This 2-year controlled, randomized, double-blind study examined the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in women and DHEA or testosterone in men, as compared with placebo. Neither DHEA nor low-dose testosterone replacement in the elderly subjects had physiologically relevant beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life. The results of this study do not support the use of these agents as antiaging supplements.

In this randomized trial of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis of 60% or more, patients who underwent endarterectomy had lower rates of death or stroke at 1 month and 6 months than patients who underwent stenting.

AMG 531 is a novel dipeptide linked to the Fc fragment of IgG. It is structurally unrelated to thrombopoietin but can stimulate the thrombopoietin receptor. In this phase 1–2 study of AMG 531 in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia, there were no major adverse events that could be attributed to the protein. AMG 531 elevated platelet counts in about half the patients, but platelet counts returned to previous low levels after discontinuation of the treatment.

This prospective cohort study of 802 infants showed significant associations between reduced lung function at birth, as determined by tidal breathing measures and passive respiratory mechanics, and the risk of asthma by 10 years of age. These findings indicate that alterations of airway function associated with subsequent asthma may be detectable shortly after birth.

A 38-year-old man reports pelvic pain, dysuria, and urinary urgency for the past 4 weeks. He has had several similar episodes over the past 2 years; urine cultures were not performed. He is sexually active and reports frequent discomfort after ejaculation. He is otherwise healthy and takes no medication. He has no fever, chills, or flank pain. How should he be evaluated and treated?

A better understanding of the inflammatory, procoagulant, and immunosuppressive aspects of sepsis has contributed to rational therapeutic plans. This review considers optimal management of sepsis from the point of early, goal-directed therapy, lung-protective ventilation, antibiotics, and additional therapies, such as activated protein C, as well as the use of corticosteroids, vasopressin, and intensive insulin.

A 3-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with fever, rigors, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and parasitemia 5 days after returning from a trip to Nigeria. She had not received antimalarial prophylaxis. On admission, the patient had anemia and thrombocytopenia. Twelve hours later, she had a generalized tonic–clonic seizure and hypotension and acidosis developed with an increasing level of parasitemia. A therapeutic procedure was performed.

The authors review existing regulations regarding cell and tissue products and discuss how they expect the Food and Drug Administration to apply these regulations to scientists' efforts to develop and test stem-cell–based therapies.