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(Circulation. 2000;102:e9010.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Cardiovascular News |
Cardiovascular News
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Earlier
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic may have found a way to cast light on the difficult problem of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, the only way to definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is at autopsy, when the characteristic amyloid b-protein plaques and neurofibrillary tangles can be seen directly. However, Joseph F. Poduslo and colleagues at the Rochester, Minn, healthcare facility report in the August issue of Nature Biotechnology (2000;18:868–872.) that they have found a way to radiolabel the neuritic-type plaques deposited by the amyloid b-protein in the living brain.
Using a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s, Dr Poduslo intravenously administered a synthetic form of the amyloid b-protein that was radiolabeled with iodine-125. The radiolabeled material crossed the blood-brain barrier and bound to the diseased plaques. Thus, the plaques were labeled with the radioactive material.
Although the results are promising, Dr Poduslo said he must increase labeling efficiency to label more of the plaques throughout the brain—a feat that may be achieved with another isotope.
Patenting Life’s Instructions
When and what to patent was the topic of a July 13, 2000 hearing on "Gene Patents and Other Genomic Inventions" before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.
Although members of the subcommittee said the subject is
difficult for nonscientists to understand and that they doubted
legislation on the issue would be introduced this session, they said it
will doubtless come up in future sessions of Congress. The hearing was
also called to determine the validity of proposed patent guidelines
from the Patent