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Category: neuroscience – Page 380

Two-in-one breakthrough: Cutting-edge immunotherapy could hold promise for incurable brain cancer

WEHI researchers have found a specific immunotherapy could hold promise for treating gliomas, an aggressive form of brain cancer with limited treatment options.

The new study shows that CAR T cell therapy not…

Researchers at WEHI have identified a promising new two-in-one treatment that not only targets and destroys an aggressive form of brain cancer, but also helps the immune system develop a lasting defence against it.

This dual-action approach uses a specific immunotherapy known as CAR T cell therapy to treat gliomas, an incurable brain cancer with few treatment options.

The pre-clinical findings have revealed the therapy’s ability to eliminate glioma cells and its potential to strengthen the immune system to prevent future tumour growth – two significant advances that could revolutionise the way these lethal cancers are treated in the future.

Brain ripples play a key role in solidifying emotional memories

A recent study published in Nature Communications sheds light on why emotional memories are often more vivid and lasting than non-emotional ones.

Neuroscientists recently found that specific brain waves, called ripples, help strengthen and replay emotional memories, making them more vivid and easier to remember. This discovery could lead to new treatments for memory-related conditions like PTSD.

Mitochondria Dump DNA in The Brain, Potentially Cutting Years Off Our Lives

Scraps of DNA discarded by our neurons’ power units are being absorbed into our nuclear genome far more frequently than assumed, potentially putting our brains at greater risk of developing life-threatening conditions.

An investigation by a team of researchers led by Columbia University in the US has found individuals with higher numbers of nuclear mitochondrial insertions – or NUMTs (pronounced new-mites) – in their brain cells are more likely to die earlier than those with fewer DNA transfers.

Mitochondria serve as our cells’ batteries, churning out energy in a form of chemical currency that suits most of our body’s metabolic needs. Once a discrete microbial organism in its own right, these tiny powerhouses were co-opted by our unicellular ancestors billions of years in the past, genes and all.

Diagnosing traumatic brain injury with a handheld device

The retina and optic nerve share most of the brain’s biochemical properties – this way, they provide a ‘window’ into the biochemistry of the brain.

To address this lack of technological means for the early detection of TBI, Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer, a Professor in Micro-Engineering and Bio-Nanotechnology at the University of Birmingham, UK, has developed a groundbreaking laser-based, eye-safe device (EyeD) technology. This technology can detect molecular changes that reflect brain damage by scanning the back of the eye with a handheld device.

Study Links Gene Variations to Brain Changes in Essential Tremor

Summary: Researchers identified how gene variations lead to brain changes associated with essential tremor, a common movement disorder affecting over 60 million people worldwide. The study used brain MRI scans and genetic data from over 33,000 adults to uncover genetic links to structural changes in the brain’s cortex and cerebellum.

These findings could lead to new drug targets by revealing how faulty protein disposal systems disrupt neural pathways, resulting in uncontrollable hand tremors. The research marks a significant step toward understanding and treating essential tremor more effectively.

Clinical Reasoning: A 50-Year-Old Man With Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Tortuous Retinal Arterioles

A 50-year-old man presented with headache. Examination showed left sided ataxic hemiparesis and elevated blood pressure. Brain imaging revealed an acute intracerebral hemorrhage in the right lentiform nucleus, deep and periventricular white matter hyperintensities, and predominantly deep cerebral microbleeds. Fundus examination showed important arteriolar tortuosity involving several blood vessels. In this young patient, we explain the diagnostic approach to intracerebral hemorrhage, the causes of cerebral small vessel disease, and the interpretation of biomolecular tests.

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