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Whereas Huntington’s disease (HD) is unequivocally a neurological disorder, a critical mass of emerging studies highlights the occurrence of peripheral pathology like cardiovascular defects in both animal models and humans. The overt impairment in cardiac function is normally expected to be associated with peripheral vascular dysfunction, however whether this assumption is reasonable or not in HD is still unknown. In this study we functionally characterized the vascular system in R6/2 mouse model (line 160 CAG), which recapitulates several features of human pathology including cardiac disease. Vascular reactivity in different arterial districts was determined by wire myography in symptomatic R6/2 mice and age-matched wild type (WT) littermates. Disease stage was assessed by using well-validated behavioural tests like rotarod and horizontal ladder task. Surprisingly, no signs of vascular dysfunction were detectable in symptomatic mice and no link with motor phenotype was found.

Background Endothelial dysfunction contributes significantly to the development of vascular diseases. However, a therapy able to reduce this derangement still needs to be identified. We evaluated the effects of pharmacological inhibition of Rac1, a small GTP ase protein promoting oxidative stress, in human endothelial dysfunction. Methods and Results We performed vascular reactivity studies to test the effects of NSC 23766, a Rac1 inhibitor, on endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation of saphenous vein segments collected from 85 subjects who had undergone surgery for venous insufficiency and from 11 patients who had undergone peripheral vascular surgery. The endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation of the varicose segments of saphenous veins collected from patients with venous insufficiency was markedly impaired and was also significantly lower than that observed in control nonvaricose vein tracts from the same veins. Rac1 activity, reactive oxygen species levels, and reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate ( NADPH ) oxidase activity were significantly increased in varicose veins, and NSC 23766 was able to significantly improve endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation of dysfunctional saphenous vein portions in a nitric oxide–dependent manner. These effects were paralleled by a significant reduction of NADPH oxidase activity and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Finally, we further corroborated this data by demonstrating that Rac1 inhibition significantly improves venous endothelial function and reduces NADPH oxidase activity in saphenous vein grafts harvested from patients with vascular diseases undergoing peripheral bypass surgery. Conclusions Rac1 pharmacological inhibition rescues endothelial function and reduces oxidative stress in dysfunctional veins. Rac1 inhibition may represent a potential therapeutic intervention to reduce human endothelial dysfunction and subsequently vascular diseases in various clinical settings.

Background The independent prognostic impact of diabetes mellitus ( DM ) and prediabetes mellitus (pre‐ DM ) on survival outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure has been investigated in observational registries and randomized, clinical trials, but the results have been often inconclusive or conflicting. We examined the independent prognostic impact of DM and pre‐ DM on survival outcomes in the GISSI ‐HF (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nella Insufficienza Cardiaca‐Heart Failure) trial. Methods and Results We assessed the risk of all‐cause death and the composite of all‐cause death or cardiovascular hospitalization over a median follow‐up period of 3.9 years among the 6935 chronic heart failure participants of the GISSI ‐ HF trial, who were stratified by presence of DM (n=2852), pre‐ DM (n=2013), and non‐ DM (n=2070) at baseline. Compared with non‐ DM patients, those with DM had remarkably higher incidence rates of all‐cause death (34.5% versus 24.6%) and the composite end point (63.6% versus 54.7%). Conversely, both event rates were similar between non‐ DM patients and those with pre‐ DM . Cox regression analysis showed that DM , but not pre‐ DM , was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.43; 95% CI , 1.28–1.60) and of the composite end point (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI , 1.13–1.32), independently of established risk factors. In the DM subgroup, higher hemoglobin A1c was also independently associated with increased risk of both study outcomes (all‐cause death: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI , 1.02–1.43; and composite end point: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% CI , 1.01–1.29, respectively). Conclusions Presence of DM was independently associated with poor long‐term survival outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 00336336.

Background/aim Hepatic cirrhosis is a frequent reason for ordinary hospital admission (OA). The RING study collected hospital discharge files (HDF) from Italian hospital gastroenterology units (IGU). This caselist provides a broad picture of the patients admitted for this pathology. Material/methods More than 50,000 HDF for OA were collected between 2001 and 2004 from 26 IGU. Results Eight thousand four hundred and eighty-seven HDF (16%) had a diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis; Child-Pugh classes were 20.2% A, 34.8% B and 45.0% C. Patients’ mean age was 63.7 ± 12.1 years and 62.5% were male. A 61.1% of the cirrhosis cases had ascites, 29.9% portal-systemic encephalopathy, 29.2% hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 10% bleeding varices, 3.0% hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Mortality for OA for cirrhosis was 5.7% versus 2.6% for other diagnoses. The proportion varied with the severity of the cirrhosis: 0% for Child A, 1.1% B, 10.5% C. Mortality was significantly associated with: Child-Pugh at admission (odds ratio: OR 9.2), HRS (OR 11.7), bleeding varices (OR 2.2), HCC (OR 1.8). Conclusions Hepatic cirrhosis was found in 16% of the OA to IGU and mortality was double the rate for all the other pathologies in the same wards. Child-Pugh is a useful prognostic tool, higher classes implying a greater risk of death. HRS and bleeding varices were the complications with most influence on in-hospital mortality.

Intracerebral vascular reactivity induced by the nitric oxide (NO) donor isosorbide dinitrate (IDN, 5 mg sublingually) is more major and longer-lasting in migraine patients who develop delayed headache in response to the drug. The headache is purportedly due to neuronally-mediated vascular mechanisms. Indomethacin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, which is involved in NO generation. Indomethacin also decreases cerebral blood flow by constricting precapillary resistance vessels. In the present study, the hemodynamic effects of indomethacin were evaluated in migraine patients and healthy controls by means of transcranial Doppler monitoring. Indomethacin caused a significant decrease in mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery. This was an additional effect to the mean velocity decrease induced by IDN. The interactions between the two drugs suggest that their effects on cerebral hemodynamics (and pain) may be of relevance both in understanding the role of NO in migraine pathogenesis and in evaluating symptomatic treatments for migraine attacks.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in resveratrol, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of resveratrol on cardiovascular function remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we set out to identify the molecular target(s) mediating the protective action of resveratrol on vascular function. To this end, we performed vascular reactivity studies to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on superior thyroid artery obtained from 59 patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia. We found that resveratrol evoked vasorelaxation and reduced endothelial dysfunction through the modulation of NO metabolism via (1) an 5′ adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase–mediated increase in endothelial NO synthase activity; (2) a rise in tetrahydrobiopterin levels, which also increases endothelial NO synthase activity; and (3) attenuation of vascular oxidative stress, brought about by overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase via an nuclear factor erythroid–derived 2-like 2–dependent mechanism. The effects of resveratrol on acetylcholine vasorelaxation were also tested in vessels from patients with nonhypertensive nondyslipidemia undergoing thyroid surgery. In this setting, resveratrol failed to exert any effect. Thus, our finding that resveratrol reduces endothelial dysfunction, an early pathophysiological feature and independent predictor of poor prognosis in most forms of cardiovascular disease, supports the concept that the risk of vascular events could be further reduced by adherence to a set of dietary and behavioral guidelines.

In this study, 69 episodic cluster headache (CH) patients (40 in the active phase, 29 in remission period) underwent a complete TCD examination in order to verify the relationship between cerebral blood velocities (CBVs) and the clinical profile of the disease. Fifteen patients were examined during both phases, while 7 were monitored during a spontaneous attack. Sixty-three healthy sex and age-matched controls were also studied. We measured widespread, asymmetric CBV activation during the active phase, bilaterally in the anterior circulation and also in the posterior circulation. A relative reduction of CBV on the anterior cerebral artery pain side, also during remission, suggests a relationship between local vasodilation and the autonomic symptoms ipsilateral to pain during CH attacks.

Cell swelling, as measured by electronic cell sizing, is a good indicator of the Na+/H+ exchange activation. In this study the kinetic properties of the Na+/H+ exchanger were determined with the aid of the Coulter S-Plus VI D haematological cell counter. Cell swelling was measured in platelets suspended in Na-propionate medium. The rapid entry and intracellular dissociation of propionic acid induces activation of the exchanger, and in turn the uptake of water by osmosis. The fractional volume increase measured by the Coulter S-Plus was dependent on the external Na-concentration, with Km = 86 mmol/l. Saturation was reached at a propionate concentration of 140 mmol/l. Inhibition by amiloride was dose-dependent with Ki = 24 mumol/l. The activity of the exchanger was not modified by ouabain. These data are generally consistent with those published in previous reports, and indicate that automated haematological analysers are appropriate for the study of this aspect of platelet function.

Chromatin modification may play a role in inflammatory gene regulation in asthma. Cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate response element-binding protein (CREB), with the specific co-activator, the CREB-binding protein (CBP), contributes to the acetylation of chromatin and to the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes.To evaluate the expression of CBP and of phospho-CREB (p-CREB) in bronchial biopsies and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of controls (C), untreated (UA), inhaled steroid treated (ICS) and steroid-dependent asthmatic (SDA) patients.We used immunohistochemistry in bronchial biopsies and western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry in PBMC.Cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate response element-binding protein expression, in the epithelium was similar in all groups, while p-CREB expression was increased in UA and in SDA in comparison with ICS and C subjects (C vs UA P = 0.002, C vs SDA P = 0.007), (ICS vs SDA P = 0.005), (ICS vs UA P = 0.001). Interestingly, also in the submucosa, p-CREB was increased in UA and SDA in comparison with ICS and C subjects (C vs UA P = 0.0004) (C vs SDA P0.0001) (ICS vs UA P = 0.002) (ICS vs SDA P0.0001) and positively correlated with leukocyte infiltration within the bronchi (CD45RB+ cells). Similar results were obtained with PBMC isolated from the same patient groups. Incubation of PBMC in vitro, with fluticasone propionate, decreased the p-CREB expression induced by cytokine activation (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha).This study demonstrates that the expression of p-CREB is related, in asthma, to the persistent inflammation according to the disease severity. p-CREB expression can be modulated by glucocorticoids in responsive patients.

Aim: It is still debated whether clinical flare-ups of chronic inflammatory bowel disease follow a seasonal pattern, and the various reports are based on general practitioners’ records or hospital discharge charts. There are, however, no specific figures for treatment in hospital gastroenterology units, which serve as a reference point for these disorders. This study was therefore designed to investigate whether there is a seasonal pattern in admissions for inflammatory intestinal disease in Italy, differing from what is generally known about gastrointestinal pathologies, since there are no nation-wide figures on the subject. Methods: The RING (Ricerca Informatizzata in Gastroenterologia) project is an observational study collecting hospital discharge forms from 22 centers in Italy. Results: From winter 2000 to autumn 2003, the 22 gastroenterology units participating in the RING project discharged 32,357 patients following ordinary hospital admissions. Of these, 2,856 (8.8%) had a main diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease: 1,541 Crohn’s disease, and 1,315 ulcerative colitis. No seasonal patterns were detected for either category, or when the analysis was done by age, sex and site of disease. Conclusions: The most serious flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease, i.e. those requiring routine hospital treatment, do not appear to follow any seasonal pattern, regardless of the site of the disease or the patient’s age or sex.

In the literature there are few studies evaluating carotid vascular atherosclerotic involvement in patients with essential arterial hypertension. Nowadays with new non-invasive methodological methods, such as Doppler-echotomography, it is possible to evaluate accurately structural vascular and cardiac changes. In this study we evaluated the relationship between carotid vascular structural changes and cardiac left ventricular mass index in 15 normotensive subjects and in 15 patients with essential hypertension. We performed a B-mode echotomography (7.5 MHz) of a common carotid in order to measure the diameter of the vessel and intima-media wall thickness. In the same subjects we determined echocardiographic left ventricular mass index and we measured arterial pressure by sphygmomanometric method. There was no statistical significant difference in the two groups except that in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (96 +/- 2 vs 123 +/- 2 mmHg, p0.01), left ventricular mass index (102 +/- 3 vs 118 +/- 3 g/m2, p0.01) and in the common carotid intima media wall thickness (0.91 +/- 0.01 vs 2.23 +/- 0.02 mm). In the normotensive subject mean arterial pressure correlated significantly with age (r = 0.699) and with common carotid arterial diameter (r = 0.523) (both p0.05). In hypertensive patients, on the contrary, mean arterial pressure correlated with left ventricular mass index (r = 0.523), carotid arterial diameter (r = 0.627) and common carotid intima media wall thickness (r = 0.847). These results demonstrate that in hypertensive patients cardiac abnormalities accompanied vascular structural changes.

The carotid artery is one of the most important sites in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Atherosclerosis is known to be determined by a variety of factors, among which arterial hypertension is one of the most important. Blood pressure control by antihypertensive treatment is thus of great benefit in management of atherosclerosis, particularly in view of the direct action of some classes of antihypertensive agents on atheromatous lesions. Today, modern diagnostic technique allow a non-invasive examination of the artery wall (B-mode ultrasound and pulsed-Doppler), so that early detection of structural and functional alterations is possible. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the long term blood pressure reduction in the progression and/or in the regression of cardiovascular structural abnormalities, we studied intima-media thickness and arterial compliance during one-year antihypertensive treatment with a new calcium-antagonist, lacidipine, or a diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. In both groups we observed a comparable blood pressure reduction (lacidipine: from 166 +/- 5/100 +/- 1 to 142 +/- 4/88 +/- 2 mmHg; hydrochlorothiazide: from 154 +/- 5/102 +/- 2 to 140 +/- 4/88 +/- mmHg; both p0.01). On the contrary, only in patients treated with lacidipine did we obtain a significant improvement in carotid blood flow (383 +/- 16 vs 411 +/- 16 ml/min p) and in arterial compliance (0.8 +/- 0.1 vs 1.2 +/- 0.2 cm/dyne p0.01). Indeed, we observed a different behaviour of the intima-media thickness in the two groups (lacidipine: 1.11 +/- 1.4 vs 1.13 +/- 1.5 mm n.s.; hydrochlorothiazide: 1.15 +/- 0.15 vs 1.21 +/- 0.17 mm p0.06). Our results demonstrate that an effective antihypertensive treatment with calcium antagonists may influence the progression of carotid vascular abnormalities.

Recent studies have demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia is one of the major factor involved in the progression of coronary heart disease and that the reduction in plasma cholesterol reduces mortality for cardiovascular events. Indeed, recent experimental studies have demonstrated alterations in vascular reactivity in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia the consequences of an effective of chronic treatment with inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase on vascular responsiveness to cold pressure test. We observed a significant reduction in total plasma cholesterol during the study that was accompanied by a significant decrease in the response of peripheral vascular resistances to cold pressure test (55 +/- 4% vs 73 +/- 5% p0.01). There was also a significant relationship between the reduction of total cholesterol and the response of vascular resistance to the cold pressure test (r = 0.853, p0.05). Our results demonstrate that the reduction in total plasma cholesterol may influence the haemodynamic response induced by the activation of the sympathetic system.

This study has produced the following results. All the children with RAP show an excessive excitability and timidness, a strong insecurity and apprehension towards the society. The majority of the children show a strong dependence upon their relatives, they are not able to place themselves, as active subjects, in the present trality and to make plans for their future life (absence of interests and/or programmes about their autorealization). These children have a psychological maturity not corresponding to the physical one, even if there is no real strongly marked mental insufficiency. About 50% of the subjects have difficult relations with their siblings, friends and teachers, unlike the group examined (infact these difficulties are not seen).

The link between blood viscosity, Ht and the onset of stroke is highlighted and reports in the literature are examined. On this basic, the paper proposes an experimental model of cerebral ischaemia in the rabbit as providing a better insight into this aspect which may be highly significant, particularly in the prevention of strokes.

Background and Purpose —Endothelium-derived NO is formed from l -arginine by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) encoded by the NOS 3 gene on chromosome 7. Because several studies have indicated that NO plays a key role in the development of the atherosclerotic process, we investigated whether common variants in the eNOS gene are associated with an increased risk of plaque on carotid arteries. Methods —We studied 375 subjects attending the hypertension center of our institution to be screened for arterial hypertension. The examined subjects were classified according to the presence of carotid plaques (intima-media thickness ≥1.5 mm), and 2 intronic (CA and 27-bp repeats) polymorphisms and 1 exonic (Glu298Asp) polymorphism of the eNOS gene were explored. Results —Only the Glu298Asp polymorphism of eNOS was associated with the presence of carotid plaques ( P Conclusions —Homozygosity for Asp298, a common variant of the eNOS gene, is an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in this study population.

Quanto sta accadendo in questo periodo pandemico cambia il modo di vivere la fede e il rapporto con la religione? È questa la domanda alla quale si cerca di dare una risposta nel saggio. Si affrontano perciò alcuni aspetti sulle modalità del ‘sentire religioso’, nel periodo del Covid 19, dal 2020 fino ad oggi. In particolare si riconosce il ruolo di Papa Francesco, figura di riferimento nella prima fase della pandemia e il valore simbolico dei suoi gesti per i cattolici, le altre religioni e il mondo. Un altro aspetto riguarda il significato della solitudine del morente di Covid 19, privato della celebrazione di un rito, e del conforto dei suoi cari, incapaci di “elaborare il lutto”. I dati di una ricerca empirica, condotta nel periodo della pandemia, sono significativi per comprendere le dinamiche della religiosità e per ridisegnare il futuro della religione nel post-Covid. If and how it has changed the way in which people live their relationship with religion and faith in this pandemic time? This is the main question of this essay that try to analyse some aspects related to the modalities of ‘religious feeling’, in Covid-19 period, from 2020 to present time. In particular we refer to the significant role of Pope Francis both in the first phase of pandemic and in his relation with Christians beleviers, other religions and the entire world. Another relevant aspect regard the ‘solitude of the dead’ of Covid-19, that die alone and without celebration, and the ‘consolation of the loved ones’, unable to mourn. The results of an empirical research, conducted during this pandemic, will help us to understand religious dynamic and its redefinitions in post-covid period.

Nel èpresente contributo gli autori illustrano, dopo aver opportunamente inquadrato il problema nella caornice socio-culturale e scientifica di riferiferimento, gli esiti di una indagine esplorativa finalizzata a rilevare l’incidenza che la didattica universitaria a distanza ha avuto durante il lockdown sull’utilizzo dell’audiovisivo da parte degli studenti. Nello sèpecifico si è cercato di rilevare da un lato, se, come e in che misura sono cambiate le abitudini di consumo di prodotti audiovisivi da parte degli studenti universitari impegnati nella didattica a distanza durante il periodo di confinamento e, dall’altro, l’impatto dell’utilizzo dell’audiovisivo nella didattica, in termini di facilitazione dei processi di apprendimento e di motivazione allo studio.

La pandemia Covid-19 ha comportato conseguenze e trasformazioni prefigurando scenari inediti sul piano economico, sociale e personale, determinando anche nel campo della ricerca l’urgenza di esplorarne le ricadute. Il volume dà quindi conto delle indagini svolte e in corso, sin dai primi giorni del lockdown, dai docenti e dai collaboratori del Dipartimento di Scienze della Formazione dell’Università Roma Tre, toccando i temi più diversi: dalla didattica a distanza, all’università e nei diversi ordini di scuola, al futuro dei servizi di orientamento, dal lavoro socio-educativo nelle varie tipologie di servizi all’impatto della pandemia sulle comunità, dalle narrazioni ai linguaggi artistici a contrasto di quest’emergenza non solo sanitaria.Si sono così esplorate le diverse educazioni possibili, riassegnando centralità ai processi formativi e al benessere delle persone, provando a tratteggiare nuovi paradigmi e prospettive.

La necessità di fronteggiare l’insorgere della pandemia da covid-19 ha indotto gli Stati ad adottare una serie di misure di contenimento del virus e controllo della popolazione che, inevitabilmente, determinano un impatto diretto sulla vita delle persone e ridefiniscono lo spettro dei diritti e dei doveri. Le stesse regole della convivenza civile – per quanto diversificate da paese a paese sulla base delle differenti culture – rischiano di essere rivisitate in maniera permanente. Emblema di questa trasformazione è, da un lato, il criterio del distanziamento sociale – che, da misura “tecnica” di contrasto del contagio, rischia di assurgere a regolatore delle modalità di relazionamento sociale e delle manifestazioni affettive – e, dall’altro, del presidio dei territori, incentivato dall’introduzione di nuovi dispositivi di controllo e sorveglianza.

La situazione emergenziale ha comportato la necessità di riflettere con urgenza sui rapporti tra scuola e famiglia che caratterizzano il sistema di istruzione e formazione in Italia. La progettazione di una nuova idea di scuola da intendersi come presidio di prossimità e risorsa resiliente implica l’approfondimento e la comprensione delle dinamiche tra scuola e famiglia mediante linee dedicate di ricerca educativa. Il contributo presenta gli esiti di una indagine esplorativa locale sviluppata in continuità con la ricerca nazionale condotta dalla Società Italiana di Ricerca Didattica (SIRD) “Sulle modalità di didattica a distanza adottate nelle scuole italiane nel periodo di emergenza Covid-19”. L’indagine ha avuto come principale obiettivo quello di approfondire la corresponsabilità educativa tra scuola e famiglia durante il periodo emergenziale che ha richiesto l’attivazione della didattica a distanza nelle scuole, focalizzando l’attenzione su una scuola primaria in cui sono stati coinvolti sia docenti sia genitori, attraverso la rilevazione di dati quantitativi e qualitativi, al fine di triangolare i punti di vista. I principali esiti confermano l’importanza di stabilire rapporti di fiducia, di corresponsabilità e di solidarietà tra scuola, famiglia e comunità territoriale al fine di costruire ecosistemi estesi in grado di contrastare le situazioni di crisi e di affrontare quelle di incertezza.

Lo studio esplorativo di cui si riferisce ha avuto l’obiettivo di indagare le caratteristiche dell’esperienza della didattica a distanza nel periodo dell’emergenza sanitaria da Covid-19, e ne ha evidenziato i punti di forza e i punti di debolezza attraverso l’utilizzo di un duplice approccio metodologico: l’analisi del contenuto e l’analisi statistica testuale computerizzata. Quest’ultima tecnica di analisi dei dati ha portato ad una sostanziale conferma delle evidenze ottenute dall’analisi del contenuto rafforzandone l’affidabilità. Sono stati intervistati 324 docenti e 731 studenti universitari a cui è stato chiesto di rispondere a un questionario online. I risultati indicano una generalizzata difficoltà relazionale legata alla riduzione del contatto e dell’interazione: la sola didattica online rischia di ridurre la qualità del rapporto educativo in modo consistente. Sebbene si intravedano alcuni vantaggi di tipo logistico e, per chi ha già esperienza di formazione a distanza, anche di tipo organizzativo, restano evidenti le problematiche relative alla scarsa possibilità di ricevere un feedback dallo studente e di svolgere una efficace valutazione dell’apprendimento conseguito, oltre alla fatica legata al carico di lavoro per il docente e alla difficoltà di mantenere a lungo l’attenzione per lo studente. Si sottolinea in conclusione l’importanza di orientarsi verso una didattica integrata, in presenza e a distanza, per valorizzare effettivamente la specificità del ruolo delle TIC nel potenziare i processi formativi. The exploratory study referred to was aimed at investigating the characteristics of the distance learning experience in the period of the health emergency from Covid-19, and highlighted its strengths and weaknesses through the use a double methodological approach: content analysis and computerized textual statistical analysis. This last data analysis technique has led to substantial confirmation of the evidence obtained from the analysis of the content, strengthening its reliability. 324 teachers and 731 university students were interviewed and asked to answer an online questionnaire. The results indicate a generalized relational difficulty linked to the reduction of contact and interaction: online teaching alone risks significantly reducing the quality of the educational relationship. Although some logistical advantages can be seen and, for those who already have experience of distance learning, including organizational ones, the problems relating to the scarce possibility of receiving feedback from the student and carrying out an effective assessment of the learning achieved remain evident, in addition to the fatigue linked to the workload for the teacher and the difficulty of maintaining attention for the student for a long time. In conclusion, the importance of moving towards integrated teaching, in presence and at a distance, is emphasized, to effectively enhance the specific role of ICT in enhancing training processes.

Sebbene ormai da tempo l’Unione europea consideri l’attività di terza missione delle Università di fondamentale importanza per la crescita, lo sviluppo economico e la coesione sociale, le prime disposizioni normative in materia di terza missione sono state introdotte in Italia in tempi relativamente recenti (Boffo & Moscati, 2015). La terza missione viene intesa come la propensione delle strutture di ateneo all’apertura verso il contesto socio-economico attraverso la valorizzazione e il trasferimento delle conoscenze (ANVUR, 2016; Boffo & Moscati, 2015). Nel rispondere ai questionari sulla valutazione della terza missione gli atenei hanno indicato numerosi ed eterogenei prodotti e attività, mostrando, da una parte, un loro forte impegno sul tema ma, da un’altra parte, la mancanza di una piena concordanza su cosa debba essere davvero incluso nelle attività di terza missione (ANVUR, 2016). In questo senso si può sostenere che, a fronte di un’accezione ampia di terza missione che deriva da una prospettiva di significato appartenente al concetto di apprendimento permanente (Carlot, Filloque, Osborne & Welsh, 2015), tuttavia, il percorso, che a livello istituzionale è stato avviato, e la relativa valutazione, che di essa è avvenuta, mettono in luce un’interpretazione della terza missione schiacciata su determinanti legate alla valorizzazione economica delle conoscenze e all’imprenditorialità accademica (ANVUR, 2016). La dimensione formativa viene ricondotta riduttivamente alla sola formazione continua (ANVUR, 2015; 2017) e non invece sul concetto di apprendimento permanente di carattere più ampio e ritenuto più adeguato per rispondere ai processi di innovazione dei sistemi universitari (Morgan-Klain, & Osborne, 2007). L’apprendimento permanente nella formazione superiore si pone infatti come nuovo topos di indubbio rilievo, nel panorama internazionale e nazionale, che sollecita un rinnovamento dei paradigmi di riferimento - in particolare per quanto attiene al sistema universitario, (Alberici, 2008; EUA, 2008; Frabboni & Pinto Minerva, 2003; Loidice, 2004; Morgan-Klain, & Osborne, 2007; Margiotta, 2014). Ciò comporta, tra l’altro, la necessità, in capo alle università, di dare risposte adeguate a potenziali utenti con domande di formazione del tutto inedite, anche rispetto a un passato recente, e in particolare di dare applicazione al principio della continuità dell’apprendimento lungo l’intero arco della vita, soprattutto rispetto alle competenze che si acquisiscono nei contesti non formali e informali di apprendimento. Lo sviluppo delle competenze - a partire dall’emersione e la messa in valore di quelle che nonostante siano definite strategiche, perché preziose e trasferibili, tuttavia spesso rimangono invisibili - costituisce un fattore cruciale per mettere nelle condizione gli individui di rispondere in modo significativo alle continue sfide personali, sociali e professionali, cui sono sottoposti, con il rischio di essere coinvolti entro dinamiche di marginalizzazione e di esclusione (Di Rienzo, 2014). Le competenze strategiche sono risorse chiave per ogni individuo in una società basata sulla conoscenza (UE, 2018). Esse costituiscono un valore aggiunto per l’occupazione, la coesione sociale e la cittadinanza attiva, poiché offrono flessibilità e capacità di adattamento, soddisfazione e motivazione e dovrebbero essere acquisite da tutti, sono necessarie per la realizzazione e lo sviluppo personali e l’inclusione sociale (Alessandrini & De Natale, 2015).

A livello internazionale molti studi sono stati stati diretti a focalizzare il problema del mancato successo accademico, del ritardo negli studi fino alla manifestazione di fenomeni di drop-out. Le interpretazioni via via avanzate per spiegare il fenomeno del rischio di drop-out, che risulta sempre molto diffuso nei vari Paesi, segnalano principalmente il ruolo dei fattori emotivi e sociali (Richardson, Abraham & Bond, 2012; Diseth & Kobbeltvedt, 2010; Heikkila, Niemivirta, Nieminen & Lonka, 2011; Biasi, Mallia, Menozzi & Patrizi, 2015; Burgalassi, Biasi, Capobianco & Moretti, 2016). In questo filone di ricerca, il presente contributo approfondisce il ruolo di specifiche variabili individuali come quelle motivazionali, la capacità di autoregolazione degli apprendimenti e, conseguentemente, i livelli di auto-efficacia sviluppati dallo studente nell’influenzare il successo o l’insuccesso accademico. Ci riferiamo in particolare al modello teorico dell’apprendimento auto-regolato di Pintrich (2004) secondo il quale sono le strategie cognitive e metacognitive che gli individui adottano a permettere loro di raggiungere gli obiettivi di apprendimento, intesi in termini di conoscenza, comprensione e abilità. Partendo da tale costrutto, le recenti indagini da noi condotte (Biasi, De Vincenzo & Patrizi, 2017) hanno evidenziato, attraverso modelli di regressione, il peso di alcuni fattori predittivi del rischio di drop-out degli studenti universitari, tra i quali sono risultati determinanti: una condizione di “amotivazione” allo studio specifico intrapreso, una inadeguata modalità di elaborazione cognitiva e una scarsa autoefficacia percepita.

Molteplici studi, affrontando da più punti di vista le tematiche legate alle criticità peculiari del sistema universitario del nostro Paese, segnalano come molto preoccupante l’elevato tasso di abbandono precoce degli studi (Domenici, 2017). Oltre a variabili di tipo socio-economico si sottolinea, nella letteratura di settore, il ruolo di variabili cognitive, metacocognitive e motivazionali nell’influenzare il rendimento accademico e nel prevenire il fenomeno del drop-out universitario. Partendo dal costrutto di apprendimento auto-regolato di Pintrich (2004) secondo il quale sono le strategie cognitive e metacognitive che gli individui adottano a permettere loro di raggiungere gli obiettivi di apprendimento, e tenendo conto del fatto che ansia e depressione compromettono i livelli di benessere producendo ricadute negative sulle prestazioni accademiche (Ibrahim, Kelly, Adams, & Glazebrook, 2013; Bukhari & Saba, 2017), abbiamo inteso verificare l’influenza di fattori quali: il livello di benessere/malessere (ansia, depressione, somatizzazione), gli aspetti motivazionali e le strategie cognitive adottate sullo sviluppo del rischio di drop-out (Biasi, De Vincenzo & Patrizi, 2018a, 2018b).

Studi recenti hanno dimostrato che la fruizione di immagini d’arte è in grado di promuovere il benessere psicofisico, inteso in termini di riduzione dello stress e della sintomatologia ansiosa (Mastandrea, Fagioli, & Biasi, 2019). In quest’ottica, l’arte-terapia è stata frequentemente utilizzata quale strumento terapeutico per il trattamento dei disturbi psichiatrici e delle problematiche psicologiche tipiche dell’invecchiamento e delle malattie neurodegenerative, con importanti ricadute sia in ambito clinico che educativo. Ad oggi, tuttavia, le modalità mediante le quali le immagini d’arte regolano i nostri stati emozionali producendo benessere sono ancora poco conosciute. In questo studio abbiamo indagato i meccanismi neurofisiologici che mediano la relazione tra apprezzamento estetico e attivazione di stati emozionali interni, con l’obiettivo ultimo di sviluppare programmi comportamentali ed educativi per la promozione del benessere psicofisico dell’individuo. una serie di recenti modelli teorici ha sostenuto l’ipotesi che l’apprezzamento estetico abbia le sue determinanti in una combinazione complessa e strutturata di stati emozionali biologicamente determinati che rimanda piuttosto a stati affettivi di “ammirazione”, “interesse” o “stupore”. In questo senso, l’emozione estetica può essere considerata una caratterizzazione particolare di una risposta emozionale che può essere definita artespecifica. In questo studio abbiamo esaminato i correlati neurali e comportamentali dell’emozione estetica valutando un’eventuale dissociazione dalle risposte emozionali non-estetiche, per definire con maggiore precisione le determinanti della risposta emozionale arte-specifica e i suoi effetti sul benessere psicofisico.