Moralising Animals in the Renaissance: A Study of French and English Emblem Books from the 16th and 17th centuries

The aim of this research project is to explore and conduct a comparative study of emblem books from the 16th and 17th centuries during the French and English Renaissance, through an analysis of the symbolism and moralising function of the artistic representation of animals, namely A Choice of Emblems by Geffrey Whitney and Fables by Jean de la Fontaine. The study seeks to identify the ways in which the pictorial and graphic depiction of animals functioned as a medium of cultural and social transmission in both cultural contexts, by expressing and conveying messages of moral and philosophical nature. The objectives of this study are: the identification and in-depth analysis of the moral and didactic function of animal symbolism in emblem books of the English and French Renaissance, a comparative study of the artistic expression of animal symbolism in emblem books from the two cultural contexts and a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which animal allegories in emblem books influenced the moral ideologies of the wider contemporary audience. The methodology used in this paper is: qualitative analysis, consisting of both textual analysis (of the accompanying texts in emblem books) and iconographic analysis (a visual study of emblematic images), comparative study, involving thematic evaluation through the comparison of emblematic approaches in French and English cultural contexts, archival research, including the consultation of archives for the in-depth analysis of emblem texts and books in their original form and an interdisciplinary approach, integrating multiple research fields such as literary criticism, art history, and iconography. &nbsp

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: Case report and literature review

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) are vascular lesions caused by the interactions between the arterial and venous vascular systems of the spinal cord, leading to venous congestion of the spinal cord. They are the most frequent vascular malformation of the spine. These acquired lesions occur most commonly in the thoracic and lumbar spine of middle-aged men. Although the natural history of SDAVFs is not clearly defined, their clinical course is characterised by progressive neurologic decline leading to functional disability. Here we report a case of a 60-year-old male patient admitted with complaints of back pain that irradiated to the lower legs, intermittent claudication, who then developed progressive paraparesis, gait disorder, and sphincter disturbances. The symptoms were typically progressive for four months with increasing severity. On MRI, on sagittal T2-weighted images, the cord oedema is depicted as a centromedullary hyperintensity, extended in dorso-lumbar (Th4-L1), and numerous serpiginous vessels dorsal to the spinal cord. Based on physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging findings, a preliminary diagnosis of SDAVF was made. The diagnosis was confirmed by spinal angiography, with a selective injection of the left Th9 segmental vessels, which demonstrates a dorsal intradural AVF. The aim of treatment in SDAVF is to occlude the shunting zone, the most distal part of the artery, together with the most proximal part of the draining vein, either by superselective embolisation with a liquid embolic agent or by neurosurgical approach. Our patient was treated by Microsurgery. Spinal dural AVFs diagnosis should not be overlooked, and it should be kept in mind that early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe morbidities. The gold standard for the diagnosis is selective spinal angiography. Angiography is used for localization of the vascular lesion and treatment. Microsurgery and endovascular embolisation are effective methods for the treatment of SDAVF. Following occlusion of the fistula, the progression of the disease can be stopped, and improvement of symptoms is typically observed. In this article, we report a case of SDAVF Intradural dorsal AVFs presenting with progressive paraparesis, gait and sphincter disturbances, bladder in the light of literature data

Dural metastasis of chordoma: A rare pattern of tumour dissemination

Background: Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumour derived from notochordal remnants, characterised by slow growth and aggressive local behaviour. Although distant metastases are increasingly recognised, dural metastasis remains exceptionally rare. Case description: We describe the case of a 72-year-old female patient with a history of a suprasellar chordoma, initially resected 8 years ago. The patient presented with tumour recurrence at the original site and a newly identified frontal dural metastasis. Imaging revealed growth of the residual clival tumour along with a well-circumscribed dural-based lesion in the frontal convexity. Surgical management consisted of resection of the recurrent clival lesion and complete excision of the frontal dural metastasis. The procedures were well tolerated, and postoperative recovery was uneventful, with resolution of preoperative neurological symptoms. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of recurrent chordoma and dural metastasis. Conclusion: Dural metastasis of chordoma is an uncommon but important diagnostic entity that should be considered in patients with a history of chordoma presenting with new dural-based lesions. Early recognition is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and guide appropriate management

Haemorrhagic lumbar synovial cyst: A rare and potentially debilitating condition

Hemorrhagic synovial cysts of the lumbar spine are uncommon but clinically significant due to their potential for rapid symptom progression. Patients often present with severe lower back pain and neurological deficits, which are exacerbated by bleeding within the cyst, leading to an increase in its size. This haemorrhage is typically linked to the rupture of fragile, newly formed blood vessels. MRI is crucial for diagnosis, with these cysts frequently appearing heterogeneously hyperintense on T1-weighted images, although signal characteristics may vary depending on factors such as protein content, blood degradation, and the timing of the hemorrhagic event. While many synovial cysts can be observed without intervention, hemorrhagic transformation often requires surgical excision, and in some cases, emergency surgery is necessary to address severe neurological symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent permanent deficits and improve outcomes

Ruptured intraventricular dermoid cyst: Case report and literature review

Dermoid cysts are rare, congenital cystic tumours that compose < 0.5% of primary intracranial tumours. They derive from embryonic ectodermal tissue during neural tube closure, and are usually located in the midline or parasagittal region of the skull, although their most common location is the spinal canal. Rupture into the subarachnoid spaces and ventricles is extremely rare, which may occur spontaneously or after closed-head trauma. Tumour rupture may be asymptomatic or give rise to recurrent chemical meningitis due to spillage of its contents into the subarachnoid space and ventricular system, manifesting with seizures, vasospasm with cerebral infarction and death. We report a 47-year-old male patient who presented with a sudden onset of severe headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting without disturbed consciousness. The patient was progressively worsening. On admission, body temperature was 37.8 C, and the patient's vital signs were within normal limits. A CT scan demonstrated a hypodense lesion, and T1-weighted MRI scans revealed a round hyperintense lesion in the left frontal horn, with dilated ventricles, compatible with an intraventricular rupture of a left frontal horn dermoid cyst. There was also significant hydrocephalus. Successful surgical intervention followed, resulting in the complete removal of the cyst and the patient's subsequent full recovery with the resolution of symptoms. In this case, we are reporting on the management of a case of intraventricular ruptured dermoid cyst and reviewing the literature

Five-patient case series and literature review in post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus

Tension pneumocephalus is a rare and potentially fatal neurological disease. To avoid deadly consequences, it demands urgent and rapid intervention. The most prevalent cause of tension pneumocephalus is a head injury. Air can enter the cranium by a fracture affecting the paranasal sinus or the middle ear cavity, or even more rarely, through a complex depressed fracture of the skull vault. Its treatment consists of a simple twist drill and aspiration of intracranial air with or without the insertion of an underwater seal. 100% oxygen should be delivered using a non-breathable mask that hastens air resorption. The authors provide a series of five examples with post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus, focusing on its treatment and review of literature

Intersemiotic Literacy: Reading Heart of Darkness from Serialized Fiction to Contemporary Book Publication

“The Heart of Darkness” was first published in 1899 as a serialized fiction in Blackwood’s Magazine. The publication of Heart of Darkness in book form and under this present title appeared three years later in the volume Youth, a Narrative, and Two Other Stories. To understand how reading as a supposedly passive and personal experience evolves, the phenomenal success of this masterpiece written by the Polish-British writer Joseph Conrad (1867-1924) and its collaborations with different modes of publication would be investigated. This article outlines the publication story of this novella since the time of Conrad till the very present day. To enable an in-depth understanding on how the plot of the narrative interacts with various book cover designs, discussions would be made on whether the visual domain can also portray the juxtaposition of horrors in the exotic milieu with the dark side of humanity. In Re-Covered Rose (2011), the award-winning scholar and literary translator Marco Sonzogni (1971-) examines how book cover design is a form of intersemiotic translation. Being inspired by this stance, it is the aim of this article to dissect whether the contemporary book designs of Heart of Darkness enrich the interpretation of this novella and respond to its contemporary criticisms. The cover designs of Heart of Darkness from Penguin Classics will serve as a case study in understanding how a publisher addresses the rise of new critiques. In addition, 30 book cover designs of Heart of Darkness published since the new millennium will be studied to exemplify the relationships between a literary classic, its book covers and intersemiotic literacy

S1 dermatomal numbness: Radiculopathy or Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s neuroma refers to a degenerative, compressive neuropathy affecting one of the common digital nerves in the forefoot, typically situated between the heads of the third and fourth metatarsal bones. The condition arises primarily due to repetitive compression and mechanical irritation of the interdigital nerve, particularly beneath the plantar portion of the transverse intermetatarsal ligament. Although historically labelled a “neuroma,” this entity lacks neoplastic features and is instead characterised by perineural fibrosis and nerve degeneration. It is known by several alternative terms in medical literature, including interdigital neuritis, intermetatarsal neuroma, Morton’s metatarsalgia, interdigital neuralgia, interdigital nerve entrapment, and interdigital compression neuropathy (1, 2). This case report describes a 45-year-old female patient with a typical Morton’s neuroma, who underwent surgical treatment after experiencing symptoms for over a 15 years

Anatomical variations of the floor of the third ventricle and their surgical implications for endoscopic third ventriculostomy

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an established treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. Anatomical variations of the floor of the third ventricle (FTV) may significantly influence surgical safety and outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed 53 ETV procedures performed between July 2022 and December 2023. Anatomical variations of the FTV were identified in 11 patients (20.7%), including thinned, partially effaced, thickened or opaque, and ballooning or herniated floors. Recognition of these variations is essential for safe fenestration and optimal outcomes

Patriarchal and Governmental Violent Discourse: A Suppression of Women’s Reproductive Rights in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale unfolds a violent dystopian narrative that targets women in general and more precisely a category of fertile women who are assigned by the tyrannical Gilead government to bear children for elite sterile couples. Offred, the protagonist, recounts her life in Gilead, a theocratic and totalitarian state, forced to undergo a ritualized sex with a governmental commander, while her hands are tightly gripped by Selena, in order to bear a child for the commander and his wife. The physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon Offred, the Handmaid, as well as her friends, are transmitted through the nonlinear and introspective style of narration and stand as proofs of the suppression of women’s reproductive rights and female subjectivity as a whole. Offred’s physical and psychological freedom, as a human being, are usurped due to political and religious strict pretexts. The Governmental perpetual violent discourse against Offred will be studied as a case in point of futuristic patriarchal assault towards women, unless fairer legal and social laws will be established across the globe to protect women’s reproductive rights and status within society. Though the novel is dystopian, it still bears a cautionary orientation for feminist trends and groups to move from theories to more practical actions towards ensuring women’s rights and gender equality