Investigation on Opisthorchis felineus occurrence and life cycle in Italy

Opisthorchiasis is a fish borne parasitic infection caused by helminths of the genus Opisthorchis (Digenea, Opisthorchiidae), affecting humans and other fish-eating mammals. Despite Opisthorchis felineus was first described in Italy in 1884, no cases of human opisthorchiasis were reported in this country until 2004; from then on, 4 outbreaks due to this species have been recorded in Central Italy. Following the more relevant of these outbreaks, involving 34 people in August 2007, snails, fishes and fecal samples collected from the Bolsena and Bracciano lakes (Central Italy) were analyzed in order to define the cycle of O. felineus in the area and investigate its prevalence in the different hosts. Pools of 20–40 snails each (4983 specimens altogether) of the genus Bithynia were analyzed by PCR for parasite DNA detection. Eight hundred and ninety-four fish belonging to 12 species were collected from the two lakes and tested for metacercariae both by muscle compression and digestion techniques. Eighty-seven fecal samples of 5 putative definitive host species were collected very close to the two lakes and tested for parasite eggs detection by formalin–ethyl acetate concentration technique. Identification at the species level of metacercariae and eggs, respectively, from fish and stool was confirmed by PCR analysis and sequencing. O. felineus DNA was detected in 0.08% (overall minimum infection rate) of snails of the genus Bithynia from the two lakes. The tench, Tinca tinca, was the only fish found infested in both lakes (prevalence 88.5%). O. felineus eggs were found only in cat feces (prevalence 46.4%). The tench represents the only threat for the human consumption in the study area while Coregonus sp., the most economically important species for the local fishery and frequently consumed raw marinated, resulted to be not infected. The high prevalence recorded both in fish and in definitive host suggests a widespread and massive presence of the parasite in the area. Further studies are needed to better investigate the possible role of some cyprinids species as intermediate hosts, in order to check their safety for human consumption

Comparing the effects of combined numerical and visuospatial psychoeducational trainings conducted by curricular teachers and external trainers. Preliminary evidence across kindergarteners

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of two pencil-and-paper trainings empowering numerical and visuo-spatial abilities in Italian five-year-old kindergarteners. Specifically, the trainings were respectively carried out by the curricular teacher or by an external trainer. The former received a specific training in order to use the psychoeducational programmes with her pupils, whereas the latter received a specific education about the role of numerical and visuo-spatial abilities for school achievement and she was also trained to use psychoeducational trainings in kindergarten schools. At pre-test and post-test nonverbal functions and numeracy knowledge were assessed through a battery of standardized tests. The results show that both the numerical psychoeducational programme and the visuo-spatial one are useful tools to enhance mathematical achievements in kindergarteners. However, when the trainings were proposed by the external trainer, the efficacy of the psychoeducational programmes was more significant. These outcomes seem to be related both to the expertise and the novelty effect of the external trainer on the classroom

Exploring what works in art therapy with children with autism:Tacit knowledge of art therapists

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are often referred to art therapy. To investigate what works in art therapy with these children 'tacit knowledge' of eight well experienced art therapists was explored. Promising components were arranged into the Context and Outcomes of Art Therapy (COAT) model. According to the respondents art therapy contributes with children with ASD to become more flexible and expressive, more relaxed, and more easy talking about their problems in the therapeutic setting as well as in their home situation. Considering the type of evidence in this study, further empirical research into the process and outcomes of art therapy with ASD children is strongly recommended

Education and treatment of calculation abilities of low achieving students and students with dyscalculia: whole class and individual implementations

Italian epidemiological data reveal a large discrepancy between the incidence of learning disabilities in mathematics and simple difficulties in mathematics. The incidence of dyscalculia (specific learning disability in mathematics) is about 2%, whereas the incidence of students with dif- ficulties in arithmetic is surprisingly greater, estimated by teachers to be about five students out of 25 (that is, 20%). This unexpectedly high number of students with difficulties invites serious consideration of its cause and remedy. In this chapter, we try to answer to these questions in the light of two educational studies aimed at improving calculation abilities and the outcome of an intervention with three single cases with dyscalculia using the model and the materials of an innovative arithmetical curriculum. The results suggest that for most children, their arithmetic difficulties are simple consequences of their math instruction, which may be remediated by integrating traditional math curricula with information derived from the research on the cognitive arithmetical architecture and its development. There are also implications that even the arithmetical difficulties of dyscalculic children may be improved with special training focused on their specific impairments revealed after a detailed assessment

Communication of the diagnosis of a specific learning disorder The student, the family and the school context

Il lavoro offre una riflessione suill'impatto della diagnosi di DSA sulla sfera socioemotiva dello studente e sul ruolo di insegnanti pari e famiglia come mediatori della sua comunicaizone