Central Nervous System News and Research

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Novel combined immunotherapy promising for treatment of malignant brain tumors

A new Phase I clinical trial conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in Los Angeles shows that two innovative treatment approaches may safely be combined to treat patients with highly aggressive, malignant brain tumors called gliomas. The results suggest that combining the two therapies might boost their effectiveness and supports the pursuit of additional studies on this approach to treating these tumors.

4 May 2010

Neural stem cell transplantation promising for Batten disease

Neuronal Ceroid Liposfuscinosis (NCL), often referred to as Batten disease, is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that afflicts infants and young children. NCL is caused by a deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme, and is a relatively rare disease, affecting an estimated 2 to 4 of every 100,000 babies born in the U.S. Although NCLs are classified as rare diseases, they often affect more than one child in families that carry the defective gene, and tragically, are always fatal.

4 May 2010

Researchers evaluate efficacy of GKRS in patients with pituitary adenoma

In 2009, it was estimated that a total of 22,070 new cases of brain and other CNS tumors were diagnosed. Pituitary adenomas represent one of the most common brain tumors. Large studies report that approximately 10-20 percent of the population harbors a pituitary tumor. According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, 13.4 percent of all brain and CNS tumors diagnosed in 2009 were located in the pituitary.

4 May 2010

Leptin hormone controls immune’s response to sepsis: Study

The hormone leptin, typically associated with body weight regulation, works within the central nervous system (CNS) to aid the immune system's defense against sepsis, researchers say.

3 May 2010

Tel Aviv scientist uncovers a new way of detecting multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an equal opportunity destroyer. It attacks the central nervous system and eventually renders most patients disabled. Among its high-profile victims are celebrated cellist Jacqueline du Pre, whose career was ended by MS, and Joan Didion, one of America's greatest writers - but they are far from alone.

30 Apr 2010

UC Irvine scientists receive CIRM grants for stem cell research

Two UC Irvine scientists will receive grants totaling more than $2.6 million to study the underlying biology of stem cells aimed at treating spinal cord injury, cancer and other disorders.

30 Apr 2010

Investment report on Somaxon Pharmaceuticals from MicroStockProfit.com

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

29 Apr 2010

Evotec to receive EUR 1.5M from German BMBF for advancing H3 receptor antagonist programme

Evotec AG today announced that it will receive funding of up to EUR 1.5 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to advance its H3 receptor antagonist programme into the clinic.

27 Apr 2010

MicroStockProfit.com releases investment report on Rexahn Pharmaceuticals

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

26 Apr 2010

Myths and facts about pediatric cancer

"Your child has cancer." They are words every parent can't imagine hearing.

24 Apr 2010

Mayo Clinic study finds changes in tissue damage throughout the course of MS

A new Mayo Clinic study has found that the type of tissue damage changes throughout the course of multiple sclerosis. In early relapsing disease stages, the plaques, or areas where the nervous system is inflamed or demyelinated, are predominantly active with distinct heterogeneous patterns of myelin damage.

23 Apr 2010

StemCells to initiate second clinical trial of HuCNS-SC human neural stem cells in NCL

StemCells, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a protocol to the FDA for initiation of a second clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC human neural stem cells in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, which is also often referred to as Batten disease.

22 Apr 2010

Researchers discover subunits of GABAB receptors in central nervous system

In the latest issue of the renowned scientific journal "Nature" researchers from the universities of Freiburg and Basel report on their discovery of previously unknown subunits of the GABAB receptors in the central nervous system. GABAB receptors are transmembrane proteins in nerve cells which are of fundamental significance for the functioning of the brain and have great therapeutical and pharmaceutical importance.

21 Apr 2010

Acorda Therapeutics to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of GGF2 for heart failure in mid-2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced plans to initiate a Phase 1 single-dose clinical trial of the Company's compound, Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2), in patients with heart failure in mid-2010, based on an IND filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 19, 2010. GGF2 has been shown to protect heart muscle and restore cardiac function in preclinical models of heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiotoxicity.

20 Apr 2010

Basal ganglia and cerebellum linked together to form integrated functional network: Researchers

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found new evidence that the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, two important areas in the central nervous system, are linked together to form an integrated functional network. The findings are available online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

20 Apr 2010

OECs may hold promise for pediatric cerebral palsy treatment

A unique cell type that supports and surrounds (ensheathes) neurons within the nose (olfactory system) known as olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), possess the ability to regenerate, are relatively easy to obtain, and have become prime candidates for transplantation to repair a number of lesions in the central nervous system (CNS).

19 Apr 2010

Potential drug to annul ADAM-17 protein activity needed

Over the past four years, in the installations of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Cadiz, a group of researchers, headed by Doctor Carmen Estrada, has been studying neurogenesis - the process of forming new neurons from mother cells - in the adult mammal brain. The purpose of this research project is to contribute to the knowledge of this process with the object of finding some additional mechanism that would facilitate the treatment of pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) that are suffered in consequence of neuronal death.

19 Apr 2010

Exposure to dust after WTC collapse impairs ability to detect odors and sense irritants

Individuals involved in rescue, recovery, demolition, and clean-up after the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster on September 11, 2001, were exposed to a complex mixture of airborne smoke, dust, combustion gases, acid mists, and metal fumes. The impact of this exposure on responders' upper and lower respiratory function has been well documented, but little is known about its impact on their sensitivity to odor and irritants.

19 Apr 2010

Honey beneficial for treatment of fungating tumor wounds

Surviving cancer is physically and emotionally exhausting. But for many patients, beating the disease itself is just the first hurdle. A second ordeal comes from living with the fungating tumor wounds that accompany various cancers. Aside from the pain they inflict, these wounds often emit a strong and offensive odor. Not only does going into public become potentially embarrassing, but it also can be extremely depressing when even close family members are repulsed by the smell.

17 Apr 2010

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals proposes common stock public offering

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration in cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system injuries, ophthalmic indications and dermal wounds, announced today that it intends to offer units consisting of shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase shares of its common stock in a public offering.

17 Apr 2010