Search

This article discusses the findings of qualitative case-study research that looks at pedagogical contexts of adult education programs for migrants in Cyprus, Scotland, Malta, and Estonia. The goal of this research is to understand how Learner-Centered Education (LCE) is promoted within a human-rights framework and implemented as an approach to emancipatory social change. The findings show significant discrepancies in the implementation of LCE. Differences emerged between educational interventions that influence the language-learning and assimilation-integration processes of adults with migrant backgrounds. Informed by these findings, this article builds a case for Emancipatory Learner-Centered Education (ELCE)--a pedagogical approach that goes beyond course adaptations, to engage migrants in consciousness-raising and confidence-building, while fostering communal action between migrants and adult educators.

The paper explores the experiences and perceptions of older adults and their young educators regarding Intergenerational Learning (IGL) in the course of a non-formal adult education programme in Cyprus. It aims to identify the forms that IGL takes in the programme as well as any possible components of the programme that foster IGL. The research was located in the Adult Education Centres (AECs), a non-formal adult education programme, offered in the Republic of Cyprus. It is based on a qualitative research design and adopts a bottom-up approach, as it gives voice to older adults and their educators and makes meaning out of their IGL experiences. The results of the study present the different forms that IGL take in the programme under three different axes: the cognitive, the social and the psychological. They view IGL as a multilevel mutual beneficial form of learning for both the older adults and their younger educators. They also highlight the necessity of a learner-centered and cooperative learning approach for fostering IGL.

The paper reports findings from a research study carried out with adult education professionals working in Adult Education Centres (AECs) in Cyprus. It aims to explore how they experience their professional status in the programme as well as identify barriers that hinder their professionalisation and particular barriers caused in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study harnesses qualitative methodology and adopts a bottom-up approach as it gives voice to adult educators and makes meaning out of their working experiences. It makes suggestions for the improvement of their professional status based on the idea of humanisation, a multifaceted process in which both the state and adult educators themselves should become communions.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is a severe cutaneous adverse reaction characterized by the rapid onset of nonfollicular, sterile pustules on an erythematous base, typically accompanied by fever (≥38 °C), neutrophilia (7.0 × 10⁹/L), and characteristic histopathological features. This case report presents the first documented instance of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis after hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation. A 61-year-old female developed a pruritic, erythematous rash that rapidly evolved into generalized erythroderma with systemic manifestations after receiving intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis. Initial physical examination and diagnostic workup, including biopsy and blood tests, were performed to exclude other differential diagnoses such as generalized pustular psoriasis, subcorneal pustular dermatosis, and immunoglobulin A pemphigus. The temporal association with hyaluronic acid injections and the patient's positive response to treatment with systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines supported the definitive diagnosis of drug-induced acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. The patient was managed with the withdrawal of the offending agent, and supportive care was provided. She did not require rehabilitation and experienced no adverse events during the recovery period. Follow-up visits confirmed the absence of recurrence and complete resolution of symptoms, with no lasting sequelae. This case underscores the importance of recognizing acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis' acute manifestations and potential triggers, even with treatments generally considered safe. ED personnel, including advanced practice registered nurses and other clinicians, must include acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis in their differential diagnoses of severe cutaneous disorders to initiate prompt and appropriate management. The development of atrial fibrillation during hospitalization in this patient raises questions about the systemic effects of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, suggesting an area for further research. Early detection and treatment of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis are crucial for favorable outcomes, illustrating the vital role ED personnel play in managing this condition. Awareness of rare triggers such as hyaluronic acid is essential for preventing and effectively treating such severe adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil pool is the primary sink for carbon in mangrove wetlands and plays a major role in mitigating climate change. However, aquaculture pond expansions go further to disrupt carbon storage in mangroves. The aim of this study is to estimate the stock of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the mangrove area of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The mangroves of Sinjai District in South Sulawesi are a disturbed region with no previous study on SOC stock. We implemented a line transect method at five study sites, collected 15 soil cores at a depth of 0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–50 cm, and performed soil analysis using the Loss on Ignition method. We find that the mean value of SOC stock is 413.10±12.37 Mg C ha–1. More attention to the conservation and restoration of lost mangrove areas is a high priority. It may also increase the stock of SOC to mitigate climate change. This study will help to preserve the remaining mangroves.

From the beginning of public vaccinations until the relaxation of COVID-19 measures, many case reports, case series and case–control studies have been published indicating cutaneous side effects of COVID-19 vaccination. Post-vaccination pustular eruption was reported as well, with a challenging differential diagnosis between pustular psoriasis, AGEP (acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis) and neutrophil pustular eruptions. We report a case of 56-year-old woman presented with acute generalized pustular flare up culminated 5 days after the second dose of BNT162b2(Pfizer) vaccination. She was diagnosed with pustular psoriasis flare and due to the regulating role of IL-1 in pustular psoriasis and in the cytokine storm observed in cases of COVID-19 postvaccination inflammation; we decided to treat the patient with an IL-1 antagonist, subcutaneous anakinra (100 mg daily) along with acitretin. One week later, after anakinra withdrawal, she presented a pustular psoriasis flare and a 7-day anakinra re-administration led to a satisfactory improvement in the skin lesions. We also reviewed the medical literature and found 28 case reports with pustular eruption after the COVID-19 vaccination. We compared the patients reported, regarding sex, age, number of doses, post-vaccination period and vaccine brand, and compared those results with our patient. Finally, as indicated by our case and other cases with similarly treated pustular eruptions. targeted therapy to this cytokine imbalance such as anakinra (IL-1) antagonist can improve the clinical course of the patient.

This article discusses the findings of qualitative case-study research that looks at pedagogical contexts of adult education programs for migrants in Cyprus, Scotland, Malta, and Estonia. The goal of this research is to understand how Learner-Centered Education (LCE) is promoted within a human-rights framework and implemented as an approach to emancipatory social change. The findings show significant discrepancies in the implementation of LCE. Differences emerged between educational interventions that influence the language-learning and assimilation-integration processes of adults with migrant backgrounds. Informed by these findings, this article builds a case for Emancipatory Learner-Centered Education (ELCE)—a pedagogical approach that goes beyond course adaptations, to engage migrants in consciousness-raising and confidence-building, while fostering communal action between migrants and adult educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, drawing from the narratives of two adult educators teaching at the 'Odysseus' solidarity school in Greece, aims to explore how their identities - as active citizens with a social justice orientation - have been constructed, and how these have shaped their educational practice for citizenship education. Informed by the discourse on critical active citizenship, the study employs a biographical approach and a Bakhtinian dialogical analysis of the data, which are presented under two main themes: life experiences prior to 'Odysseus' and the impact of identity on educational practice for citizenship education. The findings reveal that prior life experiences, the influence of relatives and friends, ideology, and participation in actions leaning towards social justice, have led to the formation of an identity oriented towards active citizenship. As a result, the educators, inspired by the principles of critical active citizenship, have created 'contexts of questioning' for their students that provoke critical thinking and action among learners. These contexts are necessary for students to break their silence, advocate for their rights through praxis, become emancipated, and transform society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studies in Adult Education & Learning / Andragoška Spoznanja is the property of Andragoska Spoznanja and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-19 causes significant thrombosis and coagulopathy, with elevated D-dimer a predictor of adverse outcome. The precise mechanism of this coagulopathy remains unclear; one hypothesis is that loss of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activity during viral endocytosis leads to pro-inflammatory angiotensin-II accumulation, loss of angiotensin-1-7 and subsequent vascular endothelial activation. We undertook a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled experimental medicine study to assess the effect of TRV027, a synthetic angiotensin-1-7 analogue on D-dimer in 30 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The study showed a similar rate of adverse events in TRV027 and control groups. There was a numerical decrease in D-dimer in the TRV027 group and increase in D-dimer in the placebo group; however, this did not reach statistical significance (P = .15). A Bayesian analysis demonstrated that there was a 92% probability that this change represented a true drug effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives RA and primary SS carry increased atherosclerotic risk, while B-cell activating factor holds a vital role in disease pathogenesis and atherosclerosis. We aimed to compare subclinical atherosclerosis profiles between the two clinical entities and define whether BAFF genetic variants alter atherosclerotic risk. Methods DNA from 166 RA, 148 primary SS patients and 200 healthy controls of similar age and sex distribution was subjected to PCR-based assay for the detection of five single nucleotide polymorphisms of the BAFF gene (rs1224141, rs12583006, rs9514828, rs1041569 and rs9514827). Genotype and haplotype frequencies were determined by SNPStats software and statistical analysis was performed by SPSS and Graphpad Software. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined by the presence of carotid/femoral plaque formation and arterial wall thickening. Results Atherosclerotic plaque formation was more frequently detected in the RA vs primary SS group (80.7% vs 62.2%, P -value <0.001), along with higher rates of family CVD history, current steroid dose and serum inflammatory markers. The TT genotype of the rs1224141 variant was more prevalent in RA but not primary SS patients with plaque and arterial wall thickening vs their counterparts without. Regarding the rs1014569 variant, among RA patients the TT genotype increased the risk for plaque formation while in primary SS patients the AT genotype conferred increased risk. Haplotype GTTTT was protective in the RA cohort, while TATTT and TTCTT haplotypes increased susceptibility for arterial wall thickening in the primary SS cohort. Conclusions Increased inflammatory burden, higher steroid doses and distinct BAFF gene variations imply chronic inflammation and B-cell hyperactivity as key contributors for the augmented atherosclerotic risk among autoimmune patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) presents as a severe variant of psoriasis featuring painful, sterile pustules on red skin and can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. The disease course is typically unpredictable, with periods of improvement, followed by relapses over extended periods. Managing GPP flares is challenging due to their potential to endanger the patient's life, underscoring the need for treatments that are both fast-acting and highly effective in the case of severe and systematically ill GPP patients. We present a case of a 48-year-old man with an extensive and severe GPP flare (GPP Physician Global Assessment score = 4), experiencing an extensive pustular rash on an erythematous base, intense skin exfoliation, and inflammation as well as systemic symptoms such as fever, hypotension, and general weakness. During the disease course, he developed comorbidities such as depression occurrence and an episode of an acute pulmonary embolism. Initial treatment attempts with acitretin and anakinra were not proved successful. Due to IL-36's significant role in GPP pathophysiology, the patient received treatment involving an IL-36 receptor antagonist (two infusions of 900 mg spesolimab administered one week apart), alongside continued acitretin therapy. This approach led to swift improvement, resolving pustules and skin inflammation and resulting in the patient's gradual recovery. This case highlights spesolimab's potential as a targeted therapy for severe GPP flares resistant to conventional treatments. However, further research is needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy in managing GPP and related IL-36-mediated diseases., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Zafiriou et al.)