Brain | Page 115 of 152 | SpiritIndia.com

Brain Tumors :: Newly identified biomarker detects and regulates spread of brain tumors

Researchers have identified a novel biomarker for brain tumors and have uncovered a potential role the marker may play when the tumor spreads or comes back after treatment. The biomarker, a protein known as “soluble attractin,” is normally absent in the central nervous system and is undetectable in cerebral spinal fluid unless malignant astrocytomas are present in the CNS. This newfound ability to identify biomarkers for malignant astrocytomas means physicians will have a minimally invasive method to track the success of treatments.

Memory :: Hopkins researchers discover how brain protein ‘Arc’ might control memory

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have figured out how one particular protein contributes to long-term memory and helps the brain remember things longer than an hour or two. The findings are reported in two papers in the November 9 issue of Neuron.

Neuroscience :: Mysterious ‘neural noise’ actually primes brain for peak performance

Researchers at the University of Rochester may have answered one of neuroscience’s most vexing questions — how can it be that our neurons, which are responsible for our crystal-clear thoughts, seem to fire in utterly random ways?

Cancer :: Firefighters face increased risk for certain cancers

University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers have determined that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop four different types of cancer than workers in other fields. Their findings suggest that the protective equipment firefighters have used in the past didn’t do a good job in protecting them against cancer-causing agents they encounter in their profession, the researchers say.

Stem Cell :: Cure for blindness – stem cell transplant in eyes – UK

A team of international researchers has transferred eye tissue from newborn to adult mice. It lets the blind adults detect light. The scientists say it challenges conventional wisdom on stem cells, because the successful cells had already stopped dividing before they were transferred.

Schizophrenia :: Studies look at how genes affect antipsychotic drug response – Illinois

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy are attempting to discover how genes determine how well an antipsychotic medication works in adults and children and the side effects it will cause.

Memories :: Brain to “package” the memory

Researchers at UC Irvine have found that how much detail one remembers of an event depends on whether a certain portion of the brain is activated to “package” the memory.

Heart :: Seven-point system gauges seriousness of heart failure in elderly – Washington University

A simple points system may soon help guide treatment of elderly heart failure patients. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that by counting how many of seven easy-to-obtain health factors a patient has, physicians can estimate the patient’s risk of dying.

Brain :: RNA map provides first comprehensive understanding of alternative splicing

A new RNA map, created by a team of researchers at Rockefeller University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, shows for the first time how the specific location of short snippets of RNA affects the way that alternative splicing is controlled in the brain.

Depression :: New depression model advances disease frontiers – CAMH

For over 30 years, scientists believed that monoamines are low in the brain during major depressive episodes. However, no one ever found a convincing explanation for monoamine loss. Dr. Jeffrey Meyer and colleagues discovered that higher levels of MAO-A is the primary process that lowers monoamine levels. Having more MAO-A leads to greater breakdown of chemicals like serotonin. Based on these results, and work from previous publications, Dr. Meyer developed an advanced monoamine model of depression.