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.

Estrogen therapy may increase the risk for dementia

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that estrogen therapy does not decrease, but may increase, the risk for dementia in older, postmenopausal women.

22 Jun 2004

Clubbers who have taken illegal drugs could be in serious danger when driving

New research carried out by the University of Surrey has revealed that clubbers who have taken illegal drugs could be in serious danger when driving home after a night out.

22 Jun 2004

New insights into a mysterious type of amnesia

Researchers have new insights into a mysterious type of amnesia, according to a study published in the June 22 issue of Neurology

21 Jun 2004

Virtual reality appears to dramatically change how the brain physically registers pain

The work, which used a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging to track pain-related brain activity, showed drops of as much as 97 percent in such activity in some brain centers. The study marks the first time that scientists have documented a link between virtual reality and pain reduction in terms of an actual physiological response.

21 Jun 2004

Minimally invasive procedure provides new childbirth hope

Beauty therapist, Jo Anastasio, who suffers from an extremely rare blood vessel abnormality, was told that she couldn’t have children and that her only option was a hysterectomy.

21 Jun 2004

Cognitive decline can occur before chemotherapy treatment

In a series of studies in breast cancer patients, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have confirmed the presence of “chemobrain” after chemotherapy treatment – but they also discovered that a significant portion of patients have cognitive declines even before chemotherapy.

21 Jun 2004

Cooling method to treat brain aneurysms

Patients who undergo brain surgery to treat aneurysms are at risk for permanent brain damage, but a protective cooling system is now being tested at Rush University Medical Center to reduce or eliminate this risk.

21 Jun 2004

New centre of excellence to develop stem cell treatments for diabetes and diseases of the brain

New centre of excellence at the University of Cambridge to develop stem cell treatments for diabetes and diseases of the brain, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

21 Jun 2004

Aggressive treatment of brain blood clots can produce a good outcome for many stroke patients

In the study, published in a recent issue of the journal Neurosurgery, 50 percent of stroke patients had little or no neurological disability one to three months after clot-dissolving medication was delivered directly to the site of the blockages, compared to 39 percent of patients with similarly good outcomes documented in a large national trial of intravenous (IV) drug treatment for stroke.

21 Jun 2004

Fairfax student dies after a four-day hospitalization for meningitis/encephalitis

A 16-year old Chantilly high school student died last week after a four-day hospitalization for meningitis/encephalitis. The cause does not appear to be bacterial meningitis. However, an autopsy is pending and investigation is underway.

20 Jun 2004

100,000 child deaths ever year caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries

100 000 deaths and 6 million years of healthy life lost (or DALYs) ever year, in children and adolescents from birth to 19 years of age, are caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries.

20 Jun 2004

Stimulation or drugs that target the pro-opiomelanocortin system will be effective in treating diabetes or obesity

There’s more than one way to slim a cat - at least that’s the hope of University of Florida obesity researchers, who believe pets and even people may someday benefit from gene therapy research aimed at breaking through the biochemical bottleneck that makes many middle-aged mammals gain weight.

17 Jun 2004

Effects of Zen meditation and how the brain functions during meditative states

Zen meditation is an ancient spiritual practice that promotes awareness and presence through the undivided engagement of mind and body.

17 Jun 2004

Latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth

The latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth will be revealed at a public lecture at the Queensland Art Gallery, Australia next Friday (June 25).

17 Jun 2004

New clues into the mystery of the brain’s ultra-complicated cells known as neurons

Researchers from USC and the Technion Medical School in Israel have uncovered new clues into the mystery of the brain’s ultra-complicated cells known as neurons.

16 Jun 2004

Soil-borne disease called allergic fungal sinusitis is on the rise

The bad news this summer is that a destructive, soil-borne disease called allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is on the rise -- at least according to the up tick in cases referred to specialist Steven Schaefer, MD, chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

16 Jun 2004

New approach to interpreting brain electroencephalograms could help understanding of epilepsy and autism

A team led by University of California San Diego neurobiologists has developed a new approach to interpreting brain electroencephalograms, or EEGs, that provides an unprecedented view of thought in action and has the potential to advance our understanding of disorders like epilepsy and autism.

16 Jun 2004

Marijuana/Cannabis causes transient schizophrenia-like symptoms

The principal active ingredient in marijuana causes transient schizophrenia-like symptoms ranging from suspiciousness and delusions to impairments in memory and attention, according to a Yale research study.

15 Jun 2004

Art gives insight into medical research

Paintings that give insights into medical research through a scientist's eyes can be seen at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History's latest exhibition – Medical Research Revealed by Dr Lizzie Burns.

15 Jun 2004

Drug combination reduces cocaine use

Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center are the first to demonstrate that a combination of drug therapies targeting the region of the brain that controls drug abuse and addiction significantly reduces cocaine use in nonhuman primates.

15 Jun 2004

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Estrogen therapy may increase the risk for dementia

Clubbers who have taken illegal drugs could be in serious danger when driving

New insights into a mysterious type of amnesia

Virtual reality appears to dramatically change how the brain physically registers pain

Minimally invasive procedure provides new childbirth hope

Cognitive decline can occur before chemotherapy treatment

Cooling method to treat brain aneurysms

New centre of excellence to develop stem cell treatments for diabetes and diseases of the brain

Aggressive treatment of brain blood clots can produce a good outcome for many stroke patients

Fairfax student dies after a four-day hospitalization for meningitis/encephalitis

100,000 child deaths ever year caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries

Stimulation or drugs that target the pro-opiomelanocortin system will be effective in treating diabetes or obesity

Effects of Zen meditation and how the brain functions during meditative states

Latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth

New clues into the mystery of the brain’s ultra-complicated cells known as neurons

Soil-borne disease called allergic fungal sinusitis is on the rise

New approach to interpreting brain electroencephalograms could help understanding of epilepsy and autism

Marijuana/Cannabis causes transient schizophrenia-like symptoms

Art gives insight into medical research

Drug combination reduces cocaine use

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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