Place-Based Education: An Educational Approach Inside Local Place

Sense of place is rooted in people. Several studies show that attachment to a place is connected with the development of identity through spatial, material, and emotional dimensions. It fosters identification and the development of one’s social and cognitive skills. In an educational sense, cultivating a sense of place means inviting the individual to gather many authentic experiences that strengthen ties. This study discusses the place-based education (PBE) approach at the epistemological level, in the context of the learning-teaching relationship. PBE can help to understand culture, the environment and space by creating a multidisciplinary approach.  Moreover, PBE can build a new assumption of being a collective resource. Starting from some studies and evidence that support a positive partnership between the individual and the place, some PBE experiences are analyzed to develop deep learning with children and students

Evidence for Cortical Functional Changes in Patients With Migraine and White Matter Abnormalities on Conventional and Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background— In this study, we used functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate the pattern of cortical activations after a simple motor task in patients with migraine and white matter (WM) abnormalities on conventional MRI scans of the brain. We also investigated whether the extent of brain activations was correlated with WM structural pathology measured using diffusion tensor (DT) MRI. Methods— From 15 right-handed patients with migraine and 15 sex- and age-matched, right-handed healthy volunteers, we obtained the following: (1) fMRI (repetitive flexion-extension of the last 4 fingers of the right hand), (2) dual-echo turbo spin echo scans, and (3) pulsed-gradient spin-echo echo-planar sequence to calculate DT-MRI maps. fMRI analysis was performed using SPM99 and cluster detection. We measured the volume, the average mean diffusivity ( ), and the average fractional anisotropy of all lesions seen on the dual-echo scans. histograms of the normal-appearing WM were also produced. Results— Compared with healthy volunteers, migraine patients had a larger relative activation of the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex ( P =0.01) and a rostral displacement of the supplementary motor area ( P =0.03). The shapes of the curves reflecting the time course for fMRI signal intensity changes were similar between migraine patients and controls for all of the cortical areas we studied. Compared with healthy subjects, migraine patients had significantly lower histogram peak height of the normal-appearing WM histogram ( P =0.02), which was found to be correlated with the extent of displacement of the supplementary motor area ( r =−0.80, P <0.001). Conclusions— This study suggests that functional cortical changes occur in patients with migraine and brain MRI abnormalities and that they might be secondary to the extent of subcortical structural damage

Brain Gray Matter Changes in Migraine Patients With T2-Visible Lesions

Background and Purpose— In migraine patients, functional imaging studies have shown changes in several brain gray matter (GM) regions. However, 1.5-T MRI has failed to detect any structural abnormality of these regions. We used a 3-T MRI scanner and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess whether GM density abnormalities can be seen in patients with migraine with T2-visible abnormalities and to grade their extent. Methods— In 16 migraine patients with T2-visible abnormalities and 15 matched controls, we acquired a T2-weighted and a high-resolution T1-weighted sequence. Lesion loads were measured on T2-weighted images. An optimized version of VBM analysis was used to assess regional differences in GM densities on T1-weighted scans of patients versus controls. Statistical parametric maps were thresholded at P <0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons. Results— Compared with controls, migraine patients had areas of reduced GM density, mainly located in the frontal and temporal lobes. Conversely, patients showed increased periacqueductal GM (PAG) density. Compared with patients without aura, migraine patients with aura had increased density of the PAG and of the dorsolateral pons. In migraine patients, reduced GM density was strongly related to age, disease duration, and T2-visible lesion load ( r ranging from −0.84 to −0.73). Conclusions— Structural GM abnormalities can be detected in migraine patients with brain T2-visible lesions using VBM and a high-field MRI scanner. Such GM changes comprise areas with reduced and increased density and are likely related to the pathological substrates associated with this disease

Photoinduced Millisecond Switching Kinetics in the GFPMut2 E222Q Mutant

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SELF-EXPANDABLE METAL STENT PLACEMENT FOR CLOSURE OF A LEAK AFTER TOTAL GASTRECTOMY FOR GASTRIC CANCER: REPORT ON THREE CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

consequently the management of this problem has become more critically focused than was previously possible. We report here three cases of placement of a partially silicone-coated SEMS (Evolution Controlled Release Esophageal Stent System, CookMedical, Winston-Salem, NC, USA) in patients who underwent total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y end-to-side esophagojejunostomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma. The promising results of our report, despite the small number of patients, suggest that early stenting (through a partially silicone-coated SEMS) is a feasible alternative to surgical treatment in this subset of patients. In fact, in the treatment of leakage after total gastrectomy, plastic stents and totally covered metallic stents may not adhere sufficiently to the esophagojejunal walls and, as a result, migrate beyond the anastomosis. However, prospective studies with a larger number of patients might assess the real effectiveness and safety of this procedure

Efficacy of fingolimod and interferon beta-1b on cognitive, MRI, and clinical outcomes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: an 18-month, open-label, rater-blinded, randomised, multicentre study (the GOLDEN study)

: Cognitive impairment (CI) affects 40-65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study attempted evaluating the effects of fingolimod and interferon beta-1b (IFN β-1b) on CI progression, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients over 18&nbsp;months. The GOLDEN study was a pilot study including RRMS patients with CI randomised (2:1) to fingolimod (0.5&nbsp;mg daily)/IFN β-1b (250&nbsp;µg every other day). CI was assessed via Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System test. MRI parameters, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and relapses were measured. Overall, 157 patients were randomised, of whom 30 discontinued the study (fingolimod, 8.49%; IFN β-1b, 41.18%; p&nbsp;≤&nbsp;0.0001). Patients randomised to fingolimod had more severe clinical and MRI disease characteristics at baseline compared with IFN β-1b. At Month (M) 18, both treatment groups showed improvements in all cognitive parameters. At M18, relapse rate, total number and volume of T2/T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions were higher with IFN β-1b, as well as the percentage brain volume change during the study. Safety and tolerability of both treatments were similar to previous studies. Both treatments showed improvements in cognitive parameters. Fingolimod demonstrated significantly better effects on MRI parameters and relapse rate. Imbalance in baseline characteristics and the drop-out pattern may have favoured IFN β-1b. A longer duration trial may be needed to observe the complete expression of differential effects on CI scales reflecting the between-groups differences on MRI. Although limited in size, the GOLDEN study confirms the favourable benefit-risk profile of fingolimod reported in previous studies

RET/PTC3 translocation in a rare hemorrhagic brain metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer post Chernobyl radiation affects vessels ultrastructure

Abstract Background Slow progression and good prognosis are the usual characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The presence of brain metastases (0.4–1.2%) is suggestive of a worse prognosis. RET/PTC rearrangements were particularly prevalent in PTCs developed after Chernobyl nuclear accident. Case description A 50-year-old woman born in Slovakia, exposed to radiation resulting from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, affected since 2017 by papillary thyroid cancer and in therapy at our hospital, experimented cerebral hemorrhagic metastasis. Biopsy analyses revealed a RET/PTC3 rearrangement, so our aim was to find possible morphological relation between hemorrhagic metastasis and RET/PTC3 translocation. Results Immunohistochemical analysis showed diffuse and intense positivity for VEGF in endothelial cells of the neoplasm’ vascular network. Transmission electron microscopy images showed vessels with unorganized pattern and uneven diameters. In particular, metastasis endothelial cells (MECs) showed irregular shape and size, thickened cytoplasm and swelling of endoplasmic reticulum. MECs organized in irregular monolayers or multiple layers, surrounded by a thickened but unstructured extracellular matrix. Absence of strong junctional complexes among MECs resulted in a further weakened vessels wall. Conclusion RET/PTC3 translocation causes VEGF overexpression via STAT3 signaling cascade and the increased amount of VEGF adds to the greater amount of VEGFRs expressed by MECs. Our ultrastructural investigation show that this condition creates a massive growth of altered vessels prone to bleeding. The clinical significance of our study consists in alert oncologist and surgeons on possible arising of hemorrhagic brain metastases in patients with PTC and RET/PTC3 translocation exposed to ionizing radiation as people living in areas caught up in Chernobyl or Fukushima disasters

MYELOID MICROVESICLES ARE A MARKER AND THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR NEUROINFLAMMATION

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Extra-Visual Functional and Structural Connection Abnormalities in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

We assessed abnormalities within the principal brain resting state networks (RSNs) in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) to define whether functional abnormalities in this disease are limited to the visual system or, conversely, tend to be more diffuse. We also defined the structural substrates of fMRI changes using a connectivity-based analysis of diffusion tensor (DT) MRI data. Neuro-ophthalmologic assessment, DT MRI and RS fMRI data were acquired from 13 LHON patients and 13 healthy controls. RS fMRI data were analyzed using independent component analysis and SPM5. A DT MRI connectivity-based parcellation analysis was performed using the primary visual and auditory cortices, bilaterally, as seed regions. Compared to controls, LHON patients had a significant increase of RS fluctuations in the primary visual and auditory cortices, bilaterally. They also showed decreased RS fluctuations in the right lateral occipital cortex and right temporal occipital fusiform cortex. Abnormalities of RS fluctuations were correlated significantly with retinal damage and disease duration. The DT MRI connectivity-based parcellation identified a higher number of clusters in the right auditory cortex in LHON vs. controls. Differences of cluster-centroid profiles were found between the two groups for all the four seeds analyzed. For three of these areas, a correspondence was found between abnormalities of functional and structural connectivities. These results suggest that functional and structural abnormalities extend beyond the visual network in LHON patients. Such abnormalities also involve the auditory network, thus corroborating the notion of a cross-modal plasticity between these sensory modalities in patients with severe visual deficits

Meeting Report: Consensus Statement—Parkinson’s Disease and the Environment: Collaborative on Health and the Environment and Parkinson’s Action Network (CHE PAN) Conference 26–28 June 2007

BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. People with PD, their families, scientists, health care providers, and the general public are increasingly interested in identifying environmental contributors to PD risk.MethodsIn June 2007, a multidisciplinary group of experts gathered in Sunnyvale, California, USA, to assess what is known about the contribution of environmental factors to PD.ResultsWe describe the conclusions around which they came to consensus with respect to environmental contributors to PD risk. We conclude with a brief summary of research needs.ConclusionsPD is a complex disorder, and multiple different pathogenic pathways and mechanisms can ultimately lead to PD. Within the individual there are many determinants of PD risk, and within populations, the causes of PD are heterogeneous. Although rare recognized genetic mutations are sufficient to cause PD, these account for &lt; 10% of PD in the U.S. population, and incomplete penetrance suggests that environmental factors may be involved. Indeed, interplay among environmental factors and genetic makeup likely influences the risk of developing PD. There is a need for further understanding of how risk factors interact, and studying PD is likely to increase understanding of other neurodegenerative disorders