Multicystic nephroma: a rare entity.

Multicystic nephroma is a rare renal pathology, which is characterized usually by a unilateral renal mass with multiple thin-walled cysts divided by septa. We report the case of a boy aged 2 years, who was diagnosed in utero with an abdominal cystic lesion during routine antenatal ultrasonography examination. The patient underwent a nephrectomy, and diagnosis of cystic nephroma was confirmed by histology.

Prediction of stature using hand dimensions.

In this study, an attempt was made to find out possible correlations between hand dimensions and stature using linear and curvilinear regression models for both genders. The study was conducted amongst 250 medical students (125 male and 125 female) aged 18-30 years. Each student has been studied for measurements of stature, hand length and hand breadth. To explain stature, all the explanatory variables like age, sex, hand length (right and left) and hand breadth (right and left) were included for model generation using SPSS. A general linear regression model was found to be best explanatory in both males and females, however, amongst the curvilinear models; the exponential model emerged as the 'best' in explaining stature of the individual. Left hand length alone explained very significantly (P<0.001).

Estimation of stature by foot length.

The aim of this study was to develop a relationship between foot length and stature using linear and curvilinear regression models. Measurements of foot length and stature were taken from 250 medical students (125 males and 125 females) aged 18-30 years. General multiple linear regression model was highly significant (P<0.001) and validated with highest values for the coefficients of determination R(2)=0.769 and multiple correlation coefficient r=0.877. Right foot length, sex and age explained for about 77% variations in stature.

Awareness of issues related to torture among medical students in Mauritius.

Torture in custody is a global problem. Many declarations and conventions by different agencies throughout the world have sought to address this issue. Health professionals are required to detect, treat, and rehabilitate victims of torture. In the last few years, medical personnel have emphasised their stand against the practice of torture. We surveyed 155 second- and third-year medical graduates in Mauritius to assess their knowledge of and attitudes towards torture. A majority of the students have a basic awareness and would like to learn more about torture as a human rights issue. However, more than 37 per cent of students were in favour of beating in custody. Torture could be reduced if the medical profession maintains high standards of practice and ethics. Medical education for the prevention of torture should be included in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Detection of human papillomavirus from archival tissues in cervical cancer patients in Mauritius.

BACKGROUND: Around half a million new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year, accounting for almost 300,000 deaths. Development of cervical cancer can be multi-factorial, but high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been associated with the aetiology of cervical cancer. It is believed that HPV DNA integrates into the host DNA causing abnormal cell growth with cells becoming carcinogenic and spreading metastatically. In Mauritius, cervical cancer account for 65% of gynaecological cancers and 3.4% of the cervical cancers are diagnosed at the stage of carcinoma in situ. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HPV in histological samples from patients with cervical cancer in Mauritius. STUDY DESIGN: DNA from archival cervical samples from a cohort of 65 patients suffering from cervical cancer and controls from Mauritius were tested for the presence of HPV using MY09/11 and GP5+/6+ primer sets. RESULTS: In a cohort of 65 patients from Mauritius, diagnosed with cervical cancer in the year 2000, 19% of cervical histology sections were found to be positive for the presence of high-grade HPV, exclusively HPV18 using MY09 and MY11 primers. Only 15% of the Mauritian population is over 50 years of age, whereas 66% (35) of the diagnosed cases of cervical cancer were seen in patients above 50 years with 50% (5) affected with HPV. These findings suggest that for an infection with HPV to develop into cancer may take years if not decades. Differences were noted using two different primer sets, MY09/11 and GP5+/6+. The latter produce a much smaller amplicon (150bp) compared to the former ( approximately 450bp). Seven additional positive cases were detected with the GP5+/6+ primer set, resulting in an apparent prevalence of 32% as compared to the 19% seen with the MY09/11 primer set. This may indicate that some degradation of the target DNA has occurred during processing and storage of histological samples. CONCLUSION: Using primer sets MY09/11 and GP5+/6+, only HPV type 18 was found in the Mauritian cohort with a prevalence of 32%.