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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.

Treatment with TYSABRI reduces the rate of hospitalization in Crohn’s patients

Elan Corporation, plc and Biogen Idec today announced data showing that treatment with TYSABRI® (natalizumab) significantly reduced the rate of hospitalization compared with placebo in patients with moderate–to–severe Crohn’s disease during both induction and maintenance treatment.

28 Oct 2009

New clinical uses for old hypertension drug leads to several patents

University of South Florida neuroscientist R. Douglas Shytle's discovery of successful new clinical uses for mecamylamine, a drug once used to treat hypertension, has led to several issued patents on mecamylamine and related compounds. Earlier this month, Shytle, associate professor and research scientist at the USF Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair and the USF Silver Child Development Center, received the university's 2009 "Excellence in Innovation" award.

28 Oct 2009

NCKU transfers microalgal docosahexaenoic acid production technology to Vedan Biotechnology

NCKU President, Academician Michael Ming-Chiao Lai, signed Technology Transfer Agreement in this morning with Mr. Tou-Hsiung Yang, Chairman of Vedan International (Holding) Ltd, witnessed by Vedan Biotechnology President Shih-An (Raymond) Yang and the inventor, Prof. Huey-Lang Yang of the NCKU Institute of Biotechnology.

28 Oct 2009

Rutgers scientist receives 2009 Gruber International Research Award

For the first time, it now is possible for researchers to peer into those internal processes in a rodent brain. Eva Pastalkova, a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University, Newark and her advisor, Professor Gy-rgy Buzsaki, have developed a method for studying internally generated brain activity in rats.

28 Oct 2009

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes data on Slo-Niacin and Lipitor combination study

Results of the SLIM Study ("Slo-Niacin® and Atorvastatin Treatment of Lipoproteins and Inflammatory Markers in Combined Hyperlipidemia") were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

28 Oct 2009

Susceptibility to schizophrenia and autism may have common genetic fingerprints, says researchers

Johns Hopkins scientists report having used a commercially available drug to successfully "rescue" animal brain cells that they had intentionally damaged by manipulating a newly discovered gene that links susceptibility genes for schizophrenia and autism.

28 Oct 2009

Arena Pharmaceuticals presents data from its Phase 3 trial of LOrcaserin

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported today data from the pivotal BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management) Phase 3 trial that demonstrate improvements in patients' body composition, cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life. These findings add to the previously announced top-line BLOSSOM data that showed highly significant weight loss with lorcaserin over one year of treatment in 4,008 patients.

28 Oct 2009

Medtronic announces the international launch of PoleStar N30 Surgical MRI system

This week at the annual Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) announced the Conformite Europeen (CE) mark and international launch of the PoleStar® N30 Surgical MRI system, the latest in neuro oncology surgical solutions.

28 Oct 2009

King Pharmaceuticals receives exclusive rights to market and sell CYANOKIT

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has licensed from Merck Santé S.A.S., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the exclusive rights to market and sell CYANOKIT® 5 g (hydroxocobalamin for injection) ANTIDOTE in the U.S. CYANOKIT® is indicated for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning, typically caused by smoke inhalation from fires.

28 Oct 2009

Scientists explore genetic 'Prozac markers'; research may provide simple test for treating depression

Prozac works wonders for some depressed people, but not for others. In some cases, patients derive little benefit and at worst, it can lead to bizarre hallucinations and fits of rage. Researchers and doctors remain puzzled as to what causes the wide range of reaction to Prozac and similar antidepressants.

28 Oct 2009

Hyperion Therapeutics enrolls first patient in HPN-100 phase III clinical trial for urea cycle disorders

Hyperion Therapeutics today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its pivotal phase III clinical trial of investigational compound HPN-100 (glycerol phenylbutyrate). The 4-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study is designed to evaluate the non-inferiority of glycerol phenylbutyrate to BUPHENYL® (sodium phenylbutyrate) Tablets and Powder in adults with urea cycle disorders.

27 Oct 2009

Amorfix Life Sciences detects prions in blood from non-human primates that were orally-infected with BSE

Amorfix Life Sciences, a company focused on treatments and diagnostics for misfolded protein diseases, announced today it has detected prions in blood from non-human primates that were orally-infected with BSE and developed a primate version of vCJD.

27 Oct 2009

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics presents additional data from its ICT-107 Phase I clinical trial

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., a biotechnology company that is focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, today announced additional data from its Phase I clinical trial evaluating ICT-107, the Company’s dendritic-cell based cancer vaccine product candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

27 Oct 2009

Public lecture on "swearing as a response to pain"

Dr Richard Stephens and his colleagues John Atkins and Andrew Kingston found that swearing can increase pain tolerance. Sixty-four undergraduate volunteers were asked to submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice; they were then asked to repeat the experiment, this time using a more commonplace word that they would use to describe a table.

27 Oct 2009

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results and updates of its clinical trials

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

27 Oct 2009

International experts discuss ion radiation therapy

The largest congress worldwide on the topic of particle or ion therapy - radiation with heavy ions and protons - has taken place in the fall of 2009 in Heidelberg. Well over 600 international participants, especially from Japan and the USA, convened in the Heidelberg Town Hall for the annual meeting of the "Particle Therapy Cooperative Group" (PTCOG), including leading experts from the fields of radiation therapy, medical physics and oncology.

27 Oct 2009

Vaccination rates need improvement; racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage

More teenagers are being vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal meningitis and pertussis (whooping cough), though the rates are still too low, according to recently released government data and a panel of experts convened by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

27 Oct 2009

Quark Pharmaceuticals receives a Japanese patent for its hypoxia regulated genes

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage pharmaceutical company discovering and developing novel RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics, today announced issuance of Japanese Patent Number: 4354633, titled, "Hypoxia regulated genes," on August 7, 2009.

27 Oct 2009

Discovery of molecular pathway in brain may reverse cognitive impact of sleep deprivation

A research collaboration led by biologists and neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania has found a molecular pathway in the brain that is the cause of cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation.

27 Oct 2009

Genetic mutations cause for SIDS and SUDS

Scientists and clinicians at the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cardiogenetics have teamed up and found that genetic mutations leading to Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) could be causing electrical malfunctioning of the heart resulting in the mysterious deaths more commonly known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome (SUDS) in people older than 12 months of age.

27 Oct 2009

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Treatment with TYSABRI reduces the rate of hospitalization in Crohn’s patients

New clinical uses for old hypertension drug leads to several patents

NCKU transfers microalgal docosahexaenoic acid production technology to Vedan Biotechnology

Rutgers scientist receives 2009 Gruber International Research Award

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes data on Slo-Niacin and Lipitor combination study

Susceptibility to schizophrenia and autism may have common genetic fingerprints, says researchers

Arena Pharmaceuticals presents data from its Phase 3 trial of LOrcaserin

Medtronic announces the international launch of PoleStar N30 Surgical MRI system

King Pharmaceuticals receives exclusive rights to market and sell CYANOKIT

Scientists explore genetic 'Prozac markers'; research may provide simple test for treating depression

Hyperion Therapeutics enrolls first patient in HPN-100 phase III clinical trial for urea cycle disorders

Amorfix Life Sciences detects prions in blood from non-human primates that were orally-infected with BSE

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics presents additional data from its ICT-107 Phase I clinical trial

Public lecture on "swearing as a response to pain"

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results and updates of its clinical trials

International experts discuss ion radiation therapy

Vaccination rates need improvement; racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage

Quark Pharmaceuticals receives a Japanese patent for its hypoxia regulated genes

Discovery of molecular pathway in brain may reverse cognitive impact of sleep deprivation

Genetic mutations cause for SIDS and SUDS

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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