DALLAS — A single dose of the female hormone estrogen could protect the brain after a traumatic injury, but researchers won't know for sure until they test it on humans.

That's what they're doing beginning this week as part of a clinical trial at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. The participants won't know whether they get estrogen or a placebo. And they won't be able to give their OK before receiving it.

The hormone must be given within two hours of a traumatic brain injury, making it virtually impossible to get informed consent, said Dr. James Simpkins, chair of pharmacology and neuroscience at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. He is working with a researcher from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas to translate animal studies to humans. » read more

WASHINGTON — Charles Bolden presented himself to senators Wednesday as an American success story who overcame racism in the segregated South to become an astronaut, a high-ranking military officer and President Barack Obama's nominee to head NASA.

At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, the former Marine Corps pilot vowed to help the National Aeronautics and Space Administration regain its luster and romance for young Americans.

"Years ago, when I went to speak in schools and asked, 'How many of you want to be astronauts?' all the hands went up," Bolden said. "Now only two or three hands go up." » read more