Hypertension.

Hypertension, a health problem of epidemic proportions, has not been controlled successfully. Screening efforts are increasing the detection of cases, and current emphasis on treatment rather than detailed evaluation is increasing the incidence of control of hypertension. Patient compliance is crucial, however, because all of the currently available treatments require daily taking of pills by patients who commonly do not understand their disease or the need for treatment. Efforts at increased public education and improved doctor-patient relationships are important if the epidemic is to be overcome. This paper reviews diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, public education, and patient compliance.

Time lapse between hypothesis and publication in the medical sciences.

We studied a number of factors involved in the publication of 103 papers by Mayo Clinic authors. Basic-science and clinical-research articles averaged about four years from initiating the research idea until publishing; case reports averaged about two years, and literature reviews three years. Of this time, 75 per cent was spent contemplating the basic idea, performing the research, and writing the paper. The rest was required for processing, from institutional editing through publication. Most clinical workers wrote at home, and most basic researchers at the office. In a suprising 23 per cent of papers, about three fourths of the manuscript was written by someone other than the first author. Of references cited, between 10 per cent and 20 per cent were to the authors' own work or to that of co-workers. Half the papers were revised or rejected at least once, prolonging the journal handling time only in papers rejected or requiring more than one revision.