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.

Clinical trials to test safety of 3K3A-APC in patients with ischemic stroke

Clinical trials start this week for a stroke drug initially created by a team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the University of Southern California (USC), and further developed by biotech company ZZ Biotech.

9 Aug 2012

Novel model may allow clinicians to predict potential for recovery after SCI

For more than 1 million people in the U.S. living with spinal cord injury, the frightening days and weeks following the injury are filled with uncertainty about their potential for recovery and future independence. A new model based on motor scores at admission and early imaging studies may allow clinicians to predict functional outcomes and guide decision-making for therapy and care-giving needs, as described in an article published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

9 Aug 2012

Scientists develop new way to study role of GABA-A receptors in various disorders

A new way to study the role of a critical neurotransmitter in disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction has been developed by a group of scientists led by Gong Chen, an associate professor of biology at Penn State University.

9 Aug 2012

Combination of two existing pharmaceutical drugs shows promise against cocaine addiction

A fine-tuned combination of two existing pharmaceutical drugs has shown promise as a potential new therapy for people addicted to cocaine—a therapy that would reduce their craving for the drug and blunt their symptoms of withdrawal.

9 Aug 2012

FDA approves label changes for Stryker Wingspan Stent System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved changes to the labeling for the Stryker Wingspan Stent System, including the indications for use. These changes, which the FDA outlined in a safety communication also issued today, specify a more limited group of patients who may benefit from the system.

From Stryker 9 Aug 2012

Data from IMUC’s ICT-107 Phase I trial on glioblastoma multiforme accepted for publication

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics announced today that clinical data from its Phase I trial of ICT-107 was accepted for publication, and is currently in the online edition of the prestigious medical journal Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.

9 Aug 2012

Researchers develop and test new prostate cancer screening method

Researchers have successfully developed and tested a new prostate cancer screening method that uses the combined power of a novel drug therapy and changes in PSA levels over time to identify men with a high PSA who are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer despite negative biopsies.

9 Aug 2012

The ALS Association announces new grants to support research on Lou Gehrig's Disease

The ALS Association announced today its latest research awards that include funding commitments of $4 million to researchers in 31 laboratories in the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany and Canada. These awards are part of its Translational Research Advancing Therapies for ALS (TREAT ALS™) program, through which The Association funds a diverse portfolio of research to find treatments and a cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease.

9 Aug 2012

Active Biotech, Teva to commence third Phase III study of laquinimod for RRMS

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Active Biotech provided today an update on the clinical development program of once-daily oral laquinimod for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

9 Aug 2012

Work solvent-related brain tumor concerns allayed

There is no consistent evidence for increased risk for glioma or meningioma following occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents, say researchers.

8 Aug 2012

Technology for assessing Bradykinesia response to novel therapies in Parkinson’s Disease to be developed by Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies

Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies announced today that they have received $1.5 million in funding to commercialize a technology for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients that will better assess motor symptoms in response to new deep brain stimulation (DBS) and pharmaceutical therapies.

8 Aug 2012

Advanced Radiology to offer Amyvid for detection of AD

Advanced Radiology, a division of RadNet, Inc., a national market leader providing high-quality, cost-effective diagnostic imaging services through a network of 237 fully-owned and operated outpatient imaging centers, announced it will be one of a small number of imaging centers in the U.S. to offer Amyvid, a radioactive tracer used in positron emission tomography – computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging that helps to detect the quantity of beta-amyloid plaque in patient's brains.

8 Aug 2012

Global market value of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics could soar to $8 billion: GEN

The global market value of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics could soar to the $8 billion range once therapeutics are approved that actually change the course of the disease, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN).

8 Aug 2012

About half of adults with type 2 diabetes experience acute and chronic pain

Almost half of adults with type 2 diabetes report acute and chronic pain, and close to one quarter report neuropathy, fatigue, depression, sleep disturbance and physical or emotional disability, according to a study of more than 13,000 adults conducted by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, the University of California, San Francisco and the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA. The researchers also found significant rates of shortness of breath, nausea and constipation.

8 Aug 2012

Scientists discover important neural mechanism underlying dyslexia

To participate successfully in life, it is important to be able to read and write. Nevertheless, many children and adults have difficulties in acquiring these skills and the reason is not always obvious. They suffer from dyslexia which can have a variety of symptoms. Thanks to research carried out by Bego-a D-az and her colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, a major step forward has been made in understanding the cause of dyslexia.

8 Aug 2012

Risk of arteriovenous malformation bleeding is eight times higher during pregnancy

A new study supports what neurosurgeons have long suspected—that pregnancy is an important risk factor for bleeding from arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the brain, reports the August issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

8 Aug 2012

Healthy diets may increase children’s IQ

Children fed healthy diets in early age may have a slightly higher IQ, while those on heavier junk food diets may have a slightly reduced IQ, according to new research from the University of Adelaide.

8 Aug 2012

Certain patterns of brain activity may help predict kids at risk of heavy drinking

Heavy drinking is known to affect teenagers' developing brains, but certain patterns of brain activity may also help predict which kids are at risk of becoming problem drinkers, according to a study in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

8 Aug 2012

Healthcare professionals receive SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress abstract awards

Results of the highly anticipated Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster Awards were announced at SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2012, held on 3 and 4 August 2012 at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

8 Aug 2012

Studies identify genetic mutations that play important roles in startle disease

Two studies published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry identify genetic mutations that play important roles in the condition commonly referred to as startle disease. Startle disease is characterized by an exaggerated response to noise and touch, which can interfere with breathing, cause catastrophic falls and even result in death.

8 Aug 2012

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Clinical trials to test safety of 3K3A-APC in patients with ischemic stroke

Novel model may allow clinicians to predict potential for recovery after SCI

Scientists develop new way to study role of GABA-A receptors in various disorders

Combination of two existing pharmaceutical drugs shows promise against cocaine addiction

FDA approves label changes for Stryker Wingspan Stent System

Data from IMUC’s ICT-107 Phase I trial on glioblastoma multiforme accepted for publication

Researchers develop and test new prostate cancer screening method

The ALS Association announces new grants to support research on Lou Gehrig's Disease

Active Biotech, Teva to commence third Phase III study of laquinimod for RRMS

Work solvent-related brain tumor concerns allayed

Technology for assessing Bradykinesia response to novel therapies in Parkinson’s Disease to be developed by Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies

Advanced Radiology to offer Amyvid for detection of AD

Global market value of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics could soar to $8 billion: GEN

About half of adults with type 2 diabetes experience acute and chronic pain

Scientists discover important neural mechanism underlying dyslexia

Risk of arteriovenous malformation bleeding is eight times higher during pregnancy

Healthy diets may increase children’s IQ

Certain patterns of brain activity may help predict kids at risk of heavy drinking

Healthcare professionals receive SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress abstract awards

Studies identify genetic mutations that play important roles in startle disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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