Researchers from Georgia State University developed a method of diagnosing 2 types of cancer by using infrared spectroscopy. The research team analyzed mice with lymphoma and melanoma cancers. Researchers extracted blood serum from both cancerous and healthy mice for comparison and placed the blood droplets on a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) instrument. The study results found that infrared spectroscopy could detect biochemical changes caused by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, and subcutaneous melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Because a blood test is less invasive than a cell biopsy, the risk of an FTIR test will be lower, and the turnaround of results can be faster. In addition, the costs should be lower. The researchers next plan to move to human testing. Posted December 12, 2017. Via Georgia State University.
FDA recommends voluntary recall of Limbrel capsules. The FDA noted that there have been 194 reports of adverse events, and among those are 2 potentially life-threatening medical conditions: drug-induced liver injury and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Limbrel is a capsule that is marketed as a marketed as a “medical food to manage the metabolic processes associated with osteoarthritis,” but the FDA has determined it’s an unapproved drug. The FDA does not have mandatory recall authority and, to date, Primus Pharmaceuticals, which makes Limbrel, has not removed the product from the market. The FDA asks healthcare providers to warn patients who are taking it to stop using Limbrel. Posted December 5, 2017. Via FDA.
