London, UK: Fascinating new studies into brain activity and behavioural responses have highlighted the overlap between pathological gambling and drug addiction. The research, which was presented at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience (BNA2013) has implications for both the treatment and prevention of problem gambling. Dr Luke Clark, a senior lecturer at the University […]
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New research shows how our bodies interact with our minds in response to fear and other emotions
London, UK: New research has shown that the way our minds react to and process emotions such as fear can vary according to what is happening in other parts of our bodies. In two different presentations at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience (BNA2013) in London, researchers have shown for the first time that […]
Foetal exposure to excessive stress hormones in the womb linked to adult mood disorders
London, UK: Exposure of the developing foetus to excessive levels of stress hormones in the womb can cause mood disorders in later life and now, for the first time, researchers have found a mechanism that may underpin this process, according to research presented at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience (BNA2013) in London. The […]
First trial to investigate magic mushrooms as a treatment for depression delayed by UK and EU regulations
London, UK: The world’s first clinical trial to explore the use of the hallucinogenic ingredient in magic mushrooms to treat depression is being delayed due to the UK and EU rules on the use of illegal drugs in research. Professor David Nutt, president of the British Neuroscience Association and Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College […]
Aspirin before heart surgery reduces the risk of post-operative acute kidney failure
Paris, France: Aspirin taken for five days before a heart operation can halve the numbers of patients developing post-operative acute kidney failure, according to research presented at the European Anaesthesiology Congress in Paris on Sunday. Professor Jianzhong Sun (MD, PhD), professor and attending anaesthesiologist at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, USA), told the […]
Researchers develop quick, simple test to identify patients who will not respond to the painkiller tramadol
Paris, France: French researchers have found a way to identify quickly the 5-10% of patients in whom the commonly used painkiller, tramadol, does not work effectively. A simple blood test can produce a result within a few hours, enabling doctors to switch a non-responding patient on to another painkiller, such as morphine, which will be […]
Sleepy medical staff run increased risks of accidents driving home after a night shift
The drowsiness experienced by medical staff who have been on night duty can make their driving dangerous, French researchers have found. The first study to use simulated driving tests on medical staff returning home after a night shift showed that, under the monotonous driving conditions similar to those experienced on autoroutes (motorways or highways), it […]
Important monitoring of heart performance is omitted in two-thirds of high-risk surgical operations
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Only 35% of anaesthesiologists are carrying out a simple procedure during high-risk surgery that can make a significant impact on how well patients recover from their operations, according to new research presented today (Sunday 12 June) at the European Anaesthesiology Congress in Amsterdam. A survey of 463 randomly selected European and US […]
Hypnosis/local anaesthesia combination during surgery helps patients and reduces hospital stays
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Using a combination of hypnosis and local anaesthesia (LA) for certain types of surgery can aid the healing process and reduce drug use and time spent in hospital, anaesthesiologists have found. The combination could also help avoid cancer recurrence and metastases, according to new research to be presented today (Sunday) at the […]
3-D movie shows, for the first time, what happens in the brain as it loses consciousness
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: For the first time researchers have been able to watch what happens to the brain as it loses consciousness. Using sophisticated imaging equipment they have constructed a 3-D movie of the brain as it changes while an anaesthetic drug takes effect. Brian Pollard, Professor of Anaesthesia at The University of Manchester (UK), […]