Molecular Profiling of Glioma Glioma is a set of tumors that occur in glial cells; glial cells surround and support nerve cells (NCI 2013). The most common subtype of glioma is glioblastoma (GBM), and it is also one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Approximately 22,400 gliomas are diagnosed in the U.S. each year;Continue reading “Glioma cancer genes”
Category Archives: brain
Tumor genes
Gene expression profiling is a technique used in molecular biology to query the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. While almost all cells in an organism contain the entire genome of the organism, only a small subset of those genes is expressed as messenger RNA (mRNA) at any given time, and their relative expression canContinue reading “Tumor genes”
Sensory Neurons Modulate Aging Hormone
Summary: A new study suggests the taste or smell of food acts on sensory neurons, which could produce a type of aging hormone. Source: POSTECH. Animals can perceive changes in many environmental factors such as temperature and the taste or smell of foods. This is achieved by specialized nerve cells called sensory neurons. Interestingly, sensoryContinue reading “Sensory Neurons Modulate Aging Hormone”
Researchers Discover Sandman’s Role in Sleep Control
Summary: A new study brings researchers one step closer to unlocking the mysteries of sleep. Source: University of Oxford. Oxford University researchers have discovered what causes a switch to flip in our brains and wake us up. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, brings us closer to understanding the mystery of sleep. Sleep isContinue reading “Researchers Discover Sandman’s Role in Sleep Control”
Finding your diagnosis in the brave new world of genetics-based medicine
By John Hewitt report A 3D structure of PLP1 protein (Medical Xpress)—We’ve done a number of articles recently about some amazing individuals developing personalized treatments to their own currently uncurable disease. Whether it is a rare orphan disease like Sanfilippo Syndrome and Castleman Disease, or something more common like cancer, these patients have been ableContinue reading “Finding your diagnosis in the brave new world of genetics-based medicine”
Natural mechanism that controls cocaine use
A natural mechanism that controls cocaine use was discovered by Scripps Research scientists. The findings could help explain why some people are more vulnerable to cocaine addiction than others. Cocaine drug treatment research is also a potential beneficiary of this study. Scripps Research scientists uncover previously unknown natural mechanism that controls cocaine use The findingsContinue reading “Natural mechanism that controls cocaine use”
Placebo Sweet Spot for Pain Relief Found in Brain
Summary: Researchers believe their finding could usher in a new era of personalized interventions to help chronic pain sufferers. Source: Northwestern University. New study first to pinpoint unique brain region responsible for placebo response in pain. Scientists have identified for the first time the region in the brain responsible for the “placebo effect” in painContinue reading “Placebo Sweet Spot for Pain Relief Found in Brain”
Ecstacy for PTSD
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA),[note 1] commonly known as ecstasy (E), is a psychoactive drug used primarily as a recreational drug. Desired effects include increased empathy, euphoria, and heightened sensations.[10][11][12] When taken by mouth, effects begin after 30–45 minutes and last 3–6 hours.[6][13] It is also sometimes snorted or smoked.[12] As of 2016, MDMA has no accepted medical uses.[3] AdverseContinue reading “Ecstacy for PTSD”
An extended family in Antioquia, Colombia with a genetic mutation causing Alzheimer’s
Ken Kosik: When we looked at the family trees, about 50 percent of the offspring were getting the disease. That’s a clear signature of a gene. But what gene? Kosik connected Dr. Lopera with leading geneticists in the U.S., and they started collecting blood samples and searching. Within a year, a major breakthrough. They foundContinue reading “An extended family in Antioquia, Colombia with a genetic mutation causing Alzheimer’s”
Gene study unlocks brain secrets
Scientists have identified five key genes that impact the size of structures in the brain, a study in Nature reveals. The international team, including University of Edinburgh researchers, says the findings increase knowledge of the causes of variability in brain development. The study may also help scientists to determine the genetic processes that underlie neuropsychiatricContinue reading “Gene study unlocks brain secrets”
Depression Affects the Stomach and Anxiety Affects the Skin in Young People
Summary: Researchers have identified that some physical diseases tend to occur more frequently in young people who have previously suffered from certain mental disorders. Source: University of Basel. Mental disorders and physical diseases frequently go hand in hand. For the first time, psychologists at the University of Basel and Ruhr University Bochum have identified temporalContinue reading “Depression Affects the Stomach and Anxiety Affects the Skin in Young People”
Video Game Helps Children With Poor Vision to See Better
Summary: Researchers report children with poor vision experience an improvement in their peripheral vision within hours of being exposed to child friendly action video games. Source: University of Rochester. Studies going back several years have shown that playing action video games (AVG) can help improve visual acuity. A new study by vision scientists at theContinue reading “Video Game Helps Children With Poor Vision to See Better”
Brain Pattern Flexibility and Behavior
Summary: Researchers investigate how high level cognitive processing occurs by looking at how different brain regions are connected. Source: University of Miami. Researchers analyzed how brain regions are connected to each other to facilitate high-level cognitive reasoning. Your brain is never really at rest. Neither is it in chaos. Even when not engaged in someContinue reading “Brain Pattern Flexibility and Behavior”
Psychopaths Can Regret Bad Decisions, But Don’t Learn From Them
Summary: According to researchers, when a bad decision directly affects a psychopath, they experience regret but they do not use the experience as a lesson to direct their choices in the future. Source: Yale. Psychopaths do experience regret, particularly when their bad decisions affect them directly — yet they don’t use that experience to informContinue reading “Psychopaths Can Regret Bad Decisions, But Don’t Learn From Them”