This trial compared gefitinib, an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase of epidermal growth factor (EGFR), with carboplatin plus paclitaxel as initial treatment of pulmonary adenocarcinoma in more than 1200 East Asian patients. The primary end point, progression-free survival, was significantly longer with gefitinib therapy among patients whose tumors carried an EGFR mutation and with carboplatin plus paclitaxel therapy among patients with mutation-negative tumors.

Lung cancers with a mutation in the EGFR gene have heightened sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Asian patients have been the most intensively studied population for such mutations and for responsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This study shows that large-scale screening for EGFR mutations in a European population is feasible and can influence decisions about treatment of advanced lung cancer.

In this randomized, double-blind trial involving 308 patients with Dupuytren's contractures, injections of collagenase clostridium histolyticum were more effective than placebo injections in reducing contractures and restoring range of motion. Adverse effects included tendon rupture in two patients and localized pain and swelling in most patients.

In a placebo-controlled trial, 497 patients undergoing vascular surgery were randomly assigned to receive either fluvastatin or placebo, both before surgery and for 30 days after surgery. Postoperative myocardial ischemia occurred significantly less frequently in the fluvastatin group. Fluvastatin was also associated with a reduction in the rate of death from cardiovascular causes or myocardial infarction.