London Academic Publishing Ltd.: Arts & Humanities Journals
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Gross total resection of a rare epidermoid cyst in the supplementary motor area without postoperative SMA syndrome: A case report and literature review
No full textEpidermoid cysts rarely occur in the supplementary motor area (SMA), where resection carries a particular risk of postoperative SMA syndrome. We present the case of a 25-year-old woman who developed persistent headache and intermittent dizziness. Preoperative MRI revealed a right medial frontal lesion with low T1, high T2, and restricted diffusion, consistent with an epidermoid cyst.Microsurgical resection was performed via a right interhemispheric approach under neuronavigation. Internal decompression was followed by capsule dissection along the tumor–brain interface. Particular care was taken to preserve bridging veins, avoid fixed retractors, and minimise traction on the SMA cortex. A superficial cortical vein with focal wall irregularity was reinforced with hemostatic material instead of being sacrificed. Gross total removal was achieved with minimal blood loss.
The patient recovered without neurological deficits, was mobilised on the third postoperative day, and was discharged home. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis. Follow-up MRI at six months showed no recurrence, and her modified Rankin Scale score was 0.
This case highlights that, although SMA epidermoid cysts are exceedingly rare, complete resection with full functional preservation is achievable. Careful surgical planning, venous preservation, and low-traction microsurgical techniques are crucial to avoid SMA syndrome in this eloquent cortical region
A Thomistic Restoration of the Liberal Arts
No full textThe notion of liberal arts, since Aquinas, has dramatically changed in its content, method, and aim. Today the liberal arts are understood synonymously with liberal education or general education, which calls for its restoration and rediscovery. For Aquinas, the seven liberal arts—which by his time were already composed of the trivium (i.e., grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and quadrivium (i.e., geometry, arithmetic, music, and astronomy)—are contrasted to the mechanical arts and the speculative sciences. The current conception of the liberal arts as holistic education came from a gradual conceptual shift in the last two centuries. Liberal arts studies have been progressively reduced to teaching “subjects” rather than giving students the tools, the “art,” of learning, of liberal education. The loss of the sense of the liberal arts—especially its Thomistic sense—brings certain repercussions in how the nature of “education” is understood. As such, this article aims to (1) clarify the situation of the liberal arts, (2) retrace the history of the liberal arts, (3) explore its Thomistic conception, and (4) consider the need to recover them as necessary for the proper order of learning befitting man
Subtemporal approach for a P2–P3 junction aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery
No full textCerebral aneurysms at the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) are rare, accounting for < 1% of all intracranial aneurysms and about 7% of the posterior circulation aneurysms. Aneurysms are seen rarely at the P2–P3 junction of PCA; few patients have been reported in the literature because of the low incidence of aneurysms at this location. P2–P3 junction aneurysm surgery is challenging. They are usually managed by the subtemporal approach. This is a case report of rupture saccular aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery on P2–P3 junction, revealed in a 46-year-old male suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage; on Computed tomography (CT) scan, and cerebral angioscan. Successful clip occlusion of the aneurysm was performed via a subtemporal approach without additional neurological deficits or surgical complications. P2–P3 junction PCA aneurysms can be successfully clipped via the subtemporal
Beliefs regarding low back pain and spine care amongst sub-urban communities of a lower middle-income country
No full textBack pain is a common health issue affecting people of all ages and demographics. Eighty per cent of adults are predicted to suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Spine care is crucial in the management of back pain, and it is essential to understand the perception of spine care in different populations. People with varied incomes may have different available facilities, perceptions, and attitudes towards spine care. This may lead to disparity in treatment-seeking and outcomes. This study proposal aims to investigate the perception of spine care in the local population with back pain, along with factors creating differences. We surveyed 269 patients with back pain in two different communities in Karachi. We found out that usually, people with low monthly income do nothing for their back pain, while those with moderate income usually take analgesics and seek medical advice. The majority of the patients think that the availability of better healthcare facilities will improve their spine care
Single vs multiple pathogens in brain abscesses: Two cases with distinct aetiologies
No full textBrain abscesses represent life-threatening focal infections with diverse aetiologies. In the current era of escalating antimicrobial resistance, medical management is increasingly challenged and empiric regimens may be insufficient. We report two young immunocompetent male patients with brain abscesses due to distinct aetiologies: a monomicrobial subdural and epidural collection caused by Streptococcus constellatus and a polymicrobial post-traumatic orbitofrontal abscess associated with Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Both patients underwent urgent surgical drainage combined with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, later tailored to culture results. The first case illustrates the risk of suboptimal oral therapy and poor adherence, with subsequent relapse and development of antimicrobial resistance, whereas the second case highlights infectious complications following penetrating orbito-cranial trauma. These contrasting cases emphasise the need for timely neurosurgical intervention, prolonged targeted antimicrobial therapy, and strict avoidance of unsupervised antibiotic use in the management of brain abscesses
White Girl in Asia: Mobility and Self-Realisation in Just Jaeckin’s “Emmanuelle”
No full textFrom time immemorial, mobility has always played an important part in the lives of individuals. Some have migrated for health issues, some for various social and political ones, and some for a change in their daily routine. In this process, travel has not only fulfilled their primary aims but has also gifted various experiences which have helped them to relook, relearn and reconstruct their identity. Generally, when a Western traveller’s encounter with Asian destinations gets portrayed in the media, many issues arise. Issues like ‘Otherization’, representations, or the Eurocentric gaze create huge buzz among the audience. Especially when the traveller is a female, these issues become more problematic. Things like Voyeurism and male gaze increase the list. Just Jaeckin’s Emmanuelle (1974), loosely based on an autobiographical erotic novel by Emmanuelle Arsan, portrays these issues.
The plot of the book and film features Emmanuelle, a young, rich, and lonely housewife who undertakes a journey from Paris to Thailand and explores different spheres of sexual pleasures. Emmanuelle’s journey is twofold. Firstly, it refers to her sexual mobility, from innocence to experience. Secondly, it shows her spatial journey, her transition from Paris to Thailand, from a studio-like, lonely apartment to the busy markets and a countryside villa. This article attempts to read how mobility transforms Emmanuelle, and how the interaction between global and local has been represented in the movie
Umberto Eco’s Writing Labyrinth: From the Code’s Theory to the Interpretation Process
No full textThe present text will concentrate on some of Eco’s theoretical books on the semiotic method. The primary focus shall be on the narration theory, semiotics “proper” (at least, according to Peirce), and the structural approach to semiotics. The reason for stating the above is the interdisciplinarity in developing the semiotic method (as designated by Eco, among other related authors) to demonstrate its importance in the present century. Not only is one academic approach relevant for exploring scientific matters of the sort, but more of them (such as the dichotomies between ontology and epistemology, “artistic” vs “realistic” occurrences, as well as the method of writing itself as a “special technique”). As initially designated by Peirce, the “unlimited” semiosis process is meant to unite or see as a totality of several semiotic approaches closely related to Eco’s work, besides, naturally, the permanent and uninterruptible “transformation” and moveability of signs. The goal is twofold: methodological and scientific
Shaftesbury’s Re-imagining of the Passions
No full textThe Third Earl of Shaftesbury is generally viewed as the key philosopher in eighteenth-century England to reiterate the classical idea that man’s virtue lay in recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings through his use of reason. In the face of a growing acceptance of self-interest as natural to man in the eighteenth century, Shaftesbury, through his writings, has been understood to have countered the view of man as naturally selfish by arguing that man through his reason can comprehend how all beings are organically linked, and desire the good of all. In this article, I focus on how Shaftesbury addressed a more particular problem – the idea of public good was now being seen as too abstract and remote to evoke the instinctive benevolence and virtue in man. In his time, the passions were increasingly understood as the prime mover or motivation for man’s benevolent actions, and reason was not adequate enough to move men in desiring public good, especially the welfare of people outside their own familiar circle. This article shows how Shaftesbury reworks the older idea of virtue based on reason, into a virtue that is interwoven with the passions, in order to answer the problem of how people can be motivated to desire public good. Shaftesbury refurbishes a notion of virtue based on reason, and seeks to make it coterminous with a natural affection towards the idea of public good
Behind The Scenes of a Mysterious Meeting: Romanian And British Diplomacy on the 1983 Meeting Between Pope John Paul II and Lech Wa??sa
No full textNegotiations for organizing Pope John Paul II’s second visit to Poland in 1983 were marked by controversies regarding a possible meeting between the Pope and Lech Wa??sa, the leader of Solidarity. The Vatican considered the meeting essential, while the Polish government rejected it, fearing its political impact. For months, intense negotiations took place involving the Vatican, the Polish government, and the Episcopate. The research uses diplomatic documents from the archives of Romania and the United Kingdom, supplemented by reports from the Western press. The visit, initially planned for 1982, was postponed due to political tensions. Eventually, a compromise allowed a private meeting between the Pope and Wa??sa, but it did not fully satisfy the involved parties. The events highlighted political tensions and underscored the symbolic role of the visit in supporting Solidarity’s ideals. The meeting, lasting about 30 minutes, remained confidential but was considered a symbolic gesture of support for Polish workers and Solidarity’s ideals. However, subsequent articles in the Western press speculated about an agreement between the Vatican and Jaruzelski’s regime, suggesting that Wa??sa was marginalized to facilitate national reconciliation. The controversial editorial in L’Osservatore Romano highlighted Wa??sa’s sacrifice, generating criticism towards the Vatican
Primary spinal tumours: A single centre study: clinical assessment, treatment and outcome
No full textPrimary spinal cord tumours are rare conditions that comprise 3% of all primary CNS tumours in adults. The present study analyses the clinical presentation, prognostic factors, radiological assessment, treatment, histological examination and their correlation with the outcome of these spinal tumours, in an urban setup of India. The study presents our single institution’s surgical experience and clinical outcomes on patients who have undergone surgical excision for spinal tumours. Methodology: This retrospective and prospective observational study was conducted among 36 patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at Rabindranath Tagore Medical College and Associated Hospital, Udaipur, between May 2022 and September 2024. All patients were clinically evaluated along with preoperative and post-operative modified Nurick grading with 3 months of follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: Our study included 36 patients, mean age was 38.4 years. Of the participants, 13 (36.1%) were men and the remaining 23 (63.9%) were women. Motor Weakness was the most common symptom noted in all patients. The tumours were commonly seen in the thoracic region, 14 cases (38.9%). Schwannoma was the commonest lesion, and there was a male preponderance. Conclusion: Our study clearly demonstrates that surgical treatment of spinal tumours offers very good functional outcomes irrespective of the age of the patient or the neurological status