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Science News for April 23, 2000


Smoking cessation aids help smokers quit

A recent study found that nearly 20% of smokers who attempted to quit in California used smoking cessation aids, including self-help materials, counseling, and nicotine replacement therapy. The use of these aids increased the odds of success in quitting, with 15% of those who sought assistance abstaining from cigarettes for 12 months.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 23, 2000

Duke study suggest new pathway to preserve heart function after attack

A study by Duke University Medical Center has shown that blocking a key enzyme pathway can prevent the onset of heart failure. The researchers found that blocking ß-adrenergic receptor kinase (ßARK) after a heart attack preserves heart function, providing a promising new avenue for treating and preventing heart failure.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 23, 2000

Study: breath test effective in showing patients who should get less cancer drug

A new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers shows a simple breath test can distinguish between patients who metabolize chemotherapy drugs normally and those who require lower doses for safety. The technique, which measures exhaled carbon dioxide, has promising advantages in reducing toxicity in patients.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateApr 23, 2000

Best images yet of Jupiter's inner moons

The Galileo spacecraft has captured the highest-resolution images yet of three of Jupiter's four innermost moons, revealing surface features as small as 2 kilometers across. The images show a bright surface feature on Amalthea named Ida, a streak of bright material about 50 kilometers in length.