Support freedom of research !!! Italian government has arbitrarily excluded human embryonic stem cells from an 8-million euro fund for stem-cell biology. To read more, go to our "science and politics" section.

---

1) NOT-ONLY-GENES : ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, BRAIN ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

"There is no connection between schizophrenia and the genes most commonly believed to cause the condition, according to a study conducted by 23 researchers from Australia, France and the United States, and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry ... In an accompanying editorial, Steven Hamilton of the University of California's Institute for Human Genetics called the study the "most comprehensive" examination of the link between schizophrenia and genetics to date."  ... continues on  http://www.naturalnews.com/024131.html 

"It is estimated that between 1 and 1.5 percent of children have ADHD, meaning that it's very likely to find at least one ADHD kid in a classroom of 25 to 30 children." ADHD does not restrict to childhood: it expands into adolescence, and has a significant impact in adults. Recent studies estimate that between 30 and 70 percent of ADHD children continue to exhibit symptoms in the adult years. The impact on modern society is indeed relevant. Early and accurate diagnosis of ADHD is thus crucial to ensure one's overall quality of life. Any improvement in the diagnostic process might be relevant for the clinical practice. EMMA has presented three projects aimed to perform basic research on biological causes of ADHD, novel diagnostic tools, and new innovative therapy. If these projects will be funded, there is hope for families and for the whole society ...

2) SUGGESTED BOOKS OR SPECIAL ISSUES

2a) A guide has been prepared to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This guide looks at ADHD, its treatment, symptoms, managing ADHD, ADHD in adults, and the genetic component behind ADHD. For more information please click on here ...  

   2b) ANIMAL TRANSLATIONAL MODELS

	Title: ANIMAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MODELS FOR CNS DRUG DISCOVERY. To order and/or for information, click here ... Edited By  Robert McArthur, Associate Professor, Research Consultant Behavior Pharmacology, McArthur & Associates GmbH, Basel, CH Franco Borsini, Head, Central & Peripheral Nervous System - R&D Dept, Sigma-tau SpA, Pomezia (Rome), IT Description  Minimize the number of drug candidates that could later fail in human trials! These three volumes provide a unique examination of how animal models are evolving from behavioral gut baths to providing cross-species information relevant to human clinical responses. Each volume provides the views and experiences of leading pre-clinical and clinical investigators who are actively involved in translational research and experimental medicine. Each volume is devoted to specific disorders in three scientific fields: Psychiatric, Neurological, and Reward Deficit.

2c) "Disorders due to prenatal alcohol exposure: the problem that did not exist" Edited by dr Rosanna Mancinelli & dr Giovanni Laviola (ISS, Italy) -  Rapporti ISTISAN (in Italian) - SENT FOR FREE to EMMA's subscribers !!!

Significant lifestyle changes in alcohol use are involving exspecially women with decreasing age of first use of alcohol and increasing abuse problems. So, warning is arising about female health and children health since prenatal alcohol exposure may generate not reversible, but preventable damages globally defined FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders). On the basis of their scientific experience, in the 2007 the editors organized the first Course "Woman and child health: clinical and experimental aspects of alcohol exposure" and a second edition there was in 2008. At now, this Course is the unique in Italy devoted to clinical and experimental research about alcohol related problems in the woman and in the child. From course arose the need of scientific papers in Italian language that stimulated us to prepare this collection of contributions from international experts. Both original papers and suitably elaborated Italian translation from English papers, are included and proposed to the readers. Key words: alcohol abuse, woman, fetal alcohol syndrome.  

3a) HEALTHY METABOLISM = HEALTHY MINDS 

 Interesting articles on mind and metabolism: for instance, it has been recently published an interesting paper on a 3W theory about how the mind formulates its "intentions". Much more in general, the emerging field of "neuroeconomics" deals with neuroscience of social networking and decision making (read more, open-access article) - The following  is recommended...

Triadic model of the neurobiology of motivated behavior in adolescence

3b) BAD BRAIN METABOLISM = MENTAL DISORDERS    

A lot of research is currently performed to improve "imaging" of brain function in areas related to emotions, motivation, and cognition. Here are few recent examples:   

Psychopharmacology 2007 ; 191: 813-22. Epub 2007 Feb 6.  

Dopamine release in the NAcc appears to increase local BOLD signal : this implies that fMRI may be used to track symptoms related to NAcc dopaminergic dysregulation in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

  You may reach a 100 year-old age, thanks to your mind's metabolism... 

"Exceptional longevity does not result in excessive levels of disability."

 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008