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Teriflunomide drug reduces relapse rate of people with MS

A new oral drug has been shown in a large international clinical trial to significantly reduce the relapse rate of people with multiple sclerosis and to slow the progression of the disease.

7 Oct 2011

New insight into mechanisms of hippocampal rhythms

A research team from Berlin, Munich and Haifa has presented new findings concerning the function of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that is important for memory formation.

7 Oct 2011

Muscle cannot be functionally reactivated if you're too late

When a motor nerve is severely damaged, people rarely recover full muscle strength and function. Neuroscientists from Children's Hospital Boston, combining patient data with observations in a mouse model, now show why. It's not that motor nerve fibers don't regrow – they can – but they don't grow fast enough. By the time they get to the muscle fibers, they can no longer communicate with them.

4 Oct 2011

MR-guided focused ultrasound may effectively control essential tremor

In a presentation at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons today, University of Virginia neurosurgeon W. Jeffrey Elias, MD reported that preliminary results of a pilot clinical trial indicate that MR-guided focused ultrasound has the potential to safely and effectively control essential tremor (ET), a common neurological condition that affects 10 million Americans.

4 Oct 2011

Researchers identify new enzyme function that may protect against anemia

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have discovered a new function for an enzyme that may protect against organ injury and death from anemia.

4 Oct 2011

Tight blood sugar control fails to improve memory in diabetics

A new study has shown that those with type 2 diabetes do not show slowing of the decline in thinking skills with intense blood sugar control. In fact such intense therapy raises risk of death.

2 Oct 2011

AxoGen mergers with LecTec

AxoGen, Inc., the parent company of AxoGen Corporation, has announced completion of the merger between LecTec Corporation and AxoGen Corporation.

1 Oct 2011

UCI study shows promise of metabolic therapy for autoimmune diseases

A glucosamine-like dietary supplement suppresses the damaging autoimmune response seen in multiple sclerosis, according to a UC Irvine study.

1 Oct 2011

Novel binding assay can simplify search for potential SERT inhibitors

Many psychiatric conditions are caused by aberrant metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Researchers in the Department of Pharmacy at LMU have now developed a new screening method, which will facilitate the search for new drugs that modulate the biological activity of serotonin.

1 Oct 2011

UCLA scientists create mouse model for autism

UCLA scientists have created a mouse model for autism that opens a window into the biological mechanisms that underlie the disease and offers a promising way to test new treatment approaches.

30 Sep 2011

ALK gene discovered by St. Jude scientists associated with FDA approved adult cancer drug

A drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of an adult cancer targets a malfunctioning gene discovered more than a decade earlier at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The story highlights how scientific findings from St. Jude can be translated into therapies and tests that in addition to helping children, also help adults.

30 Sep 2011

FDA, other regulatory and international partners complete International Internet Week of Action

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory and international partners have completed the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a cooperative effort to curb online sales and distribution of counterfeit and illegal medical products.

30 Sep 2011

Three Georgia Tech projects to receive NSF's EFRI grants

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $6 million to fund three projects involving researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Each four-year, $2 million grant was awarded through the NSF's Division of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation.

30 Sep 2011

Many Canadians are not screening for glaucoma earlier, finds study

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Although it can be treated, new research shows Canadians may not be doing enough to protect themselves. According to a new study by Lawson Health Research Institute's Dr. Cindy Hutnik, many Canadian glaucoma patients are not screened until the disease has reached moderate or advanced stages.

30 Sep 2011

Immune cells in brain linked with behavioural responses to alcohol

University of Adelaide researchers have found that immune cells in your brain may contribute to how you respond to alcohol.

30 Sep 2011

FDA approves NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System to treat ALS

An electronic system that stimulates the nerve of the diaphragm muscles has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

30 Sep 2011

Cocaine use linked to increased risk of open-angle glaucoma

A study of the 5.3 million men and women seen in Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics in a one-year period found that use of cocaine is predictive of open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma.

30 Sep 2011

Enrollment begins in Boston Scientific's vagal nerve stimulation trial for heart failure

Boston Scientific Corporation has enrolled the first patients in its NECTAR-HF (NEural Cardiac TherApy foR Heart Failure) clinical trial. NECTAR-HF is a prospective, randomized, international clinical feasibility study designed to assess preliminary safety and efficacy of chronic vagal nerve stimulation in heart failure patients.

30 Sep 2011

Immune cells in brain may predict alcohol abuse effects

Adelaide University researchers say there's a growing body of evidence that alcohol triggers rapid changes in the immune system in the brain and this is behind responses like staggering and slurring. They claim that blocking part of the immune system might reduce alcohol abuse and help prevent drink driving accidents.

29 Sep 2011