Objective A number of recent studies have investigated the motivations underlying the career choice of dental and medical students, suggesting that they may be very different. However, as yet, no studies have been conducted which provide a direct comparison of dental and medical students studying in the same place. Accordingly, the aim of this investigation was to conduct a survey which directly compared the motivation of a selection of dental and medical students at Manchester University. Study design A questionnaire was developed for this study on the basis of previous surveys investigating the motivations of dental and medical students towards career choice. Six dimensions were covered in the questionnaire including: status and security; the nature of the occupation; career opportunities; patient care and working with people; use of personal skills; and interest in science. In addition, students were asked about the role of work experience in either dentistry or medicine. The questionnaire was distributed to 80 medical students and 80 dental students chosen from a random selection of lecture slots. Results The results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Statistically significant differences were revealed in all six areas of career choice motivation. For instance, dental students were significantly more likely to be motivated by factors relating to status and security and the nature of their occupation (eg regular working hours, self employment and independence). By contrast, medical students were significantly more likely to be motivated by factors relating to career opportunities, patient care and working with people, use of personal skills, and interest in science. Work experience was a strong motivating factor in the case of both dental and medical students (though especially for dental students). Conclusions In comparison with dental students, medical students manifested a more professional attitude in which altruism and intellectual challenge constituted central motivating factors. By contrast, dental students demonstrated more of a commitment to personal and financial gain. The paper queries how useful such attitudes are to a re-oriented dental profession whose aspiration is to provide more accountable and community oriented services.

Background/Aims:To quantitatively assess steatosis by a morphometric method and to study its relationship with other histological features of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). This was a comparative descriptive study. The study was carried out in the Department of Histopathology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from March 2006 to March 2007.Methods:Patients who had undergone a liver biopsy for the evaluation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and laboratory data were collected at the time of biopsy. The first hundred biopsy specimens that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for grades of steatosis (semiquantitatively), diameter of fat globules (by a morphometric method), necroinflammation, and fibrosis (semiquantitatively). Liver biopsies were processed for paraffin embedding, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, whereas Gomori's Reticulin stain was used for the evaluation of fibrosis.Results:Out of 46 cases showing fatty change, pansteatosis was observed in 24 (52%) patients: 12 (26%) cases had a pericentral and mid zonal distribution of fat globules and eight (17.5%) cases revealed a mid zonal pattern only. There were two (4.5%) cases in which fat globules were found in periportal and mid zonal areas. None of the histological parameters (the stage of fibrosis and grades of inflammation) had any significant correlation with these distribution patterns of steatosis. The diameter of fat droplets was quantified by morphometry. A mixed pattern of steatosis was observed more frequently (21 out of 46 cases): 17 cases had microglobules and eight biopsies showed macroglobules. The size of the fat globules exhibited a significant correlation with the stage of fibrosis (P < 0.0001). The analysis of the grades of necroinflammation did not reveal any significant relationship with the diameter of fat globules.Conclusions:A mixed pattern of fat globules is more frequently observed in CHC, but macrovesicular steatosis is associated with a higher stage of fibrosis. Morphometry is recommended as one of the important tools for the follow-up of HCV-infected patients. Whether an accurate assessment of fat globule size by morphometry is preferred for the evaluation of patients before and after the antiviral therapy needs further research.

An autopsy study of 20 cases is presented. The mean age was 32 years (range: 14-45). Four cases (20%) presented with jaundice. Another four (20%) had continuous fever with abdominal pain. Six had loose motions with blood and mucus in the stools. The mean duration of illness was 7.2 days. All cases were thin and emaciated. Liver was grossly enlarged (mean weight: 2680 g). The abscess was single in all cases except one. The right lobe was involved in 15 cases, the left in four and both in one. The average size of abscess was 13 cm. The abscess had ruptured in the abdomen in 3 patients, for which laparotomy was performed. Pulmonary involvement was seen in 3 cases. Colon showed ulceration in half the patients. In 2 cases perforation was also present. No cerebral involvement was present. A number of interesting features emerged from this study. Although amoebic liver abscess is a common disease, its diagnosis can be missed due to unusual presentation. In the present study, diagnosis of viral hepatitis, carcinoma lung, bacillary dysentery and enteric fever with perforation were made, which probably contributed materially to fatal outcome.