More frequent seizures during the menstrual cycle in women with genetic generalized epilepsy have been linked for the first time to drug-resistant epilepsy, when anti-seizure medications don’t work, according to a new study that may help lead to tailored treatments. Women with a form of genetic generalized epilepsy called catamenial epilepsy — when seizure frequency…

A new study shows the first evidence supporting a role for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in opioid reinforcement and analgesic responses. Using recently established models of opioid-taking and -seeking behaviors in rats, researchers have shown that systemic administration of the GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 reduced oxycodone self-administration and the reinstatement of oxycodone-seeking behavior, an…

Training parents of children with autism spectrum disorder virtually about early behavioral intervention is an accessible and effective approach during the coronavirus pandemic or in other instances when in-person instruction is not possible, according to a new study. The study, which was published in The Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, broadens the treatment options for…

Researchers identify the role of cell receptor CD300a in efferocytosis, a process by which dead cells are eliminated from the body. Mice deficient in CD300a exhibited an increase in efferocytosis in the brain following the induction of stroke and treatment with a CD300a-blocking antibody lessened the severity of neurological symptoms in stroke-induced mice. CD300a may…

Converting advances in scientific knowledge and innovations in cardiac care into improvements in patient outcomes requires comprehensive cardiac systems of care optimize cardiac care delivery. New recommendations support policies that standardize the delivery of cardiac care, lower barriers to emergency care for STEMI heart attacks, ensure patients receive care at appropriate hospitals in a timely…

The suspension of fertility treatments due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a variety of psychological impacts on women whose treatments were cancelled, but there are several protective factors that can be fostered to help in the future, according to a new study. One in six reproductive-aged couples experiences infertility, and many turn to treatments…

New insights provide potential answers about why immunotherapies have limited success against brain tumors. The team found that recurring glioblastoma tumors with very few mutations are far more vulnerable to immunotherapies than similar tumors with an abundance of mutations. What causes this effect has long been the pursuit of researchers hoping to harness immunotherapies to…

To best serve the clinical needs of individuals with MS, neuropsychological testing needs to be viewed in larger context comprising non-cognitive variables, such as motor ability and demographic values, fatigue and depression, and disease activity and level of disability, as well as person-specific factors such as personality and coping styles. The authors are Erica Weber,…

New research suggests a link between psychosis and a genetic change that affects the brain’s immune system. The study may impact the development of modern medicines for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Psychosis affects approximately 2-3 per cent of the population and is characterized by a change in the perception of reality, often with elements of…

Researchers have shown that people with inflexible metabolisms burn less fat at night than those with flexible metabolism. The team measured the respiratory quotient throughout the night and found that despite equal ages, BMIs, and amount of fat, people with inflexible metabolisms burned more carbohydrates and less fat than did people with flexible metabolisms. The…