Autism, Purkinje Cells, and the Cerebellum Are Intertwined
A November 24, 2014 study from the University of Chicago Medical Center identified that Purkinje cells in the cerebellum are linked to motor skill deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). read more (Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center)
Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center - November 25, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Christopher Bergland Tags: Autism Child Development Neuroscience Parenting Source Type: news
Drugs may work better at certain times of the day
Conclusion
This study looked at the pattern of genes made in 12 different mouse organs, to see if any of the genes showed a circadian, or 24-hour, rhythm.
43% of the genes that code for proteins showed a circadian rhythm in at least one mouse organ. The liver had the most circadian genes, whereas the hypothalamus (part of the brain) had the fewest.
In most organs, the researchers noted that the expression of many oscillating genes peaked during “rush hours” before dawn and dusk.
Although this study suggests that medication timing could be modified to improve effectiveness, further studies will be required to determine ...
Source: NHS News Feed - October 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Genetics/stem cells Source Type: news
Unexpectedly speedy expansion of human, ape cerebellum
A new study could rewrite the story of ape and human brain evolution. While the neocortex of the brain has been called 'the crowning achievement of evolution and the biological substrate of human mental prowess,' newly reported evolutionary rate comparisons show that the cerebellum expanded up to six times faster than anticipated throughout the evolution of apes, including humans. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - October 2, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Top medicine articles for September 2014
A collection of some interesting medical articles published recently:Doctors Are Talking: EHRs Destroy the Patient Encounter - Medscape http://buff.ly/1n81c0e - It depends on the EMR and how you use itGluten May Cause Depression in Subjects With Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Such findings might explain why patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity feel better on a gluten-free diet despite the continuation of gastrointestinal symptoms http://buff.ly/1om9K39Dalbavancin Approved for Bacterial Skin Infections, including MRSA, 2 doses, 1 week apart, as effective as vancomycin http://buff.ly/1gz5tJoResidues of Roundup (glypho...
Source: Clinical Cases and Images - September 19, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Tags: Health News of the Day Source Type: news
Woman found to be missing cerebellum
Doctors have discovered that a 24-year-old woman has unknowingly lived without this essential part of her brain (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - September 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Early cerebellum injury hinders neural development, possible root of autism
(Princeton University) Princeton University researchers offer a new theory that an early-life injury to the cerebellum disrupts the brain's processing of external and internal information and leads to 'developmental diaschisis,' wherein a loss of function in one brain region leads to problems in another. Applied to autism, cerebellar injury could hinder how other areas of the brain interpret external stimuli and organize internal processes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - September 2, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Does weight loss surgery affect dementia risk?
Conclusion
This small short-term study has not shown that weight loss surgery reduces the risk of dementia. The women in this study were relatively young (about 41 years old on average) and all had normal neuropsychological test performance.
What this study did show is that, unsurprisingly, weight loss for severely obese women was associated with improved insulin resistance and blood glucose levels, and reduced levels of inflammation.
The main result reported by the researchers was a higher level of metabolism in two areas of the brain in severely obese women before gastric band surgery compared with normal-weight control...
Source: NHS News Feed - August 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Obesity Source Type: news
Growth of newborn babies' brains tracked
Conclusion
This study has mapped out the growth rate of the major structures of the brain in 87 apparently healthy neonates from within a week of birth up to 90 days.
A study of this nature can help our understanding of the growth and development of the brain and our ability to monitor brain development over time. The fact the investigation had no apparent side effects is also welcome.
However, as the authors point out, the relatively small size of the study means the results cannot be used as a reference for normal development. Larger and more ethnically diverse studies would be required.
The goal of establishing data ...
Source: NHS News Feed - August 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Source Type: news
The human δ2 glutamate receptor gene is not mutated in spinocerebellar ataxia patients
(Neural Regeneration Research) Recent studies have demonstrated that glutamate receptor δ2 gene (GRID2) is closely related to cerebellar functions in mice. This gene is predominantly located in postsynaptic dendrites of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses in the cerebellum and contains potential fragile sites within large introns. These fragile sites easily develop spontaneous mutation, which leads to Purkinje cell death, contributing to the manifestation of spinocerebellar ataxia in mice. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 17, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Gene critical for development of brain motor center found
A research team describes a gene called Snf2h, which is found in our brain's neural stem cells and functions as a master regulator. When they removed this gene early on in a mouse's development, its cerebellum only grew to one-third the normal size. It also had difficulty walking, balancing and coordinating its movements, something called cerebellar ataxia that is a component of many neurodegenerative diseases. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - June 22, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Researchers find gene critical for development of brain motor center
(Ottawa Hospital Research Institute) In Nature Communications, an Ottawa-led team describes a gene called Snf2h, which is found in our brain's neural stem cells and functions as a master regulator. When they removed this gene early on in a mouse's development, its cerebellum only grew to one-third the normal size. It also had difficulty walking, balancing and coordinating its movements, something called cerebellar ataxia that is a component of many neurodegenerative diseases. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 20, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
What Causes Ataxia?
Discussion
Coordination and balance problems are caused by various problems affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. Normal development of a child or weakness of a child are commonly mistaken for true ataxia. Ataxia specifically refers to “…impairment of the coordination of movement without loss of muscle strength.” If it is purely due to abnormalities of the cerebellum then there should be no changes in mental status, sensation or weakness. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if there are abnormalities in other areas. For example, Guillian-Barre often presents with difficulty or clumsy wal...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - March 31, 2014 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Cerebellar vermis plays a causal role in visual motion discrimination - Cattaneo Z, Renzi C, Casali S, Silvanto J, Vecchi T, Papagno C, D'Angelo E.
Cerebellar patients have been found to show deficits in visual motion discrimination, suggesting that the cerebellum may play a role in visual sensory processing beyond mediating motor control. Here we show that triple-pulse online transcranial magnetic st... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - March 28, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Sensing and Response Issues Source Type: news
One gene, many tissues
Genes are the “code” for building the biological elements that form an organism. The DNA that makes up genes contains the instructions to synthesize proteins, but it’s wrong to think that, for a given gene, these instructions are always the same for all parts of the organisms. In actual fact, the gene varies depending on the tissue where it is located (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, olfactory epithelium, etc.); in particular, what varies is the point in the “string” of code at which protein synthesis starts. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 27, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
From Cork to Boston: Crossing the Atlantic to treat a brain tumor
By Irene Sege
Alisha, Michelle and John. Photo by Sam Ogden
Even in its most common form, childhood cancer is rare. Imagine then that the reason your 2-year-old daughter is vomiting and can’t hold her head straight is not a virus, as doctors originally suspected, but an incredibly rare brain tumor. This is precisely what John Savage and Michelle Long of Cork, Ireland, faced in November 2012, when their daughter Alisha Savage was diagnosed with Stage IV atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors.
On Jan. 24, 2014, the family arrived in Boston to have Alisha treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - March 19, 2014 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Guest Blogger Tags: All posts Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) Brain Tumor Center Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Mark Kieran our patients' stories Susan Chi Source Type: news
