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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.

Raptor Pharmaceutical announces Phase 2b results of DR Cysteamine trial

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp., today announced results from a Phase 2b clinical trial of its proprietary delayed-release cysteamine bitartrate ("DR Cysteamine") in patients with nephropathic cystinosis ("cystinosis"). The trial, conducted at the University of California, San Diego ("UCSD") General Clinical Research Center, evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a single dose of DR Cysteamine in nine cystinosis patients.

23 Nov 2009

Foods rich in antioxidant substances could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) researchers have confirmed that a diet rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids, patented as an LMN diet, helps boost the production of the brain's stem cells -neurogenesis- and strengthens their differentiation in different types of neuron cells.

23 Nov 2009

Complicated flow of cellular messages can lead to self-destruction of brain cells, says new study

Scientists at the Brain Research Centre, a partnership of the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, have uncovered new information about the mechanism by which brain cells die following a stroke, as well as a possible way to mitigate that damage. The results of the study were recently published online in Nature Medicine.

23 Nov 2009

New research examines screen time in home-based and center-based child care settings

In a new study, the amount of television viewed by many young children in child care settings doubles the previous estimates of early childhood screen time, with those in home-based settings watching significantly more on average than those in center-based daycares.

23 Nov 2009

Potential therapeutic strategy to improve cognition in Down syndrome identified: DSRTF

The Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF) announces the identification of a new potential therapeutic strategy to address cognitive decline and improve cognition in Down syndrome. The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine on November 18, 2009 by DSRTF-supported researchers, Drs. Ahmad Salehi, William Mobley, and colleagues at Stanford and UCSD Schools of Medicine.

23 Nov 2009

Scientists discover new potential target for treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered a molecular mechanism that may prove to be a powerful target for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells. By exploiting this mechanism, researchers have been able to powerfully suppress tumor formation in lab testing and in animal models.

22 Nov 2009

Cancer promoting gene identified

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine researchers have identified a gene that may play a pivotal role in two processes that are essential for tumor development, growth and progression to metastasis. Scientists hope the finding could lead to an effective therapy to target and inhibit the expression of this gene resulting in inhibition of cancer growth.

21 Nov 2009

AANS and CNS oppose the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) announced their opposition to the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” released this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

21 Nov 2009

Program on patients undergoing individualized treatment for metastatic breast cancer: NCCN

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world's leading cancer centers, has collaborated with the Discovery Health Channel to produce a program profiling three patients with metastatic breast cancer and their healthcare team as they customize each patient's treatment regimen to their individual tumor type and health status.

21 Nov 2009

Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde linked with increased risk of myeloid leukemia

Long durations of exposure to formaldehyde used for embalming in the funeral industry were associated with an increased risk of death from myeloid leukemia, according to a new study published online November 20 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

21 Nov 2009

Groundbreaking discovery provides fundamental insights into neurological disorders

Dr. Jeremy Schmahmann, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, on Thursday, November 19, presented his laboratory's research on the new field of study called "Connectivity" at the launch of the MINDlink Foundation.

21 Nov 2009

RBC Life Sciences reports net sales of $6.49M for third-quarter 2009

RBC Life Sciences, Inc., a provider of proprietary nutritional supplements, wound care and pain management products, reported today company-wide net sales of $6.49 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to net sales of $9.93 million for the same quarter last year.

20 Nov 2009

20th anniversary of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child today

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations on November 20, 1989. The CHU Sainte-Justine and The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre are joining forces to highlight the importance of this day, a reminder of the many injustices committed against children around the world.

20 Nov 2009

Alzheimer Research Forum reports on the highlights of the Society of Neuroscience conference

Between 17-21 October 2009, the 39th annual conference of the Society of Neuroscience drew some 30,500 people to the great city of Chicago, which was more balmy than windy for the occasion. Your Alzforum reporters have been busy roaming the halls, buttonholing scientists for their comments on the presentations, and putting together reports on the most significant advances.

20 Nov 2009

Scientists find how 4-HB is metabolized by the body

It's a naturally occurring brain chemical with an unwieldy name: 4-hydroxybutyrate (4-HB). Taken by mouth, it can be abused or used as a date-rape drug.

20 Nov 2009

UCH introduces RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems

Two female brain tumor patients have become the first people in the south of England to be treated using a faster form of radiotherapy that extends more advanced care to more patients. RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) makes it possible to deliver image-guided IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT.

20 Nov 2009

Workshop on "Neuroeconomics and Endocrinological Economics" organized

A workshop on "Neuroeconomics and Endocrinological Economics," to be held Nov. 20 and 21 at UC Davis, will be the first to bring together experts in neuroscience, economics and hormone physiology in one event, according to organizers.

20 Nov 2009

Direct link between insulin and core body temperature discovered

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a direct link between insulin-a hormone long associated with metabolism and metabolic disorders such as diabetes-and core body temperature. While much research has been conducted on insulin since its discovery in the 1920s, this is the first time the hormone has been connected to the fundamental process of temperature regulation.

20 Nov 2009

Curemark begins enrolling patients in Phase III clinical trials for CM-AT

Curemark LLC, (www.curemark.com), a drug research and development company focused on the treatment of neurological diseases, announced that the company has begun enrolling patients in Phase III clinical trials for CM-AT, its autism treatment, at three additional clinical trial sites.

20 Nov 2009

"Micro-endoscopes" to detect tumors at earlier stages being developed

Traditional endoscopes provide a peek inside patients' bodies. Now, a University of Florida engineering researcher is designing ones capable of a full inspection.

19 Nov 2009

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Raptor Pharmaceutical announces Phase 2b results of DR Cysteamine trial

Foods rich in antioxidant substances could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease

Complicated flow of cellular messages can lead to self-destruction of brain cells, says new study

New research examines screen time in home-based and center-based child care settings

Potential therapeutic strategy to improve cognition in Down syndrome identified: DSRTF

Scientists discover new potential target for treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Cancer promoting gene identified

AANS and CNS oppose the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”

Program on patients undergoing individualized treatment for metastatic breast cancer: NCCN

Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde linked with increased risk of myeloid leukemia

Groundbreaking discovery provides fundamental insights into neurological disorders

RBC Life Sciences reports net sales of $6.49M for third-quarter 2009

20th anniversary of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child today

Alzheimer Research Forum reports on the highlights of the Society of Neuroscience conference

Scientists find how 4-HB is metabolized by the body

UCH introduces RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems

Workshop on "Neuroeconomics and Endocrinological Economics" organized

Direct link between insulin and core body temperature discovered

Curemark begins enrolling patients in Phase III clinical trials for CM-AT

"Micro-endoscopes" to detect tumors at earlier stages being developed

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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