News in brief - July 19, 2004

FDA issues antidepressant alerts - SARS readiness questioned - More states offering core newborn screening but many still fall short - Sugar-free products could be contributing to obesity epidemic

FDA issues antidepressant alerts

The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to urge physicians to closely monitor adult and child patients taking antidepressants.

Label changes recommending heightened vigilance have already been made by the manufacturers of Wellbutrin, or bupropion hydrochloride, also marketed as Zyban; Paxil, or paroxetine hydrochloride; and Serzone, nefazodone hydrochloride. Labeling changes were also under consideration for other antidepressants, according to GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil.

Patients should be watched for signs that their depression is worsening or that they have thoughts of suicide, particularly when they begin taking the drugs or anytime there is a dosage increase or decrease.

The agency posted the warnings on the agency's MedWatch Web site. The changes spring from the FDA's ongoing review of possible safety issues in antidepressant use by children.

SARS readiness questioned

A survey of about 450 infectious disease physicians revealed concerns over medical facilities' ability to safely handle patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome, according to a study in the July 1 Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Among the protective measures suggested are providing masks to emergency department patients with signs of respiratory infection, using negative air pressure rooms to contain airborne diseases and quarantining patients and health workers who have visited SARS-stricken areas.

Meanwhile the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has unveiled a third promising candidate vaccine against SARS. A single dose of the experimental vaccine administered intranasally protected monkeys against the SARS virus, according to a study in The Lancet June 26.

More states offering core newborn screening but many still fall short

The number of states that provide the nine newborn screening tests recommended by the March of Dimes increased from nine to 21 in the past year, according to a report the organization issued last month.

The "State Report Card on Testing for March of Dimes Recommended Newborn Screening Conditions" found that 21 states meet the organization's standards. Fourteen screen only for six to eight genetic metabolic disorders. Nine have authorized expansion of their newborn screening programs but have not actually implemented them. Seven are running expanded programs only in selected populations.

In addition, most states have improved hearing screening, in accordance with the nonprofit's recommendations, although seven still fail to screen 90% of newborns for hearing loss.

The organization raised the alarm because these numbers mean that approximately 70% of newborns nationally may not be receiving the nine recommended screening tests for genetic disorders and many may not be getting their hearing checked.

"It's time for all states to make newborn screening a top priority," said Jennifer L. Howse, PhD, March of Dimes president.

Sugar-free products could be contributing to obesity epidemic

Consuming food and drink that is artificially sweetened could be hindering people's attempts to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight, according to a paper in the July International Journal of Obesity.

Researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, looked at several studies of the eating behaviors of rats. Those that were fed artificial sweeteners rather than sugar tended to eat more calories over the long term, and the researchers theorized that their body's natural ability to count calories may have been disrupted.

Authors of the paper said the phenomena warranted further study.

"When you substitute artificial sweetener for real sugar the body learns it can no longer use its sense of taste to gauge calories," said Susan Swithers, PhD, one of the authors and a developmental psychobiologist. "The body may be fooled into thinking a product sweetened with sugar has no calories and, therefore, people overeat."