Formazione dei docenti e sistemi di reclutamento: un Leitmotiv

The article reports, through a brief historical- normative excursus, the steps that led to the D.L. 59/2017. This is the new model of initial training and recruitment of teachers.The new law stresses the need to make teachers competent in the various disciplines in which the pedagogy nowadays is divided. Responding to this need, some specific training programmes have been designed to make the teacher an authentic education professional. This paper, which aims to focus on the initial training of secondary school teachers in Italy, presents the legislative process that led to the creation first of Scuola di Specializzazione per l’Insegnamento Secondario (SSIS), then Tirocinio Formativo Attivo (TFA), to get to the current system of initial teacher education Formazione Iniziale e Tirocinio (FIT).L’articolo ripercorre, attraverso un breve excursus storico-normativo, le tappe che hannocondotto al D.L. 59/2017. Si tratta del nuovo modello di formazione iniziale e reclutamento degli insegnanti. Il nuovo provvedimento legislativo sottolinea la necessità di rendere competenti gli insegnanti nei vari campi disciplinari in cui risulta oggi articolata la pedagogia. A questa esigenza rispondono degli specifici percorsi formativi volti a fare del docente un professionista autentico dell’educazione. Il presente lavoro, che si propone di inquadrare la formazione iniziale degli insegnanti della scuola secondaria in Italia, presenta l’iter legislativo che ha portato alla nascita dapprima della Scuola di Specializzazione per l’Insegnamento Secondario (SSIS), poi del Tirocinio Formativo Attivo (TFA), per giungere all’attuale sistema di formazione iniziale dei docenti Formazione Iniziale e Tirocinio (FIT)

First identification of porcine parvovirus 3 in a wild boar in Italy by viral metagenomics – Short communication

Metagenomic analysis revealed the presence of porcine parvovirus 3 (PPV3) in the pool of the internal organs of a wild boar found dead in Southern Italy. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete coding sequences showed that the newly detected virus is most closely related to those found also in wild boars in Romania during 2010–2011. Even though the death could not be associated with this virus, PPV3 could have contributed to lowering the host’s immunological defences

Involvement of cancer stem cells in glioblastoma angiogenesis

It is widely accepted that glioblastoma (GBM) develops from cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subset of stem-like cells displaying high resistance to treatment. In fact, despite aggressive therapy, 90% of patients relapse within 2 cm from tumor edge. Our recent findings showed the existence of a CSC type, residing in GBM peritumor tissue (PCSCs), that bears distinct characteristics from CSCs of the tumor mass (GCSCs). It should be considered the possibility that, after surgical resection, PCSCs might represent a reservoir of cells able to recapitulate the tumor. In this setting, characterization of PCSCs appears to be crucial in order to identify novel effective therapeutic targets. Thus, our aim was to investigate GCSCs and PCSCs role in angiogenesis, a key event in both GBM and peritumor tissue, whose vasculature shows features similar to those found in the tumor mass. In particular, we analyzed, by immunocytochemistry (ICC), Western blotting or real-time PCR, the expression of molecules involved in hypoxia and angiogenesis, such as HIF1α, HIF2α, and VEGF along with its receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2). ICC has highlighted the presence and the specific localization of these molecules in both GCSCs and PCSCs. The two cell populations showed comparable levels of VEGF. The transcript of VEGFR1 was in general expressed at higher levels in GCSCs than in PCSCs, while VEGFR2 mRNA and protein did not show a unique trend of expression. The expression of VEGF and its receptors in both GCSCs and PCSCs suggests that, besides well-known paracrine loops, autocrine signalings are also involved in tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, the expression of angiogenesis markers in PCSCs suggests these cells to have a direct role in peritumor tissue new vessel formation. In this regard, PCSCs should be considered a promising therapeutic target to counteract the angiogenesis-supported tumor progression

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and paracrine signal involvement in the promotion of breast cancer cell migration induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts

Despite the acknowledged impact of the tumor stroma on breast cancer development and progression, the molecular basis of such effects remain partially unexplained. We previously reported that breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and an increase in cell membrane fluidity and migration speed in poorly (MCF-7) and highly invasive (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. More recently, in order to better define the mechanisms responsible for the CAF-promoted tumor cell migration, we investigated the role of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), the main enzyme regulating membrane fluidity, and demonstrated its CAF-triggered up-regulation as well as its crucial role in the migratory ability of the above tumor cells. Besides SCD1 induction, a CAF-promoted enhancement in the protein level and/or activity of the SCD1 transcription factor, the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), was observed. Moreover, the influence of stroma-derived signals in cancer cell migration speed was proved by cell tracking analysis in the presence of neutralizing antibodies to hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor-β or basic fibroblast growth factor, where a marked reduction or abolishment of the fibroblast-triggered increase in cancer cell migration speed was observed. In the last part of this study, in order to verify if soluble CAF-derived factors stimulate breast cancer cell migration in a SCD1-dependent manner, tumor cells were exposed to CAF-conditioned medium (CM) and their migration evaluated by scratch assay in the presence of a small molecule inhibitor of SCD1. Moreover, to assess if the induction of SCD1 expression by CAFs might occur via SREBP1, the desaturase levels were also determined in SREBP1-inhibited tumor cells. These latest investigations indicate that SCD1 contributes to the promotion of breast cancer cell migration by CAF-derived soluble factors, since the desaturase inhibition completely suppressed the stimulatory effect of CAF-CM on tumor cell migration. SREBP1 inhibition impaired CAF-mediated up-regulation of SCD1 in poorly invasive but not in highly invasive tumor cells, in which SREBP1-independent mechanisms may account for the enhancement of SCD1 levels. These results provide further insights in understanding the role of CAFs in promoting tumor cell migration, which may help to design new stroma-based therapeutic strategies

Breast cancer-associated fibroblasts promote tumor cell migration: crucial role of Stearoyl CoA Desaturase1 and paracrine signalings

The key role played by the stroma in breast cancer development and progression has been widely recognized. Recently, we reported that the cross-talk between epithelial and stromal cells affects structural and functional features correlated with the invasive phenotype of breast cancer cells by co-culturing mammary cancer cells with different metastatic potential (MDA-MB-231>MCF-7) with fibroblasts isolated from breast healthy skin (normal fibroblasts, NFs) or breast tumor stroma (cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs) [1].This study was designed to deepen the knowledge of the role played notably by CAFs in promoting breast tumor cell migratory skill through the analysis of the expression/activity of downstream potential target molecules and of the contribution of paracrine signalings. Thus, we investigated the influence of fibroblasts on the expression of Stearoyl- CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), the main enzyme regulating membrane fluidity, as well as on the level and activity of its transcription factor, SREBP1, in breast cancer cells. The ability of CAFs to promote a 2-3 fold increase in SCD1 mRNA and protein expression as well as an induction of SREBP1 DNA binding activity has been shown in the two cancer cell lines. Both siRNA-mediated and pharmacological inhibition of SCD1 impaired tumor cells migration. To clarify the possible role of tumor-stroma paracrine interaction in the previously reported improvement of cancer cell migratory ability, cocultures were set up in presence of neutralizing antibodies against hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor-β or basic fibroblast growth factor. Cell tracking analysis demonstrated that the CAF-mediated increase in tumor cell migration speed was reduced or abolished by neutralizing the above soluble factors. These results provide new insights in understanding the role of CAFs in promoting tumor cell invasiveness and may help to devise new targeted therapeutic approaches

Breast cancer-associated fibroblasts promote tumor cell migration: crucial role of Stearoyl CoA Desaturase1 and paracrine signalings

The key role played by the stroma in breast cancer development and progression has been widely recognized. Recently, we reported that the cross-talk between epithelial and stromal cells affects structural and functional features correlated with the invasive phenotype of breast cancer cells by co-culturing mammary cancer cells with different metastatic potential (MDA-MB-231>MCF-7) with fibroblasts isolated from breast healthy skin (normal fibroblasts, NFs) or breast tumor stroma (cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs) [1].This study was designed to deepen the knowledge of the role played notably by CAFs in promoting breast tumor cell migratory skill through the analysis of the expression/activity of downstream potential target molecules and of the contribution of paracrine signalings. Thus, we investigated the influence of fibroblasts on the expression of Stearoyl- CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), the main enzyme regulating membrane fluidity, as well as on the level and activity of its transcription factor, SREBP1, in breast cancer cells. The ability of CAFs to promote a 2-3 fold increase in SCD1 mRNA and protein expression as well as an induction of SREBP1 DNA binding activity has been shown in the two cancer cell lines. Both siRNA-mediated and pharmacological inhibition of SCD1 impaired tumor cells migration. To clarify the possible role of tumor-stroma paracrine interaction in the previously reported improvement of cancer cell migratory ability, cocultures were set up in presence of neutralizing antibodies against hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor-β or basic fibroblast growth factor. Cell tracking analysis demonstrated that the CAF-mediated increase in tumor cell migration speed was reduced or abolished by neutralizing the above soluble factors. These results provide new insights in understanding the role of CAFs in promoting tumor cell invasiveness and may help to devise new targeted therapeutic approaches

Antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Iran: the effects of identity, threat, and political trust

Antisemitism and anti-Zionism constitute two important ideological building blocks of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This article is the first to present quantitative empirical survey data elucidating attitudes towards Jews and Israel among an opportunity sample of Iranians. This study examines the correlates of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Iran with particular attention to the effects of identity, threat, and political trust. Consistent with emerging research into antisemitism and anti-Zionism, there was a positive association between both forms of prejudice, suggesting social psychological overlap between the constructs. Given the pervasiveness of antisemitic and anti-Zionist representations in Iran, there were no significant differences in levels of anti-Zionism or antisemitism on the basis of gender and educational orientations. Political conservatives did manifest greater antisemitism and anti-Zionism than political reformists, although both groups scored high on these scales. There was a significant interaction effect of Iranian national identity and political trust on anti-Zionism, and a significant interaction effect of Muslim religious identity and political trust on antisemitism. Political trust was by far the most powerful predictor of both forms of prejudice, followed by the perception of identity threat. These observations are considered through the lenses of Social Identity Theory and Identity Process Theory from social psychology

Thrombotic biomarkers for risk prediction of malignant disease recurrence in patients with early stage breast cancer

In cancer patients, hypercoagulability is a common finding. It has been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, but also to tumor proliferation and progression. In this prospective study of a large cohort of breast cancer patients, we aimed to evaluate whether pre-chemotherapy abnormalities in hemostatic biomarkers levels: (i) are associated with breast cancer-specific clinico-pathological features; and (ii) can predict for disease recurrence. D-dimer, fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1+2, and FVIIa/antithrombin levels were measured in 701 early-stage resected breast cancer patients candidate to adjuvant chemotherapy and prospectively enrolled in the HYPERCAN study. Significant prognostic parameters for disease recurrence were identified by Cox regression multivariate analysis and used for generating a risk assessment model. Pre-chemotherapy D-dimer, fibrinogen, and pro-thrombin fragment 1+2 levels were significantly associated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis. After 3.4 years of follow up, 71 patients experienced a recurrence. Cox multivariate analysis identified prothrombin fragment 1+2, tumor size, and Luminal B HER2-negative or triple negative molecular subtypes as independent risk factors for disease recurrence. Based on these variables, we generated a risk assessment model that significantly differentiated patients at low- and high-risk of recurrence (cumulative incidence: 6.2 vs. 20.7%; Hazard Ratio=3.5;

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception