Experimental Evolution Studies in Φ6 Cystovirus.

Experimental evolution studies, in which biological populations are evolved in a specific environment over time, can address questions about the nature of spontaneous mutations, responses to selection, and the origins and maintenance of novel traits. Here, we review more than 30 years of experimental evolution studies using the bacteriophage (phage) Φ6 cystovirus. Similar to many lab-studied bacteriophages, Φ6 has a high mutation rate, large population size, fast generation time, and can be genetically engineered or cryogenically frozen, which facilitates its rapid evolution in the laboratory and the subsequent characterization of the effects of its mutations.

Slow Down to Brake: Effects of Tapering Epinephrine on Potassium.

Hyperkalemia is not an uncommon complication of cardiac surgical procedures. Intractable hyperkalemia is a difficult situation that can even lead to death. We report on a postoperative case in a patient in whom a sudden decrease of epinephrine led to intractable hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest.

Bacterial vaginosis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia--cause or coincidence?

Evidence regarding a causal relationship between bacterial vaginosis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia has so far been incomplete and conflicting. To determine whether bacterial vaginosis is associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia a retrospective study was conducted at the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by-Sea, UK. Three hundred patients who presented to the clinic with a first diagnosis of genital warts in the absence of other sexually transmitted diseases were recruited.

Imiquimod 5% cream is an acceptable treatment option for external anogenital warts in uncircumcised males.

Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of imiquimod (Aldara) 5% cream in the treatment of prepuce-associated warts in uncircumcised males.

Methods: An open-label study in six UK medical centres with 35 uncircumcised males with prepuce-associated warts treated with imiquimod 5% cream three times per week for up to 16 weeks. Other anogenital warts were also treated.