Scuola e alfabetizzazione in Italia. Caratteri e limiti di una correlazione spuria

The functional alphabetical competence and the competence in the matter of citizenship are closely interconnected in the training of the young person: their close functional link is well expressed and well-argued by the Recommendations of the Council of the European Union (in particular from that of 2018) within the general framework of key competences for learning, but in reality it occupies a strand of western thought that goes back so far as to be considered traditional, and takes up ideas and proposals advanced in the last half century mainly by Tullio De Mauro, through the principles of democratic linguistic education. The current cultural climate brings to the fore the link between language and citizenship and outlines a framework of educational obligations which the school cannot escape. But an examination of the limits and difficulties of the Italian school leads to downsizing the most advanced objectives, while aiming to respect the basic objectives indicated by the Council of the European Union. In conclusion, we propose a Decalogue of operational choices that take into account both the essential objectives that cannot be renounced and the current difficulties of the Italian school

L’ORALITÀ A SCUOLA, DA PLATONE AL PORTFOLIO EUROPEO DELLE LINGUE

L'oralità risulta primaria rispetto alla scrittura sia per quanto riguarda la razza umana (filogenesi) sia per quanto riguarda lo sviluppo individuale (ontogenesi), tuttavia essa ha sempre goduto di minor prestigio della scrittura. Nella prima parte di questo articolo sono ricostruiti i diversi momenti in cui questa gerarchia è stata fondata e si è affermata stabilmente: dai contrasti epocali tra Socrate e  Platone da una parte e i Sofisti dall'altra all'affermazione della centralità della scrittura da parte di Aristotele e degli aristotelici; fino, poi, all'Illuminismo, in cui l'oralità veniva ormai identificata con l'inciviltà, la rozzezza e l'arretratezza, posizione che in qualche misura permane ancora oggi. Nella seconda parte dell'articolo si ricostruisce il graduale recupero del valore dell'oralità nell'insegnamento linguistico, attraverso un'analisi dei programmi scolastici italiani, dalla Legge Casati del 1859 ai Programmi della scuola media e di quella elementare rispettivamente del 1979 e del 1985, alle più recenti "Indicazioni Moratti e infine alle "Indicazioni Fioroni". In queste ultime si sottolinea la necessità di finalizzare l'insegnamento dell'oralità anche a scopi interculturali più ampi, prioritari nella società attuale, quali il rispetto e la promozione delle differenze linguistiche e culturali, lo sviluppo del plurilinguismo; la centralità e l'autonomia dell'apprendente.   Historically, the oral tradition has been more important than writing, both in human history (philogenesis) and in individual, personal history (onthogenesis), but it has always had far less prestige. The first part of this paper surveys important moments in the formation and establishment of this hierarchy, starting from the fundamental contrast between the Sophists on the one hand, and Socrates and Plato from the other, to the centrality of Aristotle and Aristotelianism, up to the Age of Enlightenment and the identification between orality, barbarism and roughness, still common today. In the second part, the gradual rediscovery and positive reevaluation of the oral tradition in language teaching is mapped out. Italian school programmes are analyzed, from Legge Casati (1859)  to the Programmes of 1979 and 1985, up to the recent 'Indicazioni Moratti' and 'Indicazioni Fioroni'. These latest pieces of legislation underline the need to highlight the oral tradition within didactics to meet the wider intercultural  goals that today have become real priorities.  This in order to promote respect for linguistic and cultural diversity, the development of plurilingualism as well as the centrality and autonomy of learners within the learning process. &nbsp

PER UN APPROCCIO VARIETISTICO ALL’INSEGNAMENTO DELL’ITALIANO A STRANIERI - II

Si riprende la trattazione della prima parte, soffermandosi sugli spostamenti oggi in atto fra le diverse varietà della lingua e sulla ristrutturazione del repertorio linguistico italiano. Si introduce poi la nozione di competenza socio-pragmatica e culturale e si evidenzia la necessità che i docenti di lingua italiana, in contesto di italiano L2, non limitino la loro competenza ai vari livelli della lingua, in tutte le sue varietà, ma la estendano alle regole pragmatiche e culturali che entrano in gioco nel rapporto fra le due lingue / culture che entrano in contatto nel processo di apprendimento, e le facciano rientrare nel percorso didattico dell’italiano L2 in modi adeguati agli obiettivi che di volta in volta si perseguono. Ci si sofferma, a titolo esemplificativo, su due temi dell’intersezione lingua / cultura studiati dalla pragmatica interculturale: il rapporto fra significato di superficie e significato profondo; le strutture della conversazione. Ogni argomento è accompagnato da indicazioni didattiche operative.     For a varietistic approach to the teaching of italian to foreigners - II   Continuing the first part, this article focuses on the current shifts regarding the different varieties of language and on the renovation of the Italian linguistic repertory.  The notion of socio-pragmatic and cultural competence is introduced, highlighting the need for Italian language teachers, in an Italian L2 context, not to limit their competence to the various levels of the language, in all of its variety, but to include pragmatic and cultural rules which are part of the relationship between the two languages/cultures which come into contact in the learning process, and how this contact effects reaching the Italian L2 learning goals. Two themes from the field of intercultural pragmatics are addressed in particular regarding the language/culture point of contact: the relationship between superficial and deep meaning and the structure of conversation. Each topic has practical didactic suggestions

The prognostic impact of the international association for the study of lung cancer (IASLC) definitions on completeness of surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Duration of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer

BACKGROUND Since 2004, a regimen of 6 months of treatment with oxaliplatin plus a fluoropyrimidine has been standard adjuvant therapy in patients with stage III colon cancer. However, since oxaliplatin is associated with cumulative neurotoxicity, a shorter duration of therapy could spare toxic effects and health expenditures. METHODS We performed a prospective, preplanned, pooled analysis of six randomized, phase 3 trials that were conducted concurrently to evaluate the noninferiority of adjuvant therapy with either FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or CAPOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) administered for 3 months, as compared with 6 months. The primary end point was the rate of disease-free survival at 3 years. Noninferiority of 3 months versus 6 months of therapy could be claimed if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval of the hazard ratio did not exceed 1.12. RESULTS After 3263 events of disease recurrence or death had been reported in 12,834 patients, the noninferiority of 3 months of treatment versus 6 months was not confirmed in the overall study population (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.15). Noninferiority of the shorter regimen was seen for CAPOX (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.06) but not for FOLFOX (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.26). In an exploratory analysis of the combined regimens, among the patients with T1, T2, or T3 and N1 cancers, 3 months of therapy was noninferior to 6 months, with a 3-year rate of disease-free survival of 83.1% and 83.3%, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90 to 1.12). Among patients with cancers that were classified as T4, N2, or both, the disease-free survival rate for a 6-month duration of therapy was superior to that for a 3-month duration (64.4% vs. 62.7%) for the combined treatments (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.23; P=0.01 for superiority). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with stage III colon cancer receiving adjuvant therapy with FOLFOX or CAPOX, noninferiority of 3 months of therapy, as compared with 6 months, was not confirmed in the overall population. However, in patients treated with CAPOX, 3 months of therapy was as effective as 6 months, particularly in the lower-risk subgroup. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others.

The IDEA (International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy) Collaboration: Prospective Combined Analysis of Phase III Trials Investigating Duration of Adjuvant Therapy with the FOLFOX (FOLFOX4 or Modified FOLFOX6) or XELOX (3 versus 6 months) Regimen for Patients with Stage III Colon Cancer: Trial Design and Current Status

The International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy (IDEA) collaboration was established to prospectively combine and analyze data from several randomized trials conducted around the world to answer whether a three-month course of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant therapy (FOLFOX4/modified FOLFOX6 or XELOX) is non-inferior to the current standard six-month treatment for patients with stage III colon cancer, with a primary endpoint of three years disease-free survival. The IDEA steering committee comprises two members from each group coordinating an individual trial and two members from a secretariat who coordinate combining of the data and management of the joint analysis. Members of the IDEA agreed to combine the data from their individual trials to enable definitive analysis consisting of at least 10,500 patients. With accrual of 8,797 patients at the end of February 2013, the IDEA is on track to achieve its accrual objective of at least 10,500 patients by the end of 2013

Efficacy and safety results from IMblaze370, a randomised Phase III study comparing atezolizumab+cobimetinib and atezolizumab monotherapy vs regorafenib in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

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Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene copy number (GCN) correlates with clinical activity of irinotecan-cetuximab in K-RAS wild-type colorectal cancer: a fluorescence in situ (FISH) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>K-RAS wild type colorectal tumors show an improved response rate to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Nevertheless 70% to 40% of these patients still does not seem to benefit from this therapeutic approach. FISH EGFR GCN has been previously demonstrated to correlate with clinical outcome of colorectal cancer treated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. CISH also seemed able to provide accurate EGFR GCN information with the advantage of a simpler and reproducible technique involving immunohistochemistry and light microscopy. Based on these findings we investigated the correlation between both FISH and CISH EGFR GCN and clinical outcome in K-RAS wild-type colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan-cetuximab.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with advanced K-RAS wild-type, colorectal cancer receiving irinotecan-cetuximab after failure of irinotecan-based chemotherapy were eligible.</p> <p>A cut-off value for EGFR GCN of 2.6 and 2.12 for FISH and CISH respectively was derived from ROC curve analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-four patients were available for analysis. We observed a partial remission in 9 (60%) and 2 (9%) cases with a FISH EGFR GCN ≥ 2.6 and < 2.6 respectively (p = 0.002) and in 10 (36%) and 1 (6%) cases with a CISH EGFR GCN ≥ 2.12 and < 2.12 respectively (p = 0.03). Median TTP was 7.7 and 6.4 months in patients showing increased FISH and CISH EGFR GCN whereas it was 2.9 and 3.1 months in those with low FISH and CISH EGFR GCN (p = 0.04 and 0.02 respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>FISH and CISH EGFR GCN may both represent effective tools for a further patients selection in K-RAS wild-type colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab.</p

Clinical Calculator for Early Mortality in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis of Patients From 28 Clinical Trials in the Aide et Recherche en Cancérologie Digestive Database

Purpose: Factors contributing to early mortality after initiation of treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer are poorly understood. Materials and Methods: Data from 22,654 patients enrolled in 28 randomized phase III trials contained in the ARCAD (Aide et Recherche en Cancérologie Digestive) database were pooled. Multivariable logistic regression models for 30-, 60-, and 90-day mortality were constructed, including clinically and statistically significant patient and disease factors and interaction terms. A calculator (nomogram) for 90-day mortality was developed and validated internally using bootstrapping methods and externally using a 10% random holdout sample from each trial. The impact of early progression on the likelihood of survival to 90 days was examined with time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Mortality rates were 1.4% at 30 days, 3.4% at 60 days, and 5.5% at 90 days. Among baseline factors, advanced age, lower body mass index, poorer performance status, increased number of metastatic sites, BRAF mutant status, and several laboratory parameters were associated with increased likelihood of early mortality. A multivariable model for 90-day mortality showed strong internal discrimination (C-index, 0.77) and good calibration across risk groups as well as accurate predictions in the external validation set, both overall and within patient subgroups. Conclusion: A validated clinical nomogram has been developed to quantify the risk of early death for individual patients during initial treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. This tool may be used for patient eligibility assessment or risk stratification in future clinical trials and to identify patients requiring more or less aggressive therapy and additional supportive measures during and after treatment