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.

Notch-blocking drug effective against brain cancer stem cells, but more than one targeted attack needed

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins scientists who tested drugs intended to halt growth of brain cancer stem cells - a small population of cells within tumors that perpetuate cancer growth - conclude that blocking these cells may be somewhat effective, but more than one targeted drug attack may be needed to get the job done.

26 Feb 2010

Mutations in MeCP2 cause autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome

A paper published online today in Molecular Cell proposes that Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) impacts the entire genome in neurons, rather than acting as a regulator of specific genes. Mutations in MeCP2 cause the autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome as well as some cases of neuropsychiatric problems including autism, schizophrenia and learning disabilities.

26 Feb 2010

Henry Schein signs strategic partnership to distribute Brain-Pad's NatureZone UV/Ozone oral sanitizer

Henry Schein, Inc., the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, today announced a new strategic partnership with Brain-Pad. Under a new five year agreement, Henry Schein Dental will be the exclusive professional dental distributor in the U.S. and Canada for the NatureZone™ one-touch UV/Ozone oral appliance sanitizer.

26 Feb 2010

Neural differences in map of the brain when learning new nouns and verbs

Two Spanish psychologists and a German neurologist have recently shown that the brain that activates when a person learns a new noun is different from the part used when a verb is learnt. The scientists observed this using brain images taken using functional magnetic resonance, according to an article they have published this month in the journal Neuroimage.

26 Feb 2010

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is what a group of researchers from the Catholic University of Rome, led by Francesco Ria (Institute of General Pathology) and Giovanni Delogu (Institute of Microbiology), have explained for the first time in a recently published article on the Journal of Immunology.

26 Feb 2010

Paralysis from a stroke: Rare nerve transfer improves mobility

The Plastic Surgery Center today announced the successful results of a rare nerve transfer performed for the first known time on a stroke patient to reverse paralysis. Following the procedure, which was led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., 47-year old Vincent Filipini is now able to lift, move and bend his once paralyzed arm. Mr. Filipini continues to show improvement in his mobility.

26 Feb 2010

Intracranial stenting, intra-arterial tPA more effective than other urgent ischemic stroke treatments

Techniques that keep brain arteries open (intracranial stenting) or inject clot-busting drugs directly to the brain (intra-arterial tPA) may be more effective than other urgent ischemic stroke treatments, researchers said at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.

26 Feb 2010

MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease: Four scientists honored

Complementary approaches to Alzheimer's research were recognized as four scientists received the prestigious MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease in Washington, D.C.

26 Feb 2010

SNI clinical study using ultrasound for treatment of ICH and IVH presented at International Stroke Conference

EKOS Corporation announced today that Dr. David W. Newell, Co–Executive Director, Swedish Neuroscience Institute (Seattle, WA) presented a SNI clinical study known as ‘SLEUTH’ (Safety of Lysis with Ultrasound in the Treatment of Intracerebral (ICH) and Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) at the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference (San Antonio, TX).

26 Feb 2010

Locally advanced sinonasal malignancies: Proton beam radiation therapy promising

Proton beam radiation therapy shows encouraging results for patients with locally advanced sinonasal malignancies, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

26 Feb 2010

Schizophrenia: Insight into late development of symptoms

In reports of two new studies, researchers led by Johns Hopkins say they have identified the mechanisms rooted in two anatomical brain abnormalities that may explain the onset of schizophrenia and the reason symptoms don't develop until young adulthood. Both types of anatomical glitches are influenced by a gene known as DISC1, whose mutant form was first identified in a Scottish family with a strong history of schizophrenia and related mental disorders. The findings could lead to new ways to treat, prevent or modify the disorder or its symptoms.

26 Feb 2010

Study confirms efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide for uncontrolled POS

A recent multi-center study has confirmed earlier study results that 400 mg/day of lacosamide provides a good balance of efficacy and tolerability for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS), and doses of 600mg/day may provide additional benefit for some patients.

26 Feb 2010

Mathematics of sleep-wake cycle

Why can't I fall asleep? Will this new medication keep me up all night? Can I sleep off this cold? Despite decades of research, answers to these basic questions about one of our most essential bodily functions remain exceptionally difficult to answer. In fact, researchers still don't fully understand why we even sleep at all. In an effort to better understand the sleep-wake cycle and how it can go awry, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are taking a different approach than the traditional brain scans and sleep studies. They are using mathematics.

26 Feb 2010

New research using MRI shows that childhood stress can lead to structural brain changes

New research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows that childhood stress such as abuse or emotional neglect, in particular when combined with genetic factors, can result in structural brain changes, rendering these people more vulnerable to developing depression. The study led by scientists at Trinity College Dublin has just been published in the international scientific journal, Neuropsychopharmacology.

25 Feb 2010

Kinex Pharmaceuticals announces KX2-391 Phase 2 safety and efficacy clinical trial in men with CRPC

Kinex Pharmaceuticals opened a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of KX2-391 in patients with bone-metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who have not had prior chemotherapy.

25 Feb 2010

CHOP and AIAM collaborate to develop more accurate child crash test dummies

A research report released today by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (AIAM) details CHOP's cutting-edge work with academic and industry collaborators to develop more accurate child crash test dummies, called child anthropometric test devices (ATD's).

25 Feb 2010

IOS Press announces the 20th anniversary of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience journal

IOS Press is pleased to announce the 20th anniversary of the peer-reviewed journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. Since founded in 1989 by pioneering neuroscientist Donald G. Stein, RNN has focused on the emerging field of brain plasticity, repair and rehabilitation and has published not only numerous original scientific publications, but also review papers in basic research (animal experiments, in vitro studies) and in the clinical sciences.

25 Feb 2010

Recovery of consciousness in traumatic brain injury patients

The recovery of consciousness following traumatic brain injury and recent advances in neuroimaging and deep brain stimulation will be discussed at the 14th Annual Swartz Foundation Mind/Brain Lecture at Stony Brook University on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. in the Staller Center for the Arts.

25 Feb 2010

NIPTRC and partners announce development of new imaging process for proton beam therapy in cancer

Scientists and researchers from the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center (NIPTRC) and Northern Illinois University along with their partners are developing a new imaging process using a proton beam that they believe will be a major medical breakthrough in the delivery of proton beam therapy for cancer patients.

25 Feb 2010

Hormone vasopressin helps brain differentiate between familiar and new scents

The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that when the hormone fails to function, animals are unable to recognise other individuals from their scent.

25 Feb 2010

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Notch-blocking drug effective against brain cancer stem cells, but more than one targeted attack needed

Mutations in MeCP2 cause autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome

Henry Schein signs strategic partnership to distribute Brain-Pad's NatureZone UV/Ozone oral sanitizer

Neural differences in map of the brain when learning new nouns and verbs

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

Paralysis from a stroke: Rare nerve transfer improves mobility

Intracranial stenting, intra-arterial tPA more effective than other urgent ischemic stroke treatments

MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease: Four scientists honored

SNI clinical study using ultrasound for treatment of ICH and IVH presented at International Stroke Conference

Locally advanced sinonasal malignancies: Proton beam radiation therapy promising

Schizophrenia: Insight into late development of symptoms

Study confirms efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide for uncontrolled POS

Mathematics of sleep-wake cycle

New research using MRI shows that childhood stress can lead to structural brain changes

Kinex Pharmaceuticals announces KX2-391 Phase 2 safety and efficacy clinical trial in men with CRPC

CHOP and AIAM collaborate to develop more accurate child crash test dummies

IOS Press announces the 20th anniversary of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience journal

Recovery of consciousness in traumatic brain injury patients

NIPTRC and partners announce development of new imaging process for proton beam therapy in cancer

Hormone vasopressin helps brain differentiate between familiar and new scents

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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