to grow their own business and transform how we live.

4 Mar 2010

Project ProSPECTus develops technology for next generation SPECT imaging to improve diagnosis of cancer

Time taken to detect brain tumours could soon be significantly reduced thanks to an ongoing pioneering project led by the University of Liverpool with the Nuclear Physics Group and Technology departments at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at Daresbury Laboratory.

4 Mar 2010

Study analyzes the role of exercise treatment in mood swings

A paper that is published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics analyzes the role of exercise treatment in mood swings.

4 Mar 2010

Failure of Alzheimer's drug Dimebon: Anavex Life Sciences comments

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. today issued a statement following today's announcement from Pfizer and Medivation (MDVN) that their investigational Alzheimer's drug Dimebon did not meet either its co-primary or secondary endpoints compared to placebo during pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials.

4 Mar 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers discuss the synergy between nanoscience and neuroscience

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

Study shows encouraging results of DBS in psychiatric disorder treatment

Crowding essentially 'blends' nearby objects together and makes the world appear more regular

Joint Hearing of Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs: MOPH National Commander testifies

Proper treatment can help control psoriasis in most cases

Endothelial cells can produce copious amounts of adult stem cells: Study

Transcendental Meditation technique produces unique state of "restful alertness"

HMS study suggests new targets for treating Angelman syndrome

Data evaluating safety, efficacy of STELARA and REMICADE in patients with plaque psoriasis to be presented

New generation of marketing experts may be able to test products' appeal with neuromarketing

'Fake pot' can cause hallucinations and seizures

Natus Medical reports increased revenue for 2009 fourth quarter

Beneficial Alzheimer's therapies, update on prevention efforts focused at ADI International Conference

Parkinson's patients find facial and vocal expression difficult to read; deep brain stimulation seems to make it worse

Brain study may lead to new forms of treatment for Alzheimer's disease

MIT Technology Review recognizes Medtronic for taking leadership in developing DBS Therapy

Project ProSPECTus develops technology for next generation SPECT imaging to improve diagnosis of cancer

Study analyzes the role of exercise treatment in mood swings

Failure of Alzheimer's drug Dimebon: Anavex Life Sciences comments

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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