Adrenal hemangioma

The fourth case of an adrenal hemangioma and the third largest removed surgically is reported. The tumor was an incidental finding by intravenous pyelography prior to a transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia. No symptoms of either adrenalism or hypoadrenalism were associated. To date this is the thirteenth case and the twelfth reported in the American literature.     

Sinonasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma presenting as pyrexia of unknown origin with nasal symptoms

A 68-year-old Chinese man presented with an eight-month history of pyrexia of unknown origin and chronic sinusitis despite multiple courses of antibiotics. He underwent extensive investigations, including workups for infections, chronic granulomatous diseases and malignancy. Nasal biopsies were performed twice under local anaesthesia, but did not show any evidence of malignancy. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal variant, based on histopathological findings from harvested deep tissue obtained via functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This study highlights that, for patients presenting with pyrexia of unknown origin and nasal symptoms, NK/T-cell lymphoma must be considered as a differential diagnosis. Generous amounts of tissue should be harvested under general anaesthesia rather than limited tissue under local anaesthesia, in order to facilitate and ensure a definitive diagnosis.     

The M694V mutation in Armenian‐Americans: a 10‐year retrospective study of MEFV mutation testing for familial Mediterranean fever at UCLA

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, is a systemic auto‐inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of fever with peritonitis, pleuritis, synovitis and erysipeloid rash. The marenostrin‐encoding fever (MEFV) gene, located on chromosome 16p13.3, is the only gene in which mutations are currently known to cause FMF. To correlate specific genotypes with adverse phenotypes of affected populations residing in the Western United States, a retrospective case series review was conducted of all MEFV gene mutation testing completed at UCLA Clinical Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory between February 2002 and February 2012, followed by clinical chart review of all subjects who either have a single or double mutation. All 12 common mutations in the MEFV gene were analyzed and the M694V variant was found to be associated with an adverse FMF clinical outcome in the Armenian‐American population, manifested by earlier onset of disease, increased severity of disease, and renal amyloidosis.     

Knowledge and attitudes of infection prevention and control among health sciences students at University of Namibia

Background

Health Sciences students are exposed early to hospitals and to activities which increase their risk of acquiring infections. Infection control practices are geared towards reduction of occurrence and transmission of infectious diseases.

Objective

To evaluate knowledge and attitudes of infection prevention and control among Health Science students at University of Namibia.

Methods

To assess students'' knowledge and attitudes regarding infection prevention and control and their sources of information, a self-administered questionnaire was used to look at standard precautions especially hands hygiene.

Results

One hundred sixty two students participated in this study of which 31 were medical, 17 were radiography and 114 were nursing students. Medical students had better overall scores (73%) compared to nursing students (66%) and radiology students (61%). There was no significant difference in scores between sexes or location of the high school being either in rural or urban setting.

Conclusion

Serious efforts are needed to improve or review curriculum so that health sciences students'' knowledge on infection prevention and control is imparted early before they are introduced to the wards.