Congenital, hereditary, and neonatal diseases and abnormalities

SSRI antidepressant use in pregnancy linked to autism in children

The use of antidepressants by women during the second or third trimester of pregnancy is associated with an 87% increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in their children, study finds. …

Second clinical trial death puts the future of obesity drug in doubt

The US Food and Drug Administration has given the pharmaceutical company Zafgen a verbal notice that its investigational new drug application for beloranib has been put on complete clinical hold after the death of a patient during a phase III clinical trial.…

European folic acid recommendations have not reduced birth defects

Birth registry data show neural tube defects have not fallen in the past 20 years despite folic acid recommendations.…

Use of sedatives and analgesics in infants vary widely across Europe

A study of neonatal intensive care units in Europe revealed a lack of consistency in the use of sedatives and analgesics, which are potentialy neurotoxic in newborns.…

Small molecule halts preterm birth in mice

Inflammation is associated with preterm birth, so researchers developed a small molecule that inhibits the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 which is effective in a mouse model.…

FDA approves drug for genetic condition that affects 20 patients worldwide

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved uridine triacetate (Xuriden) for the treatment of orotic aciduria – a rare genetic hereditary metabolic disorder that affects just 20 patients worldwide. …

SSRI antidepressants linked with lower risk of preterm birth

Pregnant women who take SSRIs to treat their depression have a lower risk of giving birth prematurely or having a caesarean section than pregnant women with depression who do not take medication, a study finds.…

Metformin does not improve pregnancy outcomes in obese women

Researchers conducted a randomised controlled trial of metformin in pregnant obese women, but the drug did not reduce the birthweight of offspring or pregnancy complications.…

Evidence builds for a link between SSRIs and birth defects

The evidence is building for small but increased risks of birth defects in the offspring of women taking some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants in early pregnancy.…

Newborn pulmonary hypertension data provide reassurance to pregnant women taking SSRIs

Risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in offspring of women taking SSRI antidepressants more modest than suggested in previous studies.…