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.