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.

Study focuses on genetic neurological disorders that develop in children over time

A team of researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) affiliated with the CHOP Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) further bridged the gap between genomic information and clinical outcome data by systematically linking genetic information with electronic medical records, focusing on how genetic neurological disorders in children develop over time.

12 Aug 2020

Research looks at convalescent plasma use in COVID-19 mouse model

A new study by researchers at the University of Iowa and published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 reports the utility of a mouse model that recapitulates several aspects of human COVID-19 and can reflect the antiviral efficacy of new drugs as well.

12 Aug 2020

Brain activity in older adults is not necessarily quieter when it comes to memory

Everyone has heard it, and decades of research studies seem to confirm it: While it may not always be the first sign of aging, some faculties, including memory, do get worse as people age.

12 Aug 2020

SUTD scientists use 3D printing to create heart cells from stem cells

All humans start out from a single cell which then divides to eventually form the embryo. Depending on the signals sent by their adjacent cells, these divided cells are then developed or differentiated into specific tissues or organs.

11 Aug 2020

Mouse study shows potential new way to unlock the power of immunotherapy for cancer patients

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by stimulating the patient's own immune system to attack cancer cells, yielding remarkably quick and complete remission in some cases. But such drugs work for less than a quarter of patients because tumors are notoriously adept at evading immune assault.

11 Aug 2020

Scientist explains why COVID-19 targets only some organs while others are spared

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to enter and infect human cells. It causes COVID-19 and can lead to a multitude of complications, including multi-organ impairment, partially due to the abundant expression of ACE2 in all human tissues.

11 Aug 2020

Study to examine possible effects of COVID-19 on dementia risk in older adults

In addition to its clear impact on physical health, COVID-19 may also have adverse consequences for brain health. Therefore, researchers at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute (RRI) are investigating the possible effects of COVID-19 and infection prevention measures on dementia risk in older adults.

11 Aug 2020

Clot perviousness associated with first-attempt success in patients treated with aspiration thrombectomy

In certain patients suffering a severe ischemic stroke, a mechanical device can be used to remove a clot blocking blood flow to the brain.

11 Aug 2020

Signature brain activity in infants predicts ASD symptoms

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely diagnosed until symptoms arise, often well into childhood. Evidence however, is mounting that developmental abnormalities likely emerge in the brain long before then: early identification of babies at risk for ASD could allow for interventions that would improve their developmental outcomes.

11 Aug 2020

Researchers develop machine learning tool to predict necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening intestinal disease of prematurity. Characterized by sudden and progressive intestinal inflammation and tissue death, it affects up to 11,000 premature infants in the United States annually, and 15-30% of affected babies die from NEC.

11 Aug 2020

Obesity in expectant mothers may hinder the development of babies' brains

Obesity in expectant mothers may hinder the development of the babies' brains as early as the second trimester, a new study finds.

11 Aug 2020

First-time opioid prescriptions may lead to substance-related problems later in life

Young adults and adolescents who are prescribed opioids for the first time may be at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem later in life, according to a new study co-authored by Indiana University researchers.

11 Aug 2020

Study: The brains of nonpartisans are different from those who strongly support one party

The brains of people with no political allegiance are different from those who strongly support one party, major new research shows.

11 Aug 2020

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission possible in North American deer mice

The current COVID-19 pandemic began as a zoonosis in China, at the end of 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel betacoronavirus with significant similarity to an earlier virus of the same family.

11 Aug 2020

TRA-1 gene determines the sex of roundworms

Biological sex is typically understood in binary terms: male and female. However, there are many examples of animals that are able to modify sex-typical biological and behavioral features and even change sex.

11 Aug 2020

Opioid initiation risk in young adults, adolescents may not be as high as previously thought

10 Aug 2020

Researchers reveal molecular workings of a key system in learning and memory formation

One of the new realities in biomedical research is that it's increasingly difficult to use a general approach to score advances. Now, investigations into disease mechanisms, for example, are often conducted at the molecular level by specialists who dedicate years to interrogating a single protein or signaling pathway.

10 Aug 2020

Only half of pregnant women worldwide get treatment for preventable Rh disease

Only half of pregnant women worldwide who need a treatment developed over 50 years ago to prevent Rh disease--an often-fatal condition in fetuses and newborns that is now exceedingly rare in the United States and Western Europe--actually receive it, finds a study led by researchers at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

10 Aug 2020

Formal education is critical for cognitive functioning across the life span

Investing time in education in childhood and early adulthood expands career opportunities and provides progressively higher salaries. It also conveys certain benefits to health and longevity.

10 Aug 2020

Additional $400,000 awarded for research projects focused on cardiovascular impact of COVID-19

The American Heart Association has awarded an additional $400,000 in research grants focused on the cardiovascular impact of COVID-19.

10 Aug 2020

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study focuses on genetic neurological disorders that develop in children over time

Research looks at convalescent plasma use in COVID-19 mouse model

Brain activity in older adults is not necessarily quieter when it comes to memory

SUTD scientists use 3D printing to create heart cells from stem cells

Mouse study shows potential new way to unlock the power of immunotherapy for cancer patients

Scientist explains why COVID-19 targets only some organs while others are spared

Study to examine possible effects of COVID-19 on dementia risk in older adults

Clot perviousness associated with first-attempt success in patients treated with aspiration thrombectomy

Signature brain activity in infants predicts ASD symptoms

Researchers develop machine learning tool to predict necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants

Obesity in expectant mothers may hinder the development of babies' brains

First-time opioid prescriptions may lead to substance-related problems later in life

Study: The brains of nonpartisans are different from those who strongly support one party

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission possible in North American deer mice

TRA-1 gene determines the sex of roundworms

Opioid initiation risk in young adults, adolescents may not be as high as previously thought

Researchers reveal molecular workings of a key system in learning and memory formation

Only half of pregnant women worldwide get treatment for preventable Rh disease

Formal education is critical for cognitive functioning across the life span

Additional $400,000 awarded for research projects focused on cardiovascular impact of COVID-19

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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