Dr Friedrich Wegener first described cases of the syndrome of small vessel vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation that carries his name in 1936. Circumstantial evidence has come to light that he had some involvement with the Nazi regime in Germany before and during the second world war. Although the authors found no evidence that Dr Wegener stood trial after 1945 or was imprisoned or barred from medical practice, they suggest that the eponym be abandoned and propose ANCA (antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody) associated granulomatous vasculitis as an alternative (Rheumatology 2006;45: 1303-6).

It seems entirely reasonable and humane that most large public and private sector pension schemes have a provision for early retirement for those who become too ill to work before their usual retirement age. But a survey among teachers and National Health Service staff in Scotland who had taken this option found that after two to four years, more than a third of teachers and about a fifth of NHS staff were back in work again, many in a job similar to the one from which they had retired (Occupational Medicine 2006;56: 480-4).

The hypothesis that a transient excess of plasma free fatty …