September 2014
&
Pentagon’s DARPA Working
on Reading Brains in Real
Time
Scientists Selectively Erase
and Restore Memories in the
Brain
Researchers from the University of
California in San Diego successfully
erased and then restored lost memory
in genetically modified rats with a flash
of light. “We can form a memory, erase
that memory and we can reactivate
it, at will, by applying a stimulus that
selectively strengthens or weakens
synaptic connections,” said Dr. Roberto
Malinow, the study’s senior researcher
and professor of neurosciences. The
findings are of particular interest for
the treatment of Alzheimer’s and posttraumatic stress disorder.
of Public Health, External Advisory
Council. Brown received her BA and
MSW from UK. She has taught in the
UK College of Social Work and presently serves as adjunct faculty in the UK
College of Health Sciences.
This year Brown was awarded with
the first Galen Miller Leadership Award
that is given to a leader who has worked
diligently to improve quality, access and
care delivery for all people facing serious
and life-limiting illness. Brown was also
recently recognized by the organization
she has led for 32 years by being designated as a Hospice Hero for Lifetime
Achievement.
In addition, Brown was the first recipient of a new award introduced by the
Kentucky Association of Hospice and
Palliative Care -- the Gretchen M. Brown
Lifetime Achievement Award. This award
recognizes hospice professionals or volunteers who have dedicated their careers
to forwarding the mission of hospice and
palliative care. KAHPC says the award
was named for Brown because she is a
true champion for hospice, care of the
dying and their families, her passion for
end-of-life care has made her a leader not
BROWN Continued on Page 47
Possible Universal Blood Test
for Cancer
Researchers from Britain’s University
of Bradford are developing a universal
blood test to detect cancer called
lymphocyte genome sensitivity test.
Thus far, the team has tested their
test on patients with melanoma,
lung and colon cancers. They report
the test identified malignancies and
precancerous conditions with a high
degree of accuracy. The test uses a
specific wavelength of ultraviolet light
to measure damage to white blood
cells. Taking samples of white blood
cells from 208 individuals who either
had cancer, precancerous conditions or
who were healthy, the team exposed the
samples to UVA light. They discovered a
significant distinction between damage
to the cancerous cells and the cells from
healthy patients. S