Epilepsy News and Research

Latest Epilepsy News and Research

Streptococcal infection does not cause OCD or Tourette syndrome, says study

New research shows that streptococcal infection does not appear to cause or trigger Tourette syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The research is published in the September 30, 2009, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1 Oct 2009

University scientists achieve breakthrough in brain research

Chaos brews in the brains of newborns: the nerve cells are still bound only loosely to each other. Under the leadership of Academy Research Fellow Sari Lauri, a team of researchers at the University of Helsinki has been studying for years how a neural network capable of processing information effectively is created out of chaos. The team has now found a new kind of mechanism that adjusts the functional development of nerve cell contacts.

30 Sep 2009

Transient ischemic attack can trigger stroke

One out of every eight strokes is preceded by a "warning stroke," which is a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke, according to research published in the September 29, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

29 Sep 2009

Morphotek announces preliminary data from Phase II trial of farletuzumab

Morphotek(R), Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, today announced preliminary data from a Phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of farletuzumab in platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer subjects experiencing their first relapse. Farletuzumab (MORAb-003) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the Folate Receptor Alpha (FRA).

26 Sep 2009

Link between flicking colours and epileptic fits discovered

Researchers have discovered that epileptic brains are more ordered than non-epileptic ones and also that certain flicking colours seem more likely to cause fits.

25 Sep 2009

Researchers study about abnormal gene functioning in mitochondria

Researchers are delving into abnormal gene function in mitochondria, structures within cells that power our lives. Mitochondria are the place where energy is generated from the most basic molecules of food. Because this function is essential to life, defects in mitochondria may affect a wide range of organ systems in humans and animals.

25 Sep 2009

Neuroscience professor receives Institutes of Health Director's New Innovator Award

Leon Reijmers, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, is one of 55 recipients of the National Institutes of Health Director's New Innovator Award. Reijmers is investigating the way memories are stored in the brain, specifically focusing on the proteins involved in long-term memory storage.

25 Sep 2009

Non-accredited education programs for people with chronic disabilities

iMedicor (VMCI.OB) formerly Vemics, Inc. and EP Global Communications (EPGL.OB) have announced the renewal of their strategic alliance agreement to produce Continuing Medical Education (CME) and non-accredited education programs for people with special needs and life long chronic disabilities. iMedicor/Vemics and EP Global Communications have worked together for a number of years and this relationship has generated substantial revenue for both companies and has provided a valuable service to the community they serve.

25 Sep 2009

Study on mitochondria function

For such crucial biological actors, much remains unknown about exactly how mitochondria function. A new study, published Aug. 12 in the online journal PLoS One, sheds light on mitochondrial biology. Using genetic engineering, researchers interrupted the activity of individual genes directly involved in the production of energy within mitochondria. "If we knock down the function of specific system components, what happens?" said study leader Marni J. Falk, M.D., who directs the Mitochondrial-Genetics Disease Clinic at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Our ultimate goal is to translate the knowledge into targeted therapies, that is, effective ways to intervene. But first we need to understand the underlying disease mechanisms."

25 Sep 2009

FDA committees to review Neuromed’s NDA for Exalgo

CombinatoRx, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CRXX) and Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted on its website briefing documents for the September 23, 2009 joint meeting of its Anesthetics and Life Support Advisory Committee and its Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.

23 Sep 2009

MRS could be effective for identifying diabetes

Researchers have long suspected that overweight people tend to have large fat deposits in their pancreases, but they've been unable to confirm or calculate how much fat resides there because of the organ's location.

22 Sep 2009

Lundbeck offers Sabril for treating children with infantile spasms in the U.S.

Lundbeck Inc. (“Lundbeck”), a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark (Copenhagen: LUN), announced today that Sabril® (vigabatrin) Tablets and Powder for Oral Solution are now available for prescribing in the United States.

22 Sep 2009

Anavex completes manufacturing of Alzheimer's disease drug ANAVEX 2-73 for its clinical trials

Anavex Life Sciences Corp., ("ANAVEX") (OTCBB: AVXL) today announced the completion of scale-up manufacturing of ANAVEX 2-73, its lead compound for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

21 Sep 2009

Researchers link plasticity related gene-1 to lipid phosphates

In mice that are missing a protein found only in the brain, neural signals "go crazy," leaving the animals with epileptic seizures from a young age, researchers have found. The report in the September 18th Cell, a Cell Press publication, details what it is that happens when the protein encoded by plasticity related gene-1 (PRG-1) gets lost, revealing an important fine-tuning mechanism for brain function.

18 Sep 2009

PIPC supports new comparative effectiveness research proposal

The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), a non-partisan, patient- focused, grassroots organization focused on securing patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) voiced its strong support of the comparative effectiveness research provisions in Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’s health reform proposal released today.

17 Sep 2009

Mechanism during sleep responsible for memory formation identified

A Rutgers University, Newark and Coll-ge de France, Paris research team has pinpointed for the first time the mechanism that takes place during sleep that causes learning and memory formation to occur.

16 Sep 2009

Neurologix to showcase novel gene transfer approach to Parkinson’s disease

Neurologix, Inc. (OTCBB: NRGX), a biotechnology company engaged in the development of innovative gene therapies for the brain and central nervous system, announced today that the company will showcase its novel gene transfer approach to Parkinson’s disease.

15 Sep 2009

Children with microcephaly should be screened for neurologic and cognitive problems, says guideline

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology, developed in full collaboration with the Child Neurology Society, finds that children with microcephaly that is, children whose head size is smaller than that of 97 percent of childrenare at risk of neurologic and cognitive problems and should be screened for these problems. The guideline is published in the September 15, 2009, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Sep 2009

Natus Medical to purchase Alpine Biomed Holdings

Natus Medical Incorporated today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Alpine Biomed Holdings Corp in a transaction that is expected to close today.

14 Sep 2009

METOZOLV drug approved for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease

Wilmington Pharmaceuticals announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for METOZOLV ODT (metoclopramide HCl), an orally disintegrating formulation of metoclopramide for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetic gastroparesis.

10 Sep 2009