DRAMA TECHNIQUES BEST SERVE TO ENHANCE THE LEARNING OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Teachers need the training to use Drama as a methodology in the classroom as Dorothy Heathcote did in the UK. But teachers of High School may use elements of drama such as asking students in the class to adopt different roles and act them out, watch how they improvise, use their imagination which urges their creativity and speaks about their own life experiences in different situations. Sometimes unknowingly teachers have used it by just asking students' opinion to express their ideas in group works or write questions after reading a story aloud. Drama may be used as a teaching methodology not only during drama or literature classes but also in other ESL classes like Business English, PR classes or research methodology. The primary aim of this qualitative research is to use drama as a method in the classroom to teach English as a foreign language and to use it as an emancipating praxis. What do I mean by emancipating praxis?By using a well-selected drama, students not only acquire language skills but also grow and evolve as social human beings through drama practice and rehearsal. The impact my practices have on the personal and artistic development of students is examined while integrating drama in the instructional process (language use, writing and acting to involve the whole class). This is written from the perspective of a reflective practitioner researcher using reflection in action to guide the research in the classroom. The work demonstrates how reflections inform practice in Drama classes. Drama as a method contributes evidence of students potential to change, analyze and improve whilst roleplaying a certain piece of drama. Drama is used to improve their ability to speak and learn English.Keywords: research on practice, reflective notes, drama elements, action research, etc

Mount Fuji sign following nasal polypectomy: Conservative management of pneumocephalus

Pneumocephalus is seen in conjunction with a variety of conditions, particularly traumatic injury, neurosurgical, and ears, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures. We describe the successful, non-operative management with supplemental oxygen of symptomatic pneumocephalus following polypectomy without further complication. This case adds to other case reports of pneumocephalus but differs in the non-invasive, conservative management with supplemental oxygen obviating the need for more invasive neurosurgical intervention such as decompressive craniectomy, burr holes, or drain placement

Reduced Length of Stay and Hospital Cost for Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms Treated with Endovascular Coiling or a Minimally Invasive Thumb-Sized Pterional Craniotomy: Single Center Experience and Nationwide Inpatient Sample Data Analysis

Abstract: Cost-benefit analysis of endovascular treatment compared to open-surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the setting of global economic restrictions is of growing importance. We present our experience with coil embolization and a modified thumb-sized pterional craniotomy for clip ligation of unruptured anterior circulation cerebral aneurysms performed in a major tertiary cerebrovascular center; our experience is then compared to a matched dataset from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). In our institutional analysis, all patients were aged �55 years and treated electively for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. A matched dataset from the NIS was constructed using patients �55 years with unruptured aneurysms. At our institution, length of stay was half that of NIS for both the surgical clipping group and the endovascular group. Additionally, hospital charges were reduced by one-third for surgical clipping and by approximately one-fourth for endovascular coiling. The cost of clipping vs coiling for unruptured cerebral aneurysms should not undermine the ethics of decision making, but rather should be used as a guide in allocation of hospital resources, manpower and funds. Thumb-sized craniotomies without use of cerebral retractors for clipping provide excellent recovery and show a significant decrease in the postoperative hospital stay as well as a lower cost of hospitalization compared to the national average. High volume centers for treatment of cerebral aneurysms, like ours which is managed by the same neurovascular staff for both treatment options, is an important factor in lowering the length of stay and hospitalization cost

Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Project Aim: Improve hospital length of stay and readmission rates for patients of non-White racial/ethnic backgrounds following Cervical Spine surgerie

Primary histiocytic sarcoma of the brain mimicking cerebral abscess

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignancy with only 10 reports confirmed primarily involving the CNS. The diagnosis is dependent on the finding of malignant cells with histiocytic morphology and immunophenotype. The authors report a case of pathologically proven HS of the CNS. A 16-year-old boy presented with headaches, emesis, and altered sensorium. Noncontrast head CT scanning demonstrated a left parietal mass consistent with a tumor. Surgery was undertaken. Intraoperative findings revealed green-yellow exudates consistent with an abscess. Cultures were obtained and broad-spectrum antibiotics were started. The patient subsequently underwent multiple surgical procedures, including drainage and debulking of abscesses and hemicraniectomy. Two months after initial presentation, the patient\u27s diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma was confirmed. Pathological examination demonstrated necrotizing inflammation with preponderant neutrophil infiltration, variably atypical mononuclear and multinucleate histiocytes, and numerous mitoses. Additional immunohistochemistry studies confirmed immunoreactivity for CD68, CD45, CD45RO, and CD15 and were negative for CD3, CD20, melanoma cocktail, CD30, CD1a, CD34, HMB-45, and melan-A. Once the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma was confirmed, antibiotics were stopped and radiation therapy was undertaken. Despite treatment, the patient\u27s neurological status continued to decline and the patient died 126 days after initial presentation. This case represents a rare confirmed example of CNS histiocytic sarcoma. A profound inflammatory infiltrate seen on pathology and green exudates seen intraoperatively make the condition difficult to distinguish from an abscess. Immunohistochemistry showing a histiocytic origin and negative for myeloid, dendritic, or other lymphoid markers is essential for the diagnosis. Further research is needed to establish consensus on treatment