A SHORT COURSE IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN CAPITALISM, NATIONAL SOCIALISM, CREEPING FASCISM, AND AN AMERICAN POPULATION MADE IGNORANT BY A MONOPOLY OF THE "FREE" PRESS AMONG OTHER THINGS!
This is a very heavy title to try to satisfy! The problem is that Americans are not really naturally stupid nor fascist; Americans are ignorant, but not naturally, they are made ignorant because they have little access to a knowledge of fact and history which we will explore.
This is all extremely important for the welfare of American democracy.
This American democracy was "created" by a very few learned men, in an atmosphere of a nation without a past, and without a true pattern of governing for those particular times in 1787.
American founders, did not have an example to follow; Switzerland, was the only "democracy" at the time, Switzerland democracy was little known, but the founders did consider Switzerland as an innovating form of democratic government.
Our founders were of the very few in America that were relatively self-educated and well read.
The American Constitution and its founders is an excellent time and place to begin to resolve our American governmental and economic problems of today; the Constitutional Convention culminated in 1787, must be viewed in the perspective of the 1787 Times, in order to resolve our American democratic problems of today.
The founders wisely provided for change in our Constitution based on time, size, population, and modern technology; unfortunately, Americans are not as wise and learned as our Constitutional forefathers. Time, the economy, size, and technology has instead taken its toll on democracy and the American People today.
To be a small "d" democrat and defender of democracy has become somewhat difficult today!
It would appear that America today is more inclined to "follow the dollar" than "follow the U.S. Constitution"! And, American Wealthy Capitalist tend to have much more power than insightful "democratic Socialists"!
This is the part of the Constitution that spells out the purpose of any nation, the purpose of the United States of America, and why America was destined to be a "social democracy". The key is, "Promote the general welfare" in the preface to the American Constitution and the provision in the U.S. Constitution for the U.S. Postal Service and Postal Roads!
To understand any government, if is essential to know "the only basis" for the existence of "any" government: "The only purpose of any government is to provide for the People "collectively", all those things that that the People cannot provide for their self as individuals." American politicians today can't get that through their hard heads!
So, that means that all governments are socialistic to a degree, and America is a democratic socialist nation. "Necessities of the people that they cannot provide for their self, as individuals must be provided for by the government", for example: the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service, Highways, and today Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and Universal Medical Care, on a Federal basis.
It is obvious that advances in technology in medical care, have caused medical care to be too expensive for most Americans to provide for their self, and consequently it became a national issue just like the Army, the Post Office, and Federal highways. Universal Medical Insurance in America is simply adequate government medial insurance for the entire population. Medical care is just as important as an army for war.
On local issues, democratic socialism is a necessity to provide police and fire protection, state and local governments. Public schools, State Highways, etc.
And the U.S. Postal service (and postal roads) are provided for in the U.S. Constitution of 1787.
A Political Science definition of a democracy is; "A form of government in which, (1) all citizens vote, (2) a majority rules, and (3) liberty exists; and liberty is defined as freedom, "limited: to the extent that the freedom of one citizen does not infringe upon the rights of other citizens.
As for economic freedom in America, both democratic socialism AND capitalism is provided for the People; capitalism, is provided for in the U.S. Constitution's Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
The protection of personal property is of course, essential to capitalism.
However, Americans also need to know of the history of the establishment of a Middle class from "Medieval Society" of only "Lords and peasants", and before the "Industrial Age". This economic history is obviously recognized in our American Constitution.
The "Middle Class" rose up from the establishment of Trade Unions, or Gilds as they were originally called. In Medieval society, here arose guilds for bakers, blacksmiths, wine makers, etc. As such, the Middle Class became distinguished from both, Lord and/or Peasants.
With the establishment of the Middle Class, also came the settlement of occasional and ongoing disputes between Labor and Management, or Labor and Corporate America disputes that divides Americans and voters today.
So it is essential that Americans, in their youth, are taught and know the history of labor and management to understand politics and economics today; and, as youth we know where each of us falls into the economic class of today.
Today, America has an extreme problem for Americans, and basically the voters, keeping informed about being "uninformed".
As previously stated, Americans are not stupid, however they continue to be basically uninformed and misinformed about American history and economy as it affects them today.
And, there is an aspect of the economy that all American People should be aware of. The basic difference between socialism and capitalism is that a "socialist economy" is based on the total "cooperation" of the People; and, the basic concept of capitalism is that capitalism is based entirely on "competition" between the People.
This may sound good or bad to you as an individual; however, capitalism and socialism has certain advantages, both have good and bad attributes; however, as in the case of a democratic America, both capitalism and socialism, MUST BE CONTROLLED TO A DEGREE!
Both capitalism and socialism in the United States of America, needs to be controlled by those Americans who recognize the benefits of both. But unfortunately, America becomes the victim of those elements of society whose resources are committed to either OR.
Because capitalism is based upon competition among citizens, it becomes possible for competitors to try to attempt to gain a monopoly and drive their opponents out of business and establish a monopoly; and, without competition they can command any price they want, and that is not the intended "acceptable" purpose of corporations.
One of America's great opponents of American corporate monopolies was President Teddy Roosevelt, known as the "TRUST BUSTER"; Teddy Roosevelt controlled corporations to protect American business AND consumers (all Americans), among other things.
And, "Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.
"But there is another harm; and it is evident that we should try to do away with that. The great corporations which we have grown to speak of rather loosely as trusts are the creatures of the State, and the State not only has the right to control them, but it is duty bound to control them wherever the need of such control is shown." Speech at Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island (23 August 1902).
Observe that President Roosevelt makes an extremely important point; Corporations only exist because they are created by the "state", the American Government OF THE PEOPLE; and, the "government of the People", are "duty bound to control them"!
However, in more recent years President Reagan and President Trump have tried to eliminate "all" controls of corporations, saying it was good for business and the economy (neglecting the People); eliminating control allows business to establish monopolies which raises costs of products which is good for business, bad for consumers and the American People; and, elimination of control of corporations leads to the Spector of "Inflation", which is devastating, especially to older Americans and the poor.
Most important to remember is this, corporations exist only because they have a charter granted to them, by the government "of the People"; as such, the People have be protected from monopolies of corporations, by the law of the People!
In conclusion, how are Americans supposed to become informed?
In 1787 the only source of news for the People was newspapers. Every village had their own newspaper, usually owned by one man, produced by the same man, and then sold on the streets by the same man. Freedom of the Press probably worked in 1787.
However, today, 6 corporate conglomerates own 90% of all prime time news media, TV and Newspapers; the same six news corporate conglomerates that own ninety percent of all prime time news media make all their profits from advertising from "corporations". None of their profits come from the people who depend upon them for their news. Consequently, the news media has become a simple propaganda device for corporate America. America get only news corporate American want them to know!
Americans are being "educated" by corporate America controlled propaganda, in newspaper and television! Americans get only news that Corporate American wants the People to know. This is a huge problem.
Constitutional Freedom of Speech or the press does not need to be eliminated; however the corporate news media have been "chartered" by the government of the People.
The news media can and should be prohibited from monopolizing the media and controlling the news. Americans should be advised and educated by other than a corporate propaganda machine; and, the People should demand true and unbiased news reporting.
American government by the People, because it is of the People, can limit ownership of media; they can control media and make media serve the People's needs, by making them dependent upon income from the very customers of the media, instead of corporate advertising; if media is going to profit from competitive capitalistic income, it should be competitive.
In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court in the "Citizens United" decision, that eliminated our People's government law, limiting the amount of contributions that wealthy and corporate contributions can make to candidates in democratic elections, was declared unconstitutional. Since 2010, the wealthy Americans and corporations have since been allowed to "buy" political candidates and elections, and the wealthy have bought candidates and elections.
"Citizens United" destroyed democratic elections in America. In protest, many voters just refused to vote and stayed home on Election Day; this kind of protest, makes matter worse.
In the 2014 Congressional elections, only half of all voters in America voted. One fourth of the voters elected the candidates with the most contributions from the wealthy and corporations.
The Supreme Court's "Citizen United" decision, has been a disaster for our democratic America; and now, fascism has raised its ugly self in America.
Fascist American Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and White Supremacists are demonstrating on American streets and influencing and buying American candidates and elections.
The fascist John Birch Society flourishes and is active in front groups and elections.
And The John Birch Society opposes American democracy; Birch Society Blue Book, p.124 " . . . democracy is merely a deceptive phrase, a weapon of demagoguery, and a perennial fraud." (Continued in Footnote 25, p. 136.) "Our founding fathers . . .visibly spurned a democracy as probably the worst of all forms of government." This is, of course, a brazen lie!
In other democracies, fascists and fascist organizations are illegal and criminal; but not in America!
Our American democracy and Constitution was never meant to provide for freedom for Fascist, or Communists, or Nazis.
What Americans need today is Americans and American voters who believe in American democracy!
If you believe in American democracy, please pass this on. What I have written is fact; you can easily check it out and please do I encourage you.
Personally, I am a retired teacher, and as such, I believe all citizens should be adequately informed. All Americans are truly not adequately informed today, and I worry about America, and this is my effort to do something about it and save my beloved American democratic Republic.
Sorry, but I no longer have faith in either American political parties; I believe we need people in government who believe in America, not in political parties, not in political party contributions and are committed to democracy.
GINA HASPEL, GUILTY OF CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, TO BE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HEAD OF CIA!
Gina Haspel was a member of the President W. Bush's Administration involved in the torture of prisoners of war which is illegal by the International Law. International Law is technically also law in America by act of Congress approval of International Law by treaty (U.S. Constitution).
After President Bush left office, he was invited to Switzerland to give a speech. If he went to Switzerland, W. Bush was threatened to be served with a subpoena to world court for crimes against humanity, because of his use of torture on prisoners of war during the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. W. Bush did not go to Switzerland nor has he traveled outside of America, since.
Now President Trump wants to appoint Haspel as head of the CIA; President Trump has publicly stated that he approves of torture and would use it as President of the United States. The U.S. Senate is now ready to approve of Gina Haspel to director of CIA. It would appear that Gina Haspel has already, while in the W. Bush Administration, been guilty of torturing prisoners of war and crimes against humanity under International Law!
Now the question is, if either Gina Haspel or President Trump decide to travel overseas on business, do they risk getting a subpoena for crimes against humanity by the World Court, for torturing prisoners of war?
Where did all the flowers go!
THE IRAN TREATY, PRESIDENT TRUMP, IRAN, HISTORY, AND WORLD PEACE!
If President Donald Trump wanted Peace with Iran, he could instead of breaking the Iran Treaty and threatening war with Iran, perhaps instead apologize for President Eisenhower's and President Reagan's outrageous attacks on Iran and the People of Iran in the past.
Many Iranians still hate America because in 1953 under president Eisenhower, American CIA in a an coup d'état overthrew the elected government of Iraq and replaced it with the dictator, the Shah of Iran, in order for the United States to gain control of Iranian oil.
Another issue that has led the people of Iran to hate America, is America siding with Iraq, when Iraq invaded Iran in the Iraq and Iran war; the Unites States of America under President Ronald Reagan, supplied Iraq with provisions for Iraq to obtain and use poison gas against Iran in Iraq's war against Iran (1980-1988).
Iranians have not forgotten, but they would prefer live peaceably in the world with America for the benefit of world peace and that is why Iran agreed to the treaty with Germany, France, Russia, China, the United Nations, and the United States, despite Iran's mistrust of the United States.
President Trump does not just alienate Iran by breaking the treaty, President Trump also alienates other parties to the Iran Treaty: German, France, China, Russia, and the United Nations, all others who have an interest in the treaty.
Webster Dictionary definition of chauvinist: "Excessive or blind patriotism".
Personally, I am a patriotic American, a historian, and was drafted and honorably served in the U.S. Military, and that is my perspective! I have nothing against Iran nor the treaty with Iran!
However, I also have not approved of any wars by American Presidents from the Vietnam War of Democratic Party President Johnston to the most recent wars against Afghanistan and Iraq by Republican Presidents George Bush Sr. and his son, President W. Bush Jr. Further, I highly respect those honorable men and women who served in those wars.
None of those wars were against nations that posed Any THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and/or the People.
Further, the nation of Afghanistan had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAUDI ARABIAN TERRORIST, BIN LADEN, WHOSE REASON FOR HIS HEINOUS TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICA, WAS PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. TRUMP'S DEFILING OF THE MUSLIM HOLY LAND BY PUTTING AN AMERICAN MILITARY BASE THERE IN SAUDI ARABIA DURING HIS "DESERT STORM WAR"!
NOTE: This morning, I found this autobiographical story I wrote some years ago; I decided to do a rewrite and post it today.
The story is actually autobiographical, except that I have used pseudonyms for my wife Marlisa and I.
But but the narrator's actual name is Alonzo; and I still see Alonzo occasionally, often sunning himself on a walk, someplace.
We have since become "speaking" friends, and at least I call him by his given name, and wish him well and a bright sunny day.
Contrary to much of life on earth, Alonzo was born alone and left to his own devices without any form of parental guidance.
Life treats various of species differently. It was normal for Alonzo to be born with the responsibility to care for his own self and he actually suffered no debilitating emotional effects. That is life on earth for some born into this world.
Alonzo's first days were interesting and exciting. He could adequately care for himself. He found delicious food here and there in the garden. He kept a low profile, avoiding birds of prey and marauding cats who preyed in the garden. Alonzo had been born with an innate fear that these predators were dangerous to lizards like himself.
One warm sunny day in Southern California, Alonzo was sunning himself on the wall of the white stucco of the Gilbreath's house, in Southern California. This is where he had been born and had lived in the Gilbreath's garden for all of his brief life. This was home.
He was contemplating how he should spend this day. His short life had already began to be somewhat tedious. There was this feeling deep in his heart that he needed to expand his horizons. His world was completely familiar to him and he wondered what existed beyond his garden home.
On occasion, he had encountered Mr. or Mrs. Gilbreath in the garden. Once Mr. Gilbreath almost scared him to death. Alonzo was resting quietly and Mr. Gilbreath whacked the heck out of a weed with a hoe next to the geranium Alonzo was resting beneath. Alonzo ran as fast as he could, which was quite fast, from the geranium to the creeping Ficus where he disappeared.
He could hear Mr. Gilbreath first yell, and then laugh heartily, because he had been startled even more than Alonzo when Alonzo darted across the garden path in front of him.
Alonzo never took a chance to test the relationship, however.
Today, Alonzo was enjoying the sun here on the wall of the Gilbreath's house, but he was thinking.
With that, Alonzo climbed higher yet on the wall and found himself on the screen of the bathroom window. He noted that the screen did not fit tightly, there was a gap there that was sufficient for his young body to pass through.
Coincidentally, this was the very time Mrs. Gilbreath decided to shower. She opened the door and took one step into the shower without seeing Alonzo.
"Yikes!" shouted Alonzo as he clawed desperately at the slick shower wall helplessly. Fear grasp him like he had never felt in his short life.
Mrs. Gilbreath looked so different without clothes on it was frightening. She was a dull light pink color all over and was just a terrible sight to behold. And then, she yelled so loudly in freight when she spotted Alonzo.
If only he could depend upon her being more frightened of him than he was of her, he thought. But before he could make another move she had left the shower.
Unfortunately she closed the door behind her.
It seemed like no time until Mr. Gilbreath arrived and opened the shower door. At least he looked normal with clothing covering his terrible pinkness.
Mr. Gilbreath was scary however, because he was laughing hysterically and he reached out and made a grab for Alonzo.
By this time, Alonzo had gathered all his wits about him and was prepared for Mr. Gilbreath. Alonzo spun around, reversing his field and shot out the door between Mr. Gilbreath's legs.
Alonzo then sped around a large porcelain structure and sought refuge behind a blue waste paper basket.
Mr. Gilbreath was nobody's fool Alonzo discovered. He moved the waste basket and exposed Alonzo for all the world to see.
"Look Out!" Alonzo cried as he ran across the bathroom as fast as he could. He found he had ran into a corner and the huge Mr. Gilbreath had him surrounded.
"Oh! God help me!" Alonzo pleaded scratching into the corner helplessly as everything went dark. Mr. Gilbreath had thrown a towel over poor Alonso.
Alonzo's heart was beating so hard he felt it would jump right out of his body. His whole life flashed before his eyes. He had the sensation of being grabbed and carried aloft and he almost lost consciousness.
The next thing Alonso knew he was on the ground in the garden again, and Mr. Gilbreath, carrying his towel, was heading to the back door of the house.
When he had regained his composure, Alonso pondered his terrible experience in his mind.
Alonso continued to enjoy life in the garden.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreath were often observed by Alonso puttering around there, but his attitude toward them had changed drastically.
Alonzo was even less frightened by them now. Having grown older and more experienced, he actually accepted them in his garden, and felt sorry for them and their boring life inside the house.
One day, Mrs. Gilbreath moved a flower pot under which Alonso was resting. She withdrew, frightened and he tried to sympathize with her but she all but ignored him.
Then, Mrs. Gilbreath merely smiled and scooted him aside while tending to her potted plant.
Humans are not all bad or good Alonso decided.
But it is better if you just leave them alone, in their own drab world.
The HISTORY OF ADLAI STEVENSON II IS WORTH READING; HE WAS THE GREATEST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THE PEOPLE NEVER ELECTED! GOD BLESS HIS MEMORY!
Adlai Stevenson II lived on to be a great American hero, yet no one appears to even remember today but, Adlai is still my greatest political hero!
Today, I heard from one of my cousins who hates me, because I warn him and America about the fascist, by definition, President Trump; Webster Dictionary definition of fascism: "A political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race and stands for a centralized autocratic often militaristic government." So I tried to explain to him where I am coming from; here is my explanation.
Personally, I will never tolerate nor accept a fascist President of the United States, and this is "my" country not Trump's.
I was devastated by the 2016 Presidential Election because neither candidate deserved my vote; America is in BIG TROUBLE! Both political Parties are corrupted.
We need Constitutional changes to save our American democracy.
The founders of the Constitution written in 1787, made change possible by Amendment; if the founders were alive today, they would have already made many changes and eliminated the electoral college has no place in our Constitution today.
Further, in 1953, President Eisenhower signed a law that made Communism illegal in America; however, America failed to make fascism, KKK, and racism illegal in America, and it should be illegal.
Donald Trump is a threat to American democracy today because he is a fascist, he is not very intelligent' and he was poorly educated.
Further, America is suffering from a news monopoly; six corporate conglomerates own 90% of all prime time news media and their profits come exclusively from corporate advertising. America's news media is a corporate monopoly and as a result is a Corporate Propaganda device edited by corporate America.
With the Republican majority Supreme Court and their "Citizens United" decision, Corporate America buys all political candidates and all elections.
You, Cousin, are blaming me, and I'm trying to save America for you and me.
Trump's Presidency is only one part of the problem and it doesn't matter what Party Trump belongs to, he is a threat to democracy and America.
Remember Richard Nixon and his resignation? It was members of the Republican Party who removed Nixon from office. Republican Party members who are more American than Republican Party members, needs to get rid of Trump today!
Trump is not just a Republican Party problem, instead, he is a huge American problem.
The Republican politicians who are more American than Republican, need to serve America and not Trump, and many such Republicans are moving against Trump.
However, since "Citizens United", the Republican Party has been taken over by the John Birch Society and the John Birch Koch brothers who financed the Tea Party, which is a front group for the John Birch Society.
And now that is why today's Republican, John Birch, Tea Party, President, and Congress and Supreme Court Majority, are John Birch fascist and opposed to democracy just as President Trump is!
The Republican Party has been taken over by the Tea Party, which is really a "front organization" for the Koch Brothers, John Birch Society, which has now taken over a huge portion of the Republican Party.
You, the Republican Party, our democracy, and the American People, are "victims" of the John Birch Society (Tea Party) and America is becoming a fascist entity.
Unfortunately, our American news media is just a propaganda machine for corporate America, who can profit in a fascist nation as well as a democratic nation, or actually often better, as Putin has proved in fascist Russia!
You are currently browsing the Quixotic Tales blog archives for May, 2018.


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Meet the candidates running for Evart school board
Olivia Fellows, Staff writer
Oct. 17, 2022 Updated: Oct. 19, 2022 11:20 a.m.
There are 5 candidates running for 2 open board of education seats at Evart Public School in the Nov. 8 midterm election.
DeBrock, Ronald
EVART — The Pioneer reached out to each candidate running for Evart Public Schools board of education seats in the Nov. 8 midterm election with a Q&A form. These are their responses.
Candidates on the ballot: Todd Bruggema, Tammy Dellar, Rosie McKinstry, Kelly Millen and Mark Moody.
Todd Bruggema
Why are you running for a seat on your district's board of education?
I have been blessed to have grown up in the Evart community and am a 1983 graduate of Evart Public Schools. It is one of the best small communities in Northern Michigan. I want to give back to the city I love and to help provide opportunities for the students of Evart to be successful.
What do you wish to accomplish?
My main goal as a school board member would be to provide more transparency between the community and the school board. Together with (the) community, parents, teachers, and administrators, the school board creates a vision for the future of the educational system in our community of Evart. It is the school board's role to be sure that it is successful. We cannot do that without open communication between the community and the board.
What background and skills do you have that would help you in this position?
My 30 years working in education as a high school teacher, coach, high school assistant principal and principal have given me the qualifications needed to accomplish the goals of the school board. I have knowledge and experience in developing a yearly budget, negotiating with the teacher's union, implementing curriculum, and creating policies. Utilizing these skills as a school board member will ensure that our school system is functioning at a high level of efficiency.
If elected, what issues in your district would you take on first?
If elected to Evart's school board, I will ask the questions "why" and "show me the evidence or data that supports this." I will help lead change to provide the best opportunities and practices for our students. I will push to have our teachers collaborate across the district sharing ideas and strategies to bridge the gaps within the curriculum.
I want Evart students to explore their interests and to obtain a well-rounded education. Upon graduation our students should be prepared to enter the workforce, military, trade school or college. As a school board member, I will help to provide the best opportunities and practices to our students.
Rosie McKinstry
I am running to be re-elected to the Evart board of education to continue to serve my community and school district. I would appreciate the opportunity to do that. As I am a life-long resident of the Evart community I am devoted to making our schools the best possible for all of our students to prepare them for whatever path they choose after graduation.
I would hope to provide the best education possible for our students ad Evart Public (Schools). These children are our future and giving them the opportunity and guidance to succeed will continue to be a top priority. Students need to know that the district cares about them.
My background includes being a resident of Evart my entire life. My parents, my husband and myself, and both of our sons have graduated from EPS. I now have a granddaughter attending Evart Elementary School. I have had and continue having interest in this district and seeing it be the best.
I have served on the Evart board of education for 10 years. During that time, I have been on various committees, including those to negotiate contracts for teachers, bus drivers, and support staff and to hire principals. Also, I was on the board during the hiring of a superintendent.
In past years I have been involved with the Parents For Kids at EES, working on the Kids Pad at ESS, and a member of Evart Sports Boosters for many years.
Being involved both as a community member and a school board member have given me valuable knowledge to continue to serve on the Evart school board.
Fresh snow at Winterfest 2023 makes for magical day
Safety has to be a top priority. The district must do everything possible to ensure the safety of our students and staff. To provide the best curriculum to our staff to assist in giving the best education. To maintain a balanced budget while using our funds responsibly and to the benefit of the district in the best possible way.
Kelly Millen
I've been on (the Evart board) for 15 years, I feel that I have a passion not only for our children but for our community. I want to make sure to do my part and make sure that the children first and foremost are safe at school, but that they're also up to date with technology so that beyond Evart Public Schools, they can be successful.
I want to maintain the health, safety and education of our students. Safety is foremost in everyone's minds and school needs to be a safe place, and I want to make sure the children coming in the doors feel and are safe. On the same hand, the parents can feel safe sending their precious cargo to us for the day.
I'm a registered nurse, but I've grown up in a family of educators, both my parents were educators. My husband is an educator, and two of my three sons are educators. Education has always been a passion in our family, teaching and gaining knowledge for ourselves.
An issue at hand right now is the safety of our children. That is always so important, and I feel that with my passion for safety, I can help. I have taken Michigan Association of School Boards classes to know how to become or how to be a successful board member, and what I can and cannot do. We want (students and staff) to be in a safe learning environment where they can then have the freedom to learn. I just have such a passion for these kids, and I just want the best for them.
NOTE: Candidates Tammy Dellar and Mark Moody did not respond to requests for answers to the survey.
Olivia Fellows

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
S&M (song)
Sām
Sım
"S&M" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). The song was released on January 21, 2011, as the fourth single from the album. The American songwriter Ester Dean wrote "S&M" in collaboration with the producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. Backed by bass beats, a keyboard and guitars, it is an uptempo hi-NRG-Eurodance track with lyrics that revolve around sexual intercourse, sadomasochism, bondage, and fetishes.
Critical response to "S&M" was mixed: some critics praised its sound and composition while others criticized its overtly sexual lyrics. After it reached number two on the United States' Billboard Hot 100 chart, a remix that features Britney Spears was released. When combined with sales of the solo version, it became Rihanna's tenth and Spears' fifth number-one single on the chart. It has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "S&M" peaked at number one in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Israel, and Poland in addition to the United States while peaking within the top five in France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the UK.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/S&M_(song)
Sām /sɑːm/ (سام), also transliterated Saam is a mythical hero of ancient Persia, and an important character in the Shahnameh epic. He was the son of Nariman, grandson of Garshasp and father to Zāl. He was Iran's champion during the rule of Fereydun, Manuchehr and Nowzar. He was appointed by Manuchehr to rule Zabulistan (Sistan), and then Mazandaran. After Manuchehr, because of Nowzar's corrupted and failed rulership, Iranian champions asked Sām to rule Iran. Sām didn't accept, he supported Nowzar and advised him to follow Fereydun and Manuchehr. Sām returned to Mazandaran, and died soon after that. Afrasiab then attacked Zabulistan.
The name Sām is equivalent to the Avestan name 'Saama', which means dark and Sanskrit 'Shyaama' which means the same.
A king's book of kings: the Shah-nameh of Shah Tahmasp, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Sam
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Sām
Søm is a district in Kristiansand, Norway with a population of 9,500 (2013). It is the third largest district and is a part of the Oddernes borough. Søm has borders with Hånes to the North, Randesund to the South, Lillesand to the East and has the ocean to the West. Søm is the second richest district in Kristiansand after Lund.
Bliksheia
Elgstien
Fuglevika
Gudbranslia
Haumyrheia
Kjelleviktoppen
Knarreviktoppen
Korsvik vest
Korsvik øst
Nordlia
Strømme
Strømsdalen
Søm øst
Sømslia
Torsvik
Vardåsen
Rona senter
Coordinates: 58°09′N 8°04′E / 58.15°N 8.06°E / 58.15; 8.06
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Søm
Sım (also, Sym) is a village and municipality in the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 582.
Sım at GEOnet Names Server
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Sım
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text:
Post-conflict communities suffer 'massive increases' in mental illness
TIMOR-LESTE: New research has suggested repeated violence could escalate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression in post-conflict communities.
The six year study surveyed more than 1000 locals in Timor-Leste to measure the prevalence of mental disorders. Over the six years, researchers found rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increased sevenfold. Depression and anxiety rates rose nearly three times as much.
Lead researcher Professor Derrick Silove from the University of New South Wales began the study in 2004, four years after Timor-Leste's conflict with Indonesian occupation.
To their surprise, in the large sample that we studied - over one thousand people - we found that rates of PTSD and depression were remarkably low compared to other conflict-affected countries," said Professor Silove.
He theorised that the comparatively low rates of mental illness were due to the country's recent independence from Indonesia, and the general sense of optimism that ran through the county.
He said these positive events might have helped to mitigate the trauma they were exposed to, but when the team returned to Timor-Leste six years later, the results were startlingly different. "We expected at least a mild or significant increase in mental disorder. But actually what we found was a massive increase."
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Alström Syndrome (AS) is a rare ciliopathy characterized by cone–rod retinal dystrophy, sensorineural hearing loss, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiomyopathy. Most patients do not present with neurological issues and demonstrate normal intelligence, although delayed psychomotor development and psychiatric disorders have been reported. To date, brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) abnormalities in AS have not been explored.
We investigated structural brain changes in 12 genetically proven AS patients (mean-age 22 years; range: 6–45, 6 females) and 19 matched healthy and positive controls (mean-age 23 years; range: 6–43; 12 females) using conventional MRI, Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI).
6/12 AS patients presented with brain abnormalities such as ventricular enlargement (4/12), periventricular white matter abnormalities (3/12) and lacune-like lesions (1/12); all patients older than 30 years had vascular-like lesions. VBM detected grey and white matter volume reduction in AS patients, especially in the posterior regions. DTI revealed significant fractional anisotropy decrease and radial diffusivity increase in the supratentorial white matter, also diffusely involving those regions that appeared normal on conventional imaging. On the contrary, axial and mean diffusivity did not differ from controls except in the fornix.
Brain involvement in Alström syndrome is not uncommon. Early vascular-like lesions, gray and white matter atrophy, mostly involving the posterior regions, and diffuse supratentorial white matter derangement suggest a role of cilia in endothelial cell and oligodendrocyte function.
Alström syndrome (AS; OMIM#203800) is an autosomal recessive rare disorder caused by mutations in ALMS1 (chromosome 2p13), with a frequency estimated at <1:100.000 . The syndrome is multisystemic and major phenotypes include cone-rod retinal dystrophy leading to blindness, hearing loss, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dilated cardiomyopathy, and progressive hepatic and renal failure . Fibrosis in multiple organs has been described . There is considerable variation in the phenotypic spectrum both among and within different families [1, 2].
ALMS1 is ubiquitously expressed, but the function remains unknown. At least one isoform of ALMS1 localizes to the centrosomes and basal bodies of ciliated cells. Studies in murine and cellular models suggest that defects in ciliogenesis and/or structure, function, or maintenance of cilia underlie the pathogenesis of AS [2, 3].
ALMS1 is widely expressed in most regions of the brain (http://www.brain-map.org/). Most AS patients demonstrate normal intelligence, although some reports indicate delayed early psychomotor and intellectual development. Hearing and vision deficits probably contribute to learning delays seen in some young children with AS. Motor milestones are typically delayed by 1–2 years and there may be deficits in coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. A range of autism-spectrum behavior and clonic-tonic or absence-seizure activity has been observed in some cases. Major depression, hyperphagia, obsessive-compulsive, and psychotic behaviors have been noted, particularly in adults [1, 2]. The mechanism underlying the neurological involvement remains unknown in AS and brain imaging has not been studied.
The aim of this study is to specifically investigate central brain involvement by conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in a consistent group of pediatric and adult patients affected by AS.
Twelve patients (mean-age 22 years; range: 6–45, 6 females) affected with Alström Syndrome were recruited from our Department of Internal Medicine (11 patients) and from The Jackson Laboratory (1 patient). All the patients met the diagnostic criteria for AS based on genetic analysis and clinical observations  and had a normal intellectual quotient.
Nineteen age- and gender-matched unrelated healthy subjects or patients referred to neuroimaging for headache with no history of prematurity, head trauma, neurological or psychiatric disease and neurosurgery represented our control group (mean age 23 years; range: 6–43; 12 females).
Two AS patients and 1 control were left-handed according to the Edinburgh handedness inventory . The exclusion criteria were the presence of contraindications to MRI and age < 6 years in order to avoid sedation. The study was approved by the University Hospital of Padua Ethics Committee and the Institutional Review Board of The Jackson Laboratory. Written informed consent was obtained from patients or their parents.
All subjects underwent a complete physical and neurological examination including neurosensory analysis (retinopathy and hearing loss) and were investigated for cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities (obesity, T2DM, cardiomyopathy, and hyperlipidemia). Clinical findings are summarized in Table 1.
1Vision Deficit: + = severe ipovision (< 1/20); ++ = blindness.
3Overweight: - = normal weight (Body Mass Index 18.5 to 25), + = overweight (Body Mass Index 25 to 30); ++ = obesity (Body Mass Index > 30).
4Hypertension: - = normotensive; + = under antihypertensive treatment.
5Heart ejection Fraction: normal value > 55%.
6++ = diabetes mellitus type 2, + = insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia or impaired glucose tolerance.
7 Under therapy with valproic acid, bromazepam and Olanzapine.
8 Under therapy with valproic acid, quetiapine, risperidone, paroxetine.
In particular, one patient (# 7) presented with mild cardiac impairment since infancy.
All our subjects manifested a mild developmental delay.
For 11 patients and all controls, MRI scans were performed at 1.5T (Achieva, Philips Medical Systems, Best, the Netherlands) with a standard quadrature head coil.
Diffusion tensor images acquired with a single-shot echo planar diffusion weighted imaging according to the following parameters: repetition time/ echo time: 10389/80 ms, echo train length: 59; acquisition matrix: 128 × 128, reconstructed voxel: 1.75 × 1.75 × 2 mm, SENSE p reduction: 2, slice thickness: 2 mm without gap, Number of Excitations: 2.
The axial sections covered the whole brain including the cerebellum. The diffusion sensitizing gradients were applied along 32 non-collinear gradient encoding directions with maximum b = 800 s/mm2. One additional image without diffusion gradients (b = 0 s/mm2) was also acquired.
Conventional MR images of patient #5 were collected in another Center with a 1.5T scanner; this patient was excluded from DTI and VBM analysis.
We used the optimized VBM protocol available in the statistical parametric mapping software (SPM8, http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/) . The protocol consisted of the following: a study specific grey matter template was built from the 30 segmented native images affine-registered to the ICBM-152 grey matter template. The native segmented images were then non-linearly normalized onto this template, introducing a 'modulation' for distortions due to the non-linear component of the transformation by dividing each voxel of each registered grey matter volume image by the Jacobian of the warp field. The modulated normalized grey matter volume images were then smoothed with an isotropic Gaussian kernel with a sigma of 3 mm.
For statistical analyses, we used parametric t-test as implemented by SPM8, using age as a covariate of no interest. Results for grey matter were considered significant for p < 0.06, after correction for multiple comparisons using an initial cluster-threshold at p < 0.001 uncorrected (minimum size = 20 voxels). Region of interest analyses for hippocampal regions was performed using WFU-PickAtlas 3.0.3while contrasts were analyzed using SPM .
All DTI data were preprocessed by the Oxford Center for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB)'s Diffusion Toolbox (FDT) within FMRIB's Software Library (FSL; http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/) . First, the diffusion-weighted volumes were aligned to its corresponding non-diffusion-weighted (b0) image with an affine transformation to minimize image distortion from eddy currents and to reduce simple head motion. Then, non-brain tissue and background noise were removed from b0 image using the Brain Extraction Tool. After these steps, the diffusion tensor for each voxel was estimated by the multivariate linear fitting algorithm, and the tensor matrix was diagonalized to obtain its three pairs of eigenvalues (L1, L2, L3) and eigenvectors. Maps of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (L1: first eigenvalue), radial diffusivity (RA: average of the second and third eigenvalue) were then generated.
Whole brain analysis of FA images was performed by using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). In brief, FA maps of all subjects were first realigned to a common target and then the aligned FA volumes were normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute standard space (MNI152). Thereafter, the registered FA images were averaged to generate a cross-subject mean FA image, and then the mean FA image was applied to create a mean FA skeleton which represents the main fiber tracks and the center of all fiber tracts common to the group. The mean FA skeleton was further thresholded by a FA value of 0.2 to exclude peripheral tracts where there was significant inter-subject variability and/or partial volume effects with grey matter. Following the thresholding of the mean FA skeleton, the aligned FA data of each participant was projected onto the mean skeleton to create a skeletonized FA map, by searching the area around the skeleton in the direction perpendicular to each tract, and finding the highest local FA value, and then assigning this value to the corresponding skeletal structure.
To identify FA differences between AS patients and controls, the skeletonized FA data were fed into the voxel-wise statistics analysis which is based on non-parametric approach utilizing permutation test theory. The testing was performed by the FSL randomise program, which uses 5000 random permutations.
Age was entered into the analysis as a covariate. Threshold-Free Cluster Enhancement (TFCE) approach  was used to obtain the significant differences between two groups at p ≤ 0.05, after accounting for multiple comparisons by controlling for family-wise error (FWE) rate.
None of the controls presented any parenchymal abnormality except for an 18-year-old control who had brain MRI because of headache and presented with mild ventriculomegaly and a small aspecific white matter T2 hyperintense lesion on the left frontal lobe.
In the AS group, MRI revealed mild ventricular enlargement (two patients), mild ventricular enlargement with increased subarachnoid spaces (one patient), isolated enlargement of the left lateral ventricle (Figure 1). Ventricular enlargement mostly involved the atria and the posterior horns of the lateral ventricles; a mild increase of the tip of the temporal horn was observed in the 31-year-old male. Three AS patients (25%) presented with periventricular white matter hyperintensity; one patient also presented with several small cortical cerebellar lesions and a left caudate lacune (Figure 2).
Brain MRI: coronal T1-weighted (a) and axial FLAIR (b, c) images of Alström syndrome patients. a) 31-year-old male: mild brain atrophy with enlargement of ventricles and subarachnoid spaces; b) 11-year-old girl: enlargement of the left atrium of lateral ventricle; c) 18 year-old boy: bilateral dilated atria of the lateral ventricle.
Brain MRI of a 43- year- old male patient. Axial FLAIR (a, b); axial (c) and coronal (d) T1 weighted images. a,b) hyperintense rim bordering the margin of both lateral ventricles and a small lacune in the left head of the caudate (arrow); c, d) multiple small hypointense lesions in the cerebellar cortex.
Significantly lower grey matter volume was found in AS patients compared to controls (0.878 ± 0.122 vs. 1.023 ± 0.117 liters; F(1,25) = 18.50; p < 0.001 using age, gender and global intracranial volume as covariates, Figure 3) as described in Table 2. Similarly, white matter volume decrease (0.591 ± 0.078 vs. 0.685 ± 0.108 liters; F(1,25) = 13.85; p = 0.001 using age, gender and total intracranial volume as covariates, Figure 3) was detected, especially in the posterior regions.
TBSS and VBM analysis findings: colored areas show significant differences of Fractional Anisotropy, Radial Diffusivity, Axial Diffusivity, Mean Diffusivity, gray matter and white matter volume between Alström patients and controls. Diffuse myelin supratentorial involvement and regions of symmetric parenchymal atrophy.
aAnatomical labels were obtained using AAL Toolbox; sup = superior; temp = temporal; front = frontal.
b Statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons (Family Wise Error voxel-level).
c Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates of the voxel of maximal statistical significance within each region.
LH = left hemisphere; RH = right hemispher.
By means of ROI analysis for hippocampal regions, a significant differences in GM volume for both left and right hippocampus was found. The difference persisted after FDR correction only in the right hippocampus (p = 0.046). ROI analysis conducted using total GM as covariate showed clusters of significant difference in both left (cluster-level FWE-corrected, p = 0.033, peak: -12, -38, 10) and right hippocampus (cluster-level FWE-corrected, p = 0.050, peak: 12, -38, 10).
TBSS analysis showed regions of significantly reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in AS patients compared to controls (Figure 3). In particular, the optic and acoustic radiation, body of the corpus callosum, cingulum, fornix, centrum semiovale, limb of the internal and external capsule were bilaterally affected. Noteworthy, DTI white matter signal abnormalities also extended to those supratentorial regions that appeared normal on conventional MRI sequences. There were no white matter regions where controls had significantly lower fractional anisotropy values or increased radial diffusivity compared to AS patients.
Axial diffusivity and mean diffusivity were significantly increased in the fornix of AS patients compared with controls (Figure 3). There were no white matter regions where controls had significantly higher mean diffusivity and axial diffusivity.
This study showed that brain involvement is not uncommon in AS patients. On conventional MRI sequences 50% of AS patients presented brain abnormalities including subtle signs of atrophy, periventricular WM abnormalities or lacune-like lesions. Furthermore, VBM revealed white and grey matter volume decrease more evident in the posterior regions while diffusion tensor imaging showed diffuse supratentorial white matter abnormalities involving also the regions that appeared normal on conventional imaging.
So far, neuroimaging data in AS are very scarce. Brain involvement was reported in a 6-year-old girl with AS presenting with aphasia since birth and mild right hemiparesis noted three months before admission . Her brain CT revealed atrophy of the left hemisphere, that according to the authors could have been a coincidental association. Among our patients we had no cases of hemiatrophy, although one patient presented with diffuse mild atrophy and three presented with uni- or bilateral ventricular enlargement without significant increase of subarachnoid spaces. In all cases the ventricular enlargement was more prominent in the posterior part of the lateral ventricles. Likewise, VBM showed a significant white matter and grey matter volume reduction in AS patients, more evident in the posterior cerebral regions.
Although posterior lateral ventricle enlargement has been recognized in several clinical conditions, none of the patients had history of prematurity, peripartum anoxic-ischemic events or head trauma. Interestingly, the posterior horns lie very close to the optic pathway which is primarily affected in AS. A selective atrophy of the optic pathway, therefore, could have contributed to the atrophy of the posterior part of the cerebral hemispheres, as observed in congenital and early blindness [9, 10].
In Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS) patients, focal temporal lobe and midline orbitofrontal lobe grey matter volume loss and hippocampal dysplasia were related to a severe and global impact of ciliary dysfunction on forebrain development [11, 12]. Our study disclosed a more diffuse lower grey matter volume without the specific distribution detected in BBS patients. Moreover, no AS patient met the neuroimaging criteria for hippocampal dysplasia. These findings seem to reveal that brain involvement in these two ciliopathies is dissimilar, thus providing some structural basis for the known different cognitive impairment.
Three AS patients presented with periventricular white matter hyperintensity. This type of lesion is frequently observed in normal subjects but at a much older age  and is attributed to altered hemodynamics since periventricular area is supplied by noncollateralizing ventriculofugal vessels arising from subependymal arteries. Since up to 60% of AS subjects might present with infant cardiomyopathy and sudden onset of cardiac heart failure in their first month of life , parenchymal brain changes might root from heart-related brain hypoxia.
However, cardiac function usually improves before the age of 3, while parenchymal changes seem to appear in AS patients after the age of 30, thus suggesting a different pathogenic mechanism. T2DM, hypercholesterolemia, obesity and heart failure, which are frequent comorbidities in AS, might all contribute to decreased cerebral blood flow, leading to early periventricular white matter hyperintensity in AS patients.
In addition to periventricular white matter lesions, the oldest male patient (43-year-old) had several lesions consistent with small infarcts, almost all in the cerebellar cortex. The pathogenesis of these lesions is unclear. Global hypoperfusion and cardioembolism preferentially involve the supratentorial structures and do not affect almost exclusively the cerebellum as in our patient . On the other hand, bilateral vertebral embolic sources in the young (such as bilateral vertebral artery dissection) do not usually occur without symptoms and would not explain the lesion observed in the left internal carotid artery territory (caudate nucleus). Alternatively, the preferential involvement of the posterior circulation could be related to AS itself. Ciliary involvement in endothelial function has been demonstrated .
The presence of primary cilia in arteries with oscillatory flow suggests a region-specific distribution.
These aspects could underlie a region-specific increased susceptibility to risk factors present in AS. Indeed, other inherited conditions (e.g. Fabry disease) present with an increased risk of stroke in the posterior circulation, unveiling a selective vulnerability to metabolic and vascular factors of vertebro-basilar versus carotid territories .
Noteworthy, vascular-like lesions in AS patients seem to appear as early as 30 years. Better management of cardiac dysfunction will allow increasing survival of AS patients. The expected wider range of brain involvement will prove or deny the selective vulnerability of the vertebrobasilar territory. Recently, an ischemic stroke in a 21-year-old woman with Joubert syndrome has been reported, suggesting that this condition might be at higher risk for acute brain ischemia . So far, no other ciliopathy has been associated with an increased vulnerability to vascular insults, but studies focused on this topic are lacking.
DTI evaluation added significant and unexpected information on white matter involvement in AS. Diffuse changes in radial diffusivity with almost no change in axial diffusivity were observed both in highly anisotropic regions, where the WM tracts are arranged as compact fiber bundles (e.g. the corpus callosum) and in the less anisotropic regions, where WM tracts are variably intermingled. Similar findings have been reported in other diseases characterized mostly by myelin derangement such as relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and in animal models of dysmyelination . White matter fractional anisotropy might be significantly and permanently altered by severe infantile myopathy-related hypoxia. However, neonatal hypoxia also alters permanently mean and axial diffusivity . AS patients did not present with mean and axial diffusivity abnormalities (except from the fornix). Moreover, hypoxia usually presents with cerebellar white matter abnormalities  that were not found in AS patients.
According to these findings hypoxia does not seem to be able to explain supratentorial white matter changes in AS.
Recently, adolescent patients affected with obesity and metabolic syndrome have been shown to present small white matter clusters of decreased FA suggesting a pathogenic role of diabetes, hypertension and obesity in causing early structural brain changes . These changes were limited (global volume of 4.47 mL), and not comparable with the widespread supratentorial involvement observed in our cohort.
Therefore, our findings uncover a diffuse and symmetric supratentorial myelination abnormality. Intriguingly, primary myelin issues have been already reported in the peripheral nervous system of AS patients. Delamination of the myelin sheaths was detected by transmission electron microscopy at the level of the gingiva . Recently, it has been shown that the primary cilia of Schwann cells are the regulators of Hedgehog signaling-mediated myelination in the peripheral nervous system, [23, 24] while genetic studies have shown that Sonic Hedgehog signaling at the level of primary cilia is essential for patterning the embryonic stem cells into oligodendrocytes [25, 26]. Though the exact function of cilia in brain development is unclear, expression of genes involved in ciliary transport are seen in developing neural tissues. A recent MRI study investigated the brain in BBS, a ciliopathy that is clinically similar to AS with the exceptions of polydactyly and learning deficits . By means of volumetric analisys, the study disclosed a significant decrease of white matter volume, suggesting a primary white matter involvement in this ciliopathy. Our findings on AS patients, another ciliopathy that does not feature impairment of cognitive performance, seem to confirm the pivotal role of cilia in the embryogenic mechanism leading to white matter formation.
So far, TBSS has not been applied to investigate white matter changes in BBS, Joubert Syndrome or Meckel-Gruber Syndrome; therefore, it is not possible to clarify whether the white matter involvement observed in AS were a feature shared by other ciliopathies.
The peculiar signal change of the fornix in AS patients is more difficult to unravel. In this region, AS patients had increased mean and radial diffusivity consistent with axonal involvement. It has been demonstrated that body mass index correlates positively with mean and radial diffusivity in the fornix . Moreover, in several psychiatric diseases (e.g. schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa) an involvement of the fornix has been detected. Both these conditions (overweight or obesity and psychiatric disorders) have been observed in AS and might underlie fornix DTI abnormalities. In our group of AS patients ten of twelve were overweight or obese and four had psychiatric issues. On the other hand, the fornix involvement could represent the anatomical substrate leading to weight-related and psychiatry disorders that have already reported in this disease .
Finally, AS patients might take several drugs to control comorbidities. Some of these treatments could hypothetically have affected the abovementioned brain MRI findings.
Quetiapine has been shown to determine hippocampal volume loss in schizophrenic patients,  while risperidone has been reported to increase frontal lobe intracortical myelin volume as detected by means of inversion recovery and proton density weighted images . In our study group only one patient was treated with the abovementioned drugs: the impact on the statistic should be, therefore, negligible if any.
Two patients received omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been demonstrated to protect against cerobrovascular brain pathology and hippocampal volume loss [31, 32]. Given that VBM data and conventional MRI disclosed mild hippocampal volume loss and increased white matter lesion burden in AS patients compared to age matched controls, a direct effect of omega-3 fatty acids in determining these findings is unlikely.
Alström syndrome patients present with mild brain atrophy and vascular-like lesions at a very young age. Additionally, DTI reveals supratentorial dysmyelination which also entails the white matter that appears normal on conventional MRI sequences. The role of cilia in cerebral parenchymal changes and myelination needs further investigation.
Renzo Manara, Pietro Maffei, Valentina Citton, Bettini Vera, Angela Favaro, Nella Augusta Greggio, Milan Gabriella, Gabrieli Joseph, Jan D Marshall and J K Naggert: These authors should be considered senior co-authors.
All the authors declare there are no conflict of interest.
RM and PM: study design, interpretation of data, revising the manuscript, study supervision VC: acquisition of data, interpretation of data and drafting the manuscript, BV: acquisition of data, drafting the manuscript, AF: analysis of data, interpretation of data, drafting the manuscript for content and revising the manuscript, NAG, MG and GJ: acquisition of data, drafting the manuscript, JDM and JKN: acquisition of data and revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.