Civil defence in the United Kingdom

What must be avoided in the nuclear age is wishful thinking. Wishful thinking occurs in an atmosphere of maximum terror (as in Mutual Assured Destruction), and where there is little opportunity for reality testing (as in the East‐West communication barrier). In the small, densely populated island of Britain, the size of today's growing nuclear threat will create responses where delusional thinking can easily dominate. A belief in effective civil defence may induce a sense of false security which may in turn direct attention from the fundamental problem of East‐West mistrust.     

Global thinking,local action

This article examines the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons to several Third World countries, exemplified by recent events in Iraq, and the possibility of rapid acquisition of a nuclear weapons capability in developed countries. It considers the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations in preventing proliferation and calls for wider powers for the latter. The role of the civil nuclear power industry and of reprocessing of nuclear fuel to produce plutonium is stressed, with emphasis on the part played by nuclear power in Japan and the THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield.     

Cough Frequency in a Group of Males

An epidemiologic study by questionnaire was undertaken in Great Britain and the United States, to provide data on diabetes mellitus in Down’s syndrome. Among 20,362 patients with Down’s syndrome, 88 living diabetics were found.

A high prevalence of diabetes in the population with Down’s syndrome, particularly In the younger age groups, was noted. In these age groups the prevalence of diabetes in the population with Down’s syndrome exceeded that of the general population by factors 6.8, 3.3, and 3.0. Insufficient data exist to determine the exact statistical significance of these ratios. Further investigation is necessary. Nevertheless, a definitive association between Down’s Syndrome and diabetes mellitus is suggested. The role of prediabetes, autoimmunity and genetics in this association is discussed.     

Acute and chronic effects of domperidone on gastric emptying in diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Gastric emptying was studied with a double radioisotopic method in 12 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus complicated by autonomic neuropathy and in 22 control subjects. In the diabetics, the acute and chronic effects of oral domperidone on gastric emptying, symptoms of gastroparesis, and glycemic control were assessed. Gastric emptying of solid and liquid was slower in diabetics than controls (P<0.001). Acute administration of domperidone increased the rate of both solid and liquid emptying (P<0.005). Domperidone was most effective in those patients with the greatest delay in gastric emptying. After chronic administration (35–51 days), domperidone had no significant effect on solid emptying (P>0.05), but was still effective in increasing liquid emptying (P<0.025). Symptoms of gastroparesis were less after domperidone (P<0.001).Dr. M. Horowitz was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.