Social facilitation and bilingual cognitive advantage: Bridging social psychology and psycholinguistics.

This study examined the role of social context in the expression of the bilingual cognitive advantage in 145 bilingual university students. All participants mastered Arabic as their native language (L1), but half were highly proficient in French (high L2 group), whereas half were less proficient (low L2 group). A color-word Stroop test with incongruent, congruent and neutral stimuli was administered in single language blocks (Arabic or French words) or in a mixed block (Arabic and French words), either under social presence, or alone. Stroop interference was analyzed to assess the cost of resolving conflict in incongruent trials and was compared across groups and experimental conditions. If bilingualism comes with a cognitive advantage, a reduction of interference in high (vs. low) L2 proficient subjects is to be expected. Analysis revealed that interference was significantly reduced in high L2 group, but only under the single language condition. Furthermore, whereas social context and sex had no main effects, analysis revealed a significant 4-factor interaction between L2 proficiency, linguistic context, social context, and sex. Social presence further reduced interference (social facilitation) in high L2 proficient females, but not in males. Overall, the results suggest that mastering a second language comes with cognitive advantages which adapt dynamically to social and linguistic contexts in a sex-dependent manner. We argue that advancing bilingualism research requires more attention to the social environment.

Primary Intracranial pPNET/Ewing Sarcoma: Diagnosis, Management, and Prognostic Factors Dilemma-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant bone tumor that is most commonly observed in the long bones, the pelvis, and the chest. Primary intracranial localization is extremely rare. OBJECTIVE: In the aim of identifying the prognostic factors of this rare localization, we conducted a systematic review of the literature for patients with primary intracranial peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor/ES. METHODS: A complete MEDLINE search was undertaken for all articles reporting data for primary intracranial peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor/ES. We divided the patient population into 2 groups: group I, patients who were free of disease; and group II, patients who died or had uncontrolled disease at the last available follow-up. We conducted a comparative statistical analysis of data between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were included in the review. There were 32 patients in group I and 12 in group II. Fifty percent of tumors in group II and only 16% of tumors in group I were infratentotorial (P = 0.03). Signs of bone involvement were observed in 19% of patients in group I and 54% in group II (P = 0.03). Total removal was accomplished in 29% of patients in group I and in no patients in group II (P = 0.03). Radiotherapy was performed in 73% of patients in group II and 81% in group I (P = 0.43). Chemotherapy was administered in 36% of patients in group II and 74% in group I (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Infratentorial localization and the presence of bone involvement were associated with poor prognosis; Surgery seems to be a predictive factor of prognosis; radiotherapy and chemotherapy must be performed whenever the tumor is not totally removed.

[Fourth ventricule epidermoid cyst: about a case]. / Kyste épidermoïde du quatrième ventricule: à propos d'un cas.

Epidermoid cysts are rare benign tumors developed by ectodermic inclusions. They are usually located at the level of the pontocerebellar angle, the parasellar region and the temporal fossa. They exceptionally develop at the level of the fourth ventricle We report the case of a 47-year old woman admitted for intracranial hypertension syndrome associated with walking disorders. The diagnosis of fourth ventricle epidermoid cyst was evoked based on diffusion MRI data then confirmed intraoperatively and by histologic examination. Subtotal surgical excision was performed due to capsule adhesion to the upper part of the V4 floor. After a 36-month follow-up, the patient showed no signs of tumor recurrence.

[A rare cause of exophthalmia: intraorbital cavernous hemangioma (about a case)]. / Une cause rare d'exophtalmie: l'hémangiome caverneux intraorbitaire (à propos d'un cas).

Cavernous hemangioma is the most frequent primary benign vascular tumor of the orbit in the adult; the median age of diagnosis is 42 years with a female predominance. This tumor develops slowly and has no tendency for spontaneous regression; it is electively located at the level of the retro-ocular muscular cone but it can develop in the extraconic space. Clinically it appears as progressive irreducible, non-pulsating, painless (unless there's an unexpected complication) exophthalmia, associated with decrease in visual acuity in 2/3 of cases. The diagnosis is easily confirmed by imaging, which allows to precisely locate the tumor in relation to the optic nerve and the oculomotor muscles and to indicate the type of surgical approach. Surgical resection should be complete; it is usually simple because the tumor is limited and perfectly cleavable. Surgical approach is established on the basis of tumor volume and above all of the seat of the lesion. Functional prognosis is good and recurrences are rare. We here report the case of a 44-year old patient with orbital cavernous hemangioma revealed by exophthalmia.

[A rare cause of spinal cord compression: spinal epidural arachnoid cyst (about 3 cases)]. / Une cause rare de compression médullaire: kyste arachnoïdien épidural rachidien (à propos de 03 cas).

Spinal epidural arachnoid cyst (SEAC) is a benign condition whose pathophysiology is still uncertain. It is most commonly asymptomatic but it can cause severe neurological sequelae especially when treatment is not received in time. We conducted a retrospective study of three patients treated for SEAC conducted in the Neurosurgery Department, Hassan II University Hospital, Fez. We report the case of two male patients and a woman, with an average age of 35 years (range: 16-56 years), admitted with slow progressive spinal cord compression. All patients underwent spinal cord MRI showing epidural fluid collection, having the same signal as that of cerebrospinal fluid, compressing the opposite marrow. The collection was located in the chest in all cases. All patients underwent surgery via posterior approach for cyst resection and cyst neck ligation in two cases and dural plasty in a single case. Anatomo-pathologic examination showed arachnoid cysts. Postoperative outcome was simple in all cases. This study aims to update the current understanding of this pathology while insisting on the need for early management given its tendency toward gradual worsening in the absence of adapt therapy. It also aims to review the clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic features of this condition.

[Hydatid cyst of the posterior fossa]. / Kyste hydatique de la fosse cérébrale postérieure.

Hydatidosis is an endemic affection in Morocco. Cerebral echinococcosis is a relatively rare entity accounting for only 1-2% of all hydatid cysts in humans. hydatid cyst of the posterior fossa is a very uncommon site for the disease. We report the case of a 12 year-old child admitted for high intracranial pressure. Brain CT scan showed a posterior fossa cyst without enhancement after contrast medium injection. Operative finding revealed a hydatid cyst. The histological examination of the tissue sample confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was given albendazole post operatively. He feels well six months later.

[Rare medico-surgical emergency: spinal epidural abscess (about 3 cases)]. / Une urgence médico-chirurgicale rare: l'abcès épidural rachidien (à propos de 03 cas).

The awareness about infections in the epidural space is increasing thanks to the development of neurosurgery, including MRI. Spinal epidural abscess is a rare pathology but extremely serious from a functional point of view and potentially life threatening. We report three cases of male patients (the first one aged 52 years, the second 57 years and the third 63 years) with diagnosed spinal epidural abscess. Two patients were admitted to the Neurosurgical Emergencies with slow progressive spinal cord compression evolving in the context of infection. The last patient complained of S1 sciatica pain in his right leg resistant to treatment associated with urinary incontinence. Entrance door of the infection wasn't identified during the initial assessment. All patients underwent spinal cord/radicular decompression surgery and evacuation of the epidural abscess via posterior approach. Bacteriological examination showed pyogenic germ justifying adequate prescription of antibiotic therapy in the three cases. The evolution was favorable in two cases. However one patient died three days after surgery due to severe sepsis.

[Surgical treatment of spinal bone metastases]. / Traitement chirurgical des métastases osseuses rachidiennes.

Surgery for metastatic tumor is usually a palliative surgery, especially for spinal metastases, due to their anatomical localization. Surgical procedure should be accurately established to have simple outcomes and to start adjuvant treatment as soon as clinically possible. Therapeutic strategy should proceed after multidisciplinary consultation meeting (RCP). The main risk of spinal bone metastases is neurological, hence this surgery should be most commonly preventive. Its main objective is to improve patient's quality of life.