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Science News for July 2, 2001


Family stress a factor in asthma

A study of 84 Australian children with asthma found that family environment plays a significant role in their experience. Children from stable families with defined roles, rules, and emotional support were less distressed by symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Asthma·DateJul 2, 2001

Making cyberspace collaboration succeed

Researchers at University of Michigan and Northwestern University emphasize the importance of social and organizational readiness, technological readiness, rewards and incentives, and finding time in collaboratories. These factors enable effective collaboration and innovation in scientific practice.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience·DateJul 2, 2001

Experimental microbeam radiation therapy may offer improvement over traditional radiation treatments

Researchers have developed a new radiation therapy technique that shows significant improvement over traditional methods in treating brain tumors in infants. The treatment uses high-intensity synchrotron sources to confine x-rays to extremely narrow slices, resulting in reduced damage to surrounding tissue.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalCellular and Molecular Biology·DateJul 2, 2001

Study gives clues to workings of anti-Alzheimer antibody

Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered an antibody that targets a specific region of the amyloid-beta protein, drawing it out of the brain and into the blood. The study found that mice treated with the antibody developed fewer amyloid plaques in their brains than control animals.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2001

Drug protects infants with high-risk heart defect from neurologic and cardiac injury after heart surgery

A new study published in Pediatrics found that allopurinol significantly reduced seizures and cardiac events in infants with high-risk heart defects undergoing heart surgery. The study, led by Dr. Robert R. Clancy, used deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and randomized infants to receive either allopurinol or a placebo.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJul 2, 2001