	abbott abt sees gains from weaker dollar abbott laboratories inc said its first quarter record results reflected continued productivity improvement higher volume better product mix and a weaker u s dollar abbott reported first quarter ings rose to a record mln dlrs or cts a share on record sales of one billion dlrs research and development expenses most of which was applied to diagnostic and pharmaceutical products increased by pct to mln dlrs it said sales of pharmaceutical and nutritional products were mln dlrs in the first quarter up pct over a year ago abbott said hospital and laboratory product sales in the first quarter rose pct to mln dlrs it said first quarter sales in domestic markets advanced pct to mln dlrs while international sales jumped pct to mln dlrs abbott said reuter 
