School-related behavior in children with cancer

Ninety-one children with cancer (thirty-seven with leukemia and fifty-four with solid tumors)--school aged (elementary and middle school), residing in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy), and receiving treatment at the Department of Pediatrics (III), University of Bologna, from August 1973 to April 1987--took part in a study of school behavior as perceived by the teacher. The research was carried out through a 29-item forced-choice questionnaire based on the questionnaire proposed by Deasy-Spinetta for a similar study in the U.S.A. Results revealed that children with cancer have a school behavior scoring at levels significantly lower than controls. There are more difficulties for children attending middle than elementary school, for children on therapy than off therapy, and for children with leukemia than with solid tumors. In conclusion, the main obstacle to school performance seems to be lower attendance, which is mainly due to treatment and clinic visits and probably in part to an overprotection and an excessive concern on the part of physicians and parents.

Neuroprotection beyond intraocular pressure: game changer or quiet addiction

The topic of neuroprotection in glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is well disseminated in the literature. However, the problem is providing ophthalmologists with clear, evidence-based messages to draw on. This review examines the landscape of neuroprotective therapies for glaucoma and AMD. While promising neuroprotective agents, such as citicoline and nicotinamide, have been explored for their potential to mitigate neurodegeneration in glaucoma, robust clinical evidence validating their efficacy remains limited and there is a need for further large-scale, long-term studies to substantiate the neuroprotective effects of these agents. Maintaining low intraocular pressure plays a vital role in preventing neuronal death in glaucoma. AMD has traditionally been considered a disease affecting the outer retinal layers; however, growing evidence suggests that the inner layers are also involved. Neuroprotection is an emerging area of research, with strategies focusing on alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. A reassessment of clinical endpoints and methodologies in neuroprotection research is critical to better evaluate the efficacy of these therapies in glaucoma and AMD.