Tag Archives: harvard medical school

Structure deep within the brain may contribute to a rich, varied social life

Scientists have discovered that the amygdala, a small almond shaped structure deep within the temporal lobe, is important to a rich and varied social life among humans. The finding was published this week in a new study in Nature Neuroscience and i…

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University of Utah and Harvard researchers take major step toward first biological test for autism

BELMONT, MA — Researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the University of Utah have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. The test was able to detect the disorder in individuals with high-functioning autism with…

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Diabetes may clamp down on cholesterol the brain needs

BOSTON — November 30, 2010 — The brain contains more cholesterol than any other organ in the body, has to produce its own cholesterol and won’t function normally if it doesn’t churn out enough. Defects in cholesterol metabolism have been linked …

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Belly fat puts women at risk for osteoporosis

CHICAGO — For years, it was believed that obese women were at lower risk for developing osteoporosis, and that excess body fat actually protected against bone loss. However, a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society…

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Diagnosis uncertainty increases anxiety in patients

CHICAGO — Have you ever felt uneasy sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or climbed the walls waiting for your test results? That feeling of anxious uncertainty can be more stressful than knowing you have a serious illness, according to a study pres…

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Study reveals neural basis of rapid brain adaptation

You detect an object flying at your head. What do you do? You probably first move out of the way — and then you try to determine what the object is. Your brain is able to quickly switch from detecting an object moving in your direction to determi…

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Lower back and foot pain associated with more severe knee osteoarthritis symptoms

A new study found that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who also have pain in other joints were more likely to experience greater knee pain. Specifically, pain in the lower back as well as foot pain and elbow pain on the same side as th…

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Noninvasive brain stimulation helps improve motor function in stroke patients

BOSTON — A noninvasive electric stimulation technique administered to both sides of the brain can help stroke patients who have lost motor skills in their hands and arms, according to a new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical …

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Combined imaging technologies may better identify cancerous breast lesions

OAK BROOK, Ill. — By combining optical and x-ray imaging, radiologists may be better able to distinguish cancer from benign lesions in the breast, according to a new study published in the online edition and January issue of Radiology.
Researche…

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Collecting your thoughts: You can do it in your sleep!

It is one thing to learn a new piece of information, such as a new phone number or a new word, but quite another to get your brain to file it away so it is available when you need it.
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience by resear…

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Autism Consortium 2010 Symposium: New therapeutics focus, family resource guide announced

Boston — November 1, 2010 — The Autism Consortium, an innovative Boston area collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), announc…

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Of 50,000 small molecules tested to fight cancer, 2 show promise

BOSTON (3:00 p.m. ET, November 1, 2010) — A class of compounds that interferes with cell signaling pathways may provide a new approach to cancer treatment, according to a study published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy…

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Racial and ethnic disparities impact care for children with frequent ear infections

Alexandria, VA — Racial and ethnic disparities among children with frequent ear infections (FEI) significantly influence access to affordable healthcare, according to new research published in the November 2010 issue of Otolaryngology — Head…

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Rictor protein offers scientists a new molecular target for cancer therapies

BOSTON — The discovery that a protein called Rictor plays a key role in destroying a close cousin of the AKT oncogene could provide scientists with a new molecular target for treating certain cancers, including breast cancer. Described in the Sept…

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The brain’s journey from early Internet to modern-day fiber optics — all in 1 lifetime

The brain’s inner network becomes increasingly more efficient as humans mature. Now, for the first time without invasive measures, a joint study from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL), …

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The brain’s journey from early Internet to modern-day fiber optics — all in 1 lifetime

The brain’s inner network becomes increasingly more efficient as humans mature. Now, for the first time without invasive measures, a [...]

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Consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the incidence of gum disease

St. Louis, MO, October 26, 2010 — Periodontitis, a common inflammatory disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, leads to accumulation of bacteria and potential bone and tooth loss. Although traditional treatments concentrate on the bacter…

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Study finds race, ethnicity impact access to care for children with frequent ear infections

Ear infections are one of the most common health problems for children, with most kids experiencing at least one by their third birthday. Annual costs in the United States alone are in the billions of dollars.
When these infections are left untr…

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