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Lithium in the brain: Neutrons show accumulation of antidepressant in brain
Study unlocks origin of brown fat cells important in weight maintenance
No association between celiac disease and autism
Oldest lizard-like fossil hints at scaly origins
Researchers discover new microbe near Chilean coastal fault line
Researchers use nanoparticles to deliver vaccines to lungs
Cocaine exposure in the womb: The brain structure is intact but development is off track
Melatonin helps control weight gain as it stimulates the appearance of ‘beige fat’ that can burn calories instead of storing them
Study finds link between commonly prescribed statin and memory impairment
Sheep’s mucosa shows the way to more effective medicine for severe neurological diseases
Turning plastic bags into high-tech materials

Lithium in the brain: Neutrons show accumulation of antidepressant in brain

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT

Experiments with neutrons at the Technische Universität München (TUM) show that the antidepressant lithium accumulates more strongly in white matter of the brain than in grey matter. This leads to the conclusion that it works differently from synthetic psychotropic drugs. The tissue samples were examined at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) with the aim of developing a better understanding of the effects this substance has on the human psyche.

Study unlocks origin of brown fat cells important in weight maintenance

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:55 AM PDT

In ongoing research aimed at battling obesity, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have deciphered how new fat cells are formed in energy-storing fat pads.

In particular, researchers sought to find out the origin of “brown” fat cells and whether humans can make more of them in order to burn extra calories – a finding that could have significant impact in battling obesity and related diseases.

No association between celiac disease and autism

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:50 AM PDT

A new registry study, dismiss the long-debated association between celiac disease - gluten intolerance - and increased risk of autism spectrum disorders. The study was led from Karolinska Institutet and is now published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Oldest lizard-like fossil hints at scaly origins

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:16 AM PDT

An international team of scientists including the University of Adelaide's Dr Marc Jones has reported that the fossilised remains of a reptile closely related to lizards unearthed in Germany are the oldest 'lepidosaur' fossils yet to be discovered.

Two new fossil jaws discovered in Vellberg, Germany provide the first direct evidence that the ancestors of lizards, snakes and tuatara (known collectively as lepidosaurs), were alive during the Middle Triassic period - around 240 million years ago and 12 million years before all other lepidosaur records.

Researchers discover new microbe near Chilean coastal fault line

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:09 AM PDT

A team of researchers from McMaster and the University of Concepción are shining a light on rare sulfur-loving microbes off the coast of Chile.

The group's work near coastal fault lines has identified a previously unknown type of molecule, macplocimine A, which produces valuable natural chemicals that are known to function as effective cancer therapies and antibiotics.

Researchers use nanoparticles to deliver vaccines to lungs

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT

Many viruses and bacteria infect humans through mucosal surfaces, such as those in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and reproductive tract. To help fight these pathogens, scientists are working on vaccines that can establish a front line of defense at mucosal surfaces.

Cocaine exposure in the womb: The brain structure is intact but development is off track

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 08:48 AM PDT

Prenatal cocaine exposure affects both behavior and brain. Animal studies have shown that exposure to cocaine during in utero development causes numerous disruptions in normal brain development and negatively affects behavior from birth and into adulthood.

For ethical reasons, similar studies in humans have been more limited but some research has shown that children exposed prenatally to cocaine have impairments in attention, control, stress, emotion regulation, and memory. Research also suggests that such children may be more predisposed to initiate substance use.

Melatonin helps control weight gain as it stimulates the appearance of ‘beige fat’ that can burn calories instead of storing them

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT

Melatonin is a natural hormone segregated by the body and melatonin levels generally increase in the dark at night. It is also found in fruit and vegetables like mustard, Goji berries, almonds, sunflower seeds, cardamom, fennel, coriander and cherries.

Study finds link between commonly prescribed statin and memory impairment

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 07:33 AM PDT

New research that looked at whether two commonly prescribed statin medicines, used to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or ‘bad cholesterol’ levels in the blood, can adversely affect cognitive function has found that one of the drugs tested caused memory impairment in rats.

Sheep’s mucosa shows the way to more effective medicine for severe neurological diseases

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 07:29 AM PDT

New Danish/Italian research shows how medicine for the brain can be absorbed through the nose. This paves the way to more effective treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and tumors in the brain.

A big challenge in medical science is to get medicine into the brain when treating patients with neurological diseases. The brain will do everything to keep foreign substances out and therefore the brains of neurological patients fight a constant, daily battle to throw out the medicine prescribed to help the patients.

Turning plastic bags into high-tech materials

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

University of Adelaide researchers have developed a process for turning waste plastic bags into a high-tech nanomaterial.

The innovative nanotechnology uses non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags to make 'carbon nanotube membranes' ‒ highly sophisticated and expensive materials with a variety of potential advanced applications including filtration, sensing, energy storage and a range of biomedical innovations.