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.

Health officials have reason to 'remain hypervigilant' over H7N9

"Just as the world was breathing easier about a deadly bird flu virus that killed 371 people over the past decade before dropping out of sight, a different form of bird flu has emerged in China that is causing concern among health experts," a New York Times editorial writes.

18 Apr 2013

MD Anderson Cancer Center buys two Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) has purchased two Elekta Versa HD™ linear accelerators. The radiation therapy system, which recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, features the versatility to deliver high-volume conventional techniques, in addition to the most advanced linear-accelerator treatments that require the greatest targeting precision.

From Elekta 18 Apr 2013

Scientists reveal that stem cells, tissue-specific cells can be grown from mature mammalian cells

tem cells and tissue-specific cells can be grown in abundance from mature mammalian cells simply by blocking a certain membrane protein, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

18 Apr 2013

UTHealth neuroscientists demonstrate new strategy to overcome memory deficits

Neuroscientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have taken a major step in their efforts to help people with memory loss tied to brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

18 Apr 2013

Americans with brain diseases have more difficulty in finding a neurologist, new study reveals

Americans with brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis who need to see a neurologist may face longer wait times or have more difficulty finding a neurologist, according to a new study published in the April 17, 2013, online issue of Neurology-, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Apr 2013

UTMB researchers identify protein that can interfere with the brain's response to leptin

Ever since the appetite-regulation hormone called leptin was discovered in 1994, scientists have sought to understand the mechanisms that control its action. It was known that leptin was made by fat cells, reduced appetite and interacted with insulin , but the precise molecular details of its function -details that might enable the creation of a new treatment for obesity - remained elusive.

18 Apr 2013

Research findings could lead to novel approaches for eliminating reservoirs of HIV-1

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered how the protein that blocks HIV-1 from multiplying in white blood cells is regulated.

18 Apr 2013

Neuroscientists develop reliable method of analyzing brain activity to detect autism in children

Neuroscientists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University of Toronto have developed an efficient and reliable method of analyzing brain activity to detect autism in children.

18 Apr 2013

High frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation of brain reduces cravings for nicotine

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally. Unfortunately smoking cessation is difficult, with more than 90% of attempts to quit resulting in relapse

17 Apr 2013

New research reveals how acute stress primes brain for improved performance

Overworked and stressed out? Look on the bright side. Some stress is good for you. "You always think about stress as a really bad thing, but it's not," said Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

17 Apr 2013

New paper discusses success of boot camp courses related to neurosurgery

In July 2010, the Society of Neurological Surgeons initiated nationwide boot camp courses designed to teach incoming postgraduate Year 1 trainees fundamental skills related to the field of neurosurgery.

17 Apr 2013

U.N. nutrition report calls for increased action to address stunting in children

"A United Nations nutrition report [.pdf] released [Monday] shows that progress has been made in recent years in addressing stunting in children, and calls for increased efforts to accelerate a response to a condition that affects some 165 million children across the world," the U.N. News Centre reports.

17 Apr 2013

Study examines capabilities, limits of fMRI brain scans for detecting memories

Brain scans are increasingly able to reveal whether or not you believe you remember some person or event in your life. In a new study presented at a cognitive neuroscience meeting today, researchers used fMRI brain scans to detect whether a person recognized scenes from their own lives, as captured in some 45,000 images by digital cameras.

17 Apr 2013

Science behind medical acupuncture

A special issue of Medical Acupuncture presents a series of articles by authors from around the world who provide diverse and insightful perspectives on the science and physiologic responses underlying medical acupuncture.

17 Apr 2013

Acetaminophen may help reduce existential pain

Thinking about death can cause us to feel a sort of existential angst that isn't attributable to a specific source. Now, new research suggests that acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain medication, may help to reduce this existential pain.

17 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: 9 'brilliant legal minds' wrestle with tough biological questions in gene case; Drug overdoses take surprising toll in Calif.; VA case raises privacy questions

When the Supreme Court took up the question Monday of whether genes could be patented, the justices were clearly concerned about preserving innovation in medicine and biotechnology. But the issue presented by Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA genes cuts both ways, leading to a potential split among the justices (Jon Healey, 4/15).

17 Apr 2013

Research findings in mice may pave way towards understanding autism in human patients

For the first time, researchers have linked autism in a mouse model of the disease with abnormalities in specific regions of the animals' chromosomes.

17 Apr 2013

With Bio-patch sensor, health care can be moved into home, researcher says

The future of health care could be found in a tiny, paper-thin skin patch that collects vital information. The Bio-patch sensor developed by researchers at Stockholm's KTH Royal Institute of Technology is inexpensive, versatile and, best of all, comfortable to wear.

17 Apr 2013

Study exposes unexpected features of why humans sometimes make incorrect decisions

Making decisions involves a gradual accumulation of facts that support one choice or another. A person choosing a college might weigh factors such as course selection, institutional reputation and the quality of future job prospects.

17 Apr 2013

Research suggests fainting may be genetic while certain triggers may not be inherited

New research suggests that fainting may be genetic and, in some families, only one gene may be responsible. However, a predisposition to certain triggers, such as emotional distress or the sight of blood, may not be inherited.

16 Apr 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Health officials have reason to 'remain hypervigilant' over H7N9

MD Anderson Cancer Center buys two Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators

Scientists reveal that stem cells, tissue-specific cells can be grown from mature mammalian cells

UTHealth neuroscientists demonstrate new strategy to overcome memory deficits

Americans with brain diseases have more difficulty in finding a neurologist, new study reveals

UTMB researchers identify protein that can interfere with the brain's response to leptin

Research findings could lead to novel approaches for eliminating reservoirs of HIV-1

Neuroscientists develop reliable method of analyzing brain activity to detect autism in children

High frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation of brain reduces cravings for nicotine

New research reveals how acute stress primes brain for improved performance

New paper discusses success of boot camp courses related to neurosurgery

U.N. nutrition report calls for increased action to address stunting in children

Study examines capabilities, limits of fMRI brain scans for detecting memories

Science behind medical acupuncture

Acetaminophen may help reduce existential pain

Viewpoints: 9 'brilliant legal minds' wrestle with tough biological questions in gene case; Drug overdoses take surprising toll in Calif.; VA case raises privacy questions

Research findings in mice may pave way towards understanding autism in human patients

With Bio-patch sensor, health care can be moved into home, researcher says

Study exposes unexpected features of why humans sometimes make incorrect decisions

Research suggests fainting may be genetic while certain triggers may not be inherited

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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