This continuing series gathers and presents original research results on the leading edge of medicine and biology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed include the topical application of mitomycin-C in otolaryngology surgery; disorders of fibrinogen; prevention and management of varicella zoster infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease; mitomycin for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and other anticancer action; dermatological manifestations of varicella; information technology (IT) to optimise Down Syndrome diagnosis; bacillus cereus pneumonia; varicella complications and infection in children; and the descriptive study of the new diagnostic and therapeutic hysteroscopic morcellator system.