Brain News and Research

RSS

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.

Novartis Bexsero pivotal study data on meningococcal serogroup B presented at ESPID

New data from a pivotal study in more than 1,800 infants show that Novartis candidate vaccine Bexsero induces a robust immune response to meningococcal serogroup B when given alone or when co-administered with other routine vaccines.

15 Jun 2011

Researchers reveal how anti-arrhythmic drugs control irregular heartbeats

University of British Columbia researchers - using an innovative, atom-by-atom substitution method - have uncovered the mechanism by which a particular class of drugs controls irregular heartbeats.

15 Jun 2011

Study investigates effects of dopamine replacement therapy on cognition in patients with Parkinson's

Dopamine replacement therapy, which is used to manage motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, can, at times, adversely affect cognition.

15 Jun 2011

Newborn neurons help create emotional context of memory

Fear burns memories into our brain, and new research by University of California, Berkeley, neuroscientists explains how.

15 Jun 2011

Study links cysteine with obesity-related diseases

People with high levels of the amino acid cysteine carry 6-10 kilograms more fat than other people. Norwegian researchers studying this phenomenon are generating knowledge which could help to prevent and treat life-threatening obesity.

15 Jun 2011

CerebralRx launches FitNeS vagus nerve stimulation system for treating epilepsy

CerebralRx, a newly formed spin-off of implantable neuromodulation systems developer BioControl Medical, has announced market entry with the launch of its FitNeS vagus nerve stimulation system.

14 Jun 2011

Scientists discover Sonic Hedgehog protein's mechanism of action

A scientific breakthrough by researchers at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) will be published tomorrow in Developmental Cell, a scientific journal of the Cell Press group. Led by Dr. Frédéric Charron, the team of scientists discovered a new requirement for the proper functioning of the Sonic Hedgehog protein.

14 Jun 2011

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can reduce work productivity

Large corporations could save millions of dollars in lost productivity by screening and treating high-risk employees for obstructive sleep apnea, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

14 Jun 2011

Scientists find novel form of brain plasticity

Scientists have known for years that neurogenesis takes place throughout adulthood in the hippocampus of the mammalian brain. Now Columbia researchers have found that under stressful conditions, neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus can produce not only neurons, but also new stem cells.

14 Jun 2011

New findings from Deplin clinical trial on major depressive disorder presented at NCDEU

New findings from a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study of Deplin 15mg added to commonly prescribed antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors showed that all patients who achieved remission at 30 days using Deplin 15mg adjuvant therapy, and who chose to enter a 12 month maintenance phase, maintained their remission after a year of treatment.

14 Jun 2011

Sleep provides performance benefits in classroom

Sleep can help college students retain and integrate new information to solve problems on a classroom exam, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Tuesday, June 14, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

14 Jun 2011

FDA clears Mitsubishi's PATHFAST cardiac Troponin I diagnostic test

Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) premarketing notification clearance to the PATHFAST cTnI-II diagnostic test, clearing the way for its sale in the United States.

14 Jun 2011

Exposure to cigarettes fosters tween smoking: New study

Exposure to secondhand smoke can create symptoms of nicotine dependence in non-smoking preteens, according to a new study from Concordia University and the University of Montreal.

14 Jun 2011

Roundup: States controlled by GOP pass sweeping changes; state budgets still very lean from recession; La. Gov. wrestling with legislature over spending

Republicans controlled all the levers of government in a staggering number of states this year — and it showed. Holding a lock on the governorship and both houses of the legislature in 20 states, GOP conservatives advanced an agenda that may change the face of state government for decades. They honored pledges not to raise taxes by enacting huge spending cuts to balance budgets in Florida and Texas.

14 Jun 2011

Genetic link to migraine found

In a latest study researchers have discovered a trio of genes tied to migraine headaches, including one in which the link is exclusive to women.

13 Jun 2011

Frontal cerebral thermal transfer can eliminate insomnia symptoms

People with primary insomnia may be able to find relief by wearing a cap that cools the brain during sleep, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

13 Jun 2011

Positive preliminary results from CytRx bafetinib Phase 2 trial for relapsed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that preliminary results from its ENABLE Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial demonstrated that bafetinib, the Company's Bcr-Abl, Lyn and Fyn kinase inhibitor, was clinically active in a group of patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who have failed several other treatments for their cancer.

13 Jun 2011

Severe sleep apnea increases risk of gestational diabetes and preterm birth in pregnant women

Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

13 Jun 2011

Daytime sleepiness influences brain's response to food and affects eating behavior

Daytime sleepiness may affect inhibitory control in the brain when viewing tantalizing, high-calorie foods, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

13 Jun 2011

Servier, Cortex sign new option agreement for AMPAKINE technology

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. entered into a new agreement with Servier to sell its remaining rights to the jointly discovered high impact AMPAKINE compound, CX1632.

13 Jun 2011