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A brain tumor is a growth of cells in the brain or near it. Brain tumors can happen in the brain tissue.

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  A brain tumor is a growth of cells in the brain or near it. Brain tumors can happen in the brain tissue. Brain tumors also can happen near the brain tissue. Nearby locations include nerves, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, and the membranes that cover the surface of the brain. Brain tumors can begin in the brain. These are called primary brain tumors. Sometimes, cancer spreads to the brain from other parts of the body. These tumors are secondary brain tumors, also called metastatic brain tumors. Many different types of primary brain tumors exist. Some brain tumors aren't cancerous. These are called noncancerous brain tumors or benign brain tumors. Noncancerous brain tumors may grow over time and press on the brain tissue. Other brain tumors are brain cancers, also called malignant brain tumors. Brain cancers may grow quickly. The cancer cells can invade and destroy the brain tissue. Brain tumors range in size from very small to very large. Some brain tumors are found when t...
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Drugs of Abuse Cause Addiction Through Effects on the Brain

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  Remarkable scientific progress over the past five decades has helped us develop knowledge of  how  drugs of abuse induce pleasure, reinforce use, and lead to the compulsive self-administration we call addiction.  We now know that addiction is largely a brain disease. This progress was driven by interdisciplinary research that blended neuroanatomy, molecular biology, pharmacology, and neuroimaging. I am a contributor to this research, as are Eric Nestler, Nora Volkow, Herbert Kleber, George Aghajanian, Jean-Lud Cadet, George Koob, Ken Blum, Mary Jeanne Kreek, and others who have pieced together clues to construct the neurobiological infrastructure of addiction. In the 1970s, when Kleber, Aghajanian, and I were at Yale, we made key discoveries linking the pontine locus coeruleus (LC) and noradrenergic hyperactivity directly to opioid withdrawal. My studies in the 70s demonstrated that chronic opioid use suppresses LC activity, and withdrawal from opioids results in r...
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AI-powered MRI predicts outcomes in prostate cancer

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  AI-driven MRI analysis offers new insights into prostate cancer prognosis, accurately predicting metastasis risk and treatment outcomes for improved patient care. Advances in MRI transform prostate cancer detection and diagnosis Multiparametric MRI combines multiple MRI techniques to create detailed images of internal anatomy. This imaging technology has transformed the management of prostate cancer by improving the detection of serious cases while minimizing the detection rate of insignificant diseases. MRI-guided biopsies also significantly improve the accuracy of cancer diagnoses. Various prostate cancer features are observed on MRI, some of which include prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) scores, lesion scores, and radiologic T stage, the latter of which indicates the extent to which the tumor has spread within the prostate. Analyzing these features can indicate the potential recurrence rates of prostate cancer; however, the assessment of these features vari...
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Neurons duped into delivering mitochondria to cancer cells found fueling tumor spread

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  University of South Alabama researchers report that neurons can transfer mitochondria directly to cancer cells, enhancing their metastatic potential. Oncologists have long suspected that tumors thrive partly by enlisting help from surrounding nerves. Pathologists studying cancer tissues have observed that tumors nestled among dense networks of nerves often grow faster and spread farther. Previous rodent and human studies demonstrated that cutting off this neural input slowed cancer growth. How neurons influence the growth of cancer cells has remained unclear. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer is a recognized cellular rescue attempt where healthy donor cells revive compromised recipients by donating functional mitochondria. For example, astrocytes, a type of non-neuronal nervous system cell, can transfer healthy mitochondria to injured neurons to help them recover from injury by replacing a damaged or defective mitochondrion. In the study, "Ne...
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Four analysis moments for fuzzy cognitive mapping in participatory research

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  Fuzzy   cognitive   mapping (FCM) is a practical tool in participatory research. Its main use is clarifying causal understandings from several knowledge sources. It provides a shared substrate or language for sharing views of causality. This makes it easier for different interest groups to agree what to do next. Each map is a collection of causal relationships with three elements: factors (cause and outcome), arrows linking factors, and weights indicating the perceived influence of each cause on its outcome. Stakeholder maps are soft models of how they see causes of an outcome, such as access to services or systemic racism. Based on a standardized FCM protocol, we present four moments in FCM analysis. (1) Agree shared meaning across maps. (2) Calculate the maximum influence of perceived causes. (3) Simplify the maps for communication. (4) Identify priorities for action. We provide explanations of the four moments in FCM analysis, with examples from five countries. FCM o...
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Biogen Initiates Phase 3 Pediatric Study of Omaveloxolone for the Treatment of Friedreich Ataxia

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Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a rare, genetic, life-shortening, debilitating, and degenerative neuromuscular disorder. It is the most common inherited ataxia. 1,2,3  Early symptoms of FA, such as progressive loss of coordination, muscle weakness and fatigue, typically appear in childhood and can overlap with other diseases. 4  Most people living with FA will need to use a wheelchair within 10-20 years of their first symptoms. 2  The reported average age of death for FA patients is just 37 years old, although with appropriate and targeted care, individuals may live many years after confinement to a wheelchair. 5-7 About Biogen Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients’ lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior o...
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