Editor's response: The points made by Drs Saxena and Sharan are well taken and, on behalf of the Journal, I have to plead mea culpa to the charge of Western parochialism. The Journal will take these criticisms on board and hope that readers will note a move in the direction suggested by Drs Saxena & Sharan shortly. As they say, the criterion of scientific excellence should remain uncompromised and this should remain the clearest of guides.