Newsline — Monday, November 11, 2013 10:08
Ted Talk: The Paralyzed Rat That Walked
Anxiety Disorder Therapy Silences Brain’s Fear Neurons, Neuroscientists Conclude
Friday, November 8, 2013 13:00
Exposure therapy, a method in which those with anxiety disorders gradual faces their fear in a rehabilitative effort, is said to rebuild the inhibitory junction in the amygdala, the brain region associated with fear in humans and mice. The study was conducted by a team of neuroscientists at Tufts University. “We showed that the remodeling of perisomatic inhibitory synapses is closely linked to the activity state of fear neurons. Our findings shed new light on the precise location where mechanisms of fear regulation might act. We hope that this will lead to new drug targets for improving exposure therapy,” said a study author, Stéphanie Trouche, PhD. Click here to read the study details.
Study: Brain Connections May Predict Outcomes of Epilepsy Surgery
Friday, November 8, 2013 10:10
Researchers at Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Clinic have found that using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to measure a patient’s functional neural connectivity may help identify what portions of the brain suffer from epilepsy, offering patients significant pointers on how to improve their symptoms with surgery. Click here to read the details of the discovery.
Finding Joy During the Holidays, Even With Alzheimer’s
Thursday, November 7, 2013 13:00
For those whose family members are suffering from Alzheimer’s, the holidays can be a challenging time. But experts at Houston Methodist Hospital are offering pointers to finding joy during the special season. Click here for details and to share with your patients.
Minimally Invasive Surgery Removes Brain Tumor Through Hole Smaller than a Dime
Thursday, November 7, 2013 9:00
When Ryan Vincent had a malignant brain tumor removed more than 20 years ago, he required a lengthy hospital stay and weeks of at-home recovery. When neurosurgeons at Houston’s Methodist Hospital removed a different lesion from Vincent’s brain recently, they extracted it through a small tube inserted into a hole smaller than a dime. Vincent went home the following day. Gavin Britz, MBBCh, MPH, FAANS, is the first neurosurgeon in the region to use this minimally invasive technique to remove a deeply embedded vascular lesion. “With this new approach, we can navigate through millions of important brain fibers and tracts to access deep areas of the brain where these benign tumors or hemorrhages are located with minimal injury to normal brain,” Dr. Britz said. “Ryan’s surgery took less than an hour.” Click here to read the full article.
For Epilepsy Awareness Month, the Basics of Pediatric Seizure
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 13:00
Pediatric neurologists at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center are offering an overview of pediatric seizures for parents, just in time for Epilepsy Awareness Month. Click here to read more and share with your patients.
Stem Cell Therapy Used for Inflammation Shows Promise for Improving Cognitive Function After Brain Injury
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 10:43
A stem cell therapy traditionally used to reduce inflammation after traumatic brain injury has been shown to contribute to long-term cognitive improvement. The research, published in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School. A stem cell therapy called mulitpotent adult progenitor cell (MAPC) had been used to reduce neurological inflammation in mice. After four months, mice receiving stronger doses made notable gains in cognitive function. Researchers are hopeful that the intravenous injection of MAPCs may be beneficial in effectively treating people with brain injury. Click here to read more.
For Some, Stimulation Awakens Spinal Cord After Devastating Paralysis
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 13:00
In 2010, Dustin Shillcox became paralyzed from the chest down after a terrifying car accident. After hearing about how a neuroscientist was able to “awaken” the lower spinal cord of another paralyzed man, Shillcox decided to undergo a number of spinal stimulation session. “I don’t want to be too optimistic, and I’m trying to be prepared for no results at all,” he says. “I hope that whatever they find from this research will at least benefit other people.” Click here for the full article.
Ted Talk: How the Brain Learns to See
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 9:10
From Ted.com: Pawan Sinha details his groundbreaking research into how the brain’s visual system develops. Sinha and his team provide free vision-restoring treatment to children born blind, and then study how their brains learn to interpret visual data. The work offers insights into neuroscience, engineering and even autism. Click here if you are unable to view the video above.
Bringing Light to Brain Tumors: Doctor Uses Scorpion’s Venom to See, Treat Pediatric Brain Tumors
Monday, November 4, 2013 13:00
Dr. Jim Olson, a neuro-oncologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, is using the powerful venom of the Israeli death stalker scorpion to see brain tumors better during surgery. The venom contains a peptide that attaches to cancer cells but leaves healthy tissue untouched. While paired with a fluorescent dye, the peptide becomes what Dr. Olson calls tumor paint, and cancer cells are 100,000 times more visible than they would be in an MRI. See video below. Click here to read more.