The future of medical journals

This edited book provides a very useful series of chapters relating to the development of arterial and heart disease in diabetics. Atherosclerosis is widely recognised to be the major killer in Type I and Type II diabetic patients, but there are few comprehensive reviews of the background data and this book fills a niche. Robert Stout has been joined by colleagues in Belfast who cover the pathophysio-logical mechanisms. The editor provides an outline of the development of atheroma, the epidemiology of the increased incidence of atheroma-related diseases in diabetes and the known risk factors. Keith Buchanan covers hormonal control of insulin secretion, Patrick Bell the potential role of insulin resistance and Robert Stout the possibility that insulin is a proocative agent. Liz Trimble and Ian McDowell present the various lipid abnormalities in Type I and Type 11 diabetic subjects, and the problem of knowing when and how to treat. Brew Atkinson and Catherine Ritchie discuss the role of hypertension and the current therapeutic approaches. Laurence Kennedy indicates the potential pathological role of glycation of lipoproteins, coagulation proteins and structural proteins, and the development of advanced glycation end-products. Elizabeth Mayne covers the various haemostatic and endothelial abnormalities that are likely to be involved in the development of micro and macro-vascular disease, David McCance and David Hadden the relationship of proteinuria to both nephropathy and heart disease and Randal Hayes the pathophysiology and role of non-ischaemic heart disease. The book is well referenced up to 1990 and the chapters provide succinct and readable background reading. The book reflects the high standing of clinical diabetes and related academic specialties in Ulster. I will find the book a useful source. I recommend the book to those who are interested in the all too common problem that it is atherosclerosis that most commonly leads to the clinical morbidity and early death of our diabetic patients. RC TURNER The future of medical journals. In 1984 1 established the present editorial position on the Ulster Medical Journal in the words of Francis Bacon "Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man." The Editorial Board trust that your Journal will provide good medical reading and therefore stimulate conference, but most of all that the skills of medical writing will be inculcated in an increasing number of doctors.