Contents: February 2004

Editorials

Research: what's the point?
Much emphasis is placed on doing research, but why bother? Polly Brown explains

A new year's resolution after a lost decade
David Weatherall says it is time the universities of the rich world forged real partnerships with the developing world

News

UK government to introduce university tuition fees

China kills 10 000 civet cats in "patriotic" campaign against SARS

Shipman found dead in prison cell

Medical students should know how to help people affected by violence

Young people should just say "no" to risky sex

In brief

Shock tactic campaign links atherosclerosis to smoking

Herbal medicine industry threatens future of thousands of wild plants

Education

Introduction to imaging:The abdomen
John Frank takes you through techniques for imaging the abdomen

Acute care: Treatment with oxygen
In the second part of our series about acute care medicine, Nicola Cooper explains the principles behind treatment with oxygen

Picture quiz: A swelling of the arm

How to write a case report
Rahij Anwar and colleagues give advice on the practical details of writing case reports

PubMed for beginners
Using PubMed to search for papers that you need can initially be a daunting task.Mohammad Al-Ubaydli takes you through the basics of using this valuable internet resource

Careers

Help! I'm a medic, get me out of here

Tips on Preparing for a consultant ward round

Blowing the whistle
Robbie Coull is brave enough to talk straight

Pharmaceutical medicine: making the leap

Ever considered working in the pharmaceutical industry? Dominic Smethurst offers an insider's guide

New initiative to improve undergraduate teaching in acute care
Many trainee doctors in the United Kingdom do not know enough about acute care. Rhona MacDonald finds out more about an initiative that aims to change that and outlines how you can get involved

Profile: A knightly pursuit
Sir David Weatherall became interested in research after his national service in Singapore. Upasana Tayal finds out where his career has taken him since then

The advice zone
Got a career or university related problem that needs answering? Can't find the right person to point you in the right direction? Log on to the Advice Zone at www.bmjcareers.com/advicezone to post a question or to see if one of our experts has already solved your problem

Papers

Paper Plus: Deep vein thrombosis and air travel: record linkage study
Domhnall MacAuley and five medical students consider the importance of critical appraisal and epidemiology. The students thought that understanding epidemiology was well beyond them but soon changed their minds

Life

Planning your elective: Tibet
Mark Wilson gives you the lowdown on planning your elective in Tibet

Buddhist medicine in occupied Tibet
In 1949, China invaded Tibet without provocation; Tibet is still occupied, and the Dalai Lama's government is in exile in India. Kieren Bong spent his elective in a Buddhist monastery there

How to win a Nobel prize in Medicine
Do you dream that one day your name will be famous within the research community? Or that your scientific breakthrough will be so important that you win a Nobel prize? Laura and Jonathan Fishman find out what it takes to achieve these goals

On top of the world
After answering a cryptic email asking for fieldwork volunteers,Steve Seale managed to swap the sterile surroundings of a laboratory for the stunning scenery of Nepal

Thoughts for new medical students at a new medical school
Giving advice to medical students makes doctors think about what is important in what they do says Richard Smith