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March 29, 2007  Vol. 356 No. 13

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Perspective
1289-1291

In the United States, a woman may receive $20,000 for an egg used for reproduction but nothing for the same egg used for stem-cell research. Debora Spar argues that what we need is a fresh debate on egg donation and a new set of policies. Debora Spar and ...

1292-1293

For decades, blockbuster drugs have nourished Big Pharma, but it is increasingly uncertain whether they can be counted on to support the industry in the future. David Cutler writes that trends suggest that the blockbuster model may not be sustainable.

Original Articles
1295-1303

Up to 10% of women with a diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer have cancer in the contralateral breast, despite negative clinical and mammographic examinations. This study investigated the use of MRI examination of the contralateral breast in women with a diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer and negative clinical and mammographic examinations. MRI detected occult cancer in the contralateral breast in about 3% of these women. All of the cancers were early stage, without evidence of spread to the lymph nodes or beyond.

1304-1316

In this 24-month clinical trial, torcetrapib, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, failed to cause regression of coronary atherosclerosis, as seen on intravascular ultrasonography, even though levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly elevated. The drug was also associated with an elevation in blood pressure, and the entire torcetrapib research program has been suspended.

1317-1326

Mutations affecting both components of the telomerase enzyme, hTERT and hTR, are associated with familial idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and carriers of such mutations have shorter telomeres than do noncarrier family members. This finding suggests that the disease may be triggered by a loss of alveolar cells, the progenitors of which may be limited by short telomeres.

1327-1337

Asthmatic exacerbations result in part from constriction of airway smooth muscle. In this controlled trial, the use of bronchoscopically delivered thermoplasty to reduce the mass of airway smooth muscle resulted in fewer exacerbations among subjects with moderate or severe asthma. The incidence of adverse events was higher among subjects undergoing bronchial thermoplasty than among control subjects during the first 3 weeks after treatment.

Clinical Therapeutics
1338-1343

A 64-year-old man in good general health presents to his internist for a routine examination. In a large clinical trial, the varicella–zoster vaccine reduced the incidence of herpes zoster by 51% and the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia by 67%. Should he receive this vaccine?

Review Article
1344-1351

The Montreal Protocol requires limitation of the use of devices powered by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which reduce stratospheric ozone levels. Albuterol, a medication commonly used for the treatment of asthma that is delivered by metered-dose inhalers with CFCs as propellants, will be withdrawn from the U.S. market by December 2008. This review article summarizes useful information about albuterol in metered-dose inhalers with non-CFC propellants and discusses associated economic issues.

Images in Clinical Medicine
1352
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A healthy 9-year-old boy had a 1-year history of an itchy right eye with frequent tearing. Small masses that gradually developed in the right caruncula lacrimalis area were associated with intermittent, spontaneous minor bleeding. The ophthalmic ...

e12
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This 33-year-old woman with a BRCA1mutation had an enhancing lesion on MRI. Biopsies showed no evidence of cancer. One year later there was a large, invasive carcinoma.

Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital
1353-1360

    A 55-year-old man was sculling when his boat collided with an eight-person shell; the prow of the larger boat entered his lower back and exited through his abdomen, throwing him into the water. He was taken to this hospital, where the trauma surgery team took over his care. Members of the team discuss the problems of traumatic abdominal and orthopedic injuries and the role of trauma systems.

    Editorials
    1362-1364

    The age-adjusted rate of death from breast cancer in the United States was 24% lower in 2003 than it was in 1989,1 a decline that has been attributed principally to both the role of mammography in detecting early-stage tumors and improvements in therapy. ...

    1364-1366

    Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are inversely related to the incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke. The lowering of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with statin therapy reduces the risk of atherosclerotic ...

    1367-1369

    The precise role of airway smooth muscle in the pathogenesis of asthma remains uncertain. The contraction of airway smooth muscle certainly causes acute narrowing of the airway and airflow obstruction in asthma, and smooth-muscle mass is increased in ...

    Clinical Implications of Basic Research
    1370-1372

    The signaling molecule caveolin-1 provides protection against pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model and counters the profibrotic effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)..

    Correspondence
    1373-1375

    To the Editor: In their report on chemotherapy plus bevacizumab for non–small-cell lung cancer, as compared with chemotherapy alone, Sandler and colleagues (Dec. 14 issue)1 conclude that the addition of bevacizumab to paclitaxel and carboplatin has a ...

    1375-1377
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    To the Editor: As is consistent with previous studies of outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, the epidemiologic investigations reported by Kandun et al. in Indonesia and by Oner et al. in Turkey (Nov. 23 issue)1,2 show that H5N1 virus primarily ...

    1377-1378

    To the Editor: The study of fetal pulse oximetry and cesarean delivery reported by Bloom et al. (Nov. 23 issue)1 perhaps gives us an interesting insight into clinicians' behavior. The authors claim that fetal oxygen monitoring does not alter the rate of ...

    1378-1380

    To the Editor: Kahn et al. (Dec. 7 issue)1 report on A Diabetes Outcome Progression Trial (ADOPT), which assessed the glycemic durability of rosiglitazone, metformin, or glyburide monotherapy. It is difficult to maintain target levels of glycated ...

    1381

    To the Editor: Reznick and MacRae (Dec. 21 issue)1 report on the current status of simulation in surgical-skills training and its various applications. Another potential use of simulation is as a part of the curriculum for medical students, with an aim ...

    1381-1382

    The medical mystery in the February 1 issue1 involved a 70-year-old man who presented with a history of increasing abdominal distention. The patient was evaluated by means of computed tomography (CT) after an abdominal radiograph raised concern about a ...

    1382-1384

    To the Editor: We previously reported in the Journal a case of a successful ovarian transplantation between 25-year-old monozygotic twins. One had undergone menopause at the age of 14 years, whereas the other was still fertile.1 After receiving a graft ...

    Book Reviews
    1385

    More than four decades ago, Don O'Donoghue wrote the first comprehensive book on sports medicine (Treatment of Injuries to Athletes. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1962) — a subspecialty that did not even formally exist at the time. The book addressed the issues ...

    1386

    The response to a major disaster is beset by logistical problems, not least of which is that the means of implementing interventions that are meant to aid the victims are also disrupted. One of the strengths of Interventions Following Mass Violence and ...

    1386-1387

    The graphic photographs released in 2003 depicting prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib evoked a swift and strong worldwide response of shock, dismay, and condemnation and led to multiple investigations, revision of detention and interrogation procedures, and ...

    Correction
    1387-1388

    Glycemic Durability of Rosiglitazone, Metformin, or Glyburide Monotherapy Original Article, N Engl J Med 2006:355;2427-2443.. Having discovered an error in their original reporting, the authors undertook a complete audit of all the data reported in the ...

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