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.

Research findings reveal promising new anti-addiction drug

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine's effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice.

23 May 2013

Neuroscientist receives Karl Spencer Lashley Award from APS for pioneering work on neuroscience of vision

The American Philosophical Society (APS) has awarded New York University neuroscientist J. Anthony Movshon its 2013 Karl Spencer Lashley Award in recognition of his "pioneering work on the neuroscience of vision."

22 May 2013

Physicians face medical challenges in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients

Physicians at Monash University and The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia describe the logistic, medical, and societal challenges faced in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients.

22 May 2013

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to grow up aggressive, antisocial

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in early childhood are more likely to grow up to physically aggressive and antisocial, regardless of whether they were exposed during pregnancy or their parents have a history of being antisocial, according to Linda Pagani and Caroline Fitzpatrick of the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine hospital.

22 May 2013

Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College wins AWSM Award for Excellence

Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College and provost for medical affairs of Cornell University, is the winner of a prestigious award from a group of female scientists from The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research dedicated to celebrating outstanding women in science and medicine.

22 May 2013

Obesity directly tied to several cancers

"Obesity is a major risk factor for developing cancer, roughly the equivalent of tobacco use, and both are potentially reversible. Further, obese cancer patients do worse in surgery, with radiation or on chemotherapy - worse by any measure." Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., Director of MD Anderson's new Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship and professor of Behavioral Science.

22 May 2013

Ongoing clinical study to evaluate benefits of high-dose simvastatin for patients with SAH

Can treatment with high doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug improve outcomes for patients with stroke caused by rupture and bleeding of brain aneurysms? An ongoing clinical trial will soon find out, according to an article in the May issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

22 May 2013

Emory University researchers identify a protein that stimulates orphan receptors in the brain

Researchers at Emory University have identified a protein that stimulates a pair of "orphan receptors" found in the brain, solving a long-standing biological puzzle and possibly leading to future treatments for neurological diseases.

22 May 2013

Study reinforces efficacy of NeuroStar TMS Therapy System in patients with MDD

New data released today at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association show that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy System induced statistically and clinically meaningful response and remission in patients with Major Depressive Disorder during the acute phase of therapy, which were maintained through one year of treatment.

22 May 2013

Environmental enrichment therapy improves behaviors of children with autism

Children with autism showed significant improvement after six months of simple sensory exercises at home using everyday items such as scents, spoons and sponges, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists.

22 May 2013

Poliovirus vaccine study shows encouraging results in glioblastoma patients

An attack on glioblastoma brain tumor cells that uses a modified poliovirus is showing encouraging results in an early study to establish the proper dose level, researchers at Duke Cancer Institute report.

22 May 2013

New study identifies risk factors for rupture or bleeding in children with arachnoid cysts

Arachnoid cysts are a common type of brain lesion that is usually harmless, but with a risk of rupture or bleeding. A new study identifies risk factors for rupture or bleeding in children with "incidentally" detected arachnoid cysts, reports the May issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

22 May 2013

Vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB bacteria in lab

In a striking, unexpected discovery, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria in laboratory culture.

22 May 2013

Alzheimer's disease: Researchers find new drug to prevent, treat the disease

Researchers at USC have found that a class of pharmaceuticals can both prevent and treat Alzheimer's Disease in mice.

22 May 2013

Nutritional supplement improves functioning of genes involved in degenerative brain disorders

Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Proven to improve cognition and slow memory loss, it's a popular treatment for older people experiencing memory impairment.

22 May 2013

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution associated with higher hyperactivity

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

21 May 2013

Difficult-to-interpret patterns important for complex brain functions

Many brain researchers cannot see the forest for the trees. When they use electrodes to record the activity patterns of individual neurons, the patterns often appear chaotic and difficult to interpret. "But when you zoom out from looking at individual cells, and observe a large number of neurons instead, their global activity is very informative," says Mattia Rigotti, a scientist at Columbia University and New York University who is supported by the SNSF and the Janggen-Pöhn-Stiftung.

21 May 2013

New research suggests that listening to music lowers anxiety, sedation in ventilated patients

New research suggests that for some hospitalized ICU patients on mechanical ventilators, using headphones to listen to their favorite types of music could lower anxiety and reduce their need for sedative medications.

21 May 2013

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

21 May 2013

Diachisis can occur during subacute phase of ischemic stroke, find USF researchers

While the effects of acute stroke have been widely studied, brain damage during the subacute phase of stroke has been a neglected area of research. Now, a new study by the University of South Florida reports that within a week of a stroke caused by a blood clot in one side of the brain, the opposite side of the brain shows signs of microvascular injury.

21 May 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Research findings reveal promising new anti-addiction drug

Neuroscientist receives Karl Spencer Lashley Award from APS for pioneering work on neuroscience of vision

Physicians face medical challenges in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to grow up aggressive, antisocial

Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College wins AWSM Award for Excellence

Obesity directly tied to several cancers

Ongoing clinical study to evaluate benefits of high-dose simvastatin for patients with SAH

Emory University researchers identify a protein that stimulates orphan receptors in the brain

Study reinforces efficacy of NeuroStar TMS Therapy System in patients with MDD

Environmental enrichment therapy improves behaviors of children with autism

Poliovirus vaccine study shows encouraging results in glioblastoma patients

New study identifies risk factors for rupture or bleeding in children with arachnoid cysts

Vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB bacteria in lab

Alzheimer's disease: Researchers find new drug to prevent, treat the disease

Nutritional supplement improves functioning of genes involved in degenerative brain disorders

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution associated with higher hyperactivity

Difficult-to-interpret patterns important for complex brain functions

New research suggests that listening to music lowers anxiety, sedation in ventilated patients

Multiple studies examine ideal biomarkers for Huntington's disease

Diachisis can occur during subacute phase of ischemic stroke, find USF researchers

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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