science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Πέμπτη 5 Σεπτεμβρίου 2013

Science News SciGuru.com

What is the brain telling us about the diagnoses of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?
Tuberculosis and Parkinson’s Disease Linked By Unique Protein
PET Predicts Outcomes for Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Compression
Biologists Uncover Details of How We Squelch Defective Neurons
Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer’s risk

What is the brain telling us about the diagnoses of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:08 AM PDT

We live in the most exciting and unsettling period in the history of psychiatry since Freud started talking about sex in public.

Tuberculosis and Parkinson’s Disease Linked By Unique Protein

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 06:54 AM PDT

A protein at the center of Parkinson’s disease research now also has been found to play a key role in causing the destruction of bacteria that cause tuberculosis, according to a UC San Francisco-led research team.

PET Predicts Outcomes for Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Compression

Posted: 04 Sep 2013 11:46 AM PDT

For patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy, imaging with 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) could act as a marker for a potentially reversible phase of the disease in which substantial clinical improvement can be achieved. According to research published in the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, patients who exhibited hypermetabolism at the point of compression in their spine experienced improved outcomes after undergoing decompressive surgery.

Biologists Uncover Details of How We Squelch Defective Neurons

Posted: 04 Sep 2013 10:55 AM PDT

Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have identified a new component of the cellular mechanism by which humans and animals automatically check the quality of their nerve cells to assure they’re working properly during development.

In a paper published in this week’s issue of the journal Neuron, the scientists report the discovery in the laboratory roundworm C. elegans of a “quality check” system for neurons that uses two proteins to squelch the signals from defective neurons and marks them for either repair or destruction.

Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer’s risk

Posted: 04 Sep 2013 10:38 AM PDT

People living in industrialised countries may be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s due to greatly reduced contact with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms - which can lead to problems with immune development and increased risk of dementia, suggests a new study.

"There are important implications for forecasting future global disease burden, especially in developing countries as they increase in sanitation," said Molly Fox.