Universidad de Salamanca

Facultad de Biología

Biblioteca

Bionoticias Diciembre (2ª) de 2014

MÁS INFORMACIÓN Y OFERTAS EN LA WEB DE LA BIOBLIOTECA : http://campus.usal.es/~bibliotecabiologia/

BioNoticias. Resumen de prensa semanal

Elaborado por la Biblioteca de Biología. Universidad de Salamanca

Para leer el texto completo de los artículos pulse en el título

Para agrandar el texto pulse cualquier otra parte de la página

Puede enviarnos sus noticias a bibbiol@usal.es

Suscribirse a Bionotias + BioEmpleo: dirección de correo electrónico y su nombre a bibbiol@usal.es

Boletines anteriores en http://issuu.com/bibliotecabiologia

índice

Avisos de la Facultad 4

Biología 6

Biomedicina 13

Biotecnología 18

Neurociencia 28

.Avisos de la Facultad

Próximo Seminario CIALE

Viernes 12 de junio a las 12.00 h.

.Biología

Cerca de 269.000 toneladas de plásticos flotan en los océanos del planeta

Un equipo científico de EE UU, Nueva Zelanda, Chile, Francia, Sudáfrica y

Australia ha cuantificado la contaminación de basura de plástico presente en los

mares de todo el mundo. Los investigadores advierten de que, al fragmentarse en

Ornitólogos piden prohibir el fármaco veterinario que mata a los buitres

Con el objetivo de prohibir el uso del diclofenaco, un medicamento utilizado para

tratar al ganado y causante de la práctica extinción de buitres asiáticos en los

años 90, unos 300 científicos y ornitólogos elevaron ayer, al término del XXII

Cambiar por medios artificiales la cantidad de información que el cerebro

humano puede almacenar al confeccionar un recuerdo

Una investigación reciente sugiere que es posible cambiar por medios artificiales

la cantidad de información que el cerebro humano puede almacenar al

confeccionar un recuerdo. El equipo internacional del Dr. Keith Murai, del

Un gen que dota a quienes lo poseen de una gran resistencia contra la fiebre

tifoidea

Un nuevo estudio, el primero de su tipo a gran escala, indica que las personas que

poseen un tipo de gen en particular tienen una resistencia natural contra la fiebre

tifoidea. La fiebre tifoidea se contrae al consumir alimentos o agua

Extracción de un cuello de dinosaurio entero de más de cinco metros de largo

Investigadores del Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP) y la

Universidad de Zaragoza, en España, han extraído en la campaña de

excavaciones de este año en el yacimiento de Orcau-‐1 (Lleida) un cuello de

El turismo pone en jaque a los delfines de las islas Baleares

El aumento del turismo, la pesca y el transporte marítimo entre la península

ibérica y el archipiélago balear está comprometiendo el bienestar de una pequeña

Un grupo africano actual fue el más numeroso de toda la humanidad

Una nueva investigación genética revela que un pequeño grupo de cazadores-

recolectores que vive ahora en el sur de África fue en el pasado tan grande que

albergó a la mayoría de la humanidad de su época durante la mayor parte de los

Buscan identificar los posibles efectos causados por la exposición a

nanomateriales

Un equipo de investigadores de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

(UNAM) busca que se analicen los posibles efectos tóxicos de nanomateriales

que se fabrican y liberan a escala industrial, y que pueden “ingresar” de manera

Visualizan por primera vez cómo se rompe la doble hélice de ADN

Científicos del Grupo de Cristalografía de Macromoléculas del Centro Nacional

de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), dirigido por Guillermo Montoya, en

España, ha desarrollado un método de producción de cristales biológicos que ha

Las aves adelantan sus cantos al amanecer por el ruido de los aeropuertos

Según investigadores del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC),

los pájaros que viven cerca de los aeropuertos adelantan su despertar para reducir

el tiempo durante el que su canto se ve acallado por el ruido de los aviones. Los

Bacterias que degradan plástico

Es bien conocido que el plástico suele permanecer en el medio ambiente durante

muchísimos años sin descomponerse, contribuyendo de forma notable a los

problemas medioambientales. Ahora, unos científicos han comprobado que

Diseñando las estructuras artificiales hechas de ADN más complejas ideadas

hasta ahora

Unos bioingenieros han creado un nuevo modelo por ordenador que les permite

diseñar las formas 3D de ADN más complejas ideadas hasta ahora, incluyendo

anillos, cuencos y estructuras geométricas tales como icosaedros (poliedros de

La selección natural está favoreciendo mutaciones que aclaran la piel

Los primeros homínidos que aparecieron en África probablemente tenían una

piel clara cubierta de pelo, como otros primates. Se piensa que perdieron el pelo

cuando se hicieron bípedos, y que entonces la selección natural favoreció las

Arranca la mayor reunión científica sobre las aves en España

Desde hoy y durante los próximos cuatro días, en el Caixa Forum de Madrid se

expondrán las últimas novedades sobre investigación y conservación de las aves.

Comienza el XXII Congreso Español de Ornitología de SEO/BirdLife, la cita

Científicos gallegos publican el primer estudio sobre el ciclo vital de la merluza

europea

Investigadores del CSIC en Galicia han estudiado el potencial reproductivo, la

ecología larvaria y el crecimiento de la merluza europea. A través de la recogida

de muestras en la zona comprendida entre Fisterra y Estaca de Bares, han

Los lagartos evitan depredadores por la iridiscencia de sus señales cromáticas

La cabeza azul de los machos de lagarto ibérico endémico (Lacerta schreiberi) se

muestra muy intensa a ras de tierra, para ser más atractivo a las hembras y

competir con otros machos, pero menos llamativa cuando es vista desde el aire

Investigan si las uvas cultivadas a mayor altitud presentan más antioxidantes y

compuestos fenólicos

Científicos de la Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael y de la Universidad Mayor

de San Andrés (Bolivia) han medido la radiación solar que reciben las uvas

cultivadas en los valles altos del país y han analizado si presentan un mayor

La fragancia de las flores depende de los hongos y bacterias que las recubren

Las flores perfuman el mundo en el que vivimos, pero ¿quién perfuma a las

flores? Un nuevo estudio liderado por Josep Peñuelas, profesor de investigación

del CREAF y del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), en

Teleología versus Darwinismo, ¿teleología, en serio, en estos días?

Episodio del podcast Cierta Ciencia, realizado desde Nueva York por la genetista

Josefina Cano, en Ciencia para Escuchar, que recomendamos por su interés. La

teleología, sin ninguna prueba que la respalde, fue descartada hace mucho tiempo

Miden la multifuncionalidad de la agricultura de montaña

Un trabajo, publicado en PLoS ONE, ha permitido medir por primera vez el valor

socio-cultural y económico de la ganadería extensiva tomando como caso de

estudio el Parque Natural de la Sierra y Cañones de Guara en Huesca. Los

Los esclavos africanos llevaron al Nuevo Mundo sus conocimientos de botánica

Entre 1658 y 1825, cerca de 300.000 africanos occidentales fueron esclavizados

y llevados a Surinam. Para sobrevivir, estos hombres y mujeres tuvieron que

familiarizarse con la flora de América, que en gran medida era ajena a ellos.

El 55% del carbono de la Amazonía puede estar en riesgo

La explotación agrícola, minera y maderera de las zonas protegidas del

Amazonas, sumada al incumplimiento de los derechos territoriales indígenas,

ponen en peligro los bosques de países tropicales. Así se desprende de un

Secuenciado el genoma del ciempiés

El genoma nuclear del Myriapoda Strigamia maritima, un ciempiés común de las

costas del norte de Europa, ha sido secuenciado por un consorcio internacional de

centros, entre los que participa un equipo de la Universidad de Barcelona. El

La presencia de cobre aumenta la tonalidad roja de las gambas

Investigadores españoles y mexicanos han descubierto que el cobre podría

aumentar la coloración roja de las gambas. La industria alimentaria elige los

ejemplares con tonalidades más rojas ya que, al estar aparentemente más sanos,

tienen mayor valor comercial. Pero los resultados obtenidos en este estudio

Una hormiga recién descubierta ya está en peligro de extinción

La primera hormiga endémica descubierta recientemente en las Islas Baleares se

encuentra en peligro de extinción debido al cambio climático. Lasius balearicus

habita en las cumbres de las montañas de la Serra de Tramuntana, en la parte

Descubren que el ojo humano es capaz de ver luz infrarroja en algunos casos

Cualquier libro de texto sobre ciencia de la visión nos dirá que no podemos ver la

luz infrarroja. Como los rayos X o las ondas de radio, las ondas de luz infrarroja

se encuentran fuera del espectro visible para el ojo humano. Sin embargo, unos

Los insectos de Nueva York eliminan la basura de las calles

En la ciudad que nunca duerme es fácil pasar por alto a pequeños seres vivos

como los insectos. Sin embargo, según un estudio estadounidense, estos y otros

artrópodos trabajan duro para eliminar los desechos en las calles de Manhattan:

Un mapa digital predice las especies vegetales más adecuadas para reforestar

zonas de alta montaña

La técnica, desarrollada por investigadores de la Universidad de Huelva, permite

la restauración, a partir de la especie considerada original, de determinadas áreas

en las que en la actualidad ya no se encuentra la especie en cuestión, afectada por

Científicos gallegos publican el primer estudio sobre el ciclo vital de la merluza

europea

El Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), a través del Instituto

de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), en España, ha finalizado el estudio sobre el

ciclo vital de la merluza europea (Merluccius merluccius) en Galicia. La

Por los pelos del Yeti

Entrega del podcast Quilo de Ciencia, realizado por Jorge Laborda (catedrático

de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha,

España), en Ciencia para Escuchar, que recomendamos por su interés. Uno de

Posible origen de la insólita estructura pulmonar de las tortugas

Las tortugas tienen una configuración corporal extraña y uno de sus aspectos más

desconcertantes es el hecho de que tienen sus costillas acopladas a su icónico

caparazón. No se sabe de ningún otro animal con esta característica, y la razón

Nueva especie de geco nocturno en Madagascar

En muchos aspectos, la riqueza tan grande de especies animales y vegetales que

solo existen de forma natural en Madagascar es un misterio. Esta gran isla

africana es la masa terrestre con mayor biodiversidad en el mundo. No es fácil

Los pájaros pueden valerse de su olfato para escoger una pareja adecuada

La elección de pareja es a menudo la decisión más importante en las vidas de

humanos y animales. Unos científicos han encontrado la primera evidencia de

.Biomedicina

Descubierto un nuevo tipo de célula madre pluripotente para la medicina

regenerativa

Desde 2006 los científicos saben cómo reprogramar células maduras para

convertirlas en cualquier célula especializada del organismo, un logro que ha

revolucionado la medicina personalizada. Ahora, al explorar los detalles del

Ha nacido Muba, el primer cordero fruto de un trasplante de útero

Una oveja ha dado luz en Cáceres al primer cordero nacido de un útero

trasplantado. Se llama Muba y se encuentra en perfecto estado de salud.

Variantes de un producto natural, candidatos a fármaco contra la malaria

Investigadores del IRB Barcelona identifican una familia de moléculas eficaces y

selectivas para combatir el parásito Plasmodium, causante de la malaria. Dos

análogos de la borrelidina curan el 100% de los ratones infectados y generan

El índice glucémico está relacionado con la rigidez arterial

Un nuevo estudio muestra una clara relación entre dos parámetros que hasta

ahora se habían vinculado con enfermedades cardiovasculares por separado: el

índice glucémico, que mide la glucosa tras la ingesta de alimentos, y el índice de

Identifican genes implicados en la regeneración de tejido cardíaco del pez cebra

El trabajo, en el que participa la Universidad de Sevilla, ha permitido identificar

los genes expresados en la respuesta a lesiones cardiovasculares en un organismo

modelo como es el pez cebra. Los resultados, publicados en BMC Genomics,

La pérdida del gen RHOA contribuye a la progresión de los tumores

colorrectales y a las metástasis

Científicos del Instituto de Investigación Vall d’Hebron han descubierto cómo

actúa el gen RHOA, poco presente en los tumores de pacientes con mal

pronóstico de cáncer de colon y recto. El hallazgo supone un cambio radical en el

Los glóbulos blancos ‘escanean’ la sangre para provocar ictus

Un estudio publicado en Science descubre que los neutrófilos escanean

activamente el torrente sanguíneo dentro de los vasos en busca de plaquetas

activadas. El estudio demuestra que muchos tipos de accidentes cardiovasculares,

Las hormonas sexuales femeninas protegen frente a algunas leucemias

Un nuevo estudio liderado por expertos españoles abre la posibilidad de utilizar

el tamoxifeno –fármaco muy empleado en el cáncer de mama hormonal– contra

un tipo de leucemia para el que no existe tratamiento curativo.

Investigan nuevas estrategias contra el VIH empleando nanotecnología

Expertos de la Universidad de Sevilla, del CSIC y de la Universidad de Jaén

tratan de combatir la latencia del virus del VIH en las células infectadas. El

objetivo que persigue el proyecto es conseguir hacer llegar esos agentes

La conectómica estudia las redes neuronales en el cerebro enfermo

Personas afectadas de párkinson o esquizofrenia presentan anomalías en la

conectividad funcional cerebral. Un estudio publicado en la revista Neuron

analiza el papel de la neuropsiquiatría computacional en estas enfermedades.

Los europeos, cada vez más longevos pero con más sobrepeso

Hoy se ha hecho público el informe ‘Salud en un vistazo’, elaborado por la

Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo y la Unión Europea. Los

resultados muestran resultados positivos en esperanza de vida y en número de

Tomar antibióticos durante el parto altera la flora intestinal del recién nacido

Un estudio liderado por el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

(CSIC) demuestra que existen grandes alteraciones en la flora intestinal de niños

prematuros por la administración de antibióticos a la madre durante el parto. Los

Demuestran la relación de 40 variantes de ADN con el cáncer de mama

hereditario

Científicos del Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular de Valladolid han

empleado una herramienta que han patentado, un vector adaptado a realizar

ensayos funcionales de ‘splicing’, para demostrar la relación que existe entre 40

.Biotecnología

Una guía para conocer todos los secretos de la reprogramación celular

Estudios que desvelan nuevos detalles sobre los eventos que hacen posible la

reprogramación celular para alcanzar el estado de pluripotencialidad.

El diagnóstico de cáncer de colon se anticipa con nanobiosensores

Se lleva a cabo a través de varios tipos de autoanticuerpos. Mejorará los

programas de cribado y reducirá algunas colonoscopias.

Breakthrough solves centuries-old animal evolution mystery

Researchers have developed a method for spying on the activity of every gene

within a cell at once. The breakthrough allows them to determine the order in

which the three layers of cells in animal embryos evolved. Other applications

Analogues of a natural product are drug candidates against malaria

Two analogues of borrelidin were found to cure 100 percent of infected mice and

produce immunological memory in these animals, a property not previously

observed in an antimalarial drug. Growing resistance to current treatment for

Yeast are first cells known to cure themselves of prions

Yeast cells can sometimes reverse the protein misfolding and clumping

associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, according to new research. The

finding contradicts the idea that once prion proteins have changed into the shape

Solid-state proteins maximize intensity of fluorescent-protein-based lasers

The same research team that developed the first laser based on a living cell has

shown that use of fluorescent proteins in a solid form rather than in solution

greatly increases the intensity of light produced, an accomplishment that takes

Turning biological cells to stone improves cancer, stem cell research

Near-perfect replications of human and animal cells enables improved study of

certain cancers and stem cells, as well as the creation of complex durable objects

Injectable 3-D vaccines could fight cancer, infectious diseases

A non-surgical injection of programmable biomaterial that spontaneously

assembles in vivo into a 3-D structure could fight and even help prevent cancer

and also infectious disease such as HIV, scientists have demonstrated. Tiny

A pill for obesity? Stem cell scientists convert white fat to brown fat

Researchers have taken what they are describing as 'the first step toward a pill

that can replace the treadmill' for the control of obesity -- though it, of course,

would not provide all the additional benefits of exercise. The researchers have

Visualizing DNA double-strand break process for the first time

Scientists have developed a method for producing biological crystals that has

allowed scientists to observe -- for the first time -- DNA double chain breaks.

They have also developed a computer simulation that makes this process, which

Ancient horse DNA revealed human breeding preferences: Leopard complex

spotting and congenital night blindness

White coat with black spots: almost every child knows “Lilla Gubben” the horse

of Pippi Longstocking. But what about the popularity of spotted and speckled

horses (so called leopard complex spotting) during the last millennia?

New insights on cellular nutrient supply in model organism baker's yeast

Researchers have gained new insights on the function of a presenilin-related

protein in the model organism baker’s yeast with regard to the regulation of the

cells’ nutrient supply: This membrane protein is a protease called Ypf1. It

Intestinal immune system controls body weight, study shows

A group of researchers has identified an unsuspected mechanism impacting the

development of obesity and diabetes type 2 after following a diet with a high

dose of fat nutrition. The important discovery is related to the essential role of the

Complementary light switchable proteins and superresolution reveal moving

protein complexes in live cells at single molecule level

A new method uses photoactivatable complementary fluorescent proteins

(PACF) to observe and quantify protein-protein interactions in live cells at the

single molecule level.

Promising compound rapidly eliminates malaria parasite

A promising anti-malarial compound tricks the immune system to rapidly destroy

red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite but leave healthy cells

Current tools for Asian Carp eDNA monitoring fall short, study shows

The tools currently used for Asian Carp eDNA monitoring often fail to detect the

fish, says a new report. By comparison, the new eDNA methods described in this

study capture and detect Asian Carp eDNA more effectively.

Penicillin tactics revealed by scientists

One of the oldest and most widely used antibiotics, penicillin, attacks enzymes

that build the bacterial cell wall. Researchers have now shown that penicillin and

its variants also set in motion a toxic malfunctioning of the cell's wall-building

Drugs in the environment affect plant growth

By assessing the impacts of a range of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,

research has shown that the growth of edible crops can be affected by these

chemicals -- even at the very low concentrations found in the environment. The

Study set to shape medical genetics in Africa

The first attempt to comprehensively characterize genetic diversity across Sub-

Saharan Africa has been published by researchers. The study of the world’s most

genetically diverse region will provide an invaluable resource for medical

Poisonous cure: Toxic fungi may hold secrets to tackling deadly diseases

Take two poisonous mushrooms, and call me in the morning. While no doctor

would ever write this prescription, toxic fungi may hold the secrets to tackling

deadly diseases. A team of scientists has discovered an enzyme that is the key to

Innate immune system condemns weak cells to their death

In cell competition the strong eliminate the weak, thereby ensuring optimal tissue

fitness. Molecular biologists have now demonstrated that the innate immune

system plays a key role in this important mechanism. However, cancer cells also

Different species share 'genetic toolkit' for behavioral traits

The house mouse, stickleback fish and honey bee appear to have little in

common, but at the genetic level these animals respond in strikingly similar ways

to danger, researchers report. When any of these creatures confronts an intruder,

Pirate viruses caught in their own trap?

In order to infect a host cell and proliferate, some viruses, such as the hepatitis C

virus, infiltrate the ribosomes, the molecular machines that assemble the proteins

present in each of our cells. Viral proteins are thus produced to the detriment of

How red wine prevents cancer

'Alcohol damages cells and resveratrol kills damaged cells,' says a scientist who

studied red wine and its relationship to preventing cancer. "Alcohol bombards

your genes. Your body has ways to repair this damage, but with enough alcohol

eventually some damage isn't fixed. That's why excessive alcohol use is a factor

Solving a long-standing mystery, scientists identify principal protein sensor for

touch

Biologists have solved a long-standing mystery in neuroscience by identifying

the “mechanoreceptor” protein that mediates the sense of touch in mammals.

New molecules to burst malaria's bubble

Scientists have released details of a raft of new chemicals with potent anti-

malarial properties which could open the way to new drugs to fight malaria. Over

200 million people contract malaria each year, and the parasite that causes the

Computer model enables design of complex DNA shapes

Biological engineers have created a new computer model that allows them to

design the most complex three-dimensional DNA shapes ever produced,

including rings, bowls, and geometric structures such as icosahedrons that

Mapping the interactome: Proteomics reveals the E-cadherin interaction network

Researchers have comprehensively described the network of proteins involved in

cell-cell adhesions, or the cadherin interactome. Many biological processes

depend on the ability of cells to stick to one another. The formation of

New path of genetic research: Scientists uncover four-stranded elements of maize

DNA

Researchers have identified DNA elements in maize that could affect the

expression of hundreds or thousands of genes. The general public thinks of DNA

as two connected strands known as the double helix. But scientists also

Novel technique for gene insertion by genome editing

Using a novel gene knock-in technique, effective insertion of an exogenous gene

was demonstrated in human cells and in animal models, including silkworms and

frogs. This strategy universally enables gene knock-in not only in cultured cells,

Vitamin supplement successfully prevents noise-induced hearing loss

A way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss has been found in a mouse using a

simple chemical compound that is a precursor to vitamin B3. This discovery has

important implications not only for preventing hearing loss, but also potentially

Protein kinase R and dsRNAs, new regulators of mammalian cell division

Scientists have revealed that the dsRNAs and Protein Kinase R (PKR) regulate

division of mammalian cells. This finding will provide important clues to

understanding the process of tumor formation and the mechanism for suppressing

How are sea anemones so good at producing nerve cells?

A research group has revealed how a seemingly simple animal is able to produce

nerve cells throughout its entire body. The study shows that the stem cells that a

sea anemone uses to generate its nervous system are more similar to those of

Revealed: How bacteria drill into our cells and kill them

A team of scientists has revealed how certain harmful bacteria drill into our cells

to kill them. Their study shows how bacterial ‘nanodrills’ assemble themselves

on the outer surfaces of our cells, and includes the first movie of how they then

Sweet smell of success: Researchers boost methyl ketone production in e. coli

Researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria to convert glucose into significant

quantities of methyl ketones, a class of chemical compounds primarily used for

fragrances and flavors, but highly promising as clean, green and renewable

Test for horse meat developed

A fast, cheap alternative to DNA testing has been developed as a means of

distinguishing horse meat from beef. Because horses and cattle have different

digestive systems, the fat components of the two meats have different fatty acid

Revolutionizing genome engineering

Genome engineering with the RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas9 system in animals and

plants is changing biology. It is easier to use and more efficient than other

genetic engineering tools, thus it is already being applied in laboratories all over

Duality in the human genome

Human genomes are extraordinarily individual -- a challenge for personalized

medicine. Results of a new study show that most genes can occur in many

different forms within a population: On average, about 250 different forms of

Natural 'high' could avoid chronic marijuana use

Replenishing the supply of a molecule that normally activates cannabinoid

receptors in the brain could relieve mood and anxiety disorders and enable some

people to quit using marijuana, a new study suggests.

Unravelling the complexity of proteins

Knowledge of the three-dimensional structures of proteins is essential for

understanding biological processes. Structures help to explain molecular and

biochemical functions, visualize details of macromolecular interactions, facilitate

Bitter food but good medicine from cucumber genetics

High-tech genomics and traditional Chinese medicine come together as

researchers identify the genes responsible for the intense bitter taste of wild

cucumbers. Taming this bittern

.Neurociencia

Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop

in child IQ

Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals

found in the home -- di-n-butyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate -- had an IQ

score, on average, more than six points lower than children exposed at lower

Smoothing the path to an independent life: Virtual reality based training systems

boost cognitive functions

Virtual reality is a powerful tool to simulate real-life environments and

situations. Scientists are exploring the medium as a way to help people with

cognitive limitations overcome difficulties in life. Among the many kinds of

Revolutionary new procedure for epilepsy diagnosis unlocked by research

Pioneering new research could revolutionize global diagnostic procedures for one

of the most common forms of epilepsy, scientists say. The ground-breaking

research has revealed differences in the way that distant regions of the brain

Multiple, short learning sessions strengthen memory formation in fragile X

syndrome

A learning technique that maximizes the brain's ability to make and store

memories may help overcome cognitive issues seen in fragile X syndrome, a

leading form of intellectual disability, according to neurobiologists.

Early results indicate potential for focused ultrasound to treat OCD

The potential of focused ultrasound to treat certain patients with obsessive-

compulsive disorder (OCD) has been supported by new research. "There is a

need for non-invasive treatment options for patients with OCD that cannot be

Retina changes its 'language' with changing brightness

The intricate nature of visual responses has become more clear, thanks to new

research. The findings may help to improve digital cameras as well as visual

prosthetics.

Robotic surgery technique to treat previously inoperable head and neck cancer

tumors

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have for the first time advanced a

surgical technique performed with the help of a robot to successfully access a

previously-unreachable area of the head and neck.

Brain inflammation a hallmark of autism, large-scale analysis shows

While many different combinations of genetic traits can cause autism, brains

affected by autism share a pattern of ramped-up immune responses, an analysis

of data from autopsied human brains reveals. The study included data from 72

Even in our digital age, early parental writing support is key to children's literacy

Children of the Information Age are inundated with written words streaming

across smartphone, tablet, and laptop screens. A new study says that preschoolers

should be encouraged to write at a young age -- even before they make their first

Possible genetic link found in treatment-related cognitive issues in children with

leukemia

Common variations in four genes related to brain inflammation or cells' response

to damage from oxidation may contribute to the problems with memory, learning

and other cognitive functions seen in children treated for acute lymphoblastic

Brain tumor: Key found for suppression of growth in medulloblastomas

A key factor that can suppress medulloblastoma, the most frequent child brain

tumor, has been identified by researchers. Medulloblastoma is the most common

brain tumor in children, and its treatment remains inefficient. The work opens

Paying attention makes touch-sensing brain cells fire rapidly and in sync

Whether we’re paying attention to something we see can be discerned by

monitoring the firings of specific groups of brain cells. Now, new work shows

that the same holds true for the sense of touch. The study brings researchers

First gene associated with familial glioma identified

A gene associated with familial glioma -- brain tumors that appear in two or

more members of the same family -- has been identified by an international

consortium of researchers, providing new support that certain people may be

Two studies unveil seizure prediction models in critically ill children

In a pair of studies, researchers describe innovative models for predicting seizure

occurrence in critically ill children.

Epilepsy, driving regulations explored in three studies

People with epilepsy often struggle with limited independence due to state and

federal driving restrictions. New studies nalyze potential factors that impair

driving in people with epilepsy and in people who experience "seizure-like" non-

New treatment strategy for epilepsy

Researchers found out that the conformational defect in a specific protein causes

autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy which is a form of familial

epilepsy. They showed that treatment with chemical corrector called 'chemical

People with opioid dependence in recovery show 're-regulation' of reward

systems

Within a few months after drug withdrawal, patients in recovery from

dependence on prescription pain medications may show signs that the body's

natural reward systems are normalizing, reports a new study. In brain activity

Experience counts with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, study shows

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer is highly complex, and a new study

suggests that medical centers with more experience centers have better patient

outcomes. The study compared survival and other outcomes in 470 patients

Stroke: Neuro-rehabilitation helps patients cope with loss of motor function

The majority of patients who survive a stroke usually continue to suffer from

permanent motor disorders (hemiparesis) or a linguistic handicap (aphasia). A

new study reveals an improvement in the efficiency of the brain activity when

Brain mechanism that drives us to eat glucose discovered

Scientists have discovered a mechanism in the brain that may drive our appetite

for foods rich in glucose and could lead to improved treatments for obesity.

New 'science of climate diversity'

There is cloud hanging over climate science, but one expert on communication

and environmental issues says he knows how to help clear the air. He argues that

Eleven maps for eleven rooms: Probing the brain's extensive capacity for storing

memories

The brain creates and stores memories in small networks of brain cells, with the

memories of events and places stored in a structure called the hippocampus.

Researchers have long wondered if there is an upper limit to our capacity to store

Shedding new light on the formation of emotional fear memories

Everyday events are easy to forget, but unpleasant ones can remain engraved in

the brain. A new study identifies a neural mechanism through which unpleasant

experiences are translated into signals that trigger fear memories by changing

Two studies predict surgery outcomes for high-risk epilepsy patients

Anti-epileptic drugs control seizures and improve quality of life for most people

with epilepsy. But for those who find medical treatment ineffective or

intolerable, brain surgery is sometimes the next best option. Two studies explore

Optogenetics: Identifying new targets for intervention

The reliability of optogenetics as a method of intervention of temporal lobe

seizures, and the role the cerebellum may play in hippocampal function and

seizure reduction, have been the focus of recent study. Optogenetics is one of the

Researchers explore genetic basis of early childhood epilepsies

A pair of studies provides innovative insights into the genetic underpinnings of

childhood epilepsies. Technological advances in genetic analysis have uncovered

changes in single genes that account for a surprising number of infantile and

New approach for treating Alzheimer's disease: Psoriasis drug

It seems that a drug that is actually approved for treatment of the dermal disorder

psoriasis stimulates the activity of the enzyme ADAM10 in the brain of

Alzheimer's patients. It is estimated that about 35 million people worldwide

Blood brain barrier on a chip could stand in for children in pediatric brain

research

Bioengineering researchers have come up with an experimental workaround -- a

synthetic pediatric blood-brain barrier on a small chip -- and have tested it

successfully using rat brain endothelial cells (RBECs) from rat pups and human

Rescuing the golgi puts brakes on Alzheimer’s progress

Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses inside the brain in a rising storm of cellular

chaos as deposits of the toxic protein, amyloid-beta (Aβ), overwhelm neurons.

An apparent side effect of accumulating Aβ in neurons is the fragmentation of

Mindfulness intervention boosts brain activation for healthy pleasures

How can people who are dependent on prescription opioids reduce their

cravings? Learn to enjoy other aspects of their lives. Researchers report that after

a sample of chronic pain patients misusing opioids went through MORE, they

Salience network linked to brain disorders

A brain structure called the insula is essential for selecting things out of the

environment that are 'salient' for an individual, and dysfunction of this system is

linked to brain disorders such as autism, psychosis and dementia.

More patients with Lou Gehrig's disease have genetic origin than previously

thought

Genetics may play a larger role in causing Lou Gehrig’s disease than previously

believed, potentially accounting for more than one-third of all cases, according to

one of the most comprehensive genetic studies to date of patients who suffer

Images of brain after mild stroke predict future risk

A CT scan of the brain within 24 hours of a mild, non-disabling stroke can

predict when patients will be at the highest risk of another stroke or when

symptoms may worsen, according to new research. Like stroke, a transient

Cerebral oxygenation in elite Kenyan athletes

A pioneering study in the world of the physiology of exercise describes for the

first time that elite Kenyan athletes have greater brain oxygenation during

periods of maximum physical effort, which contributes to their success in long-

Dopamine

helps with math rules as well as mood

Rule-applying neurons work better under the influence of the happy hormone,

researchers have found. The chemical messenger dopamine – otherwise known

as the happiness hormone – is important not only for motivation and motor skills.

How are CTE and behavior linked? The answer requires more in-depth research,

scientists say

Media reports routinely link chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the

neurodegenerative brain disease, with behavioral symptoms in former football

players. But just how CTE and behavioral changes are related is poorly

3D compass found in the brain

The neurons that help us know where we’re going have been discovered by

researchers. Working with bats, which move in three dimensions, the team found

that bats’ brains contain a sort of 3D compass, enabling them to orient

Barrier-breaking drug may lead to spinal cord injury treatments

Injections of a new drug may partially relieve paralyzing spinal cord injuries,

based on indications from a study in rats. Every year, tens of thousands of people

are paralyzed by spinal cord injuries. The injuries crush and sever the long axons

Is this the end of 'fake exemptions? ' it is possible to detect when we provide

false information regarding our health conditions through handwriting

A new study aims to develop a computerized system that can be used to detect

medical fraud. Medical fraud has become a common phenomenon in recent

years, researchers say. There are many cases of doctors encountering patients

Wireless brain sensor could unchain neuroscience from cables

Neuroscience research has been constrained by the cables required to connect

brain sensors to computers for analysis. Scientists have now described a wireless

brain-sensing system to acquire high-fidelity neural data during animal behavior

Potential therapy for second most common form of dementia

Drugs that boost the function of a specific type of neurotransmitter receptor may

provide benefit to patients with the second most common type of dementia,

according to research.

Peptide shows great promise for treating spinal cord injury, rat study shows

Scientists have developed a new chemical compound that shows extraordinary

promise in restoring function lost to spinal cord injury. The compound allowed

paralyzed muscles to activate in more than 80 percent of the animals tested.

Brain activity after smokers quit predicts chances of relapsing, suggests study

Quitting smoking sets off a series of changes in the brain that researchers say

may better identify smokers who will start smoking again—a prediction that goes

above and beyond today’s clinical or behavioral tools for assessing relapse risk.

Treatment effect on cognition leads to treatment effect on function in patients

with mild Alzheimer’s disease

Results from new analyses of two Phase 3 trials evaluating the relationship

between cognitive and functional treatment effects in patients with mild

Blows to head damage brain's 'garbage truck,' accelerate dementia

Traumatic brain injury can disrupt the function of the brain's waste removal

system, research confirms. When this occurs, toxic proteins may accumulate in

the brain, setting the stage for the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as

Multiple sclerosis: First evidence of a rogue protein

A rogue protein has been identified in multiple sclerosis, which attacks the body's

central nervous system. Reporting for the first time, researchers believe this

finding could pave the way for better understanding of multiple sclerosis and

Stem cells from deceased patients recreated to study present-day illnesses

Research scientists have developed a novel method to re-create brain and

intestinal stem cells from patients who died decades ago, using DNA from stored

blood samples to study the potential causes of debilitating illnesses such as

Chemical compound that decreases effects of multiple sclerosis found

Multiple sclerosis is triggered when the immune system attacks the myelin

sheath, the protective covering around the axons of nerve fibers. Currently

available therapies are only partially effective in preventing the onset of

New process helps identify odorant receptors in live mice

The receptors activated by two odors have been identified by researchers using a

new method that tracks responses to smells in live mice. Using a fluorescent

protein to mark nerve cells activated by odors, researchers identified the

Brain injury researchers find retrieval practice improves memory in youth with

tbi

Brain injury researchers have identified retrieval practice as a useful strategy for

improving memory among children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury,

researchers have found. Difficulties with memory and learning are common after

Toxin from tobacco smoke could increase pain in spinal cord injury

A neurotoxin called acrolein found in tobacco smoke that is thought to increase

pain in people with spinal cord injury has now been shown to accumulate in mice

exposed to the equivalent of 12 cigarettes daily over a short time period.

Brain network detected that gives humans superior reasoning skills

When it comes to getting out of a tricky situation, we humans have an

evolutionary edge over other primates. Scientists have found mounting brain

evidence that helps explain how humans have excelled at 'relational reasoning,' a

Atomic-level view provides new insight into translation of touch into nerve

signals

The sensation of touch starts as mechanical force that is transformed into an

electrical signal. Tiny channels in neurons help formulate that signal, but

scientists know little of the details of how these channels work. New research has

Taming neural excitations: Pulses might one day lead to controlling harmful

signals such as those in strokes

What do lasers, neural networks, and spreading epidemics have in common?

They share a most basic feature whereby an initial pulse can propagate through a

Chemo effect on brain cells pinpointed; potential link to autism

Scientists discovered how the chemo drug topotecan affects individual neurons to

potentially cause "chemo fog." A similar long-term affect in the developing brain

could trigger autism. "There's still a question in the cancer field about the degree

Movements Help Measure Child Sleep Problems

Light has been shed on the complexities of child sleep, and could lead to

improved diagnosis of children with sleep-related breathing problems. "Quality

sleep is extremely important for children, especially at critical times of

Brain study uncovers new clues on how cues may affect memory

The brain activity prior to seeing an item is related to how well it is later

remembered, a new study shows. Moreover, researchers also found that the

activity in different areas of the brain was unexpectedly related to how the

Brain research reveals new hope for patients with anorexia nervosa

Researchers used state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques

to investigate the consequences of anorexia nervosa on brain structure. Their

novel findings obtained by measuring “cortical thickness” for the first time in the

Better detection, prevention, and pre-clinical treatment: Three effective tools in

the fight against Alzheimer's

Detection, prevention, and preclinical treatment are three key areas that may

make a difference in the battle to reduce the rapid rise of new Alzheimer's

disease (AD) cases every year. These three topics are the focus of a new journal

Stroke researchers link frontal lesions with improved spatial neglect after prism

therapy

Stroke researchers have found that the presence of frontal lesions predicts better

functional improvement in individuals with spatial neglect who received prism

adaptation therapy.

Neuronal encoding of the switch from specific to generalized fear

Fear memories are crucial for survival. However, excessive generalization of

such memories, characterized by a failure to discriminate dangerous from safe

stimuli, is common in anxiety disorders. Researchers identified distinct neuronal

Researchers Explore Three-Dimensional Microsurgical Anatomy of Brainstem

A study using intricate fiber dissection techniques provides new insights into the

deep anatomy of the human brainstem—and helps to define "safe entry zones"

for neurosurgeons performing brainstem surgery, according to a new article.

Biblioteca. Facultad de Biología

Universidad de Salamanca. Campus Miguel de Unamuno

c/Donantes de Sangre s/n 37007 Salamanca

angelpoveda@usal.es

http://campus.usal.es/~bibliotecabiologia/