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Science News for June 18, 2000


New compound may permit definitive diagnosis and treatment monitoring of Alzheimer's in living patients

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have created a stealth-like molecule called BSB that can effectively breach the blood-brain barrier and bind to amyloid plaques, enabling visualization using PET or SPECT imaging. This breakthrough paves the way for the refinement of BSB as a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 18, 2000

Community programs can help prevent heart disease

A community program in rural Maine associated with a significant decrease in heart disease death rates, thanks to its comprehensive approach to tracking patient risk factors and providing lifestyle education. The study suggests that such programs can be an effective way to blunt the worldwide cardiovascular disease epidemic.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJun 18, 2000

Primary care falls short on helping people with diabetes to help themselves

A recent study reveals that primary care practices neglect to counsel diabetic patients on how to self-manage their illness, leading to a lack of comprehensive disease management. Despite this, patients who utilized community resources for support received more medical and counseling-related services from their physicians.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJun 18, 2000

Global warming may be delayed by increase in ocean silica

Boston College scientist Kevin G. Harrison proposes the Silica Hypothesis, which suggests that increasing ocean silica levels can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, slowing global warming. This mechanism may be responsible for decreased atmospheric CO2 levels during glacial times and could be relevant to today's climate change.

SourceBoston College·JournalPaleoceanography·DateJun 18, 2000