Neural regulation of insulin secretion in the dog.

The effects of stimulation of the mixed autonomic nerve to the dog pancreas has been studied under conditions in which both pancreaticoduodenal vein blood flow and insulin concentration were determined. Stimulation resulted in increased insulin output, which was blocked by prior administration of atropine. Blood flow was reduced by stimulation in proportion to the rate of stimulation. At 40 stimuli/s a maximum effect was found at 1 min with a gradual return toward base line despite continued application of the stimulus. Atropinization had no effect on blood flow changes. Insulin responses to 0.1 g/kg glucose were reduced on the average 40% by simultaneous stimulation of the pancreatic nerve at 40 cycles/s in atropinized animals. These studies establish this preparation as a reproducible model for the direct examination of autonomic influences on endocrine pancreatic function. From them it is concluded that the nerve supply to the endocrine pancreas of the dog is sufficient to inhibit insulin secretion by activation of the sympathetic nerves and to stimulate insulin secretion by activation of the parasympathetic nerves.

[The viewpoint of the elderly on the problems of aging]. / Les aînés donnent leur avis sur les problèmes de la vieillesse.

Members of an university for the elderly conducted a survey among 730 elderly people in order to ascertain their living and housing conditions, their familiar and social relationship, their state of health, and how they envisaged their future should their independence become limited. This article describes the methodology of the study, the rich human and social experience gained by the researchers and it indicates the characteristics of the people surveyed, a high proportion of whom were very old and living alone and would thus be in a particularly precarious situation if their independence became limited owing to age or illness.

[Where shall we live if we lose our independence?]. / Où logerons-nous si nous perdons notre indépendance?

A survey of housing conditions of 730 elderly people has revealed the progressive, though not yet complete, disappearance of apartments without hot water, inside toilets or bathrooms. In any event, the poorest people remain at a disadvantage in this respect, and a relatively large number of the elderly live in old buildings without elevators or laundry equipment. In the event of their independence becoming limited (i. e. if they were unable to assume their own housekeeping), 66% of the surveyed would wish to stay in their own homes, if adequate help were available. In the case of a more severe handicap, 41% would prefer to live in a pension for old people, 30% in a type of housing providing special care for old people, and 12% in a flat specially designed for old people in a building open to all age groups. These last two choices, which are incompatible with conditions governing admission to the institutions in the survey area, reveal a lack of information but also show a desire for the development of institutions where elderly people can feel really at home. Only an extremely small minority considered the possibility of living with their children. According to the survey, the general wish is that institutions for old people should be situated in the section of town where the people concerned have lived, and not isolated in the countryside.