The present study on long-term outcome of presymptomatic testing for Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) aimed to evaluate the psychological well-being and the familial satisfaction of subjects that 5 years prior received an unfavorable result in the predictive testing (PT). The study included 47 testees of Azorean origin (23 from the island of Flores and 24 from S. Miguel) that completed the fourth evaluation session of the MJD protocol, and undertook a neurological examination at the moment of participation in the study. Nearly 50% of testees were symptomatic at the time of the study. Psychological well-being of the 47 participants was evaluated using the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB). The family satisfaction scale by adjectives was applied to obtain information on family dynamics. The average PGWB score of the total participants was of 73.3, a value indicative of psychological well-being. Nearly half of the testees presented scores indicating psychological wellbeing, whereas scores indicating moderate (28.9%) or severe (23.7%) stress were found in the remaining. The average score in the PGWB scale was lower in symptomatic than in asymptomatic subjects; moreover, the distinct distribution of the well-being categories seen in the two groups shows an impact of the appearance of first symptoms on the psychological state. Motives for undertaking the test, provided 5 years prior, failed to show an impact in well-being. The average score for familial satisfaction was of 134, a value compatible with high familial satisfaction, which represented the most frequent category (59.6%). Results demonstrate that wellbeing and family satisfaction need to be monitored in confirmed carriers of the MJD mutation. The inclusion of acceptance studies, after PT, as well as the development of acceptance training actions, should be of major importance to anticipate the possibility of psychological damage.
Over recent years, lifelong learning has been a central and guiding principle in the formulation of European educational policies. Within this general framework, the authors have been developing a research project that allows them to approach the theme of lifelong learning and European educational policies, taking into account four levels of analysis, namely: the supranational, the national, the institutional and, finally, the individual level of analysis. This methodological strategy reflects a theoretical understanding of policy as the result of the actions of a diversity of actors at different levels. This article focuses on the supranational level of analysis, drawing on data from an analysis of European educational policy documents. First, the authors clarify the methodological issues raised by the research findings presented. Second, they discuss the results concerning the process of definition of European educational policies. Third, the authors briefly revisit the evolution of the idea of lifelong learning and discuss the results regarding its plurality of meanings and conceptualizations within the documents considered for analysis.
RESUMO Este artigo parte dos ataques à pedagogia e assume a sua apologia. Refere modos infantis de pensar a (teoria da) educação em defesa de uma pedagogia pobre, de uma educação fraca e de uma infância estranha. Introduz um conjunto de abordagens teóricas que fazem a apologia de uma educação mais humana e menos humanista. Jacques Rancière (2002) e o modo como a aventura de Jacotot - o mestre ignorante - permite questionar um lugar-chave da educação: a explicação e a necessária desigualdade que caracteriza o acto educativo; Jorge Larrosa (2002), cujo conceito de experiência questiona a actividade como lugar sagrado da pedagogia moderna; e Gert Biesta (2006, 2010a), que ataca a necessidade da continuidade e do fim à vista dos processos educativos, propondo uma pedagogia da interrupção.
Background: The use of plants for therapeutic purposes has been supported by growing scientific evidence. Methods: This work consisted of (i) characterizing the phenolic compounds present in both aqueous and hydroethanol (1:1, v/v) extracts of camel grass, by hyphenated liquid chromatographic techniques, (ii) evaluating their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuromodulation potential, through in vitro cell and cell-free models, and (iii) establishing a relationship between the chemical profiles of the extracts and their biological activities. Results: Several caffeic acid and flavonoid derivatives were determined in both extracts. The extracts displayed scavenging capacity against the physiologically relevant nitric oxide (•NO) and superoxide anion (O2•−) radicals, significantly reduced NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages (RAW 264.7), and inhibited the activity of hyaluronidase (HAase), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Some of these bioactivities were found to be related with the chemical profile of the extracts, namely with 3-caffeoylquinic, 4-caffeoylquinic, chlorogenic, and p-coumaric acids, as well as with luteolin and apigenin derivatives. Conclusions: This study reports, for the first time, the potential medicinal properties of aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of camel grass in the RAW 264.7 cell model of inflammation, and in neurologically related conditions.
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