THE IMPACT OF NEIGHBORHOOD ON CHILDREN’S SCHOOL READINESS IN GREECE – THE CASE OF AGIOI ANARGIROI, GREECE

The factors that influence young children’s school readiness, their cognitive skills and socio-emotional development relate to the social context shaped collectively by the individuals and families that live in a specific part of a district, the neighborhood. This study explores, through parents’ views, the direct and indirect roles of the neighborhood environment in the development of preschool age children and examines whether there is a direct impact of the neighborhood’s role on children’s school readiness. More specifically, this paper studies the impact of the neighborhood context of Agioi Anargiroi, and the characteristics – both individual and socioeconomic – of the people of this population, on the school readiness of preschool age children. The data were collected by means of an anonymous written questionnaire, which was distributed to and filled in by the parents of preschool age students attending co-located public kindergartens of the Municipality of Agioi Anargiroi of the prefecture of Attiki.  Article visualizations

Evaluation Results of a Teacher Professional Development Program in Greece on Gifted and Talented Children Education (GATCE)

According to research results, gifted students need early intervention processes. However, school administrators and teachers have limited knowledge of the identification of giftedness and the development of programs for the specific student population, especially in Greece. An eight-month training program was designed and implemented to meet the K-6th- grade teachers’ learning needs about gifted education in a school district in Central Greece. The objective of this study is (was) to evaluate the results of the in-service teachers’ professional development program on gifted and talented children’s Education (GATCE) in Greece and its impact to the participants. The sample comprised of 47 K-6th grade teachers, 2 trainers and 1 education consultant. The results showed that most of the participators were satisfied with the eight-month training and considered it would help them effectively integrating theory about gifted students’ education into their instruction. Study results also indicated that the majority of the participants were involved in relevant tasks regarding the development of their lesson plans and the implementation of activities in the classroom. Since the completion of the training, the participants worked in groups to enrich the national curriculum and to develop activities for their gifted students

CONGENITAL SENSORY NEUROPATHY WITH ANHIDROSIS (HEREDITARY SENSORY NEUROPATHY TYPE IV)

Hereditary sensory neuropathies comprise a group of rare childhood diseases which are classified into four types. We present a Greek boy 11 years old with hereditary sensory neuropathy type IV (congenital sensory neuropathy with anhidrosis) whom we have followed up and studied during the last seven years. Our patient presented for the first time with recurrent hyperthermic episodes without sweating, and lack of pain sensation from the first months of life. Insensitivity to pain and thermal stimuli had resulted in burns on the extremities and self‐mutilation of the tongue, lips and fingertips. When he was five and seven years old respectively he had two painless fractures of the ankles which led to insoluble orthopedic problems. He also suffered from mental retardation, which was obvious from his first years of life. Sweat gland investigations showed significant hypohidrosis or anhidrosis although the sweat glands were normal microscopically. Hereditary sensory neuropathy type IV, although rare, is important for dermatologists because it must be differentiated from other anhidrotic syndromes, and in view of the poor prognosis of the condition. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserve

Treatment of widespread cutaneous larva migrans with thiabendazole

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a characteristic eruption that is caused by penetration and migration in the skin of nematode larvae. Both animal and human hookworms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the condition, with Ancylostoma braziliensis and A. caninum being the most common among them. CLM is quite common in tropical areas, but, due to travelling, several cases have also been described in Europe. We present a patient with CLM who presumably contacted the disease during a holiday in Singapore. The patient was treated successfully with oral thiabendazole

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare autoimmune bullous disorder that is often difficult to treat. Few cases have been reported and therapy consists mainly of combinations of systemic steroids, immunosuppressants and, recently, administration of intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIg). We describe a case of EBA in which our therapeutic choices were limited due to the patient’s poor general condition, including extensive infection of the lesions and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was treated with IVIg at a dose of 400 mg/kg per day for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. The treatment was wen tolerated and the results were satisfactory. It seems that IVIg, due to its possible immunomodulatory mode of action, can be an efficacious therapeutic agent in this rare autoimmune disease

EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA ACQUISITA WITH MODERATELY SEVERE DYSPHAGIA DUE TO ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURES

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a chronic, autoimmune condition involving the skin and mucous membranes. Symptomatic mucosal involvement is rare, but can impact on quality of life, due to esophageal strictures and dysphagia. We report a case involving a 60-year-old male presenting with bullous skin lesions on areas of friction on his hands, feet and mouth. Milia were visible on some healed areas. Biopsy showed a subepidermal vesicle. Direct immunofluorescence showed intense linear junctional IgG and C3 at the dermo-epidermal junction. Serological tests also supported the diagnosis of EBA. Screening tests for underlying malignancies were negative. Despite treatment with systemic steroids, the patient developed increasing dysphagia, requiring further investigation with esophagoscopy and a barium swallow. Confirmation of extensive esophageal stricturing prompted adjustment of medications including an increase in systemic steroids and addition of azathioprine. Currently, the patient's disease remains under control, with improvement in all his symptoms and return of anti-basement membrane antibody levels to normal, whilst he remains on azathioprine 150 mg daily and prednisolone 5 mg daily. This case highlights the fact that the treatment of a given patient with EBA depends on severity of disease and co-morbid symptoms. Newer immunoglobulin and biological therapies have shown promise in treatment resistant disease. Considering that long-term immunosuppressants or biologicals will be required, potential side effects of the drugs should be considered. If further deterioration occurs in this patient, cyclosporin A or intravenous immunoglobulin (IV Ig) will be considered. Vigilance for associated co-morbidities, especially malignancies, should always be maintained