FDA Consumer Magazine -- March 1995
Table of Contents

Drug Testing from a Patient's Perspection
A psychiatrist becomes a patient in a drug trial in this true story of a quest for asthma relief.

Orthodontic Braces: Perfect Smile Replaces Tin Grin
A generation ago, a teen with braces might have been taunted by names like "tin grin" and "metal mouth." But today's improved appliances and attitudes have turned orthodonture into something of a status symbol and have made braces acceptable for adults as well.

Labeling Rules for Young Children's Foods
FDA and USDA have set special rules for the labeling of foods for children under 4. This is mainly because the nutritional needs of young children differ substantially from those of adults, especially when it comes to fat.

Getting to Know Gout
The word "gout" may conjure up visions of overindulging 16th-century kings. But the condition--a form of arthritis related to uric acid levels in the blood--is also a modern malady affecting about 1 million Americans and treatable with a variety of drugs.

Drug Advisory Committees: Getting Outside Advice for Close Calls
Seventeen committees of experts from outside the government advise FDA on drug studies, approvals, and labeling--especially when decisions about safety and effectiveness are difficult.

(Hypertext updated by clb March 29, 2001)