Newsline — Tuesday, May 7, 2013 13:00
DNA Once Thought to Be Junk May Not Be So, Scientists Say
Memory Loss Reversed in Animal Brain Cells
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 9:00
Neuroscientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston used sea snail nerve cells to reverse memory loss by determining when the cells were ready for learning. The researchers were able to help the cells make up for memory loss by retraining them by way of training schedules. The findings, reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggest a new strategy for treating cognitive impairments. Click here to read the full article.
Unusual Creation of Toxic Protein May Explain ‘Fragile-X’ Brain Disorders
Monday, May 6, 2013 13:00
A strange twist on the way proteins are created may explain the mystery of symptoms in the grandparents of children with mental disabilities. Scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School have discovered findings that show promise in the treatment of a condition known as Fragile X-associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), which is often midiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease in elderly patients. The grandchildren of those with the disease have another disorder known as Fragile X syndrome, caused by problems in the same gene. In a study published in Neuron, the team suggests that an unusually-made toxic protein contributes to the death of nerve cells in FXTAS. For more information, click here to read the full article.
Fainting May Be Hereditary While Triggers May Not Be, Study Says
Monday, May 6, 2013 9:51
A study published in a recent edition of Neurology suggests that fainting may be genetic, with only one gene responsible for the episodes. It also is noted that triggers like emotional distress may not be inherited. Fainting, also known as vasovagal syncope, is a brief loss of consciousness that affects at least one out of four people. Click here to read the full story.
Can Brain Activity Reveal Autism?
Thursday, May 2, 2013 13:00
Scientists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University of Toronto have developed a means of reviewing brain activity to detect autism in children. By recording and analyzing patterns of brain activity with magnetoencephalography (MEG), researchers were able to determine the brain’s functional connectivity. Findings determined that an autistic brain can be differentiated from a non-autistic brain by looking at neural activity patterns. Click here to read the full story.
Researchers: New Brain Cancer Treatment May Be a Game Changer
Thursday, May 2, 2013 9:00
The findings from a clinical trial at the University of California, San Francisco, may change the standard of care for primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. As reported by the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a combination of high-dose radiation chemotherapy with immune therapy proved to be less toxic and more effective than whole-brain radiotherapy. Click here to read the full story.
High-Resolution Diffusion MRI Can Help Map the Microstructure of the Trigeminal Nerve, Improve Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia Sufferers
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 15:00
During the 81st American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers described their study regarding the use of high-resolution diffusion MRI to evaluate the microstructure of the cranial nerves. The researchers noted that the pathophysiology of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) remains unknown and present treatments are conducted based on empirical evidence. Up to now, MRI has only been used to exclude other pathological conditions such as skull base tumors — which can mimic TN — but not to localize the affected area, improve treatment methods or evaluate the effects of such procedures. Click here to read the full release.
Phase I Trial Results of Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Encouraging Those Suffering from Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 11:45
Research findings offered today during the 81st American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting show human central nervous system stem cells (HuCNS-SC) foster myelin formation following HuCNS-SC transplantation. “There are large opportunities for this to impact individuals who have suffered from a stroke or traumatic brain injury,” researchers say. Click here for the full release.
Urinary Biomarkers May Help Detect Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 1:00
Researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital shared results from a recent study that showed the urinary levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) could serve as a biomarker capable of detecting the presence of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The researchers have been using urinary biomarkers in their laboratory as a non-invasive method of diagnosing diseases of the central nervous system, including tumors, stroke and moyamoya. Click here to read the full release.
Study: Nerve Transfer Can Help Repair Brachial Plexus Injuries, Restore Elbow Functions
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 15:00
Nerve transfer in those suffering from brachial plexus injuries has proven to be effective in the reconstruction of elbow flexion and in improving quality of life, researchers say. As presented during the 81st American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers reviewed the clinical outcomes of their patients who have undergone different nerve transfers for restoration of elbow flexion between January 2001 and December 2011. This study comes on the heels of recent consideration of nerve transfer as an option for brachial plexus injuries. Click here to read the full story.