Specifically, post hoc comparisons after Bonferroni correction showed that COPD patients had significantly lower DHEA and GH levels when compared with both nonsmoker controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.019, for DHEA and GH, respectively)and smoker controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, for DHEA and GH, respectively). The gene discussed is GH1; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.