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Revista de noticias sobre Biología, Biotecnología, Medioambiente, Neurociencias, etc. Elaborado por la Bibloioteca de la Facultad de Biología y Biotecnología de la Universidad de la Universidad de Salamanca.
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Universidad de Salamanca Facultad de Biología
Biblioteca
Bionoticias Junio (3ª) de 2014
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índice
Avisos de la Facultad 4
Biología 7
Biomedicina 19
Biotecnología 23
Neurociencia 39
.Avisos de la Facultad
Próximo Seminario IBFG Viernes 20 de junio a las 12.30 h.
.Biología
Cebras explicadas
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. Existen varias hipótesis que intentan
Un estudio aborda las estrategias de los cetáceos para evitar las orcas
En el mar, todos los días se libra una batalla por la supervivencia. Cetáceos como las ballenas, delfines, marsopas o zifios, utilizan auténticas estrategias para no ser detectados por su más temible depredador, la orca o ballena asesina. Una de estas tácticas, investigada mediante...
Compartir comida entre hermanos en vez de competir por ella, cooperación familiar en la tijereta
Algunos animales son de vida solitaria y ni siquiera viven en familia. Otros, como por ejemplo humanos, hormigas y abejas, formamos sociedades. Parece evidente que el concepto de familia sirvió de puente entre la vida solitaria y la vida en sociedad, pero ¿cómo exactamente? La...
Animales con capacidad de electrocutar y de comunicarse eléctricamente, una nueva mirada a su evolución
Los animales "eléctricos" han aparecido varias veces por separado en la historia de la evolución, con diversos grados de complejidad. A lo largo de la evolución, dos grupos de peces eléctricos, uno en África (la familia Mormyridae) y otro en Sudamérica (el orden Gymnotiformes), han desarrollado...
El genoma de la oveja revela cómo se bifurcó evolutivamente de la cabra
A partir de la secuenciación del genoma de la oveja, un equipo internacional de científicos ha obtenido nuevos y reveladores datos sobre la joven historia evolutiva de este animal, que surgió como nueva especie hace tan solo unos 4 millones de años, cuando se diferenció de la cabra. El...
Descubren por qué la sombra reduce las defensas de las plantas Investigadores del Centro Nacional de Biotecnología han descubierto el mecanismo por el que la sombra reduce las defensas de las plantas. Este descubrimiento puede ayudar a diseñar estrategias biotecnológicas que mejoren la producción agrícola en condiciones de alta densidad de cultivo.
Cráneos de Atapuerca con rasgos neandertales y primitivos iluminan la evolución humana
Una investigación que publica hoy la revista Science da a conocer el análisis de 17 cráneos del Pleistoceno Medio hallados en la Sima de los Huesos de Atapuerca (Burgos); entre ellos, siete nuevos. Sus resultados indican que los cambios en la cara fueron los primeros pasos en la evolución del linaje neandertal.
Cultivar maíz dentro de cavernas y minas
Cultivar ciertos vegetales en entornos aislados y cerrados ayudaría a prevenir que el polen y las semillas genéticamente modificados se escapen hacia el ecosistema y ello provoque cruzamientos indeseados con plantas silvestres. La técnica podría ser particularmente útil para cultivos transgénicos...
Telomerasa, la enzima que hace fuerte al parásito Leishmania
La enzima telomerasa está presente en células y tejidos de los seres vivos. La de microorganismos como Leishmania es entre un 20 y 30% más grande que la de los humanos. Ahí estaría el secreto de la eficiencia de este parásito. Descubrir qué información hay en ese tamaño adicional es la...
Describen una especie de parásito sanguíneo que infecta a las aves marinas
Investigadores del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales describen en un estudio una especie de parásito que infecta a aves marinas de la familia Hydrobatidae.
Estudian los efectos del cambio climático sobre la distribución de la vegetación de las zonas áridas de Andalucía
Investigadores de la Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas han evaluado los posibles efectos del cambio climático en el Sureste de la Península, tomando como modelo el análisis de una de las plantas más comunes de este tipo de entornos, Phagnalon saxatile.
La ‘Posidonia oceanica’ está en regresión desde hace medio siglo
Un estudio del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) muestra que la extensión de la hierba submarina Posidonia puede haber disminuido un 38% desde los años 60. Los resultados, publicados en la revista Biological Conservation, desvelan que la cantidad de CO2 que captura este ecosistema es entre un 62 % y un 87 % del que se secuestraba en los años sesenta.
Personas con un padre biológico y dos madres biológicas
Más allá de la figura de la madre de alquiler o gestante subrogada que acoge en su útero un embrión ajeno que le ha sido implantado, ya se trabaja en técnicas que permitan impedir ciertos defectos genéticos graves en un embrión recurriendo a la combinación de un óvulo de una mujer con uno de otra...
La gran barrera de coral se adaptó al calentamiento global hace 20.000 años
La revista Nature Communications publica un estudio en el que un equipo internacional de científicos presenta nuevas evidencias sobre los cambios de temperatura que sufrió la gran barrera de coral australiana hace entre 20.000 y 13.000 años. La información recogida muestra que el arrecife es más resistente a los cambios de temperatura de lo que se creía anteriormente. Aun así, no se puede afirmar
Las fallas en las Montañas Rocosas podrían generar terremotos superiores a 6 en la escala de Richter
Las fallas de gran extensión y relacionadas con la disolución de formaciones salinas existentes en las Montañas Rocosas de Colorado, previamente consideradas como asísmicas, podrían generar terremotos de magnitudes superiores a 6 en la escala de Richter, según se desprende de la investigación que acaban de desarrollar geólogos de la Universidad de Zaragoza y del Servicio Geológico de Colorado (EEU
Descubren un cocodrilo fósil con restos de otro cocodrilo en su cavidad abdominal
En la región de General Salgado, en el noroeste del estado de São Paulo (Brasil), fue hallado un espécimen antes desconocido de cocodrilo fósil con restos de otro espécimen cocodriloforme en su cavidad abdominal. Ésta es la primera vez que se identifican inequívocamente contenidos en el...
Nueva campaña de excavación en Orce para hallar más datos de las poblaciones humanas de hace sobre 1,4 millones de años
Un equipo integrado por 60 personas desarrolla la cuarta campaña de excavación en la cuenca de Guadix-Baza (España) bajo la codirección de Robert Sala y Bienvenido Martínez-Navarro, arqueólogo y paleontólogo del IPHES (Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i
Los contaminantes orgánicos dañan los ecosistemas de agua dulce en toda Europa
Un estudio europeo liderado por el Centro Helmholtz para la Investigación Ambiental de Leipzig (Alemania) alerta del riesgo que representan los pesticidas y otros químicos industriales para los ecosistemas de agua dulce a escala continental. Los resultados de esta investigación advierten de la necesidad de establecer medidas de protección que mitiguen los efectos de dicha contaminación.
En directo por webcam, una cría de buitre negro en el valle de Lozoya
La Comunidad de Madrid y la asociación conservacionista SEO/BirdLife han instalado un sistema con una cámara web que permite seguir el desarrollo de un pollo de buitre negro en el Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid), la mayor colonia de esta
Un estudio genético reconstruye la historia de los pobladores precolombinos y de la actual población de México
Un estudio publicado en la revista Science ha permitido reconstruir la historia de las poblaciones precolombinas de México y caracterizar la estructura genética de la población general del país en la actualidad. Con un nivel de resolución sin precedentes, el estudio ha identificado la
Un nuevo sistema permite cultivar microalgas con propiedades terapéuticas
Investigadores del grupo de Biotecnología de Microalgas Marinas de la Universidad de Almería han adaptado fotobiorreactores clásicos, sistemas que mantienen un ambiente apropiado para el crecimiento celular, para poder producir dinoflagelados. Se trata de unas microalgas que producen compuestos, que aplicados en dosis adecuadas, pueden
La UNESCO aprueba dos nuevas Reservas de la Biosfera en España
La Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) ha aprobado hoy la ampliación de dos Reservas de la Biosfera españolas: la de la Mancha Húmeda (en Castilla-La Mancha) y la de Montseny (en Cataluña). En la actualidad, España, con las 45 reservas que constituyen La Red Española, es el segundo país en
Profundizando en el origen evolutivo de las mandíbulas en vertebrados
El importante descubrimiento de un fósil en Canadá aporta nuevos y esclarecedores datos sobre el desarrollo de los primeros vertebrados, incluyendo el origen de las mandíbulas, la primera vez que esta característica ha sido vista perfilándose tan temprano en el registro
El Mediterráneo descargó en el Atlántico hace tres millones de años
La revista Science acaba de publicar los resultados de la Expedición 339 del Integrated Ocean Drilling Project, compuesta por 35 científicos de 14 nacionalidades, y que se realizó a bordo del buque oceanográfico Joides Resolution entre entre noviembre de 2011 y enero de 2012. Los investigadores han demostrado, a partir de las muestras recogidas, que la circulación inicial de las aguas de salida de
Secuenciación completa del genoma del eucalipto
En el marco una iniciativa de colaboración realizada a lo largo y ancho de cinco continentes, un extenso equipo de científicos ha anunciado la secuenciación completa de uno de los árboles más ampliamente plantados del mundo, el Eucalyptus grandis. Los eucaliptos son valorados por su...
El canto de las aves, ¿origen evolutivo de la base acústica para el lenguaje humano?
El gibón plateado, un primate en peligro de extinción, vive en las selvas de la isla de Java, en Indonesia. Siguiendo un comportamiento inusual para un primate, el gibón plateado canta: Puede vocalizar canciones largas y complicadas, utilizando 14 tipos de notas diferentes, que señalan el...
La transmisión de información a través de proteínas podría revolucionar el descubrimiento de fármacos
Las proteínas son cadenas de aminoácidos que, plegadas según determinados patrones estructurales y, también, desplegadas, ejecutan las funciones dentro de las células. Las proteínas reciben señales que se transmiten de una a la siguiente y que son básicas para la vida. Pero dentro de una proteína...
La acidificación y el calentamiento amenazan especies emblemáticas del mar Mediterráneo
Hoy se han presentado las conclusiones del proyecto europeo MedSea, que ha analizado los efectos de la acidificación y el calentamiento en el Mediterráneo. Los investigadores destacan que la acidez de las aguas se ha incrementado un 10% desde 1995, y lo hará un 30% más hasta el 2050 si continúa el incremento de las emisiones de CO2. Especies tan emblemáticas como los arrecifes coralígenos, de ver
Más grande que el argentinosaurio
Entrega del podcast Zoo de Fósiles, a cargo de Germán Fernández Sánchez, en Ciencia para Escuchar, que recomendamos por su interés. El anuncio reciente del descubrimiento de un dinosaurio aún más grande que el argentinosaurio, al que en su día se describió como el animal terrestre más...
Un estudio aborda las estrategias de los cetáceos para evitar las orcas
Una investigación liderada por la Universidad de Extremadura ha estudiado las diferentes estrategias de los cetáceos para evitar a sus depredadores. Según sus resultados, una estas tácticas consiste en mantener bajo el efecto Doppler –cambio de frecuencia de onda que ocurre cuando un animal se mueve y emite sonido al mismo tiempo– de sus emisiones acústicas para impedir que las orcas localicen su
Los hombres bajos pueden vivir más que los altos
Ser de estatura baja y tener una vida larga parecen estar relacionados directamente en los hombres, al menos los japoneses o de ascendencia japonesa, según una nueva investigación. El equipo del Dr. Bradley Willcox, de la Universidad de Hawái en Estados Unidos, dividió a los hombres...
Un gen de la longevidad puede además vigorizar la mente
Una investigación indica que una variante del gen KLOTHO, asociada a una mayor esperanza de vida, puede además mejorar el aprendizaje, la memoria y las funciones cognitivas en general. El nombre KLOTHO deriva del de la diosa Cloto (Clotho), que en la mitología griega hilaba las hebras de...
Más misterio sobre el origen de los animales más antiguos existentes
Las esponjas son consideradas habitualmente los animales vivos más antiguos, habiendo aparecido en la historia evolutiva antes que cualquier otro grupo. La simplicidad de la estructura de su cuerpo y de la organización de sus tejidos ha parecido avalar durante muchos años su
Advierten de los peligros que acarrean la globalización y las TIC al medio rural
Un artículo publicado por la Universidad de Alicante en la revista Geographos alerta sobre los riesgos que la globalización y las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación acarrean al medio rural y su desarrollo. Según este estudio, "están provocando mayor exclusión en el medio rural debido, en parte, debido al aumento en la
Avances en el conocimiento de las acuaporinas en plantas
“Canales de agua”. Así las definió el médico y biólogo molecular norteamericano Peter Agre, quien en 2003 recibió el premio Nobel de Química por el descubrimiento de las acuaporinas. En su exposición caracterizó a estas proteínas como el sistema de plomería de las
El genoma de la clementina revela la evolución de los cítricos
Investigadores del Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, en el marco de un consorcio internacional, han publicado en la revista Nature Biothecnology, el genoma de la Clementina de Nules. Este genoma se convierte en un punto de referencia del estudio de los cítricos porque "orientará y guiará a partir de ahora el estudio de su biología y comportamiento", según los científicos.
La extinción de especies en las urbes es fruto de su falta de adaptación
La urbanización es una de las principales causas de pérdida de biodiversidad que se conocen, si bien las causas que subyacen son poco conocidas. Para comprender este fenómeno, un equipo internacional liderado por científicos del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas ha recopilado datos de aves que habitan en 22 regiones del mundo y ha aportado evidencias claras de que las especies que to
Reconstruyen la historia evolutiva de seis venenos de serpiente
Un equipo científico internacional, que cuenta con participación española, ha investigado la variabilidad de la composición tóxica de los venenos de seis especies de serpientes para reconstruir su historia evolutiva. El estudio se publica en la revista PNAS.
.Biomedicina
Las endorfinas podrían ser responsables de la obsesión por el bronceado
La tanorexia es la adicción a los rayos UVA y a lucir una piel morena. Una investigación realizada en ratones por científicos de la Universidad de Harvard apunta una posible explicación hormonal para esta fijación. Los resultados señalan un comportamiento tan adictivo a la exposición al sol como al consumo de heroína.
Los programas escolares pueden reducir la prevalencia de la obesidad infantil
Un trabajo realizado por investigadores de centros catalanes indica que la intervención en las escuelas ayuda a reducir la prevalencia de la obesidad en niños y niñas. En los programas han participado cerca de 2.000 niñas y niños de escuelas de Reus, Cambrils, Salou y Vila-seca.
El consumo de melatonina en ratas combate la obesidad y la diabetes
Un equipo internacional de investigadores ha analizado en ratas obesas diabéticas Zucker que el consumo crónico de melatonina ayuda a combatir la obesidad y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. La melatonina es una sustancia natural presente en la propia naturaleza, desde las plantas hasta los animales, y funciona como señal hormonal liberada durante la
Hallan una proteína clave para mejorar los tratamientos contra el cáncer de mama
Investigadores del Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Salamanca han descubierto que al eliminar la quinasa humana VRK1, las células tumorales no pueden responder a los daños génicos que les provocan las terapias. Así, diseñar fármacos capaces de inhibirla puede suponer un importante paso para mejorar los tratamientos oncológicos.
Un nuevo estudio indica que las mamografías reducen la mortalidad por cáncer de mama
La revista British Medical Journal, que el pasado mes de febrero causó polémica por la publicación de un estudio de investigadores canadienses que cuestionaba la eficacia de las mamografías, saca ahora en sus páginas un nuevo trabajo realizado en Noruega que concluye que esta prueba reduce en un 28% las muertes por este tipo de cáncer. Los
Limitar la dosis de glucocorticoides en el tratamiento del lupus mejora los efectos secundarios
El tratamiento del lupus eritematoso sistémico se ha basado tradicionalmente en la administración de glucocorticoides por vía oral. Sin embargo, a medio y largo plazo estos fármacos producen efectos secundarios graves. Investigadores del País Vasco recomiendan limitar su administración y favorecer el uso de antipalúdicos como tratamiento
El consumo de ansiolíticos y somníferos está asociado al estrés laboral
El incremento del consumo de ansiolíticos y somníferos está relacionado con las condiciones laborales, que pueden ser la causa de estrés y provocar ansiedad e insomnio, según recoge un estudio de
El maltrato en la infancia se asocia con anomalías en la sustancia gris del cerebro
Un estudio internacional analiza mediante técnicas de neuroimagen si el hecho de sufrir maltrato infantil se relaciona con el volumen de sustancia gris del cerebro, encargada del procesamiento de la información. Los resultados desvelan un déficit significativo en varias regiones cerebrales después del abuso.
La velocidad de los movimientos del ojo es un síntoma de hipoxia en pilotos
Para hacer frente a situaciones de hipoxia –deficiencia de oxígeno– que puede sufrir la tripulación en pleno vuelo existen entrenamientos que los recrean. Un grupo de pilotos e ingenieros de las Fuerzas Armadas que realizó este programa de instrucción mostró una actividad ocular diferente respecto a otro conjunto de pilotos que no participó en el entrenamiento, lo que significa que la velocidad de
Identifican los daños que el alcohol causa a escala molecular en las neuronas
Un nuevo estudio revela, por primera vez, los daños estructurales a escala molecular ocasionados en el cerebro por el consumo crónico excesivo de alcohol. Esta investigación abre vías para generar nuevos fármacos y terapias que mejoren la vida de las personas alcohólicas y reduzcan las enfermedades asociadas y la mortalidad derivadas del alcoholismo.
Identifican 28 nuevos alérgenos potenciales en los ‘Anisakis’
Una investigación realizada por investigadores del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y el Instituto de Salud Carlos III ha revelado que la potencialidad alergénica de los Anisakis varía dependiendo de las especies de este parásito y los híbridos que se forman. El estudio, publicado en la revista Proteomics, describe 28 proteínas que podrían causar alergia, lo que abre la puert
.Biotecnología
Strict diet suspends development, doubles lifespan of worms Taking food away from C. elegans triggers a state of arrested development: while the organism continues to wriggle about, foraging for food, its cells and organs are suspended in an ageless, quiescent state. When food becomes plentiful again, the worm develops as planned, but can live twice as long as normal.
The genes tell crows to choose partners that look like themselves
Crows like to select mates that look alike. In a large-scale genomic study a team of researchers found that this behavior might be rooted in their genetic make-up, revealing a likely common evolutionary path that allows for separating populations into novel species.
Mechanism discovered for attaching an 'on' switch that helps cells accessorize proteins
Scientists have discovered how an important “on” switch is attached to the machinery that cells rely on to adapt thousands of proteins to meet changing conditions. The switch is a small protein called NEDD8. Problems with NEDD8 have been associated with several cancers, developmental disorders and infectivity of the human
Speeding up drug discovery: Bioengineers invent new method
The 500 or so kinase proteins are particularly important to drug discovery. Kinases are messenger/signaling proteins that regulate and orchestrate the actions of other proteins. Proper kinase activity maintains health. Irregular activity is linked to cancer and other diseases. Many drugs seek to either boost or suppress kinase activity. Bioengineers have invented a way to observe and report on the
Descubren por qué la sombra reduce las defensas de las plantas
Investigadores del Centro Nacional de Biotecnología del CSIC (CNB) han descubierto el mecanismo por el que la sombra reduce las defensas de las plantas. Este descubrimiento puede ayudar a diseñar estrategias biotecnológicas que mejoren la producción agrícola en condiciones de alta densidad de cultivo. El grupo dirigido por Solano acaba de publicar
Evolution depends on rare chance events, 'molecular time travel' experiments show
Historians can only speculate on what might have been, but a team of evolutionary biologists studying ancient proteins has turned speculation into experiment. They resurrected an ancient ancestor of an important human protein as it existed hundreds of millions of years ago and then used biochemical methods to generate and characterize a huge number
Genetic code for diabetes in Greenland broken by scientists
New ground-breaking genetics research explains the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Greenlandic population, based on blood samples from 5,000 people or approximately 10% of the population. "Several epidemiological studies have looked at the health implications of the transition from life as sealers and hunters in small isolated communities
Achilles' heel in antibiotic-resistant bacteria discovered
A breakthrough in the race to solve antibiotic resistance has been made by scientists. New research reveals an Achilles' heel in the defensive barrier that surrounds drug-resistant bacterial cells. The findings pave the way for a new wave of drugs that kill superbugs by bringing down their defensive walls rather than attacking the bacteria itself. It means that in future, bacteria may not develop
Evolutionary biology: Why cattle, pigs are even-toed
During evolutionary diversification of vertebrate limbs, the number of toes in even-toed ungulates such as cattle and pigs was reduced and transformed into paired hooves. Scientists have identified a gene regulatory switch that was key to evolutionary adaption of limbs in ungulates. The study provides insights into the molecular history of
How genetic mutation causes early brain damage
Scientists have shed light on how a specific kind of genetic mutation can cause damage during early brain development that results in lifelong learning and behavioral disabilities. The study focuses on the role of a gene known as Syngap1. In humans, mutations in Syngap1 are known to cause devastating forms of intellectual disability and epilepsy.
Nature's chem lab: How microorganisms manufacture drugs
The first three-dimensional snapshots of the "assembly line" within microorganisms that naturally produces antibiotics and other drugs have been captured by researchers. Understanding the complete structure and movement within the molecular factory gives investigators a solid blueprint for redesigning the microbial assembly line to produce novel
Spanish slug: Busting an invasion myth
Spanish slugs (Arion lusitanicus) are one of the most common slug species in Central Europe. The animals sometimes nicknamed “killer slugs” are known to do their fair share of damage in fields and gardens. The slug was thought to have originated in Southern Europe. However researchers have now found out that the prime example of an invasive
World’s first light technology to control proteins in living cells
The world’s first technology to control specific protein functions in living cells by using lights has been developed, which may be useful in future cancer cell research. The research group has found that this technology allows scientists to inactivate critical biological phenomena, including cell migration and cell division, by using only lights, and
Gut bacteria predict survival after stem cell transplant, study shows
The diversity of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of patients receiving stem cell transplants may be an important predictor of their post-transplant survival, researchers report. Researchers found a strong connection between post-transplant gut microbiota diversity and outcomes, observing overall survival rates of 36 percent, 60 percent, and 67 percent among the low, intermediate, and high d
Promising T cell therapy to protect from infections after transplant
When patients have to undergo a bone marrow transplant, the procedure weakens their immune system. Viruses that are usually kept in check in a healthy immune system may then cause potentially fatal infections. Scientists have now developed a method that could offer patients conservative protection against such infections after a transplant. The
Quantum biology: Algae evolved to switch quantum coherence on and off
Scientists have discovered how algae that survive in very low levels of light are able to switch on and off a weird quantum phenomenon that occurs during photosynthesis. The function in the algae of this quantum effect, known as coherence, remains a mystery, but it is thought it could help them harvest energy from the sun much more efficiently. Working out its role in a living organism could lead
Discovery of bud-break gene could lead to trees adapted for a changing climate
The function of a gene that controls the awakening of trees from winter dormancy, has been discovered by scientists. This function is a critical factor in the trees' ability to adjust to environmental changes associated with climate change. While other researchers have identified genes involved in producing the first green leaves of spring, the discovery of a
How sperm get into the zona
Before it can fertilize an egg, a sperm has to bind to and bore through an outer egg layer known as the zona pellucida. Researchers now identify the protein in the zona pellucida that sperm latch onto. The zona pellucida protects the egg and the early embryo before implantation.
Researchers use virus to reveal nanopore physics
Nanopores could provide a new way to sequence DNA quickly, but the physics involved isn't well understood. That's partly because of the complexities involved in studying the random, squiggly form DNA takes in solution. Researchers have simplified matters by using a stiff, rod-like virus instead of DNA to experiment with nanopores. Their
Bioscavengers: New discoveries could help neutralize chemical weapons
Researchers are a step closer to creating a prophylactic drug that would neutralize the deadly effects of the chemical weapons used in Syria and elsewhere. Scientists are trying to engineer enzymes -- called bioscavengers -- so they work more efficiently against chemical weapons.
Nanoparticles aid microscopic detection of protein relevant for cancer
Assemblies of proteins have important functions in cells. But because they are very small, their composition from subunits can only be determined indirectly or with extreme time-effort. Scientists are currently developing a novel microscopy technology for the direct detection of such individual subunits of protein complexes in the cell membrane of intact cells. The methodology is applied to invest
Decontamination system to up research on space station
Just like eating, drinking and even trying to wash your hair aboard the International Space Station, conducting science experiments in space is not a simple task for astronauts. There are so many more factors for crews to consider than scientists on Earth have to worry about. If not contained, microgravity can turn gasses, dust, fluids and sharp objects into a floating nightmare.
Bacteria evade human immune system with a burst of mutations during initial infection
Bacteria that cause ulcers launch a burst of mutations during the initial stages of infection, allowing them to evade the human immune system, new research reveals. The study shows, for the first time, and in real-time, the interplay between the human immune system and invading bacteria that allows the bacteria to counter the immune response by
Genetic 'barcode' for malaria could help contain outbreaks
A new genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites has been found that could be used to track and contain the spread of the disease, according to new research. By using this simple genetic marker when analyzing blood samples from malaria patients, organizations could quickly and accurately identify the source of outbreaks, and spot the spread of drug-
Protein anchors help keep embryonic development 'just right'
It's been known that specific proteins, called histones, must exist within a certain range -- if there are too few, a fruit fly's DNA is damaged; if there are too many, the cell dies. Now research shows that different types of histone proteins also need to exist in specific proportions. The work further shows that cellular storage facilities keep over-produced
1er Meeting de la Iniciativa en NanoBiomedicina del CNB
PROGRAMA Nanomedicine (Chairs: Luis Ángel Fernández and Domingo F. Barber) 9:30 María del Puerto Morales (Nanocrystals and Chemistry Group, Department of Biomaterials and Bioinspired Materials, ICMM, CSIC). Nanometrology, Standardization Methods for the synthesis and characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles with
Guidelines needed for creating germ cells in vitro, scientists state
Research aimed at developing germ cells -- the progenitors of eggs and sperm -- in vitro should be held to especially rigorous scientific standards, a distinguished team of reproductive biologists declares. They state that because "germ cells are the ultimate stem cells," laboratories are racing to develop these cells in vitro for assisted
How protein blocks HIV life cycle in elite controllers
A research team has learned more about one way the immune systems of elite controllers – those rare individuals able to control HIV infection without drug treatment – block a key step in the virus's life cycle. They report finding that p21, a protein best known as a tumor suppressor, inhibits reverse transcription by blocking a human enzyme essential to the process.
Scientists find trigger to decode the genome
An important trigger that dictates how cells change their identity and gain specialized functions has been decoded by scientists. The scientists have found out how embryonic stem cell fate is controlled which will lead to future research into how cells can be artificially manipulated. "We believe that our research will help to make regenerative medicine
Fungal protein found to cross blood-brain barrier
In a remarkable series of experiments on a fungus that causes cryptococcal meningitis, a deadly infection of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, investigators have isolated a protein that appears to be responsible for the fungus' ability to cross from the bloodstream into the brain.
Proliferation cues 'natural killer' cells for job change
Why would already abundant 'natural killer' cells proliferate even further after subduing an infection? It's been a biological mystery for 30 years. But now scientists have an answer: After proliferation, the cells switch from marshaling the immune response to calming it down. The findings illuminate the functions of a critical immune system cell important for early defense against disease induced
Insights into geometry of genetic coding
A surprising mechanism that allows a key enzyme, alanyl-tRNA synthetase, to properly assemble a tRNA molecule with its cognate proper amino acid, alanine, allowing cells to accurately translate their genetic code into the proteins that are essential for biological functions, has been discovered by a team of researchers.
Promising protein discovered for new drugs against tuberculosis
Immune cells keep tuberculosis bacteria under control by breaking them down. A biologist and her team have discovered which protein triggers this process. This protein (DRAM1) is a potential target for new drugs, they report.
Evolutionary history of bears: It's complicated
Several bear species that today only occur in America or in Asia have hybridized in their evolutionary history, researchers have discovered. The Beringia land bridge, which in former times connected the habitats of these species, might have enabled their encounter. A new large-scale study is based on the comparison and analysis of genetic material of all bear species that still exist.
Subseafloor bacteria survive by over-activating DNA-repair and antibiotic target genes
The subseafloor is home to over one-third of the bacteria on the planet, but up until recently it was unclear if this huge microbial biosphere was alive and dividing. Now the same group that demonstrated this activity has shown that bacteria from the hostile sea-floor environment have adapted by over-activating stress response and DNA-repair mechanisms, to cope with the harsh conditions.
New membrane-synthesis pathways in bacteria discovered
New mechanisms used by bacteria to manufacture lipids, i.e. fat molecules, for the cell membrane have been discovered by researchers. Those mechanisms are a combination of familiar bacterial synthesis pathways and of such that occur in higher organisms. Thus, the team has debunked the long-standing theory that lipid production in bacteria differs substantially from that in higher organisms.
Transmission of information via proteins could revolutionize drug discovery
The existence of information highways that connect and correlate distant sites within a single protein have been discovered by researchers. Their article furthers a key theoretical field for drug discovery, as it would allow the discovery of many more drug binding sites in proteins
Viral infections, including flu, could be inhibited by naturally occurring protein
By boosting a protein that naturally exists in our cells, an international team of researchers has found a potential way to enhance our ability to sense and inhibit viral infections. The laboratory-based discovery could lead to more effective treatments for viruses ranging from hepatitis C to
African Swallowtail butterfly: Genetic secrets of nature's master of mimicry unraveled
Scientists investigating how one of the greatest shape shifters in the natural world is able to trick predators to avoid being eaten have identified the gene behind the fascinating feat. The African Swallowtail butterfly, also known as the 'Mocker Swallowtail' or the 'Flying
Famine fear won't sway minds on GM crops
Stories of how genetically modified (GM) crops could have prevented the Irish Potato Famine were no more likely to boost support for disease-resistant genetically modified crops than were generic crop-disease descriptions. "If you think genetically modified crops are dangerous 'frankenfoods' and/or that crop disease is best controlled with chemicals, plaintive tales of historical famines won'
Gum disease bacteria selectively disarm immune system, study finds
Bacteria responsible for many cases of periodontitis cause an imbalance in the microbial community in the gums, with a sophisticated, two-prong manipulation of the human immune system, research shows. Not only does the team's discovery open up new targets for periodontitis treatment, it also suggests a bacterial strategy that could be at play in other diseases involving dysbiosis.
Making new species without sex: Plants can transfer their entire genetic material to a partner in an asexual manner
Plants can transfer their entire genetic material to a partner in an asexual manner, researchers report. Occasionally, two different plant species interbreed with each other in nature. This usually causes problems since the genetic information of both parents does not match. But sometimes, instead of passing on only half of each parent's genetic material, both plants transmit the complete informat
Elucidating optimal biological tissue shape during growth
The role of cells' alignment in shaping biological tissue has been the focus of recent research. This study's hypothesis is that if the cells that constitute a tissue are organized and aligned collectively in the same direction, the force produced by each individual cell division event builds up. The authors show that the accumulation of forces may be sufficient to shape the biological tissue by e
Mechanism explains complex brain wiring
How neurons are created and integrate with each other is one of biology’s greatest riddles. Now, a researcher unravels a part of the mystery by describing a mechanism that explains novel aspects of how the wiring of highly branched neurons in the brain works. These new insights into how complex neural networks are formed are very important for understanding and treating neurological diseases.
Protein could put antibiotic-resistant bugs in handcuffs
The structure of a key protein that drives DNA copying in the plasmids that make staphylococcus bacteria antibiotic resistant has been identified by scientists. Knowing how this protein works may now help researchers devise new ways to stop the plasmids from spreading antibiotic resistance in staph by preventing the plasmids from copying themselves.
.Neurociencia
Neurons get their neighbors to take out their trash
Biologists have long considered cells to function like self-cleaning ovens, chewing up and recycling their own worn out parts as needed. But a new study shows that some nerve cells found in the eye pass off their old energy-producing factories to neighboring support cells to be 'eaten.' The find, which may bear on the roots of glaucoma, also has
Exploring how the nervous system develops
The circuitry of the central nervous system is immensely complex and, as a result, sometimes confounding. When scientists conduct research to unravel the inner workings at a cellular level, they are sometimes surprised by what they find. The findings give scientists an idea of how individual cell types are generated, how they differentiate and how they
Seeing the inner workings of brain made easier by new technique
Scientists have improved on their original technique for peering into the intact brain, making it more reliable and safer, researchers report. The results could help scientists unravel the inner connections of how thoughts, memories or diseases arise. When you look at the brain, what you see is the fatty outer covering of the nerve cells within, which
Placental marker of prenatal stress linked to brain mitochondrial dysfunction
An enzyme found in the placenta is likely playing an important role in translating stress experienced by a mother early in pregnancy into a reprogramming of her developing baby's brain, research suggests. "People think that the placenta only serves to promote blood flow between a mom and her baby, but that's really not all it's doing," the lead investigator said. "It's a very dynami
How brain 'reboots' itself to consciousness after anesthesia
One of the great mysteries of anesthesia is how patients can be temporarily rendered completely unresponsive during surgery and then wake up again, with their memories and skills intact. "Recovery from anesthesia is not simply the result of the anesthetic 'wearing off,' but also of the brain finding its way back through a maze of possible
Self-repairing mechanism can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases
Neurogenesis, the self-repairing mechanism of the adult brain, can help to preserve brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Prion or Parkinson's, research shows. The brain has some self-repairing potential that accounts for the renewal of certain neuronal populations living in the dentate gyrus, a simple cortical region that is part of the larger functional brain system c
Modeling how neurons work together may help design robotic limbs
A highly accurate model of how neurons behave when performing complex movements could aid in the design of robotic limbs which behave more realistically. While an action such as reaching for a cup of coffee may seem straightforward, the millions of neurons in the brain's motor cortex must work together to prepare and execute the movement before the coffee ever reaches our lips. These signals are t
Groundbreaking model explains how the brain learns to ignore familiar stimuli
A neuroscientist has proposed a new, ground-breaking explanation for the process of 'habituation,' which allows the brain to filter out significant environmental stimuli from the insignificant, and which is altered in Austim Spectrum Disorders.
Blocking brain's 'internal marijuana' may trigger early Alzheimer's deficits, study shows
A new study has implicated the blocking of endocannabinoids -- signaling substances that are the brain's internal versions of the psychoactive chemicals in marijuana and hashish -- in the early pathology of Alzheimer's disease.
How genetic mutation causes early brain damage
Scientists have shed light on how a specific kind of genetic mutation can cause damage during early brain development that results in lifelong learning and behavioral disabilities. The study focuses on the role of a gene known as Syngap1. In humans, mutations in Syngap1 are known to cause devastating forms of intellectual disability and epilepsy.
APC gene linked to learning, autistic-like disabilities
Learning impairments and autistic-like behaviors can be caused by loss of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) gene in the developing brain, a new mouse model demonstrates, indicating that APC regulates critical pathways that link to these disabilities. In addition to observing autistic-like behaviors and cognitive impairments in the mice, researchers found significant molecular changes in the bra
Hippocampal activity during music listening exposes the memory-boosting power of music
For the first time the hippocampus —- a brain structure crucial for creating long-lasting memories —- has been observed to be active in response to recurring musical phrases while listening to music. Thus, the hippocampal involvement in long-term memory may be less specific than previously thought, indicating that short and long-term memory processes may depend on each other after all.
Exposure to TV violence related to irregular attention and brain structure
Young adult men who watched more violence on television showed indications of less mature brain development and poorer executive functioning, according to new results. Executive functioning abilities can be important for controlling impulsive behaviors, including aggression.
Brain imaging shows enhanced executive brain function in people with musical training
A controlled study using functional MRI brain imaging reveals a possible biological link between early musical training and improved executive functioning in both children and adults, report researchers. The study uses functional MRI of brain areas associated with executive function, adjusting for socioeconomic factors.
Stress hormone linked to short-term memory loss as we age, animal study suggests
A new study reports a potential link between stress hormones and short-term memory loss in older adults. The study reveals that having high levels of cortisol—a natural hormone in our body whose levels surge when we are stressed—can lead to memory lapses as we age.
Limited motor skills in early infancy may be trait of autism
Researchers have announced findings that provide evidence for reduced grasping and fine motor activity among six-month-old infants with an increased familial risk for autism spectrum disorders.
Distracted minds still see blurred lines
Even as we're processing a million things at once, we are still sensitive to certain kinds of changes in our visual environment -- even while performing a difficult task. "Our study proves that, much like other simple visual features such as color and size, blur in an image doesn't
Boost for dopamine packaging protects brain in Parkinson's model
An increase in the protein that helps store dopamine, a critical brain chemical, led to enhanced dopamine neurotransmission and protection from a Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxin in mice in a recent study. Dopamine and related neurotransmitters are stored in small storage
Single dose of century-old drug approved for sleeping sickness reverses autism-like symptoms in mice
In a further test of a novel theory that suggests autism is the consequence of abnormal cell communication, researchers report that an almost century-old drug approved for treating sleeping sickness also restores normal cellular signaling in a mouse model of autism, reversing symptoms of the neurological disorder in animals that were the human
Does the moon affect our sleep? Research says no
No correlation between moon phases and human sleep has been found by researchers studying the topic. For centuries, people have believed that the moon cycle influences human health, behavior and physiology. Folklore mainly links the full moon with sleeplessness. "We could not observe a statistical relevant correlation between human sleep and the
Minimizing belief in free will may lessen support for criminal punishment
Exposure to information that diminishes free will, including brain-based accounts of behavior, seems to decrease people's support for retributive punishment, according to research. People who learned about neuroscientific research, either by reading a magazine article or through undergraduate coursework, proposed less severe punishment for a
New compound to treat depression identified
A compound, hydroxynorketamine (HNK), has been identified by researchers that may treat symptoms of depression just as effectively and rapidly as ketamine, without the unwanted side effects associated with the psychoactive drug, according to a study. Interestingly, use of HNK may also serve as a future therapeutic approach for treating
MRI technique may help prevent ADHD misdiagnosis
Brain iron levels offer a potential biomarker in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and may help physicians and parents make better informed treatment decisions, according to new research. ADHD is a common disorder in children and adolescents that can continue into adulthood. Symptoms include hyperactivity and difficulty staying
In military personnel, no difference between blast- and nonblast-related concussions
Explosions are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. A new study shows that military personnel with mild brain trauma related to such blasts had outcomes similar to those with mild brain injury from other causes,
Helping children learn language, develop cognitive skills
Examining factors such as how much children gesture at an early age may make it possible to identify and intervene with very young children at risk for delays in speech and cognitive development, according to a new study. The corresponding paper offers evidence-based suggestions, which grew out of the study, for developing diagnostic tools and
Your genes affect your betting behavior
People playing competitive games like betting engage two main areas of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex and the striatum. Researchers scanned 12 genes involved in dopamine regulation in these areas and found that some genetic variants affect how bettors deal with trial-and-error learning, while other variants affect belief learning, that is, how
Strokefinder quickly differentiates bleeding strokes from clot-induced strokes
The results from the initial clinical studies involving the microwave helmet Strokefinder confirm the usefulness of microwaves for rapid and accurate diagnosis of stroke patients. Strokefinder enables earlier diagnosis than current methods, which improves the possibility to counteract brain damage.
Portable brain scanners in every locker room, military base will change everything we know about concussions
A portable imaging tool could change the way the medical community analyzes and understands the long-term effects of sports-related concussions. Research has played a significant role in demonstrating the usefulness of computerized neurocognitive testing in determining the
Important clues to genetics of epilepsy uncovered by International study
A significant genetic component of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy, the most common form of epilepsy, has been discovered by an international team of researchers. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrolled electrical discharges in the brain expressed as a
How our brains store recent memories, cell by single cell
Confirming what neurocomputational theorists have long suspected, researchers report that the human brain locks down episodic memories in the hippocampus, committing each recollection to a distinct,
Embryonic stem cells offer new treatment for multiple sclerosis
A novel approach to treating multiple sclerosis using human embryonic stem cells appears to offer better treatment results than stem cells derived from human adult bone marrow, scientists say. An advantage of human embryonic stem cells is that they can be propagated indefinitely in lab cultures and provide an unlimited source of high quality
Gluten-free diet relieves 'brain fog' in patients with Celiac disease
Individuals with celiac disease often experience 'brain fog' in addition to intestinal problems, but a new study shows that adhering to a gluten-free diet can lead to improvements in cognition that correlate with the extent of intestinal healing. The findings indicate that ridding the diet of gluten may help address problems that celiac disease patients can experience
Sacral nerve stimulation gives pediatric patients hope
Sacral nerve stimulation, sometimes called sacral neuromodulation, is used to help patients desperate to control their bowels or bladder, when other treatment options have failed. During the procedure, surgeons implant a device that addresses communication problems between the brain and the nerves that control bowel and bladder function. If the
Anxious children have bigger 'fear centers' in the brain
The amygdala is a key “fear center” in the brain. Alterations in the development of the amygdala during childhood may have an important influence on the development of anxiety problems, reports a new study. Researchers recruited 76 children, 7 to 9 years of age, a period when anxiety-related traits and symptoms can first be reliably identified. Using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) s
Smart treatment predictions for brain trauma with use of computer model
Most people who suffer a severe brain injury take years to recover – if they recover at all. But the right treatment in the crucial hours following an accident can make all the difference. Now a new project is building sophisticated new computer models potentially able to improve diagnosis and predict the outcome of treatments.
Hunting down trigger for Parkinson's: Failing dopamine pump damages brain cells
The function of an intracellular dopamine pump in Parkinson’s patients has been compared to a healthy test group in a new study. Researchers found out that this pump is less effective at pumping out dopamine and storing it in the brain cells of Parkinson's sufferers. If dopamine is not stored correctly, however, it can cause self-destruction of the affected
Diabetes risk: Understanding how children's bodies process foods
With the increase in childhood obesity and the associated increase in type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents, there is growing interest in how children's bodies process the foods they eat and how obesity and diabetes begin to develop at early ages.
Clever suppression in the brain: Neuron cells and their role in creating memories
The hippocampus is a small structure in the brains of mammals that plays a crucial role in processing input from our senses and allows perceptions to be stored as memories. Nerve cells that inhibit the activity of other cells have now been shown to play a much larger and more complex role in these processes than previously assumed.
Rescue of Alzheimer's memory deficit achieved by reducing 'excessive inhibition'
A new drug target to fight Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by a research team that also has potential for development as a novel diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's disease. The research also suggests that an ultimate successful therapy may be a cocktail of compounds acting on several drug targets simultaneously.
Proteins causing daytime sleepiness also tied to bone formation, providing target for osteoporosis
Orexin proteins, which are blamed for spontaneous daytime sleepiness, also play a crucial role in bone formation, according to findings from a research team. Orexins are a type of protein used by nerve cells to communicate with each other, and have been found to regulate a
The girl who couldn't stop laughing
A six-year-old Bolivian girl presented with an unusual medical symptom: uncontrollable and inappropriate fits of laughter. “She was considered spoiled, crazy, even devil-possessed,” according to those who knew her. Then medical researchers discovered a hamartoma -- a
Movies with gory, disgusting scenes more likely to capture, engage audience
People exposed to core disgusts (blood, guts, body products) showed higher levels of attention the more disgusting the content grew, even though they had negative reactions to the content. The findings suggested that socio-moral disgust-eliciting content elicited a slower
Testing Parkinson's disease immune-based drugs: New models
Using powerful, newly developed cell culture and mouse models of sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD), researchers have demonstrated that immunotherapy with specifically targeted antibodies may block the development and spread of PD pathology in the brain. By intercepting
How the body regulates high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood
The importance of a specific group of neurons found in a region of the brain known as the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) in detecting changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and in modulating the activity of the neuronal groups that control respiratory activity has been confirmed by researchers. The group's work has demonstrated that the respiratory
Best medication for children with seizures: Breakthrough study sheds new light
A recently published clinical study has answered an urgent question that long puzzled ER pediatricians: Is the drug lorazepam really safer and more effective than diazepam – the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medication as first line therapy most often used by emergency room doctors to control major epileptic seizures in children?
Possible link to developmental brain disorders found
A mechanism in brain development that, when disrupted, may play a role in cerebral cortex circuit disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and childhood epilepsy, has been discovered by researchers. The study examines how one intracellular signaling pathway affects the movement of cells in a growing brain.
Fungal protein found to cross blood-brain barrier
In a remarkable series of experiments on a fungus that causes cryptococcal meningitis, a deadly infection of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, investigators have isolated a protein that appears to be responsible for the fungus' ability to cross from the bloodstream into the brain.
New tumor-targeting agent images, treats wide variety of cancers
A new class of tumor-targeting agents can seek out and find dozens of solid tumors, even illuminating brain cancer stem cells that resist current treatments, researchers report. What's more, years of animal studies and early human clinical trials show that this tumor-targeting, alkylphosphocholine (APC) molecule can deliver two types of "payloads" directly to cancer cells: a radioactive
Scientists take totally tubular journey through brain cells
Scientists took a molecular-level journey into microtubules, the hollow cylinders inside brain cells that act as skeletons and internal highways, and watched how a protein called tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT) labels the inside of microtubules. The results answer long-standing questions about how TAT tagging works and offer clues as to why it is important for brain health.
Neural reward response may demonstrate why quitting smoking is harder for some
For some cigarette smokers, strategies to aid quitting work well, while for many others no method seems to work. Researchers have now identified an aspect of brain activity that helps to predict the effectiveness of a reward-based strategy as motivation to quit smoking. "Our results suggest that... 'at-risk' smokers could potentially be
Neurostimulator implanted for epilepsy
A recently FDA-approved device that uses electric stimulation of the brain to treat adult epilepsy patients whose seizures have not responded to medication has been implanted by an American hospital.
Antenatal classes for better mother-baby bonding
A one-off 3-hour antenatal class called ‘Click’ provides prospective parents with the knowledge and practical skills to build strong parent-infant bonds, according to new research. The quality of antenatal classes provided in the UK is currently quite variable in terms of length and
Findings point toward one of first therapies for Lou Gehrig's disease
Researchers have determined that a copper compound known for decades may form the basis for a therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. In humans, prior to this, no therapy for ALS has ever been discovered that could extend lifespan
With the right rehabilitation, paralyzed rats learn to grip again
After a large stroke, motor skills barely improve, even with rehabilitation. An experiment conducted on rats demonstrates that a course of therapy combining the stimulation of nerve fiber growth with drugs and motor training can be successful. The key, however, is the
Unexpected origin for important parts of the nervous system
A new study shows that a part of the nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, is formed in a way that is different from what researchers previously believed. In this study a new phenomenon is investigated within the field of developmental biology, and the findings may lead to new medical treatments for congenital disorders of the nervous system.
Rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression: New insights
Researchers have generated fresh insights that could aid in the development of rapid-acting antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression. The researchers found that by blocking NMDA receptors with the drug ketamine, they could elicit rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine was developed as an anesthetic, but is better known publicly for its abus
Brain power: New insight into how brain regulates its blood flow
Engineering professors have identified a new component of the biological mechanism that controls blood flow in the brain, demonstrating that the vascular endothelium plays a critical role in the regulation of blood flow in response to stimulation in the living brain. Understanding how and why the brain regulates its blood flow could
Synchronized brain waves enable rapid learning
The human mind can rapidly absorb and analyze new information as it flits from thought to thought. These quickly changing brain states may be encoded by synchronization of brain waves across different brain regions, according to a new study.
When good people do bad things: Being in a group makes some people lose touch with their personal moral beliefs
Researchers find that being in a group makes some people lose touch with their personal moral beliefs. When people get together in groups, unusual things can happen -- both good and bad. Groups create important social institutions that an individual could not achieve alone, but there can be a darker side to such alliances: Belonging to a group
Alcohol abuse damage in neurons at a molecular scale identified for first time
New research has identified, for the first time, the structural damage caused at a molecular level to the brain by the chronic excessive abuse of alcohol. In concrete, the research team has determined the alterations produced in the neurons of the prefrontal zone of the brain (the most
Immune response affects sleep and memory
Sickness-induced insomnia is common because of the link between the brain and the immune system. Fighting off illness- rather than the illness itself- causes sleep deprivation and affects memory, a new study has found. Biologists said a common perception is that if you are sick, you
MRI brain scans detect people with early Parkinson's
A simple and quick MRI technique that offers promise for early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has been developed by researchers. The team demonstrated that their new MRI approach can detect people who have early-stage Parkinson's disease with 85 percent accuracy.
Poor cardiovascular health linked to memory, learning deficits
People with poor cardiovascular health have a substantially higher incidence of cognitive impairment. Better cardiovascular health was more common in men and among people with higher education and higher income. The incidence of mental impairment was found more
Cognitive performance can be improved in teens months, years after traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injuries from sports, recreational activities, falls or car accidents are the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents. While previously it was believed that the window for brain recovery was at most one year after injury, new research shows cognitive performance can be improved to significant degrees months,
Regulation process of protein linked to bipolar disorder, researchers find
New insight into a protein associated with bipolar disorder has been gained by recent research. The study reveals that calcium channels in resting neurons activate the breakdown of Sp4, which belongs to a class of proteins called transcription factors that regulate gene expression.
Levodopa better than newer drugs for long-term treatment of Parkinson's, largest-ever trial shows
For long-term treatment of newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease (PD), the old drug levodopa provides better mobility and a higher quality of life than the two main alternatives, dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, according to the largest-ever trial of PD
Gene mutation discovery could explain brain disorders in children
Mutations in one of the brain's key genes could be responsible for impaired mental function in children born with an intellectual disability, researchers report. The research proves that the gene, TUBB5, is essential for a healthy functioning brain. Scientists believe that in the future this knowledge, combined with regenerative medicine techniques, could also aid the replacement of neurons in tim
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