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The concept of this article is that the symbolic relationships between human beings and animals serve as a model for the relationships between the majority and the ethnic minority. We postulate that there are two representations that serve to organize these relationships between human beings and animals: a domestic and a wild one. If the domestic animal is an index of human culture, the wild animal is an index of nature which man considers himself to share with the animal. With the wild representation, contact with the animal will be taboo, as it constitutes a threat to the anthropological difference. We offer the hypothesis that ontologization of the minority, that is, the substitution of a human category with an animal category, and thus its exclusion from the human species, is a method the majority use when the taboo against contact with the wild nature is necessary. Three experiments confirm the hypothesis that the Gypsy minority (as compared with the Gadje majority) is more ontologized when the context (a monkey or a clothed dog) threatens the anthropological differentiation of the Gadje participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a discussion report on a critical note on two studies of minority influence on social group behaviors. It is suggested that claims made against those two studies were evident and result oriented. The two studies in question claim that it is time to get away from the conformity bias in studies of social influence and this is possible by studying influence from the point of view of the minority. It is also demonstrated that, in all phenomena of social influence, it is the behavioral style and not simply power or status which is the decisive factor. It is supposed that it can be observed especially well with a minority and with phenomena of innovation in which it is not an advantage but a disadvantage to have power or status for the individual or subgroup.

Study Design: Review the presentation and diagnosis of an intradural extramedullary hemangiopericytoma of the thoracic spine. Objective: To present a rare case of intradural, subpial hemangiopericytoma in the thoracic spine, with a brief overview of the literature. Summary Of Background Data: Spinal intradural extramedullary hemangiopericytoma is rare entity that radiographically mimics nerve-sheath tumors. These lesions are typically diagnosed at surgery performed due to suspicion of tumor. Methods: A 20-year-old man who presented with back pain, leg weakness, and sphincter incontinence. MR imaging demonstrated an intradural extramedullary lesion at the T9-T10 level that was isointense on T1- and T2-weighted images and homogeneously enhancing after administration of gadolinium, with cystic components seen on T2-weighted images. The preoperative diagnosis was meningioma or schwannoma. Results: At surgery, the lesion was bluish and completely subpial, with apparent nerve root invasion. Pathological examination revealed a neoplasm adjacent to a nerve root with possible focal infiltration. Abundant reticulin fibers and widened, branching vascular channels imparting a staghorn appearance were seen. Up to five mitotic figures were counted in one high-power field. On immunostaining, the neoplastic cells were diffusely immunoreactive for CD99 and immunonegative for EMA, CD34, and S-100 protein. The pathological diagnosis was consistent with anaplastic hemangiopericytoma, WHO grade III. Conclusion: This is the ninth report of spinal intradural hemangiopericytoma. The location of the neoplasm supports the hypothesis that hemangiopericytoma may arise from the spinal pial capillaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Penetrating skull base injuries are complex clinical scenarios requiring multidisciplinary management to address both immediate life-threatening conditions and long-term complications.Anterior skull base fractures account for 21% of skull fractures from which 4% were caused by head trauma [1]. Post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may arise, becoming a major source of morbidity; these can lead to the development of severe intracranial infections [2]. Endoscopic Endonasal Approach is a conservative technique that uses a multilayer coverage including a nasoseptal flap to create durable reconstruction [3]. We describe our experience using this technique to repair a wide anterior skull defect after extraction of a foreign body., Case Description: A 46-year-old male experienced a traumatic CSF leak following a penetrating head injury from a fall at a construction site, where a steel bar penetrated from the left temporo-mandibular juntction through the sphenoid sinuses to the right eye socket. Initial brain involvement was minimal, and the injury was isolated to the head., Conclusion: This case highlights the complexities of managing penetrating brain injuries. Prior to deciding the extraction of the foreign body and subsequent endoscopic repair of the skull base, the multidisciplinary team relied on imaging for a secure removal. Maintaining airway, stabilizing the patient, and executing skilled surgical intervention were key to successfully manage the case. Postoperative treatment was crucial, including monitoring for complications such as diabetes insipidus and ensuring the closure of the CSF leak through endoscopic techniques. The integration of fluorescein in CSF during surgery allowed us to localize leaks effectively. This case highlights the importance of a well-coordinated medical response to assess patient management in severe traumatic scenarios. Lessons learned from such cases contribute significantly to the evolving field of trauma surgery, emphasizing the need for a structured approach to both acute and postoperative care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Herpes encephalitis is known to affect patients undergoing brain radiotherapy, but early diagnosis and treatment, the foremost determinants of disease outcome, remain challenging in this patient population. This can be due to attribution of symptoms to the brain tumor and radiation side effects, as well as patients' atypical clinical presentation. Here we sought to highlight pearls and pitfalls in the clinical course and diagnostic workup which may facilitate timely diagnosis and improve disease outcome., Methods: Six patients with post radiation herpes encephalitis were identified in a retrospective review of Hadassah Medical Center medical records of between 2007 and 2022. Their clinical course, brain imaging, labs and EEG findings were included in the study., Results: All six patients presented with fever and a confusional state and four had seizures. Lumbar puncture showed mild CSF pleocytosis in two of five patients, and PCR was positive for HSV1 in four out of five. MRI showed typical findings in all patients, though they were misinterpreted in two of six as disease exacerbation. EEG showed non convulsive status epilepticus in three patients. Outcome was favorable in half of patients., Discussion: In patients undergoing radiotherapy to the brain and neck, fever and confusional state accompanied by new onset seizures, seizure exacerbation, changes in seizure lateralization and status epilepticus should lead one to consider a diagnosis of herpes encephalitis. A high index of suspicion, a timely workup and empiric treatment in this patient population can alter disease outcome., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Craniopharyngiomas are epithelial tumors derived from the remnants of the Rathke pouch, while Rathke cleft cysts (RCC) are benign cystic lesions originating from the Rathke pouch itself [1]. Rathke cleft cysts comprise 10-15% of the hypophyseal tumors, while craniopharyngiomas are relatively rare, comprising only 2-5% of intracranial tumors [2]. Both located in the sellar and parasellar regions and share clinical symptoms including headache, visual disturbances, and endocrine dysfunction [3]. Rathke cleft cysts and craniopharyngiomas can be challenging to differentiate preoperatively, distinguishing between them is crucial due to the significant differences in their management and surgical decision-making. However, once the surgical decision is made, their intraoperative appearance on the endoscopic view often differs. In such cases, the macroscopic appearance can play a key role in determining the extent of surgical aggressiveness. Even though, in both cases maximal safe resection is advisable, in craniopharyngioma a difference with RCC extent of resection is proportional to progression free survival [4]., Case Presentation: The authors present their experience with a 40-year-old female patient with no relevant medical background, presenting frequent headaches for approximately 3 months, neuro-ophthalmological and endocrinological evaluation were within the normal limits. Brain MRI showed an enhanced sellar mass, radiological chiasmatic compression. Differential diagnosis was for craniopharyngioma or RCC. An endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) was performed. Intraoperative features all pointed towards craniopharyngioma, typical "oil like cyst" with solid components such as cholesterol crystals and an adhered capsule to the surrounding structures. Complete resection was achieved, post operative CT and MRI were reassuring of a positive outcome. The pathological report unexpectedly identified the lesion as a Rathke cleft cyst. On H&E stained microscopic slides, a cyst lined by stratified squamous epithelium and superficial goblet cells was observed. Which is consistent with squamous metaplasia of Rathke's cleft cyst. There was also a lack of stellate reticulum, wet keratin, and calcifications; features characteristic of Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, further ruling out this diagnosis. Without papillary structures and in the absence of BRAF V600E mutation, as confirmed by testing, papillary craniopharyngioma was also ruled out., Conclusion: Rathke cleft cysts and craniopharyngiomas have overlapping clinical and radiological features, making it challenging to differentiate between the two preoperatively. Intraoperatively commonly in the endoscope screen the difference of both pathologies is clearer and it could influence the surgeon's intraoperative aggressiveness towards the resection. This case exemplifies how intraoperative diagnosis by the surgeon can differ from the final diagnosis. In this case, although the pathology report was not consistent with the surgeon's intraoperative diagnosis, the patient still got appropriate treatment and an excellent outcome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)