Torcetrapib, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, markedly raises levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Unexpectedly, in the ILLUMINATE trial, torcetrapib therapy in combination with atorvastatin, as compared with atorvastatin alone, increased the risk of death from both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes. The drug also raised blood pressure.

Thalidomide has activity in multiple myeloma, but its use is limited by a constellation of adverse effects, most notably peripheral neuropathy. Lenalidomide, an analogue of thalidomide, does not have the toxicity profile of thalidomide. This study compared lenalidomide plus dexamethasone with placebo plus dexamethasone in the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma. Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone was superior in all end points, including overall survival.

This randomized trial compared lenalidomide plus dexamethasone with a placebo plus dexamethasone in patients in the United States and Canada who had multiple myeloma that was resistant to one or more other treatments. The addition of lenalidomide improved the time to progression and overall survival in these patients. Important adverse events were severe neutropenia and venous thromboembolism.

Lung transplantation is a treatment used for patients with cystic fibrosis. In this epidemiologic study examining survival among patients with cystic fibrosis who were younger than 18 years of age at the time of placement on the waiting list for a lung transplant, no significant survival benefit was associated with the procedure. There were insufficient data to determine whether the procedure improved the patients' quality of life.

Sarcoidosis affects people of all racial and ethnic groups and occurs at any age, although usually before the age of 50 years. The incidence of sarcoidosis varies widely throughout the world, probably because of differences in environmental exposures, case-surveillance methods, and predisposing HLA alleles, along with other genetic factors. This article summarizes advances in our understanding of sarcoidosis and addresses pitfalls in its diagnosis and treatment.

A 31-year-old woman was admitted to this hospital because of rash, fever, and facial swelling that developed after the administration of modafinil for the treatment of fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis. Several hours after admission, chest discomfort and hypotension developed, ST-segment elevation was present on the electrocardiogram, and biomarkers of cardiac necrosis were elevated. Echocardiography disclosed a pericardial effusion and left ventricular dysfunction. A diagnostic procedure was performed.

The analysis of subgroups is often used as a way to glean additional information from data sets. The strengths and weaknesses of this approach and new Journal policies concerning the reporting of subgroup analyses are discussed in this article.

Atherosclerosis can be prevented in mice by treating them with a ligand of the liver X receptor , a protein expressed by macrophages.