Month: January 2011

Research uncovers genetic clues to a multitude of brain disorders

New research has revealed the genetic origins of 133 brain disorders, paving the way for new ways of diagnosis and treatment for some of the most common debilitating diseases. The findings come as part of a pioneering study into the genetic and chemical makeup of synapses, the parts of neurons that connect neighbouring cells together.
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Copycats

Apart from a few eccentric Germans, being eaten is probably the last thing any of us would ever like to have happen to us. The same is true throughout the rest of the animal kingdom, of course, with millions of adaptations evolving to help prevent such an occurrence happening. Many of these adaptations are pretty
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Butterflies in the stomach

The thought of climate change may leave you with a sinking feeling in your stomach, what with rising sea levels and increasing extinction rates. Research published recently in PLoS has suggested a novel way of helping the planet, although it is unlikely to help the situation in your stomach. Eating insects can, apparently, reduce our
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Anti-arthritis drugs could prevent cognitive decline

Drugs used to treat arthritis may help prevent cognitive problems that can occur after surgery, according to new research from Imperial College London and the University of California. For years, doctors have struggled to explain why some patients experience confusion, learning disorders and memory loss, a condition known as post-operative cognitive decline. Research from Imperial
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X-rays for the masses

A next generation of “table-top” X-ray machines could soon be made available, thanks to research from Imperial College. Scientific and medical advances depend on the development of better diagnostic and analytical tools. Sources of high quality X-rays are in huge demand for scientific research, yet few dedicated synchrotron facilities exist worldwide due to their huge
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