bmj.com: Research

The BMJ provides open access to peer reviewed research as part of its commitment to readers and authors. We make all BMJ research articles freely available online and send them directly to PubMed Central (the National Library of Medicine's full text archive). For details on how to submit articles, visit our resources for authors.

Does single application of topical chloramphenicol to high risk sutured wounds reduce incidence of wound infection after minor surgery?

This prospective randomised placebo controlled double blind trial found that applying a single dose of topical chloramphenicol to high risk sutured wounds after minor surgery leads to a moderate absolute reduction in infection rate that is statistically but not clinically significant. The accompanying editorial says that antibiotic prophylaxis for minor dermatological surgery in primary care is usually unnecessary with good preoperative preparation.

Comparing hospital and telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer

Telephone follow-up by specialist breast care nurses has positive benefits for women with breast cancer, as shown in this randomised equivalence trial. It is suitable for women at low to moderate risk of recurrence and those with long travelling distances or mobility problems, and decreases the burden on busy hospital clinics. Patients are highly satisfied with telephone follow-up, even without clinical examination, says the accompanying editorial.

Impact of presumed consent for organ donation on donation rates

Presumed consent alone is unlikely to explain the variation in organ donation rates between countries, say the authors of this fast-tracked systematic review. Legislation, availability of donors, organisation and infrastructure of the transplantation service, wealth and investment in health care, and public attitudes to and awareness of organ donation may all play a part, but their relative importance is unclear.

Research podcast

A longitudinal study concludes that adolescents who exhibit externalising behaviour are at high risk of experiencing multiple social and health impairments that adversely affect them, their families, and society throughout adult life. Ian Colman, one of the paper's authors, talks about the paper in this BMJ podcast. There is also an interview with Alastair Gray, lead author of a paper that looks at lung cancer deaths from indoor radon and the cost effectiveness and potential of policies to reduce them.

Outcomes of conduct problems in adolescence: 40 year follow-up of national cohort

According to this longitudinal study from age 13-53, adolescents who exhibit externalising behaviour are at high risk of experiencing multiple social and health impairments that adversely affect them, their families, and society throughout adult life.

Use of Framingham risk score or new biomarkers to predict cardiovascular mortality in older people

This population based observational cohort study concludes that in very old people from the general population with no history of cardiovascular disease, concentrations of homocysteine alone can accurately identify those at high risk of cardiovascular mortality, whereas classic risk factors included in the Framingham risk score do not. (Picture credit: SPL).

Lung cancer deaths from indoor radon

Basic preventive measures against radon in new homes are likely to be a highly cost effective public health intervention, according to this fast tracked cost effectiveness analysis. If introduced alongside existing policies to reduce smoking, the measures could potentially make a modest but worthwhile contribution to cutting the number of lung cancer deaths in the UK, it adds. Universal coverage of basic anti-radon measures may offer the best public health returns, says an accompanying editorial. (Pictured credit of radon detector: Health Protection Agency/SPL).