This randomized, placebo-controlled trial of inactivated and live attenuated influenza vaccines was performed in the winter of 2004–2005. During that season, in which most circulating viruses were dissimilar to those in the vaccines, the absolute efficacies of the inactivated vaccine and the live attenuated vaccine were 67 to 77% and 30 to 57%, respectively.

Children are important vectors of the influenza virus. In this study, investigators vaccinated children in several intervention schools and compared the occurrence of influenza-like illness in their households with that in households of children in control schools. Intervention-school households had significantly fewer outcomes related to influenza-like illness than did control-school households, including household members with any influenza-like symptoms, fever plus cough or sore throat, medical visits for children, absenteeism among elementary and high school students, and workdays lost by adults during the recall week.

In this study of 12 experienced gastroenterologists who performed colonoscopic screening, the duration of withdrawal of the colonoscope varied widely among physicians. Rates of detection of polyps were higher among endoscopists who took more time. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of colonoscopy in preventing colon cancer may be influenced by procedure times.

It now appears that most cancers acquire the nourishment that feeds their growth by sprouting new blood vessels under the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF are coming on line in clinical trials. In this article, the authors report on a large clinical trial of one such agent, bevacizumab, in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. The results are modest but encouraging.

A 52-year-old man with no personal or family history of colon cancer, colonic polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease underwent a screening colonoscopy that showed no abnormalities except for a 1.5-cm pedunculated polyp at the hepatic flexure that was removed by means of a snare with cautery. The polyp was a tubulovillous adenoma without high-grade dysplasia. How should his care be managed?

Pituitary tumors account for about 15% of primary intracranial neoplasms. Proliferation of pituitary cells, which secrete hormones, may result in a spectrum of endocrine symptoms. Tumors that originate from pituitary somatotroph cells lead to aberrant secretion of growth hormone and the distinctive features of acromegaly. This review discusses advances in the understanding and treatment of acromegaly.

A 5-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital because of headaches, abdominal pain, increasing abdominal girth, and a rash. Five months earlier, intermittent severe headaches and abdominal pain had developed, and papilledema was found. MRI disclosed bilateral subdural hygromas, which required placement of a subdural–peritoneal shunt, at which time ascites was noted. Headaches, abdominal pain, and ascites gradually worsened, and a rash developed. Diagnostic procedures were performed.