RxPG News : Neurosciences

Researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions

Sun, 11 May 2008 01:12:56 PST

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions, which eventually could lead to therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, stroke, dementia and malignant gliomas.

High blood urate slows progrssion of Parkinson's Disease

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:47:49 PST

Higher blood levels of the compound urate, a salt derived from uric acid that is associated with gout, may be associated with a slower progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the June 2008 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Glutamate- involved in blocking response to anti-epileptic medication

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:41:38 PST

Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body’s own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain. Researchers say this may explain why approximately 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic medications. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Medical School, in collaboration with Heidrun Potschka’s laboratory at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, is available online and will appear in the May 2008, issue of Molecular Pharmacology.

Insects evolved radically different strategy to smell

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Darwin's tree of life represents the path and estimates the time evolution took to get to the current diversity of life. Now, new findings suggest that this tree, an icon of evolution, may need to be redrawn. In research to be published in the April 13 advance online issue of Nature, researchers at Rockefeller University and the University of Tokyo have joined forces to reveal that insects have adopted a strategy to detect odors that is radically different from those of other organisms -- an unexpected and controversial finding that may dissolve a dominant ideology in the field.

Repeated methamphetamine use causes long-term adaptations in brains of mice, researchers find

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Repeatedly stimulating the mouse brain with methamphetamine depresses important areas of the brain, and those changes can only be undone by re-introducing the drug, according to research at the University of Washington and other institutions. The study, which appears in the April 10 issue of the journal Neuron, provides one of the most in-depth views of the mechanisms of methamphetamine addiction, and suggests that withdrawal from the drug may not undo the changes the stimulant can cause in the brain.

Surgeons announce advance in atrial fibrillation surgery

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Heart surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that by adding a simple 10-20 second step to an operative procedure they achieved a significant improvement in the outcome for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Short and long duration sleepers gain weight

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:22:27 PST

Both short and long sleeping times predict an increased risk of future body weight and fat gain in adults, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

Scientists find a key culprit in stroke brain cell damage

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have identified a key player in the killing of brain cells after a stroke or a seizure. The protein asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) unleashes enzymes that break down brain cells' DNA, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found.

Recurrence high - Cerebral aneurysm in Smokers treated by Coil Embolization

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:55:30 PST

Cigarette smokers who were treated for cerebral aneurysms with coil embolization (blocking of a blood vessel) are at greater risk of developing another aneurysm, say neurological surgeons at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Philadelphia in the first-known study of its kind.

Second depth-perception method in brain

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:01:40 PST

It’s common knowledge that humans and other animals are able to visually judge depth because we have two eyes and the brain compares the images from each. But we can also judge depth with only one eye, and scientists have been searching for how the brain accomplishes that feat.

WHI follow-up study: Risks of long-term hormone therapy continue to outweigh benefits

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

New results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) confirm that the health risks of long-term use of combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy in healthy, postmenopausal women persist even a few years after stopping the drugs and clearly outweigh the benefits. Researchers report that about three years after women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of hormones such as increased risk of heart disease are diminished, but overall risks, including risks of stroke, blood clots, and cancer, remain high. The WHI is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Reduction of stroke risk with aerobic fitness

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:27:29 PST

A moderate level of aerobic fitness can significantly reduce stroke risk for men and women, according to a large, long-running study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2008.

Cocaine's effects on brain metabolism may contribute to abuse

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - Many studies on cocaine addiction - and attempts to block its addictiveness - have focused on dopamine transporters, proteins that reabsorb the brain's reward chemical once its signal is sent. Since cocaine blocks dopamine transporters from doing their recycling job, it leaves the feel-good chemical around to keep sending the pleasure signal. Now a new study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that cocaine's effects go beyond the dopamine system. In the study, cocaine had significant effects on brain metabolism, even in mice that lack the gene for dopamine transporters.

Research shows a daily dose of beetroot juice can beat high blood pressure

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:40:00 PST

Researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine have discovered that drinking just 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The study, published online today in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, could have major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

New devices to boost nematode research on neurons and drugs

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

A pair of new thin, transparent devices, constructed with soft lithography, should boost research in which nematodes are studied to explore brain-behavior connections and to screen new pharmaceuticals for potential treatment of parasitic infections in humans, report 10 scientists at three institutions.

Gene protects adults abused as children from depression

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Some forms of a gene that controls the body's response to stress hormones appear to protect adults who were abused in childhood from depression, psychiatrists have found.

Naked mole-rats bear chili pepper heat

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

Pity the tiny naked mole-rat. The buck-toothed, sausage-like rodent lives by the hundreds in packed, oxygen-starved burrows some six feet under ground. It is even cold-blooded -- which, as far as we know, is unique among mammals.

Human brain has impressive auditory memory

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:10:09 PST

The results of the study, which appear in the January 2008 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, indicate that the brain uses more efficient mechanisms in auditory memory than in visual memory.

Weill Cornell team discovers how brain's own tPA helps regulate blood flow to neurons

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Jan. 17, 2008) -- The human brain contains its own store of a powerful enzyme (and stroke drug) called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which appears to be a key regulator of blood flow to brain cells, a team at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City reports.

Carotid artery stenting- questions still remain

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:34:52 PST

A procedure called carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, called carotid endarterectomy (CEA), for patients with dangerous narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. However, questions remain about the best uses of this procedure—especially whether it is an appropriate alternative to surgery for "low-risk" patients, according to a special article in the January/February issue of Annals of Vascular Surgery.

Overweight people may not know when they've had enough

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have found new clues to why some people overeat and gain weight while others don't. Examining how the human brain responds to satiety messages delivered when the stomach is in various stages of fullness, the scientists have identified brain circuits that motivate the desire to overeat. Treatments that target these circuits may prove useful in controlling chronic overeating, according to the authors. The study is published online and will appear in the February 15, 2008 issue of NeuroImage.

Cognitive, genetic clues identified in imaging study of alcohol addiction

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

People with clinical addictions know first-hand the ravages the disease can take on almost every aspect of their lives. So why do they continue addictive behaviors, even after a period of peaceable abstinence

Biocapture surfaces produced for study of brain chemistry

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

A research team at Penn State has developed a novel method for attaching small molecules, such as neurotransmitters, to surfaces, which then are used to capture large biomolecules. By varying the identity and spacing of the tethered molecules, researchers can make the technique applicable to a wide range of bait molecules including drugs, chemical warfare agents, and environmental pollutants. Ultimately, the researchers also hope to identify synthetic biomolecules that recognize neurotransmitters so that they can fabricate extremely small biosensors to study neurotransmission in the living brain.

Dr. Nicholas Schiff receives research award for Innovation in Neuroscience

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 13, 2007) -- A leading authority on neurological disorders of consciousness, Dr. Nicholas Schiff of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City has received a prestigious Research Award for Innovation in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience, the world's largest organization of physicians and scientists who study the brain and nervous system.

Breakthrough technology observes synapse in real time, supporting theory of vesicular recycling

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 13, 2007) -- For the first time, scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City have observed in real time a cellular mechanism that's crucial to how brain cells communicate.

In fruit flies, homosexuality is biological but not hard-wired

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

While the biological basis for homosexuality remains a mystery, a team of neurobiologists reports they may have closed in on an answer -- by a nose.

Smell experience during critical period alters brain

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

Unlike the circuitry of the visual system, that of the olfactory system was thought to be hardwired: Once the neurons had formed, no amount of sensory input could change their arrangement. Now researchers at Rockefeller University and their collaborators have upturned this scientific dogma by showing that there is a sensitive period during which the external environment can alter a circuit in the fly brain that detects carbon dioxide, a gas that alerts flies to food and mates. This research, to be published in the December 6 issue of Neuron, may suggest that this brain plasticity isn't limited to the carbon dioxide detection circuit. Rather, it may be a general feature of the olfactory system itself.

Pheromones identified that trigger aggression between male mice

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

A family of proteins commonly found in mouse urine is able to trigger fighting between male mice, a study in the Dec. 6, 2007, issue of Nature has found. The study, which is the first to identify protein pheromones responsible for the aggression response in mice, was funded in part by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health. Pheromones are chemical cues that are released into the air, secreted from glands, or excreted in urine and picked up by animals of the same species, initiating various social and reproductive behaviors.

Robotics lab helps stroke patients with recovery

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

HOUSTON, Dec. 4, 2007 -- Robotics engineers at Rice University are teaming with doctors from Memorial Hermann|TIRR to develop a PC-based system for physical rehabilitation.

Women aren't men

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- Women's bodies and medical needs are vastly different than men's way beyond their reproductive systems. Women wake sooner from anesthesia, have less familiar symptoms of cardiovascular disease and are more likely to suffer from depression and sleep problems-- just to name a few of the differences.

Effects of social isolation traced to brain hormone

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

The anxiety and aggression that result from social isolation have been traced to altered levels of an enzyme that controls production of a brain hormone.

Hearing changes how we perceive gender

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Think about the confused feelings that occur when you meet someone whose tone of voice doesn�t seem to quite fit with his or her gender.

2 carotid artery stenting studies show results comparable to AHA guidelines

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington D.C., October 23, 2007 - Two carotid stenting trials examining patient outcomes demonstrated results that are comparable to guidelines established by the American Heart Association (AHA) for patients treated with carotid artery surgery. The results of these studies were presented today at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's 19th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium by William A. Gray, M.D., FACC, associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of Endovascular Services at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Dr. Gray is the director of Endovascular Services at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

Study explains how exercise lowers cardiovascular risk

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DALLAS, Oct. 23 �� It��s well known that physical activity can improve cardiovascular health. But it��s the impact exercise has on specific known risk factors that accounts for about 60 percent of that improvement, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Stress: Brain yields clues about why some succumb while others prevail

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Results of a new study may one day help scientists learn how to enhance a naturally occurring mechanism in the brain that promotes resilience to psychological stress. Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health�s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that, in a mouse model, the ability to adapt to stress is driven by a distinctly different molecular mechanism than is the tendency to be overwhelmed by stress. The researchers mapped out the mechanisms � components of which also are present in the human brain � that govern both kinds of responses.

Horizons AMI trial data to be presented at TCT 2007

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, DC � OCTOBER 15, 2007 -- The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) will release results of its landmark research study, HORIZONS AMI (Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction) at the nineteenth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in Washington, D.C. The study is designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of stents and anticoagulants in heart attack patients undergoing angioplasty.

Genes may make some people more motivated to eat, perhaps overeat

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON � Science has found one likely contributor to the way that some folks eat to live and others live to eat. Researchers at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, have found that people with genetically lower dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps make behaviors and substances more rewarding, find food to be more reinforcing than people without that genotype. In short, they are more motivated to eat and they eat more.

Scientists identify brain circuits used in sensation of touch

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The ability to tactually recognize fine spatial details, such as the raised dots used in braille, is especially important to those who are blind. With that in mind, a team of researchers has identified the neural circuitry that facilitates spatial discrimination through touch. Understanding this circuitry may lead to the creation of sensory-substitution devices, such as tactile maps for the visually impaired.

Chronic job strain doubles the risk of a second heart attack

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Quebec City, October 9, 2007�People who experience chronic job strain after a first heart attack double their risk of suffering from a second one, reports a research team from Universit� Laval�s Faculty of Medicine in the October 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Evil genes made me do it

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

While there have been numerous medical studies investigating the physiological and biochemical basis for behavioral disorders such as antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, there have been virtually no comprehensive studies aimed at providing a physiological explanation of malignant narcissism�a term that characterizes individuals who exhibit malevolent behavior but are still able to function effectively in society.

USC biomedical team to participate in $6 million low vision project

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

An interdisciplinary team of biomedical researchers from the USC Viterbi School, the College and the Keck School of Medicine of USC has received a $6-million Bioengineering Research Partnership grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to begin designing visual aids for millions of older adults who suffer from significant vision loss.

Vanderbilt nets brain gene research center

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Neuroscientists at Vanderbilt University are stepping into the national limelight with the establishment of a Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience Research.

Chemical compound found in tree bark stimulates growth, survival of brain cells

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have identified a compound in tree bark that mimics the chemical reactions of a naturally occurring molecule in the brain responsible for stimulating neuronal cell signaling. Neuronal cell signaling plays a crucial role in the growth, plasticity and survival of brain cells.

Treating obstructive sleep apnea, preventing heart attacks and strokes

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers in Brazil have found that treating patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) dramatically reduces early indications of atherosclerosis in just months, linking OSA directly to the hardening or narrowing of the arteries. Until now, no study has demonstrated such a direct relationship between the two.

Loss of gene leads to protein splicing and buildup of toxic proteins in neurons

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville have discovered how loss of a gene can lead to accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, resulting in a common dementia, and they say this mechanism may be important in a number of age-related neurological disorders.

Genes linked to suicidal thinking during antidepressant treatment

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Specific variations in two genes are linked to suicidal thinking that sometimes occurs in people taking the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, according to a large study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health�s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depending on the particular mix inherited, these versions increased the likelihood of such thoughts from 2- to15-fold, the study found. About 1 percent of adult patients were deemed to be at high genetic risk, 41 percent at elevated risk and 58 percent at lower risk.

Possible safer target for anti-clotting drugs found

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a new molecular target in blood clot formation, which seems to reduce clotting without excessive bleeding, the common side-effect of anti-clotting agents.

Murder mystery solved

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- It was a murder mystery playing out in major cities across the country and perplexing scientists. Thousands of people were dying from strokes and heart attacks within 24 hours of a spike in microscopic pollution -- tiny particles that spew from the exhaust of diesel trucks, buses and coal-burning factories.

New research shows ACTOS is associated with a 38 percent lower risk of heart attack

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Sept. 19, 2007 -- New research, including two studies presented this week at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), further support the cardiovascular safety of ACTOS (pioglitazone HCI) and its benefits regarding improved blood glucose and blood lipid levels for patients with type 2 diabetes. The unique outcomes, including some clinical practice results, reinforce the consistency of pioglitazone data and underscore that ACTOS has different effects from the other thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone due to differences in molecular structure.

Sweet smell

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

What makes one smell pleasant and another odious? Is there something in the chemistry of a substance that can serve to predict how we will perceive its smell? Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the University of California at Berkeley have now discovered that there is, indeed, such a link, and knowing the molecular structure of a substance can help predict whether we will find its smell heavenly or malodorous.

Scientists identify fundamental brain defect, probable drug target in fragile X syndrome

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have discovered how the gene mutation responsible for fragile X syndrome--the most common inherited form of mental retardation--alters the way brain cells communicate. In neurons cultured from laboratory rats, the scientists also were able to reverse the effects of the mutation using a drug targeted to the specific site in an upstream pathway of the defect. The finding could lead to the development of human therapies for this previously untreatable condition.

Genetic variant linked to odor perception

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, N.C. � Why the same sweaty man smells pleasant to one person and repellant to another comes down to the smeller�s genes.

Antidepressant shows early promise in treating agitation and psychotic symptoms of dementia

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Toronto, ONT � Researchers have found surprising evidence that an antidepressant (citalopram) may perform as well as a commonly-prescribed antipsychotic (risperidone) in the alleviation of severe agitation and psychotic symptoms of dementia. Researchers also found that the antidepressant was associated with �significantly lower� adverse side effects.

Implantable device designed to detect, stop seizures under study at MCG

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A small device implanted in the skull that detects oncoming seizures, then delivers a brief electrical stimulus to the brain to stop them is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.

New therapy could preserve vessel function after heart attack

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS , Ohio � Scientists have identified the process that causes blood vessels to constrict during and after a heart attack. They've also demonstrated that delivering a vital molecule that is depleted during this process directly to those blood vessels can reverse damage and help restore blood flow.

Embryonic stem cell strategy advanced with UCSF finding

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

UCSF scientists are reporting what they say is a significant improvement in the technique for genetically reprogramming mouse cells to their embryonic state, a process that transforms the cells, in essence, into embryonic stem cells.

'Holy Grail' of hearing: True identity of pivotal hearing structure is revealed

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Our ability to hear is made possible by way of a Rube Goldberg-style process in which sound vibrations entering the ear shake and jostle a successive chain of structures until, lo and behold, they are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. Exactly how the electrical signal is generated has been the subject of ongoing research interest.

Low level of neuronal receptor linked to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Results of a new study indicate a strong link between the loss of the neuronal receptor LR11and onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a harbinger of Alzheimer's disease.

Neural stem cell study reveals mechanism that may play role in cancer

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

In the dynamic world of the developing brain, neural stem cells give rise to neurons deep within the brain�s fluid-filled ventricles. These newborn neurons then migrate along the stem cell fibers up to the neocortex, the seat of higher cognitive functions. Now, scientists have discovered a key mechanism of this migration � one that may also play an important role in other developmental processes and diseases, including cancer.

Novel 3-D cell culture model shows selective tumour uptake of nanoparticles

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A nanoparticle drug delivery system designed for brain tumour therapy has shown promising tumour cell selectivity in a novel cell culture model devised by scientists at The University of Nottingham. The project, conducted jointly by the Schools of Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences and Human Development, will be featured in the September issue of the Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Researchers find new taste in fruit flies: carbonated water

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

That fruit fly hovering over your kitchen counter may be attracted to more than the bananas that are going brown; it may also want a sip of your carbonated water. Fruit flies detect and are attracted to the taste of carbon dioxide dissolved in water, such as water found on rotting fruits containing yeast, concludes a study appearing in the August 30 issue of the journal Nature. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, who conducted the study, suggest that the ability to taste carbon dioxide may help a fruit fly scout for food that is nutritious over that which is too ripe and potentially toxic. The research is partly funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health.

Flies prefer fizzy drinks

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

While you may not catch a fly sipping Perrier, the insect has specialized taste cells for carbonated water that probably encourage it to binge on food with growing microorganisms. Yeast and bacteria both produce carbon dioxide (CO2) when they feast, and CO2 dissolves readily in water to produce seltzer or soda water.

Study finds blocking angiogenesis signaling from inside cell may lead to serious health problems

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Angiogenesis inhibitors that block a tumor�s development of an independent blood supply have been touted as effective cancer fighters that result in fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. However, a new study by researchers at UCLA�s Jonsson Cancer Center showed that one method of blocking blood supply development could result in serious and potentially deadly side effects.

Broad-based group of physicians calls for improvement in stroke treatment

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(August 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC) � A coalition of physicians representing a wide range of medical specialties has issued a call to action to improve the treatment of stroke. The group, which includes nationally recognized leaders in neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology, was drawn together by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) to address one of the most pressing medical needs in this country�the rapid treatment of stroke using catheter-based techniques.

Mice use specialized neurons to detect carbon dioxide in the air

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

For mice, carbon dioxide often means danger - too many animals breathing in too small a space or a hungry predator exhaling nearby. Mice have a way of detecting carbon dioxide, and new research from Rockefeller University shows that a special set of olfactory neurons is involved, a finding that may have implications for how predicted increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide may affect animal behavior. The finding is reported in the August 17 issue of the journalScience.

Emory scientists use NIH grant to develop biomarkers for ALS tracking and prevention

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Emory University researchers a $275,000 grant aimed at developing protein biomarkers to diagnose, monitor and prevent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Scientists link fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome to binding protein in RNA

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have discovered a key protein in the toxic brain pathway that leads to fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), an inherited neurodegenerative disorder. The finding, in a Drosophila (fly) model of FXTAS, could help unravel the complex mechanisms of FXTAS and lead scientists to develop therapies to target the protein. The research will be published in the Aug. 16 issue of the journal Neuron.

Study suggests loss of 2 types of neurons -- not just 1 -- triggers Parkinson's symptoms

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

New evidence indicates that the loss of two types of brain cells--not just one as previously thought--may trigger the onset of symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.

New research discovers independent brain networks control human walking

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Baltimore, MD) - In a study published in the August issue of Nature Neuroscience, researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland found that there are separate adaptable networks controlling each leg and there are also separate networks controlling leg movements, e.g., forward or backward walking. These findings are contrary to the currently accepted theory that leg movements and adaptations are directed by a single control circuit in the brain. The ability to train the right and left legs independently opens the door to new therapeutic approaches for correcting walking abilities in patients with brain injury (e.g., stroke) and neurological disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis).

UCLA scientists produce functioning neurons from human embryonic stem cells

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists with the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at UCLA were able to produce from human embryonic stem cells a highly pure, large quantity of functioning neurons that will allow them to create models of and study diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, prefrontal dementia and schizophrenia.

Researchers link metal ions to neurodegenerative disease

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A multi-institutional team of researchers led by Emory University has defined for the first time how metal ions bind to amyloid fibrils in the brain in a way that appears toxic to neurons. Amyloid fibrils are linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob. Although metal ions, most notably copper, can bind to amyloid in several specific ways, the researchers found that only one way appears toxic.

Study identifies source of fever

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON With the finding that fever is produced by the action of a hormone on a specific site in the brain, scientists have answered a key question as to how this adaptive function helps to protect the body during bacterial infection and other types of illness.

Stem cell therapy rescues motor neurons in ALS model

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

MADISON -- In a study that demonstrates the promise of cell-based therapies for diseases that have proved intractable to modern medicine, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown it is possible to rescue the dying neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Geisinger scientist seeks cure for Lou Gehrig's disease, creating device to find treatment

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

DANVILLE- A small tropical fish, the curiosity of a Geisinger research scientist and some college students have created the perfect storm of sorts in an attempt to find a cure for one of the worlds most devastating neurological diseases.

Research shows NPD1 protects a key component of vision

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Two papers to be published in the Early Edition online of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the week of July 30-August 3, 2007 report findings that demonstrate that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) protects against damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and identifies an important trigger for its production and novel molecular mechanisms that support vision. The research was conducted at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and the papers are entitled Neurotrophins enhance retinal pigment epithelial cell survival through neuroprotectin D1 signaling and Photoreceptor outer segment phagocytosis attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis with concomitant neuroprotectin D1 synthesis. RPE cells are responsible for the renewal of the tips of photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) crucial to vision.

New protein synthesis not essential to memory formation

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

New research from the University of Illinois challenges the premise that the brain must build new proteins in response to an experience for that experience to be recorded in long-term memory.

UCLA study links air pollution to clogged arteries

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Got high cholesterol? You might want to stay away from air pollution.

Discoverer of Sly Syndrome finds way of delivering medicine to fight rare genetic disorder

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. LOUIS -- The scientist who discovered Sly Syndrome nearly four decades ago and a team of colleagues at Saint Louis University are a step closer to finding an approach to treat the rare genetic disease. Sly Syndrome causes bone defects, mental retardation, vision and hearing problems, heart disease and premature death.

Brain abnormalities found in people with writer's cramp

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

People with serious cases of writerï¿½s cramp have brain abnormalities, according to a study published in the July 24, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People with writerï¿½s cramp had less brain tissue than healthy people in three areas of the brain that connect the senses and movement with their affected hand.

'Preconditioning' helps protect brain's blood vessels from stroke

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (July 17, 2007) -- Challenging brain tissue with a small noxious stimulus beforehand gives it a resilience that can lessen damage to blood vessels during a stroke, report researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Pediatric ritalin use may affect developing brain, new study suggests

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (July 17, 2007) -- Use of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin by young children may cause long-term changes in the developing brain, suggests a new study of very young rats by a research team at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Brain region central to placebo effect identified

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have pinpointed a brain region central to the machinery of the placebo effectthe often controversial phenomenon in which a persons belief in the efficacy of a treatment such as a painkilling drug influences its effect.

Research study describes the role part of the brain plays in memory

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A research with experimental rats carried out by the Institute of Neuroscience of the UAB describes the brain region connected to how our declarative memory functions. According to this experiment, part of the prefrontal cortex plays a key role in the social transmission of food preference. This research has helped learn more about how this type of memory functions. In the future, this information could be useful to find new treatment for diseases that affect the memory, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Bak protein sets stressed cells on suicide path, researchers show

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

When a cell is seriously stressed, say by a heart attack, stroke or cancer, a protein called Bak just may set it up for suicide, researchers have found.

High blood pressure medication strategy proves effective in Hispanic women

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Hispanic women with hypertension and coronary artery disease respond better to drug regimens aimed at controlling high blood pressure than non-Hispanic white women, University of Florida researchers report.

Sour taste make you pucker? It may be in your genes

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Philadelphia (June 11, 2007) -- Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center report that genes play a large role in determining individual differences in sour taste perception. The findings may help researchers identify the still-elusive taste receptor that detects sourness in foods and beverages, just as recent gene studies helped uncover receptors for sweet and bitter taste.

Method to prevent hemorrhagic complications of thrombolytic therapy of blood clots is discovered

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A novel method to prevent hemorrhagic complications of thrombolytic therapy of blood clots is discovered.

Difficulty identifying odors may predict cognitive decline

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Older adults who have difficulty identifying common odors may have a greater risk of developing problems with thinking, learning and memory, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

M. D. Anderson team identifies new oncogene for brain cancer

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

HOUSTON -- An overexpressed gene found at the scene of a variety of tumors is implicated in the development of two types of malignant brain cancer in a paper by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The paper will be posted online at the PNAS web site the week of July 2.

Weizmann scientists discover a new line of communication between nervous system cells

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

In a host of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and several neuropathies, the protective covering surrounding the nerves an insulating material called myelin is damaged. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have now discovered an important new line of communication between nervous system cells that is crucial to the development of myelinated nerves a discovery that may aid in restoring the normal function of the affected nerve fibers.

Pneumonia- major cause for re-admission after strokes

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:35:46 PST

Stroke is a leading cause of hospital admission among older adults. Yet more hospital readmissions after stroke are for pneumonia or for heart disease than for another stroke, according to a study published in the June 2007 issue of the journal Stroke.

More women than men having mid-life stroke

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. PAUL, Minn -- More women than men appear to be having a stroke in middle age, according to a study published June 20, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say heart disease and increased waist size may be contributing to this apparent mid-life stroke surge among women.

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and coronary disease -- the truth of the matter

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

With each new publication of coronary artery disease (CAD) data from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) study, the inevitable reaction is Why on earth did the WHI investigators claim in 20022004 that postmenopausal hormone therapy has deleterious effects on the risk for CAD, when, from the beginning, they were aware of the importance of the age factor in this clinical scenario. Women in the age group of 5059 years who participated in the estrogen-alone arm of the WHI study were asked immediately after the early cessation of the trial to become part of an ancillary study the WHI-CACS which looked at the magnitude of coronary calcifications measured by ultra-fast coronary CT. Coronary calcium deposits develop as part of the atherosclerosis process and correlate well with findings of coronary angiography.

Does stimulant treatment for ADHD increase risk of drug abuse?

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY -- Parents, doctors, and others have wondered whether common treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inadvertently predispose adolescents to future drug abuse. The answer may depend on the age at which treatment is started and how long it lasts, say the authors of a new brain-imaging and behavioral study conducted in animals at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. The results appear in the June 5, 2007 online issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

Paying taxes, according to the brain, can bring satisfaction

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Penn researchers link cell's protein recycling systems

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA - Many age-related neurological diseases are associated with defective proteins accumulating in nerve cells, suggesting that the cells normal disposal mechanisms are not operating correctly. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a molecular link between the cells two major pathways for breaking down proteins and have succeeded in using this link to rescue neurodegenerative diseases in a simple animal model. The study appears this week in Nature.

Early results from Alzheimer's neuroimaging studies could speed research

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Alzheimers disease researchers may be able to reduce the time and expense associated with clinical trials, according to early results from the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a public-private research partnership organized by the National Institutes of Health. Preliminary results from ADNI show how it might yield improved methods and uniform standards for imaging and biomarker analysis, so these techniques can be employed in the fight against Alzheimers disease.

Drug slows and may halt Parkinson's disease

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- Northwestern University researchers have discovered a drug that slows and may even halt the progression of Parkinsons disease. The drug rejuvenates aging dopamine cells, whose death in the brain causes the symptoms of this devastating and widespread disease.

Drug slows and may halt Parkinson's disease

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO -- Northwestern University researchers have discovered a drug that slows and may even halt the progression of Parkinsons disease. The drug rejuvenates aging dopamine cells, whose death in the brain causes the symptoms of this devastating and widespread disease.

Standards for measuring narrowing of carotid arteries too aggressive

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Standards for the use of ultrasound as a screening tool to measure narrowing of the carotid artery may be too aggressive, resulting in some needless follow-up tests and procedures according to researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Narrowing of the carotid can be a precursor to a stroke.