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medicine

An image of fly spinal cord equivalent is shown.

·October 11, 2012·6 min read

Novel Mechanisms Underlying Major Childhood Neuromuscular Disease Identified

A study suggests that spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease in infants and children, results primarily from motor circuit dysfunction, not motor neuron or muscle cell dysfunction, as is commonly thought. In a second study, the researchers identified the molecular pathway in SMA that leads to problems with motor function.

Featured Neurology

·October 4, 2012·3 min read

A Molecular Scissor Related to Alzheimer’s Disease

An international research team revealed the atomic‐level structure of the human peptidase enzyme meprin β (beta).

Featured Neurology

·October 3, 2012·3 min read

Drug Reverses Abnormal Brain Function in Rett Syndrome Mice

in a mouse model of Rett syndrome, researchers were able to reverse abnormalities in brain activity and improve neurological function by treating animals with an FDA-approved anesthesia drug, ketamine.

Schizophrenia fMRI brain scans are shown.

Featured Genetics Psychology

·October 3, 2012·4 min read

New de novo Genetic Mutations in Schizophrenia Identified

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified dozens of new spontaneous genetic mutations that play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia, adding to the growing list of genetic variants that can contribute to the disease. The schizophrenia study was the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

Featured Neurology

·October 2, 2012·2 min read

New Research Model to Aid Search for Degenerative Disease Cures

Efforts to treat disorders like Lou Gehrig’s disease, Paget’s disease, inclusion body myopathy and dementia will receive a considerable boost from a new research model created by UC Irvine scientists.

Scientists in front of computer monitors examine microscope images showing the growth of axons.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 2, 2012·4 min read

Study Suggests Immune System Can Boost Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves

Research seeks the 'master knob' to turn on nerve repair. Modulating immune response to injury could accelerate the regeneration of severed peripheral nerves, a new study in an animal model has found. By altering activity of the macrophage cells that respond to injuries, researchers dramatically increased the rate at which nerve processes regrew.

MRI image of a patient with multiple sclerosis is shown.

Featured Neurology

·October 2, 2012·4 min read

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to More Severe Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.

A patient with Myasthenia Gravis is shown.

Featured Neurology

·October 1, 2012·3 min read

Researchers Halt Autoimmune Disease Myasthenia Gravis in Mice

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have developed a gene-based therapy to stop the rodent equivalent of the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis by specifically targeting the destructive immune response the disorder triggers in the body.

Brain Cancer Featured

·September 21, 2012·2 min read

‘Fingerprinting’ Breakthrough Offers Improved Brain Tumor Diagnosis

Researchers have shown that infrared and Raman spectroscopy – coupled with statistical analysis – can be used to tell the difference between normal brain tissue and the different tumor types that may arise in this tissue, based on its individual biochemical-cell ‘fingerprint’.

Featured Neurology

·September 19, 2012·4 min read

Scientists Show Biological Mechanism Can Trigger Epileptic Seizures

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center report that molecular disruptions in small neurons called granule cells – located in the dentate gyrus region of the brain – caused brain seizures in mice similar to those seen in human temporal lobe epilepsy.

Featured Neurology

·September 18, 2012·3 min read

Some Viruses Not to Blame for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After All

Contrary to previous findings, new research finds no link between chronic fatigue syndrome and the viruses XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) and pMLV (polytropic murine leukemia virus). A study reveals that research that reported patients with chronic fatigue syndrome carried these two viruses was wrong and that there is still no evidence for an infectious cause behind chronic fatigue syndrome.

Featured Neurology

·September 17, 2012·3 min read

Toxic Protein Build-up in Blood Shines Light on Fatal Brain Disease

A new light-based technique for measuring levels of the toxic protein that causes Huntington's disease (HD) has been used to demonstrate that the protein builds up gradually in blood cells.