News in brief - Oct. 24/31, 2005

Incidents prompt physician alert on meningococcal vaccine - Researchers seek markers for early-stage ovarian cancer - Database maintains information on sequences of flu virus strains - Major depressive disorder risk higher for middle-age Native Americans

Incidents prompt physician alert on meningococcal vaccine

Five reports of Guillain-Barre Syndrome after the administration of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine Menactra caused the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue an alert to physicians on Sept. 30.

Although it was not known whether there was a connection between the vaccine and the serious neurological disorder, the agencies were investigating the incidents. As of Sept. 30, the FDA had not made any changes in the recommendations for the use of Menactra.

The agency was, however, requesting that any possible cases of the syndrome occurring after vaccination be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, either at the Web site (www.vaers.hhs.gov) or by phone (800-822-7967).

The five cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome occurred in adolescents ages 17 and 18 who lived in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. All developed weakness or abnormal sensations in their arms or legs two to four weeks after vaccination, and all are either recovering or have recovered.

Researchers seek markers for early-stage ovarian cancer

A clinical trial is under way to find markers that could help detect ovarian cancer at an early stage when it can be most effectively treated.

The disease, the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States, is often detected at an advanced stage, making treating difficult. Nearly 16,000 women are expected to die this year from the disease.

Current diagnostic tests using the CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound have not reliably detected the cancer or determined whether, once treated, it had returned.

The trial will build a repository of blood samples from women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who show no signs of cancer after their first program of chemotherapy.

"If we can harness all of the protein information in our patients' samples, we may have a strong lead on how to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage when it can be most effectively treated," said Elise Kohn, MD, the study leader at the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers are planning to enroll 400 women over the next 24 months who have advanced-stage ovarian cancer, have completed their initial chemotherapy within nine weeks of starting the trial, and show no evidence of cancer after completion of their first treatment program.

Database maintains information on sequences of flu virus strains

More than 200 distinct strains of human influenza virus have been sequenced by researchers and made available on a publicly accessible database.

The information is expected to help scientists better understand how flu viruses evolve, spread and cause disease.

The data already have enabled scientists to determine why the 2003-04 flu vaccine did not fully protect individuals against the flu.

"This information could help us make more effective vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics against a disease that claims some 36,000 American lives each year," said Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, which sponsored the project along with several other groups.

This was the first large-scale effort to sequence flu strains drawn at random from a geographically limited region. Most strains came from samples submitted over five years to the New York State Dept. of Health. Although the viruses were drawn from a relatively small area, the researchers discovered a surprisingly large degree of genetic diversity in the sequences.

Major depressive disorder risk higher for middle-age Native Americans

Those who are African-American, Asian or Latino are less likely to have a major depressive disorder in their lifetime than those who are Native American. Other factors that increase the risk of this condition include being female, middle-age or poor, according to a study published in this month's Archives of General Psychiatry.

Researchers with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism analyzed data from the 2001-02 National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions finding that the risk of depression increases significantly between ages 12 and 16 and grows steadily until the early 40s. Women were twice as likely to develop this condition but also were more likely to seek treatment. Native Americans were most at risk, with just over 19% developing it in their lifetime. Asians were at the lowest risk, with nearly 9% developing at some point in their lives.

The paper also found a link between this disorder and substance dependence. About 14% of those who currently have the disorder abuse alcohol, nearly 5% use illicit drugs, and 26% smoke or use other nicotine products.