Researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which Epo acts in nerve cells. The growth factor erythropoietin is among others responsible for stimulating the production of red blood cells. In anaemia patients it promotes blood formation. It is also a highly potent substance used for illegal performance enhancement in sports. «Administering Epo improves regeneration after a…

Intermittent exposure to high levels of alcohol in adolescent animals leads to increased levels of microRNA-137 in the brains of adults. Blocking microRNA-137 helps to reverse or the lasting effects of youth drinking, such as increased alcohol use and anxiety. Their findings, which are published in the journal eNEURO, also show that blocking microRNA-137 in…

An 18-year study using the DNA of thousands of people in India has identified a new clue in the quest for causes of schizophrenia, and for potential treatments. This study identified a gene called NAPRT1 that encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin B3 metabolism. A collaboration between The University of Queensland (UQ) and a team…

Scientists have identified Cav2.3 as a new target for a promising specific therapy. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease in which a specific population of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the midbrain die off selectively. The resulting lack of dopamine then leads to symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle stiffness and problems executing voluntary movements. Parkinson’s…

Researchers identified chemical compounds that prevent stress-induced clumping of TDP-43 protein in ALS motor neurons grown in the lab — a starting point for new ALS therapeutics. In a study publishing July 1, 2019 in Neuron, UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers discovered that prolonged cellular stress, such as exposure to toxins, triggers TDP-43…

Over 77,000 Canadians are living with multiple sclerosis, a disease whose causes still remain unknown. Presently, they have no hope for a cure. Researchers have now identified a molecule named ALCAM which, once blocked, delays the progression of the disease. Their results, obtained from in vitro human and in vivo mouse studies, could lead to…

A team of researchers has spent years working to develop an effective treatment for stroke that focuses on the use of a peptidase known as neurolysin. The team is now evaluating the potential of neurolysin as a therapeutic target for stroke by seeking to identify small molecules capable of enhancing its activity and catalytic efficiency.…

A recent study revealed that endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms using fenestrated and branched endografts provides a safe and effective alternative to open surgical repair, with the lowest ever reported mortality rate in this patient population, according to researchers. The study, «Midterm Outcomes of a Prospective, Nonrandomized Study to Evaluate Endovascular Repair of Complex…

Atypical eating behaviors may be a sign a child should be screened for autism, according to researchers who found that atypical eating behaviors were present in 70 percent of children with autism, which is 15 times more common than in neurotypical children. Research by Susan Mayes, professor of psychiatry, found that atypical eating behaviors were…

A new study attempts to shed light on triggers of post-trauma nightmare occurrences — a topic that has received scant study. A new study from psychologists at the University of Kansas just published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress attempts to shed light on triggers of post-trauma nightmare occurrences — a topic that has received…