Universidad de Salamanca
Facultad de Biología
Biblioteca
Bionoticias Diciembre (2ª) de 2014
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BioNoticias. Resumen de prensa semanal
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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.
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Universidad de Salamanca. Campus Miguel de Unamuno
c/Donantes de Sangre s/n 37007 Salamanca
http://campus.usal.es/~bibliotecabiologia/
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