PLAGL2 Regulates Wnt Signaling to Impede Differentiation in Neural Stem Cells and Gliomas
Here, integrated genomic and biological analyses identified PLAGL2 as a potent protooncogene targeted for amplification/gain in malignant gliomas. The identification of PLAGL2 as a glioma oncogene highlights the importance of a growing class of cancer genes functioning to impart stem cell-like characteristics in malignant cells. [Cancer Cell]
New Study Suggests Sickle Cell Disease May Affect Brain Function in Adults
Sickle cell disease may affect brain function in adults who have few or mild complications of the inherited blood disease, according to results of the first study to examine cognitive functioning in adults with sickle cell disease. [National Heart, Lung and Blood Press Release]
Resilience Factor Low in Depression, Protects Mice From Stress Scientists have discovered a mechanism that helps to explain resilience to stress, vulnerability to depression and how antidepressants work. The new findings, in the reward circuit of mouse and human brains, have spurred a high tech dragnet for compounds that boost the action of a key gene regulator there, called (delta)FosB.
[Press release from the National Institute of Mental Health discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience]
Mechanism that Leads to Brain Maturation Found
A mechanism in the memory centre of a newborn that adjusts the maturation of the brain for information processing required later in life has been found by researchers. [Press release from The Hindu discussing online prepublication in The Journal of Neuroscience]
Global and Local fMRI Signals Driven by Neurons Defined Optogenetically by Type and Wiring Using a novel integrated technology unifying optogenetic control of inputs with high-field fMRI signal readouts, researchers show here that specific stimulation of local CaMKIIa-expressing excitatory neurons, either in the neocortex or thalamus, elicits positive blood oxygenation level-dependent signals at the stimulus location with classical kinetics. [Nature]
Molecular Identity of Dendritic Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
Using a highly sensitive electron microscopic immunogold technique, researchers revealed the presence of the dendritic voltage-gated Na+ 1.6 (Nav1.6) subunit in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells' proximal and distal dendrites. [Science]
Identification of a CpG Island Methylator Phenotype that Defines a Distinct Subgroup of Glioma
Researchers have profiled promoter DNA methylation alterations in 272 glioblastoma tumors in the context of The Cancer Genome Atlas and found that a distinct subset of samples displays concerted hypermethylation at a large number of loci, indicating the existence of a glioma-CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP). [Cancer Cell]
A Parallel Cholinergic Brainstem Pathway for Enhancing Locomotor Drive
Researchers identified brainstem muscarinoceptive neurons in lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) that received parallel inputs from the mesencephalic locomotor region and projected back to reticulospinal cells to amplify and extend the duration of locomotor output. [Nature Neuroscience]
Clinical Trial for Metastatic Brain Cancer Launching at Sylvester
Researchers have just received approval to begin enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical trial involving patients with tumors metastatic to the brain. The novel therapy is based on the laboratory discovery of a drug by Sheldon Greer, Ph.D., which can lead to a better radiation effect. [University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Press Release]
Trans-Atlantic Agreement a Boost to Neuroscience Research
Neurological research and clinical care received a significant boost as Imperial College London and McGill University of Montreal entered an agreement enabling them to work more closely together in this field. [McGill University Press Release]
Kettering Health Network Opens Neuro Center Kettering Health Network dedicated its NeuroRehab and Balance Center on May 10, at Yankee Medical Center in Centerville. The center is a collaboration of Grandview/Southview Medical Centers and Kettering Medical Center. [Dayton Business Journal]
Owen Joins Centre for Brain and Mind One of the world's foremost neuroscientists, Adrian Owen, has been recruited to The University of Western Ontario as a Canada Excellence Research Chair and will bring his research program from the University of Cambridge. [The University of Western Ontario Press Release]
Scientific Learning Corporation Named Finalist for EdNET 2010 Impact Award Scientific Learning Corporation earned finalist status for its significant, positive impact on education by applying educational and neuroscience research and technology to generate significant change in support of improved student learning. [MarketWatch]
House Nixes More Research Spending in COMPETES Bill
Catching the Democratic leadership by surprise, members voted 292 to 126 to block passage of a 5-year authorization bill that would have provided healthy increases in the research and education budgets of the National Science Foundation and research programs at the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce. [House of Representatives, United States]
British Science and Climate/Energy Ministers Named
Following the formation of the United Kingdom's Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government, Conservative Member of Parliament David Willetts has been named as the new minister of state for universities and science. [House of Commons, United Kingdom]
European and International Experts Discuss the Way Forward in Stem Cell Research and Development
The European Medicines Agency assembled for the first time European and international experts from academia, regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical industry to review opportunities and difficulties in developing stem cell-based therapies and to discuss regulatory challenges. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]
European Union Agency Prepares to Assess First Stem Cell Drug
The first regenerative medicine based on stem cells could be filed for approval in Europe later this year, bringing the groundbreaking medical technology a step closer to reality. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]
Neurobiological Circuits of Addiction: Significance for Psychiatric Practice
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, will present a special research track at the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA’s) 163rd annual meeting in New Orleans from May 22-26. [National Institute on Drug Abuse, United States]
Johns Hopkins to Unveil Center for Biotechnology Education The Johns Hopkins University’s Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Advanced Academic Programs, will unveil the Center for Biotechnology at its fifth annual biotechnology research symposium. [Johns Hopkins’ Center for Biotechnology Education Press Release]
Roster of the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee
As part of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) ongoing efforts to recruit qualified experts with minimal conflicts of interest who are interested in serving on FDA advisory committees, FDA is requesting nominations for members to serve on its advisory committees. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
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