Peginterferon Alfa-2a in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis Chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with cirrhosis is difficult to treat. This study of patients with hepatitis C and cirrhosis or bridging fibrosis assessed the effect of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a, an interferon modified by the attachment of a branched-chain moiety, given once weekly, as compared with the effect of standard interferon alfa-2a given three times a week. Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a was more effective than treatment with unmodified interferon alfa-2a.

Risk of Menstrual Abnormalities after Tubal Sterilization Tubal sterilization has been thought to cause various menstrual abnormalities, collectively termed the post-tubal-ligation syndrome, but its existence has been questioned. In this study, 9514 women who underwent tubal sterilization and 573 women whose partners underwent vasectomy were interviewed. There were no differences in intermenstrual bleeding or length of menstrual cycles, but the women who underwent tubal sterilization were more likely to have shorter menstrual periods, less bleeding, and more irregular cycles than the women whose partners underwent vasectomy.

Mutations in Sarcomere Protein Genes as a Cause of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is caused by mutations in sarcomere protein genes, including the genes that encode cardiac (beta)-myosin heavy chain and troponin T. In this study, distinct mutations in the same genes were found to cause familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Mutations in contractile protein genes may result in either form of cardiomyopathy.