60 research outputs found
Uma contribuição para a reflexão sobre a didática na história do ensino superior no Brasil
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de ProduçãoDesde os tempos coloniais, até a década de 30 do século passado, o Brasil não coutou com universidades dignas deste nome. Mesmo a partir daí, o modelo que se foi impondo é o das escolas superiores isoladas, profissionais, criadas separadamente, e por injunções políticas imediatas e nem sempre preocupadas com as reais necessidades da sociedade. Tais universidades souberam romper o isolamento medieval ao unir o mundo das idéias com o mundo das doutrinas. A sociedade da Era da Informação e da Informatização vivencia uma nova estruturação social e desafia o Ensino Superior e a didática do Magistério Superior. No âmbito destas questões foi desenvolvido este trabalho de pesquisa apresentando a Evolução do Ensino Superior no Brasil, a Didática na atualização do Ensino Superior e a Didática e o Professor de Ensino Superior, complementado com uma pesquisa de campo que envolveu 50 professores universitários sobre a relevância da didática na formação de professore
Planejamento Estratégico em Ciclos de Melhoria Contínua
No full textEste artigo propõe a estruturação do processo de planejamento estratégico em ciclos de melhoria contínua a fim de torná-lo uma prática permanente de gestão e de aprendizagem organizacional em nossas Universidade
Assessing Joint Hypermobility in Preschool-Aged Children
No full textObjective To provide a revision of the Beighton score adapted for children younger than the age of 5 years, to apply the revised version in a cohort of preschool age children, and to verify the reliability of the revised version in a cohort of preschool children with genetic syndromes associated with hypermobility. Study design The revised Beighton score was applied in a population of preschool children to evaluate joint hypermobility in 5 parts of the body, bilaterally (passive dorsiflexion of the fifth finger; passive hyperextension of the elbow; passive hyperextension of the knee; passive apposition of the thumb to the flexor side of the forearm; passive dorsiflexion of the ankle joint). The frequency distribution of the total scores was calculated with a range between 0 and 10. Results A total of 284 healthy preschool children (146 boys and 138 girls) and 26 preschool children with genetic disorders (15 boys and 11 girls) were assessed. Mean age was 33.6 ± 12.7 months. A score ≤4 was found in more than 90% of the whole cohort; therefore, a cut-off score >4 was used to identify hypermobility. Twenty-two of the 284 (7%) healthy children and 23 of the 26 children (89%) with genetic syndromes associated with hypermobility had a score >4. The joints reporting a greater incidence of hypermobility were “apposition of the thumb to the forearm” and “passive dorsiflexion of the ankle,” in 34% and 22% respectively. No differences related to sex or age were observed. Conclusions The revised version of the Beighton score can be used to define generalized hypermobility for children up to 5 years of age and to assess and follow-up longitudinally patients with isolated hypermobility or those in whom the laxity is associated with other clinical features
Evaluation and characterization of the capability of dendritic cells generated by exposure of human peripheral blood monocytes to GM-CSF and IFN-alpha of inducing CD8 T cell priming and TH1 polarization
No full textE’ stato dimostrato che l’IFN di tipo I agisce come “danger signal”, allertando il sistema immunitario sulla presenza di patogeni e promuovendo la conversione dei monociti in cellule presentanti l’antigene (APC) professionali. In studi precedenti abbiamo dimostrato che cellule dendritiche, ottenute da monociti trattati per 3 giorni con GM-CSF e IFN-alpha (IFN-DCs), posseggono un fenotipo parzialmente maturo. Le IFN-DCs si sono dimostrate più efficienti delle cellule dendritiche immature, ottenute con GM-CSF e IL-4, nell’indurre una risposta immunitaria di tipo TH1 e una risposta dei linfociti CD8 contro una serie di antigeni. Inoltre, le IFN-DCs sono altamente efficienti, rispetto alle IL4-DC maturate con il CD40L, nell’indurre cross-priming dei linfociti CD8 nei confronti di antigeni virali. Questa caratteristica si accompagna alla capacità di esprimere significativi quantitativi delle citochine IL23 e IL27. In studi recenti abbiamo dimostrato come le IFN-DCs siano capaci di indurre preferenzialmente una polarizzazione di tipo TH1 dei linfociti CD4 naive autologhi, stimolati con il superantigene SEA (staphylococcal enterotoxins A). Infatti, è stato possibile dimostrare come questi linfociti CD4 esprimano alte percentuali di marcatori CD25/CXCR3 e CD25/CD212 e producano consistenti quantità di IFN-γ. Queste caratteristiche sono accentuate quando le IFN-DCs sono pretrattate con l’Imiquimod, ligando del TLR7. Questi risultati suggeriscono che le IFN-DCs posseggano un’attitudine intrinseca a polarizzare la risposta CD4 verso il tipo di risposta TH1 e ad indurre priming dei linfociti CD8 in maniera particolarmente efficiente. Queste caratteristiche rendono le IFN-DCs candidati ideali quali adiuvanti cellulari per vaccinazioni terapeutiche in pazienti affetti da infezioni virali croniche o malattie neoplastiche.Type I IFNs (IFN-a/b) have recently been shown to act as danger signals, alerting the immune system of incoming pathogens and promoting monocyte conversion into professional antigen presenting cells. In particular, we previously demonstrated that highly active partially mature dendritic cells (DC) can be generated from human monocytes after a single step of 3-day culture with IFN-a/GM-CSF (IFN-DC). In our studies, IFN-DC proved to be more efficient than immature DC generated in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 in inducing a TH-1 type of immune response and CD8+ T cell responses against defined antigens in different models. Moreover, we recently reported that IFN-DC are highly effective, and superior to CD40L-matured IL-4-DC, in inducing cross-priming of CD8+ T cells against viral antigens. This property correlated with enhanced potential to express the specific subunits of the IL-23 and IL-27 cytokines. Altogether, these results suggest that IFN-DC are directly licensed for an efficient CD8+ T cell priming and possess a special attitude to bias the T cell response toward a TH1 type. These features render IFN-DC particularly attractive candidates as cellular adjuvants for the therapeutic vaccination in patients with cancer and severe chronic infectious diseases.
We are now studying the interactions between IFN-DC and autologous naïve CD4+ T cells in order to gain insight into the mechanisms of TH1 polarization by IFN-DC. Higher percentages of cells co-expressing CD25/CXCR3 and CD25/CD212 (activated TH1 cells) have been detected in cultures of naïve CD4+ T cells exposed to SEA in the presence of autologous IFN-DC for 7 days, as compared to the cultures with conventional DC. The intracellular staining for IFN-γ and IL-4 expression has revealed an intrinsic attitude of IFN-DC to induce higher numbers of IFNγ-producing CD4. These features are further enhanced when IFN-DC are pre-treated with the TLR7 ligand Imiquimod. All these properties correlate with an enhanced potential of IFN-DC to express cytokine of the IL-12 cytokine family, further confirming our previous findings
Pediatric Motor Inflammatory Neuropathy: The Role of Antiphospholipid Antibodies.
No full textWe report the clinical case of a nine-year-old girl who presented with progressive motor neuropathy, revealed via the detection of a higher delay in F-wave recording using digitalized nerve conduction/electromyography. Since the lupus anticoagulant (LAC) positivity, detected using diluted Russell viper venom time (dRVVT), switched to persistent serological anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G (IgG) positivity, a possible non-thrombotic antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-related clinical manifestation was suspected, and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment (IVIG) was started. The IVIG treatment was well tolerated and the complete resolution of motor impairment was obtained after the third IVIG infusion. Our findings suggest that it could be useful to check for antiphospholipid antibodies in children with a rapid onset of progressive neurological signs in order to provide the beneficial use of IVIG in the treatment of pediatric aPL neurological conditions
Disorders of early language development in Dravet syndrome
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate language disorders prospectively in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) during the first years of life in order to identify their features and possibly the underlying mechanisms of the disease. At the Child Neurology Unit of Catholic University in Rome (Italy), thirteen patients with typical findings of DS were enrolled in the study. Full clinical observations, including neurological examination and long-term EEG monitoring, were prospectively and serially performed until a mean of 6 years of age (range: 4 years to 7 years and 8 months). The epileptic history was also collected in each case. In particular, developmental, cognitive, and detailed language assessments were performed with different tests according to the age of the patient.In addition to cognitive decline, characteristic language impairment was also found with a relative preservation of receptive abilities (comprehension) and a strong impairment of productive skills. This defect in sensorimotor verbal processing integration is discussed to highlight the possible mechanisms underlying cognitive decline
Early Gross Motor Milestones in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
No full textBackground: Over the last few years there has been increasing attention to detect early signs of impairment in young Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys but less has been reported on whether the delay may also affect the very early aspects of motor development, such as gross motor milestones. Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the age when early motor milestones were achieved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of data collected as part of a larger natural history project. Information on past medical history, collected at the time the boys were seen for the first time, were recorded and re available on clinical notes and on electronic CRF. Results: Data were collected in 134 DMD boys. Sitting was achieved at 7.04 months. The % of DMD boys not achieving sitting by 9.4 months was 10%, ranging from 2% in the boys with mutations before exon 44 to 33% in those beyond exon 63. Walking was achieved at a mean age of 16.35 months. The % of DMD boys not achieving independent walking by 18 months was 17%, ranging from 9% in the boys with mutations between 44 and 51 to 42% in those beyond exon 63. Conclusions: Our results showed that the risk of a delay in sitting and walking was increasingly high in patients with mutations predictive of the involvement of different brain dystrophin isoforms
Joint Laxity in Preschool Children Born Preterm
No full textObjective: To evaluate the prevalence of joint laxity in children born preterm assessed in the first 2 years, the relationship between joint laxity and motor performance at preschool age, and possible changes over time in a subgroup of children followed longitudinally.
Study design: The revised scale of Beighton Score was used to evaluate joint laxity in a population of 132 preschool children born preterm between 24 and 32 weeks of gestational age. All were assessed for joint laxity between 12 and 24 months of age. Children also performed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition between the age of 3 years and 6 months and 4 years; the age at onset of independent walking also was recorded.
Results: The total Beighton Score ranged between 0 and 8. Twenty percent of the cohort showed joint laxity. No differences related to sex or gestational age were observed. Children born preterm with joint laxity achieved later independent walking and achieved lower scores on Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition than those without joint laxity. In 76 children born preterm, an assessment for joint laxity was repeated once between 25 and 36 months and again after >36 months. No statistically significant difference was observed between the 3 assessments.
Conclusions: The Beighton Score can be used to assess generalized joint laxity in children born preterm. As the presence of joint laxity influenced motor competences, the possibility to early identify these infants in the first 2 years is of interest to benefit from early intervention and potentially improve gross motor skills and coordination
Respiratory function and therapeutic expectations in DMD: Families experience and perspective
No full textObjective. The aim of this study was to use a structured questionnaire in a large cohort of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients to assess caregivers and patients views on respiratory function and to establish if their responses were related to the patients' age or level of functional impairment. Methods. Questionnaires were administered to caregivers in 205 DMD patients of age between 3 and 36 years (115 ambulant, 90 non-ambulant), and to 64 DMD patients (3 ambulant, 61 non-ambulant) older than 18 years, subdivided into groups according to age, FVC, ambulatory and ventilatory status. Results. Some differences were found in relation to FVC % values (p = 0.014), ambulatory (p = 0.043) and ventilatory status (p = 0.014). Nearly half of the caregivers expected deterioration over the next years, with the perspective of deterioration more often reported by caregivers of non-ambulant (p = 0.018) and ventilated patients (p = 0.004). Caregivers appeared to be aware of the relevance of respiratory function on quality of life (84%) showing willingness to enter possible clinical trials if these were aiming to stabilize the progression of respiratory function with a very high number of positive responses across the spectrum of age, FVC, ambulatory and ventilatory status. The boys older than 18 years showed similar results. Conclusions. Our study showed that the concern for respiratory function increases with age and with the reduction of FVC or the need for ventilation, but the need for intervention was acknowledged across the whole spectrum of age and functional status
Chronic migraine-like headache caused by a demyelinating lesion in the brainstem
No full textAbstract not availabl
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