From Tactics to Praxis: Learning Feminist Pedagogy through Methodology

Through a self-reflexive and ongoing process, in this paper we chronicle how we as graduate students learned about feminist pedagogy through methodology. Primarily, we noted dilemmas in feminist methodology that became central dilemmas for us in our roles as feminist research guides within a combined graduate and undergraduate feminist methodologies course. As we became aware of these specific dilemmas, not only did we attempt to apply them to the research we were conducting for an institutional ethnographic research project on campus safety, but we also found them to be central pedagogical concerns in ways that were both unique and similar to each individual graduate student. Our analysis focuses on the insider/outsider dilemma, self-reflection, and multiple subjectivities in the hopes that we can share our experiences of what became a vital and unique learning experience

“Se você é antropólogo, bem, vamos falar sobre o vento”:

Climate change and the Anthropocene pose numerous challenges for all sectors of humanity. From anthropology, one of them is how to use the deep situated knowledge on human-environment relations for adaptation to accelerated environmental change, especially in frontier communities that are both the traditional object of study of the discipline and the main affected groups by environmental deterioration. Niche construction theory is then discussed as a holistic way of integrating this knowledge and the example of the Gran Chaco is described. To this end, both past practices of landscape domestication and the main current modifications are considered, and a recent socio-environmental problem is analyzed: the flooding of the Toba community of Sombrero Negro in 2018. Finally, we describe climate projections for the area and make a call for a biological anthropology that is useful for living in the Anthropocene.El cambio climático y el Antropoceno plantean numerosos desafíos para todos los sectores de la humanidad. Desde la antropología, uno de ellos es como utilizar el profundo conocimiento situado sobre las relaciones humano-ambiente para la adaptación al cambio ambiental acelerado, en especial de las comunidades de frontera que son a la vez el objeto de estudio tradicional de la disciplina y los principales afectados por el deterioro ambiental. Se presenta entonces la construcción de nicho como una forma holística de integrar estos conocimientos y se presenta el ejemplo del Gran Chaco. Para ello se discuten tanto prácticas pasadas de domesticación del paisaje, como las principales modificaciones actuales y se analiza una problemática socioambiental reciente: la inundación de la comunidad Toba de Sombrero Negro de 2018. Por último, se describen proyecciones climáticas para el área y hacemos un llamado a una antropología biológica que sirva para vivir en el Antropoceno.As mudanças climáticas e o Antropoceno representam inúmeros desafios para todos os setores da humanidade. A partir da antropologia, uma delas é como usar o profundo conhecimento situado das relações homem-ambiente para se adaptar às rápidas mudanças ambientais, especialmente em comunidades fronteiriças que são tanto o objeto tradicional de estudo da disciplina como os principais afetados pela deterioração ambiental. A construção de nicho é então apresentada como uma forma holística de integrar este conhecimento e o exemplo do Gran Chaco é apresentado. Para este fim, tanto as práticas passadas de domesticação da paisagem quanto as principais modificações atuais são discutidas, e um problema sócio-ambiental recente é analisado: a inundação da comunidade Toba de Sombrero Negro em 2018. Finalmente, descrevemos projeções climáticas para a área e pedimos uma antropologia biológica para viver no Antropoceno

Molecular characterization of paediatric glioneuronal tumours with neuropil-like islands: a genome-wide copy number analysis.

Paediatric glioneuronal tumour with neuropil-like islands (GTNI) is a rare neoplasm of neuronal differentiation and diffusely infiltrating astroglial and oligodendrocyte-like components. The 2007 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumours considered it as a pattern variation of anaplastic astrocytoma. There are few data on paediatric GTNI probably both for their rarity and variable clinical aggressiveness. We studied by SNP/CGH array four tumour samples of GTNI from two males and two females (one new-born and three children aged from 4 to 8 years), in order to identify any possible common genomic alteration. All patients received chemo- and radiotherapy after their surgical treatment. No genomic instability nor recurrent alterations have been demonstrated in two of our GTNI cases. In the remaining two, we detected a mosaic trisomy 8 (15-20%) in one case, and an amplification at 5q14.1 involving DMGDH (partially), BHMT2 and BHMT genes, with the distal breakpoint falling at 23 Kbp from the 5’UTR of JMY, a p53 cofactor. Although the smallness of the sample impairs any clinical-histological correlation, GTNI appear different at the molecular level, with genomic imbalances playing a possible role in at least part of them. Our work gives an important contribution in knowledge and classification of this family of tumours

Acetylsalicylic acid modulates inflammation and insulin resistance in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity

Extensive scientific evidence indicates that non-optimal diet and sedentary lifestyle constitute some of the behaviors/risk factors associated with the onset of many diseases with significant societal impact, such as obesity. Chronic over-nutrition dramatically remodels adipose tissue architecture, driving adipocyte hypertrophy, oxidative stress and immune cell infiltration, followed by increased production of proinflammatory adipokines and cytokines that contribute to the progression of a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state (1,2). Obesity is associated with this inflammatory phenotype and increases the risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, as well as insulin resistance that predisposes to the development of type 2 diabetes (3). These obesity-associated diseases are subsequently linked to premature death, and reinforce the need to further define the complex relationship between inflammation and adipose tissue dysfunction. Reducing inflammation may represent a feasible disease-prevention strategy for obesity. Here we evaluate the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a commercial small-molecule anti-inflammatory drug, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). The metabolic and inflammatory status and adipose tissue changes were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Real time PCR in mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) compared with mice fed with standard diet (SD). We also analyzed how these events were modified as a result of treatment with ASA. Our results demonstrate that ASA not only displays anti-adiposity effects by reducing adipocyte hypertrophy and reversing insulin resistance, but that it also modulates adipose tissue inflammation. This could aid the optimization of clinical interventions and lifestyle changes aimed at improving human health

Final results of the second prospective AIEOP protocol for pediatric intracranial ependymoma

BACKGROUND: This prospective study stratified patients by surgical resection (complete = NED vs incomplete = ED) and centrally reviewed histology (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II vs III). METHODS: WHO grade II/NED patients received focal radiotherapy (RT) up to 59.4 Gy with 1.8 Gy/day. Grade III/NED received 4 courses of VEC (vincristine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide) after RT. ED patients received 1-4 VEC courses, second-look surgery, and 59.4 Gy followed by an 8-Gy boost in 2 fractions on still measurable residue. NED children aged 1-3 years with grade II tumors could receive 6 VEC courses alone. RESULTS: From January 2002 to December 2014, one hundred sixty consecutive children entered the protocol (median age, 4.9 y; males, 100). Follow-up was a median of 67 months. An infratentorial origin was identified in 110 cases. After surgery, 110 patients were NED, and 84 had grade III disease. Multiple resections were performed in 46/160 children (28.8%). A boost was given to 24/40 ED patients achieving progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of 58.1% and 68.7%, respectively, in this poor prognosis subgroup. For the whole series, 5-year PFS and OS rates were 65.4% and 81.1%, with no toxic deaths. On multivariable analysis, NED status and grade II were favorable for OS, and for PFS grade II remained favorable. CONCLUSIONS: In a multicenter collaboration, this trial accrued the highest number of patients published so far, and results are comparable to the best single-institution series. The RT boost, when feasible, seemed effective in improving prognosis. Even after multiple procedures, complete resection confirmed its prognostic strength, along with tumor grade. Biological parameters emerging in this series will be the object of future correlatives and reports

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PEDIATRIC GLIONEURONAL TUMOR WITH NEUROPIL-LIKE ISLANDS: A GENOME-WIDE COPY NUMBER ANALYSIS

Paediatric glioneuronal tumour with neuropil-like islands (GTNI) is a rare neoplasm of neuronal differentiation and diffusely infiltrating astroglial and oligodendrocyte-like components. The 2007 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumours considered it as a pattern variation of anaplastic astrocytoma. There are few data on paediatric GTNI probably both for their rarity and variable clinical aggressiveness. We studied by SNP/CGH array four tumour samples of GTNI from two males and two females (one new-born and three children aged from 4 to 8 years), in order to identify any possible common genomic alteration. All patients received chemo- and radiotherapy after their surgical treatment. No genomic instability nor recurrent alterations have been demonstrated in two of our GTNI cases. In the remaining two, we detected a mosaic trisomy 8 (15-20%) in one case, and an amplification at 5q14.1 involving DMGDH (partially), BHMT2 and BHMT genes, with the distal breakpoint falling at 23 Kbp from the 5’UTR of JMY, a p53 cofactor. Although the smallness of the sample impairs any clinical-histological correlation, GTNI appear different at the molecular level, with genomic imbalances playing a possible role in at least part of them. Our work gives an important contribution in knowledge and classification of this family of tumours

A sensitive method for determining UDP-glucose: ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) activity in biological samples using deuterated glucosylceramide as acceptor substrate

Glucosylceramide synthase (UGCG) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids and its activity is related to the resistance to anticancer drugs and is involved in the derangement of metabolism in various diseases. Moreover, UGCG acts as a major controller of the balanced levels of individual brain sphingolipids that may trigger neurodegeneration in Gaucher disease and in Parkinson disease associated to pathogenic variants in the glucocerebrosidase-encoding gene GBA. We have developed an effective method for determining UGCG activity in vitro using deuterated ceramide as an acceptor, and quantitation of the formed deuterated glucosylceramide by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The method enabled us to determine the kinetic parameters of UGGC and the effect of the inhibitor GZ667161 on the enzyme activity expressed in model cells, as well as to measure UGCG specific activity in human fibroblasts using a simple crude cell homogenate. This novel approach may be useful in determining the actual UGCG activity levels in patient cells and tissues of animal models of diseases, and to study novel drugs targeting glycosphingolipid metabolism

Brain tumors in Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a commentary and a case of a gliosarcoma patient

LFS is a rare hereditary cancer predisposition disease. This condition is associated with the development of various malignant tumors, even in the CNS. We reported a case of 16-monthold female patient with ACC who developed an expansive right parietal gliosarcoma at the age of 18. Gliosarcoma is a rare variant of glioblastoma multiforme. It is estimated to be present in approximately 2% of all glioblastomas with a dismal prognosis. Interestingly, TP53 gene analysis of our patient showed the germline mutation c.796G>A (p.Gly266Arg) in heterozygous. Germline TP53 mutations are responsible for a subset of metachronous malignancies in LFS patients. They are at risk for developing most common and rare brain tumors as gliosarcoma. A better knowledge of the tumors associated with LFS could help to identify individuals who should be tested for the presence of germline TP53 mutation. Moreover, the characterization of germline TP53 mutation in a family may consent an early identification of high-risk subjects and provide the basis for a correct surveillance with an appropriate long-life monitoring clinical and psychosocial program