Perceived Educational Control (PEC) associated with Age, Parental Educational Attainment (PEA), School Type and Sex : A cross-sectional study including predictions and variations

The current study mapped trajectories of perceived educational control (PEC) through its association with age, parental educational attainment (PEA), school type (public or private) and sex. The study surveyed 280 Australian formal students, in a cross-sectional design, between the ages of 17 and 25. Results displayed increased age predicting higher levels of PEC. Having one educated parent predicted greater PEC across age than did having no educated parents. Interestingly, having two educated parents did not significantly elevate PEC. Awaited, was the insignificance of sex in the predictions of PEC, meanwhile school type, yet also an insignificant predictor has opened up for further discussion. No differences were found in PEC levels between school types or genders. Future research should include cultural background of the participant and school attended. Another useful perspective would be measured PEC in relation to likelihood of studying; for those finishing secondary school, or currently not studying. Den aktuella studien mäter upplevd utbildningskontroll genom sin koppling till ålder, föräldrarnas utbildningsnivå, skolform (offentlig eller privat) och kön. I studien undersöktes 280 australienska studerande, i en tvärsnittsdesign, mellan åldrarna 17 och 25. Resultaten visar på att högre ålder förutsäger ökningar i upplevd utbildningskontroll. Att ha en utbildad förälder förutspår högre upplevd utbildningskontroll (över ålder) än att inte ha någon utbildad förälder. Dock visar det sig att ha två utbildade föräldrar inte signifikant höjer upplevd utbildningskontroll. Som väntat, förutsåg inte kön upplevd utbildningskontroll, likaså förutsåg inte skolform nivåer av upplevd utbildningskontroll, men denna prediktor har öppnat upp för vidare diskussion. Inga skillnader påträffades i upplevd utbildningskontroll nivåer mellan skoltyperna eller könen. Framtida forskning bör omfatta kulturell bakgrund av deltagaren samt skolan som respondenten gått i. Ett annat användbart perspektiv mäter upplevd utbildningskontroll i förhållande till sannolikheten att studera i framtiden; för dem som för närvarande inte studerar, eller avslutar gymnasiet

Intracranial falx chondroma: Literature review and a case report

Intracranial chondromas are benign tumors that represent approximately 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. They usually occur at the base of the skull but on rare occasions might present as intra-parenchymal or intra-ventricular space-occupying lesions, most likely originating from heterotopic chondrocytes or metaplastic fibroblasts of the falx, the convexity dura, or the ventricular ependyma. Chondromas are slow-growing tumors, which remain clinically silent for a prolonged period of time in the majority of cases. Their clinical presentation is non-specific and their radiographic appearance usually does not differentiate them from their more common counterparts, such as meningiomas and glial tumors. As a result, their diagnosis has remained a histopathologic one. In our current study, we present a case of a falcine intracranial chondroma. This case provided the opportunity to extensively review the pertinent literature. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The Mini-Spheno-Supraorbital Craniotomy for Treatment of Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Objective:Yasargil introduced the pterional approach mainly for clipping of anterior circulation (AC) aneurysms. We implemented the mini-spheno-supraorbital (MSS) craniotomy, changing the shape and reducing the size of the classical pterional craniotomy. The literature on clipping ruptured AC aneurysms through reduced-in-size craniotomies is sparse. This study aims to describe the technique and present our experience in clipping ruptured AC aneurysms through the MSS approach. Materials and methods: The MSS craniotomy was used in 114 cases of clipping ruptured AC aneurysms. A single burr hole was placed at the "keyhole" and an ellipsoid bone flap in the spheno-supraorbital region was raised. The tabula interna was thinned circumferentially, the roof of the orbit was flattened. Among aneurysm clipping, the lamina terminalis and the subarachnoid basal cisterns were opened. The imaging modality, the severity of the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) according to Hunt & Hess (H&H), the size of the bone flap, the surgery duration and the aneurysm obliteration rate seen at the postoperative DSA were examined. Results:Out of all patients in the study, 71% had exclusively CT-angiogram as initial imaging and suffered low-grade (H&H I°) SAH (71%). The mean size of the bone flap was 1.6 x 4.5 cm (1.3 x 4.3 - 2 x 8.5 cm). The approach allowed adequate 360°-dissection, sufficient proximal and distal control, brain relaxation though laminoterminotomy and opening of the basal cisterns. The mean duration from skin incision to clip application was 130 minutes (64-236 mins). Total obliteration rate was 97.3%. Conclusion:The MSS craniotomy is feasible in terms of safety and speed for clipping of ruptured AC aneurysms especially in lower-grade SAH