Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Endocannabinoids may contribute to pregnancy complications

New research indicates marijuana-like compounds called endocannabinoids alter genes and biological signals critical to the formation of a normal placenta during pregnancy and may contribute to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia.

13 Sep 2012

Positive results from Edison’s EPI-743 phase 2A study on Leigh Syndrome

Edison Pharmaceuticals today announced positive results of a recently completed phase 2A study entitled, "Prospective Open Label Study of EPI-743 in Children with Leigh Syndrome (Subacute Necrotizing Encephalomyelopathy)."

13 Sep 2012

Sanofi Aventis receives FDA approval for Aubagio to treat relapsing forms of MS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Aubagio (teriflunomide), a once-a-day tablet for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

13 Sep 2012

Genzyme receives FDA approval for AUBAGIO to treat relapsing forms of MS

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AUBAGIO (teriflunomide) as a new once-daily, oral treatment indicated for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

13 Sep 2012

Noisy environments cause ears of people with hearing impairments to work differently

The world continues to be a noisy place, and Purdue University researchers have found that all that background chatter causes the ears of those with hearing impairments to work differently.

12 Sep 2012

e-Therapeutics initiates second ETS2101 phase I trial in solid tumours

e-Therapeutics plc announces that it has started a second phase I clinical trial of its anti-cancer drug ETS2101. This trial will enrol up to 45 patients with a variety of solid tumours at two UK centres, St James's University Hospital in Leeds and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

12 Sep 2012

Ginkgo biloba supplements fail to improve cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis

A research study conducted by Dr. Jesus Lovera, Assistant Professor of Neurology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and colleagues has found that the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not improve cognitive function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

12 Sep 2012

Instrument-assisted spinal manipulation shows hypoalgesic effects

Instrument-assisted spinal manipulative therapy targeted to the low-back region has an immediate and widespread hypoalgesic effect, say researchers.

11 Sep 2012

New method can measure methyl mercury at unprecedentedly small concentrations

A strip of glass covered in hairy nanoparticles can cheaply and conveniently measure mercury, which attacks the nervous system, and other toxic metals in fluids.

11 Sep 2012

Researchers gain new insight into regulation of adult nerve cell generation in the hypothalamus

Researchers from the University of Utah have gained new insight into the regulation of adult nerve cell generation in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates many aspects of behavior, mood, and metabolism.

11 Sep 2012

Data from BioLineRx’s BL-7010 pre-clinical studies on celiac disease

BioLineRx, a biopharmaceutical development company, announced today that BL-7010, an orally available treatment for celiac disease, was found to be safe and well tolerated in pre-clinical studies conducted to date.

10 Sep 2012

New strategy will have positive impact on people with brain disorders

New research offers a possible strategy for treating central nervous system diseases, such as brain and spinal cord injury, brain cancer, epilepsy, and neurological complications of HIV. The experimental treatment method allows small therapeutic agents to safely cross the blood-brain barrier in laboratory rats by turning off P-glycoprotein, one of the main gatekeepers preventing medicinal drugs from reaching their intended targets in the brain.

10 Sep 2012

UH lecture to explore hormones in health and disease

While estrogen is essential for many of the body's normal processes in both men and women, it also plays a role in diseases such as breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The impact of this hormone on such diseases will be addressed during a lecture Sept. 25 at the University of Houston (UH).

10 Sep 2012

Q Therapeutics licenses Neuralstem's Spinal Cord Delivery Platform and Floating Cannula

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has granted the first licenses for use of its Spinal Cord Delivery Platform and Floating Cannula, for delivering therapeutic agents to the spinal cord, to Salt Lake City-based Q Therapeutics.

7 Sep 2012

Hebrew University researcher develops anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs

A synthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs to combat a variety of illnesses while avoiding detrimental side effects has been developed by a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.

7 Sep 2012

Researchers discover genetic cause of hereditary spastic ataxia

Researchers from the Guy Rouleau Laboratory affiliated with the CHUM Research Centre and the CHU-Sainte-Justine Research Centre have discovered the genetic cause of a rare disease reported only in patients originating from Newfoundland: hereditary spastic ataxia (HSA).

7 Sep 2012

Omeros files OMS824 IND with FDA to initiate clinical trials for cognitive disorders

Omeros Corporation today announced that it has filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate clinical trials evaluating OMS824, the Company's lead compound from its phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10) program for schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders.

6 Sep 2012

Book on basic stereology for biologists and neuroscientists

Stereological techniques allow biologists to create quantitative, three-dimensional descriptions of biological structures from two-dimensional images of tissue viewed under the microscope. For example, they can accurately estimate the size of a particular subcellular compartment, the total length of a mass of blood vessels, or the number of neurons or synapses in a particular region of the brain.

6 Sep 2012

Targacept plans to pursue development of TC-5214 for overactive bladder

Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics, today announced that it plans to pursue development of TC-5214 as a treatment for overactive bladder (OAB).

6 Sep 2012

Researchers discover two gene variants that raise risk of pediatric cancer neuroblastoma

Researchers have discovered two gene variants that raise the risk of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma. Using automated technology to perform genome-wide association studies on DNA from thousands of subjects, the study broadens understanding of how gene changes may make a child susceptible to this early childhood cancer, as well as causing a tumor to progress.

5 Sep 2012