Neuralstem Inc has received approval from the US health regulators to start an early-stage human trial of its spinal cord stem cells in Lou Gehrig’s disease, a fatal neuromuscular condition. The trial, which will test the safety of the cells and the surgery procedure, will ultimately consist of 18 patients suffering from the disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company said.

A new research showed that surgery is safer and more effective than balloon angioplasty for preventing strokes. The investigations showed worse outcomes in patients who have balloon angioplasty to clear clogged neck arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. The findings can significantly affect clinical practice, especially in the US where balloon angioplasty is now performed far more often than surgery to open blocked or narrowed carotid arteries.

Covidien plc received the FDA approval for the use of its tissue sealant product DuraSeal for use during spine surgery. Covidien expects to start selling DuraSeal for spinal use within a few weeks. The product has been on the market since 2005 for use during brain surgery. “DuraSeal continues Covidien’s dedication to scientific, evidence-based innovation that improves patient outcomes,” Dr. Michael Tarnoff, chief medical affairs officer for Covidien’s surgical devices unit, said in a statement.

Ultra-thin platinum wires are playing an important role in a new technique for recording electrical activity in the brain. Scientists at the University of Utah have been exploring ways to improve electrocorticography (ECoG), which usually involves imbedding electrodes in the brain. Meanwhile, a team at the Salt Lake City institution has created grids with microsized electrodes that can be placed on the surface of the brain rather than being inserted directly.

A recent study reflected that the brain activity networks of those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was more random and unstructured, which was a deviation from the optimal balance between local specialization and global integration seen in individuals without dementia. The study was conducted by applying the network mapping technique described in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience to the EEG data obtained from patients with AD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD, a less common type of dementia with more prominent behavioral symptoms). The researchers claim that these results support the ‘disconnection syndrome’ hypothesis of AD; deterioration of cognition due to loss of functional connectivity and organization.