Laboratory Equipment

Baxter International Inc. says that a blood product it was testing failed to slow mental decline or to preserve physical function in a major study of 390 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

The company says that people who received 18 months of infusions with its drug, Gammagard, fared no better than others given infusions of a dummy solution. Gammagard is immune globulin, natural antibodies culled from donated blood. Researchers thought these antibodies might help remove amyloid, the sticky plaque that clogs patients’ brains, sapping memory and ability to think.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/05/hopeful-drug-fails-fight-alzheimers-big-study

A novel drug developed by Gilead Sciences and tested in an animal model at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute suppresses hepatitis B virus infections by stimulating the immune system and inducing loss of infected cells.

In a study conducted at Texas Biomed’s Southwest National Primate Research Center, researchers found that the immune modulator GS-9620, which targets a receptor on immune cells, reduced both the virus levels and the number of infected liver cells in chimpanzees chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chimpanzees are the only species other than humans that can be infected by HBV. Therefore, the results from this study were critical in moving the drug forward to human clinical trials which are now in progress.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/drug-stimulates-immune-system-kill-hepatitis-infected-cells

A potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries may be tested in retired professional football players, who are the focus of concern over blows to the head.

Neuralstem, Inc., announced today that it is working with the National Football League Alumni Association to study the feasibility of such a test, which would need government approval.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/drug-may-treat-traumatic-brain-injuries

More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use.

When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report being released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/attitudes-are-lax-teen-rx-abuse

Although the drug zoledronic acid slows bone loss in osteoporosis patients, it also boosts levels of a biomarker that stops bone formation, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the risk patients will suffer fractures. The findings suggest combination therapy may be a more effective approach to battling this common condition.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/osteoporosis-drug-slows-new-bone-growth

A review of published research has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults. The review, conducted at St. Michael’s Hospital, found some evidence that mental exercises, such as computerized memory training programs, might help.

“This review provides some evidence to help clinicians and their patients address what strategies might prevent cognitive decline,” says Raza Naqvi, a Univ. of Toronto resident and lead author of the review.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/no-evidence-drugs-supplements-prevent-cognitive-decline

One of the most widely used medications to treat arrhythmias may increase the risk of developing cancer, especially in men and people exposed to high amounts of the drug. That is the conclusion of a new retrospective study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society published by Wiley. The study’s results indicate that a potential link between amiodarone and cancer warrants further investigation.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/04/heart-drug-may-increase-cancer-risk

Federal regulators are pressing the Supreme Court to stop big pharmaceutical corporations from paying generic drug competitors to delay releasing their cheaper versions of brand-name drugs. They argue these deals deny American consumers, usually for years, steep price declines that can top 90 percent.

The Obama administration, backed by consumer groups and the American Medical Association, says these so-called “pay for delay” deals profit the drug companies but harm consumers by adding 3.5 billion annually to their drug bills.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/03/drug-companies-pay-delay-generics

More than three-quarters of British doctors prescribe a treatment they know probably won’t work at least once a week, like low-dose drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements or an unnecessary exam, according to a new survey. This use of placebo treatments directly contradicts advice from the British Medical Association, which deems them unethical.

The researchers say the findings reveal a common practice among doctors and should be used to change official guidance about using placebos. The surveyed doctors said they prescribed them to induce a “placebo effect,” to reassure patients or because patients pushed for a treatment.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2013/03/most-doctors-give-useless-drugs-treatments