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Duke University Medical Center scientists have figured out which type of B cells act -- and at what time -- to keep a multiple-sclerosis (MS)-like disease under control, knowledge that will help to create better therapies. Thomas Tedder, Ph.D., chair of the Duke Department of Immunology, and colleagues have identified a regulatory B cell subset, called B10 cells, that does more than just create antibodies. They appear to control the action of other lymphocytes.

People who view pictures of someone they hate display activity in distinct areas of the brain that, together, may be thought of as a 'hate circuit', according to new research by scientists at UCL (University College London).

The European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) today announced the launch of "Caring in the Comfort of HomeTM: a Guide for Carers", a basic manual that every carer needs to help carers keep people who need care where they belong - in their own home if possible. For most people, there is no place like home.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disrupt the quality of life for patients, put a tremendous burden on family caregivers, and cost society billions of dollars annually. The most consistent risk factor for developing neurodegenerative disease is aging.

UCB announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vimpat® (lacosamide), a new antiepileptic drug (AED). Vimpat® is for use as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. "Having a new antiepileptic drug option may offer adults with partial onset seizures the chance to obtain seizure control.

Centinel Spine, Inc. announced today that it has initiated US Alpha Site evaluation of the STALIF CT NO PROFILET Stand Alone Cervical IBF Device for single level use in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease. The Company expects STALIF CT to be available in early 2009, enabling spine surgeons to use the technology as an IBF device without supplementary fixation.

Dr Henry JM Barnett, London, Ontario, receives the Karolinska Stroke Award for excellence in stroke research. The prize amounts to 100,000 SEK. The laureate will receive the prize from the President of Karolinska Institutet Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson during the Karolinska Stroke Update meeting in Stockholm on November 17, 2008. Dr Barnett's key research field is the prevention of stroke. He coordinated the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET).

HERLEV, Denmark (MedPage Today) -- Polymorphisms in the C-reactive protein gene can markedly raise levels of the inflammatory marker, but the variants do not independently predict an increased risk of ischemic vascular disease, investigators here reported.

HOUSTON (MedPage Today) -- For infants weighing 1,000 g or less, aggressive phototherapy was no better at reducing death rates or neurodevelopmental impairment than conservative treatment, a randomized trial found.