People with genital warts may do better if they treat themselves rather than attending a genitourinary clinic. For 358 immunocompetent adults participating in a randomized controlled trial of self applied podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution or 0.15% cream, compared with clinic treatment with 25% podophyllin, self treatment worked best. The 0.5% solution was most cost effective, but warts reoccurred in more than 40% of participants, equally across the three groups (Sexually Transmitted Infections 2003;79: 270-275).

Here's something to think about next time you go to the beach. A study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2003;121: 165-171) found that when mice are stressed, and then exposed to ultraviolet B radiation, they tan more heavily and produce significantly more melanocytes. Minerva wonders if this means she'll get a better tan when the beach is crowded.

Sleepiness and just a small amount of alcohol create a deadly cocktail for drivers. A test of 12 healthy men who took part in a simulated driving exercise confirmed that the combination of sleep deprivation and apparently “safe” amounts of alcohol was sufficient to make lane drifting worse. It was also reflected in the electroencephalogram. Subjectively, however, …