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.

Left-sided brain injury increases infection risk

Patients with a left-sided brain injury are more likely to develop hospital-acquired infections than those with right-sided injury, show study findings.

5 Mar 2013

Upgraded implantation method hones epileptogenic zone targeting

Stereoelectroencephalography methodology is accurate for identification of brain regions that are susceptible to seizures and serves as a reliable presurgical evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

5 Mar 2013

Even mild sports-related head impacts can affect cognition

Results from a small study suggest that even a sport-related head impact that does not cause obvious injury, such as “heading” a ball in football or soccer, may result in impaired cognition.

5 Mar 2013

Study reveals key predictors of speech gains in children with autism, severe language delay

New findings published in Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) by the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders reveal that 70 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders who have a history of severe language delay, achieved phrase or fluent speech by age eight.

5 Mar 2013

Schizophrenic people with MIR137 tend to develop illness at younger age

Some of the dramatic differences seen among patients with schizophrenia may be explained by a single gene that regulates a group of other schizophrenia risk genes. These findings appear in a new imaging-genetics study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

5 Mar 2013

KMO gene variant associated with increased production of kynurenic acid

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study, which is published in the scientific periodical Molecular Psychiatry, identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

5 Mar 2013

FES cycling associated with improvements in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

A new study by Kennedy Krieger Institute's International Center for Spinal Cord Injury finds that long-term lower extremity functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling, as part of a rehabilitation regimen, is associated with substantial improvements in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

5 Mar 2013

Researchers identify distinctive brain patterns associated with general anesthesia drug

Since the mid-1800s, doctors have used drugs to induce general anesthesia in patients undergoing surgery.

5 Mar 2013

Brain adds new cells during puberty to help navigate complex social world of adulthood

The brain adds new cells during puberty to help navigate the complex social world of adulthood, two Michigan State University neuroscientists report in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

5 Mar 2013

Scientists discover how to detect abnormal brain rhythms associated with Parkinson's

A team of scientists and clinicians at UC San Francisco has discovered how to detect abnormal brain rhythms associated with Parkinson's by implanting electrodes within the brains of people with the disease.

5 Mar 2013

Overall risk of infection associated with most neuroangiographic procedures is very low

Patients undergoing cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures on the brain are at very low risk of infection-even without preventive antibiotics, reports a study in the March issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

5 Mar 2013

Results from Pfizer’s Prevnar 13 Phase 3 study on HIV

Pfizer Inc. presented today the results from a Phase 3 study demonstrating the immunogenicity, tolerability and safety of Prevnar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine Diphtheria CRM197 Protein)in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

5 Mar 2013

Positive results from NeuroDerm ND0612 Phase I trial on Parkinson's

NeuroDerm, Ltd. announced today the results of a Phase I safety and pharmacokinetic trial of ND0612, a novel drug formulation for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

4 Mar 2013

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

A multi-institution group of researchers has found new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders.

4 Mar 2013

Study finds how to shut down Bcl6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The powerful master regulatory transcription factor called Bcl6 is key to the survival of a majority of aggressive lymphomas, which arise from the B-cells of the immune system. The protein has long been considered too complex to target with a drug since it is also crucial to the healthy functioning of many immune cells in the body, not just B cells gone bad.

4 Mar 2013

Autistic children with severe language delay achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight

New findings published in Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) by the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders reveal that 70 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have a history of severe language delay, achieved phrase or fluent speech by age eight.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Researchers supported by The ALS Association have discovered how mutations in new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genes cause not only ALS but also other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone.

4 Mar 2013

Researchers discover how LRRK2 mutations in familial Parkinson's damage brain cells

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered how the most common genetic mutations in familial Parkinson's disease damage brain cells.

4 Mar 2013

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered mutations in two genes that lead to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and related degenerative diseases.

4 Mar 2013

UNC1215 chemical probe can help investigate L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain

In an article published as the cover story of the March 2013 issue of Nature Chemical Biology, Lindsey James, PhD, research assistant professor in the lab of Stephen Frye, Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor in the UNC School of Pharmacy and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, announced the discovery of a chemical probe that can be used to investigate the L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain.

3 Mar 2013

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Left-sided brain injury increases infection risk

Upgraded implantation method hones epileptogenic zone targeting

Even mild sports-related head impacts can affect cognition

Study reveals key predictors of speech gains in children with autism, severe language delay

Schizophrenic people with MIR137 tend to develop illness at younger age

KMO gene variant associated with increased production of kynurenic acid

FES cycling associated with improvements in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

Researchers identify distinctive brain patterns associated with general anesthesia drug

Brain adds new cells during puberty to help navigate complex social world of adulthood

Scientists discover how to detect abnormal brain rhythms associated with Parkinson's

Overall risk of infection associated with most neuroangiographic procedures is very low

Results from Pfizer’s Prevnar 13 Phase 3 study on HIV

Positive results from NeuroDerm ND0612 Phase I trial on Parkinson's

Researchers discover new candidate disease proteins for neurodegenerative disorders

Study finds how to shut down Bcl6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Autistic children with severe language delay achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight

Study identifies how new ALS gene mutations cause other diseases of the brain, muscle and bone

Researchers discover how LRRK2 mutations in familial Parkinson's damage brain cells

Study identifies two gene mutations that lead to death of nerve cells in ALS

UNC1215 chemical probe can help investigate L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain

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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