Abstract: A toothbrush having an improved cleaning and abrasion efficiency, wherein the bristles are comprised of synthetic thermoplastic polymeric compositions, and contain longitudinal channels extending along the length thereof, having a depth sufficient to entrap a quantity of abrasive particles such that during brushing with a toothpaste, contact between the channel entrapped abrasive particles and the surfaces of the teeth is improved, resulting in a cleaning efficiency coefficient, CEC, above about 1.5 and, an abrasion efficiency coefficient, AEC, above about 1.5, while demonstrating suitable bristle wearability.

Abstract: Novel organometallic compounds for binding amyloid are described. Methods using such compounds for determining by imaging the localization or quantification of amyloid fibrils in a mammal, for diagnosing the degree of progression of Alzheimer's disease in a mammal, for monitoring the response to a therapy in a mammal having Alzheimer's disease, for identifying an agent useful for treating Alzheimer's disease, for treating Alzheimer's disease, and for detecting the presence of the infectious form of the prion protein, are also described.