Phytohaemagglutin-induced responsiveness of the lymphocytes from non-pregnant healthy women and from women at all stages of normal pregnancy was studied. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The implications of this finding in relation to the ability of the mother to tolerate her antigenically foreign fetus are discussed.

-Recruitment of healthcare professionals from developing countries to the UK is escalating rapidly, and is severely damaging the fragile healthcare systems of the countries involved. This is happening in spite of the Code of Practice of the Department of Health, which, although voluntary, was supposed to restrict such migration; unfortunately it has not proved effective so far. Steps are now urgently required to reverse this trend, in order to prevent the total collapse of some overseas health services. The Department of Health is planning to implement the Code of Practice more rigorously, but while it remains voluntary it is unlikely to solve the problem, in view of the (relative) shortage of healthcare professionals in this country. Other measures, including promoting the retention of locally trained staff in the UK, are urgently required.

and conclusions The incidence of vincristine-induced neuropathy was studied in 60 unselected patients, of whom 23 had lymphoma and 37 had other malignant disease. All were treated with vincristine combined with other cytotoxic agents. Fourteen of the patients with lymphoma (61%) developed neuropathy compared with five patients with leukaemia or non-lymphoid cancer (14%), even though all patients received comparable doses of vincristine. The difference between the two groups in the incidence of neuropathy was highly significant. Of the patients who developed neuropathy, 17 did so within the first three months of treatment and seven in the first month. Patients with lymphoma who are receiving vincristine should be observed carefully for symptoms and signs of neuropathy. Vincristine should be withdrawn if progressive neurotoxicity develops.

Accidental falls among patients at a rehabilitation center werestudied to provide dala for ongoing risk management. Three series of variables were analyzed from the epidemiologic perspective.Environmental variables most frequently associated with accidental falls were week of hospitalization, day of week, activity levels, and site and equipment. Host factors of age and sex were also considered. Age and diagnosis (CVAs) were critical variables in comparing patients who fell with those who did not. Definitive directions have now emerged for developtnent of a targeted preventive program.