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Study finds moderate exercise enhances DMN connectivity in specific regions of brain

A group of "professional couch potatoes," as one researcher described them, has proven that even moderate exercise - in this case walking at one's own pace for 40 minutes three times a week - can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.

27 Aug 2010

Disulfiram drug effective in treating cocaine addiction: Research

Doctors have used the drug disulfiram to help patients stay sober for several decades. It interferes with the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, giving a fierce hangover to someone who consumes even a small amount of alcohol.More recently, disulfiram was shown to be effective in treating cocaine addiction as well, even though alcohol and cocaine affect the nervous system in different ways.

27 Aug 2010

Study on impact of harmful de novo gene mutations on autism, schizophrenia

An international study led by University of Montreal scientists suggests family history may not be a good predictor of the presence of mutations predisposing to autism or schizophrenia. The findings show how new or de novo gene mutations alterations of the cell's DNA play a role in these devastating conditions.

27 Aug 2010

Scientist finds man-made chemical enzyme to neutralize toxin

For the first time ever, a completely man-made chemical enzyme has been successfully used to neutralise a toxin found naturally in fruits and vegetables. While studying for her PhD in chemistry at the University of Copenhagen Dr. Jeannette Bjerre showed how a novel so called chemzyme was able to decompose glycoside esculin, a toxin found in horse-chestnuts.

27 Aug 2010

Vitamin A may boost HIV excretion in breast milk: Study

Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are unsafe for HIV-positive women who breastfeed because they may boost the excretion of HIV in breast milk thereby increasing the chances of transmitting the infection to the child, a pair of new studies suggest.

26 Aug 2010

New book on fighting hair loss

World renowned hair loss expert, Dr. Larry Shapiro, announced the release of his new book, Fight Hair Loss and Win! and says that Elin Nordegren is not alone when it comes to hair loss as a result of stress. Shapiro says millions of women and men are experiencing the same and that heightened levels of stress, popular nutritional supplements, hormonal imbalances and many other unsuspecting factors are now linked to hair loss.

26 Aug 2010

Research on myosin II protein can lead to novel treatment for memory disorders

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a mechanism that plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. The findings shed substantial new light on aspects of how memory is formed, and could lead to novel treatments for memory disorders.

26 Aug 2010

Octapharma completes clinical development of Uniplas human pooled plasma

Octapharma AG, one of the largest private manufacturers of plasma products in the world, announced today that the clinical development for Uniplas® has been successfully completed. The product has been filed for registration in Europe and will be submitted later in the USA.

26 Aug 2010

Neuroeconomics research identifes distinct brain structures for tracking various outcomes

Scientists at Harvard University have found that humans can make difficult moral decisions using the same brain circuits as those used in more mundane choices related to money and food.

26 Aug 2010

Motor proteins play critical role in stabilization of long-term memories

Functioning much like gears in a machine, cellular motor proteins are critical to dynamic functions throughout the body, including muscle contraction, cell migration and cellular growth processes. Now, neuroscientists from UC Irvine and the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute report that motor proteins also play a critical role in the stabilization of long-term memories. The findings add an unexpected dimension to the story of how memories are encoded and suggest new targets for therapeutic interventions.

26 Aug 2010

Researchers show biosynthetic cornea can stimulate regeneration in damaged eye tissue

A new study from researchers in Canada and Sweden has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans.

26 Aug 2010

Data from PLX4032 Phase 1 clinical trial in melanoma patients with BRAF mutation published

Plexxikon today announced publication of data from the Phase 1 clinical trial of PLX4032 (RG7204), confirming that treatment of metastatic melanoma patients with the BRAF V600E mutation resulted in significant tumor shrinkage in the majority of patients. Specifically, in the melanoma extension cohort of the study, nearly all patients showed some response; 81 percent of patients had tumor shrinkage of at least 30 percent.

26 Aug 2010

Treating metastatic melanoma tumors with specific genetic signature shows promising results

Use of an experimental targeted drug to treat metastatic melanoma tumors with a specific genetic signature was successful in more than 80 percent of patients in a phase 1 clinical trial.

26 Aug 2010

Researchers develop magnetic nanoparticles for metallic implant drug delivery

If a drug can be guided to the right place in the body, the treatment is more effective and there are fewer side-effects. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to metallic implants such as artificial knee joints, hip joints and stents in the coronary arteries.

26 Aug 2010

PLX4032 therapy results in tumor shrinkage in metastatic melanoma patients

A multicenter study has concluded that treatment with a new targeted therapy called PLX4032 (also called RG7204) resulted in significant tumor shrinkage in 80 percent of patients with advanced melanoma.

26 Aug 2010

College students prevent female friends from engaging in risky sexual behavior after drinking alcohol

College students are less likely to let their female friends engage in risky sexual behavior after a night of drinking alcohol. Recent findings in the journal Communication Education examine how and why college students protect their friends who have been heavily drinking.

26 Aug 2010

Specific type of neurons determine frightening stimulus reaction: Research

Fear can make you run, it can make you fight, and it can glue you to the spot. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy and GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy, have identified not only the part of the brain but the specific type of neurons that determine how mice react to a frightening stimulus.

26 Aug 2010

Critical mechanistic link between mutant protein and disease pathogenesis in ALS uncovered

New research uncovers what may be a primary neuron-damaging insult that occurs in an inherited form of a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The study, published by Cell Press in the August 26th issue of the journal Neuron, describes a critical mechanistic link between a mutant protein and disease pathogenesis in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

26 Aug 2010

Researchers develop microneedles to deliver quantum dots for skin cancer treatment

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed extremely small microneedles that can be used to deliver medically-relevant nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into skin - an advance that opens the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including skin cancer.

26 Aug 2010

NIH suspends funding new embryonic stem cell research following court order

"The National Institutes of Health announced Tuesday that it has suspended funding new human embryonic stem cell research and that all federally funded experiments already underway will be cut off when they come up for renewal if a new court order is not overturned. The announcement -- which confirmed fears among proponents that the ruling would result in a comprehensive freeze in federal support for stem cell research -- came in response to a court order Monday barring the government from funding the research because it involves the destruction of embryos.

26 Aug 2010

Medical Science News

Study finds moderate exercise enhances DMN connectivity in specific regions of brain

Disulfiram drug effective in treating cocaine addiction: Research

Study on impact of harmful de novo gene mutations on autism, schizophrenia

Scientist finds man-made chemical enzyme to neutralize toxin

Vitamin A may boost HIV excretion in breast milk: Study

New book on fighting hair loss

Research on myosin II protein can lead to novel treatment for memory disorders

Octapharma completes clinical development of Uniplas human pooled plasma

Neuroeconomics research identifes distinct brain structures for tracking various outcomes

Motor proteins play critical role in stabilization of long-term memories

Researchers show biosynthetic cornea can stimulate regeneration in damaged eye tissue

Data from PLX4032 Phase 1 clinical trial in melanoma patients with BRAF mutation published

Treating metastatic melanoma tumors with specific genetic signature shows promising results

Researchers develop magnetic nanoparticles for metallic implant drug delivery

PLX4032 therapy results in tumor shrinkage in metastatic melanoma patients

College students prevent female friends from engaging in risky sexual behavior after drinking alcohol

Specific type of neurons determine frightening stimulus reaction: Research

Critical mechanistic link between mutant protein and disease pathogenesis in ALS uncovered

Researchers develop microneedles to deliver quantum dots for skin cancer treatment

NIH suspends funding new embryonic stem cell research following court order

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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