Religious elements in Buddhism through the Silk Road

UID/HIS/04666/2019During several centuries, the Mahāyāna Buddhism travelled through Central Asia, on its way to China. In this long journey, this religion contacted with numerous cultural contexts, assimilating elements from different origins. Thus, the Buddhism that arrived to Dunhuang, the famous Chinese “Jade Gates”, in the first centuries of the Christian Era, was deeply transformed, integrating references that came as far as the Mediterranean shores. In fact, the contacts between the Ancient Near and Middle East with Central Asia, through the millenary system of communications known as the “Silk Road”, allowed that several religious and cultural elements (whether one speaks about animal symbols or iconographic traits) reached distant territories. By means of systematic and complex syncretic processes, these elements were continuously absorbed, integrating different cultural and religious frameworks. Being no exception, during its journey to China, the Mahāyāna Buddhism came across and integrated several of those elements. With this paper, we aim to analyze some of the religious elements that travelled from Mediterranean to China, focusing our attention on the Chinese Buddhists objects belonging to the collection of the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre (CCCM), in Lisbon.publishersversionpublishe

An integrative dynamic model of Colombian population distribution, based on the maximum entropy principle and matter, energy, and information flow

Human society has increased its capacity to exploit natural resources thanks to new technologies, which are one of the results of information exchange in the knowledge society. Many approaches to understanding the interactions between human society and natural systems have been developed in the last decades, and some have included considerations about information. However, none of them has considered information as an active variable or flowing entity in the human–natural/social-ecological system, or, moreover, even as a driving force of their interactions. This paper explores these interactions in socio-ecological systems by briefly introducing a conceptual frame focused on the exchange of information, matter, and energy. The human population is presented as a convergence variable of these three physical entities, and a population distribution model for Colombia is developed based on the maximum entropy principle to integrate the balances of related variables as macro-state restrictions. The selected variables were electrical consumption, water demand, and higher education rates (energy, matter, and information). The final model includes statistical moments for previous population distributions. It is shown how population distribution can be predicted yearly by combining these variables, allowing future dynamics exploration. The implications of this model can contribute to bridging information sciences and sustainability studies

Role of microRNAs in the regulation of cardiovascular diseases : focus on remodelling

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large class of noncoding RNAs that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes at the post-transcriptional level . They are recognized as regulators of biological processes underlying cardiovascular disorders including hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, valvular disease and arrhythmias. Particularly, circulating miRNAs are promising biomarkers of cardiovascular pathology (1). MiRNAs are small, noncoding, RNA molecules with approximately 22 nucleotides in length, which act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Individual miRNAs have been demonstrated to negatively regulate the expression of multiple gene transcripts by the cleavage or suppression of translation of a target mRNA. Conversely, the expression of individual genes can be regulated by multiple miRNAs. Since their experimental description in 1993 (2), a large number of miRNAs known by their gene-regulatory roles in different biological processes, have been catalogued. In fact, miRNAs are known to regulate approximately one third of all coding gene transcripts in mammals, showing their importance as key process modulators (3). Regarding cardiovascular diseases, miRNAs have been identified as key regulators of complex biological processes linked to several conditions as presented above, including left ventricular remodelling, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension and arrhythmias (1). miRNAs are expressed in the cardiovascular system, but their role in cardiovascular diseases has not yet been entirely clarified. Moreover, since the discovery that miRNAs are present in the circulation, they have been investigated as novel biomarker as presented bellow. Only 3% of the human genome codes for proteins. Nevertheless, while noncoding RNAs will not act for coding into proteins they modulate all genomic functions. These noncoding RNAs include short miRNAs with approximately 22 nucleotides) and longer, with >200 nucleotides, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) with important biological functions (4) since they are now clearly recognised to play key roles in gene regulation and may simultaneously represent diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. (5,6) there are in excess of 2000 human miRNAs (catalogued in mirBase (http://www.mirbase.org) (7). Of note, the key feature of the mechanism of action of miRNAs is that a single miRNA can regulate the expression of several genes, depending on the specificity of the target sequence. On the other side, individual genes can be regulated by different miRNAs particularly if they involve complementary sequences for more than one miRNA. These factors lead to a highly complex regulatory mechanism, often difficult to understand. (8,9). In the healthy adult heart, data from a large sequencing project and other sequential studies, has identified a number of miRNAs that are highly expressed in healthy cardiac tissue and thus expected to play a key role in both normal cardiac function and disease. (10,11) These include miR-1, miR-16, miR-27b, miR-30d, miR-126, miR-133, miR-143, miR-208 and the let-7 family. However, many others have been identified and are now under study. The concept of miRNA-based therapeutics has been emerging and under development, with synthetic antagonists of miRNAs (antagomiRs or antimirs) and very promising in animal models but awaiting new advances in phase II human trials, still in its infancy (12,13). miRNAs clearly intervene in physiological and pathological processes in the cardiovascular diseases. We will review miRNA biology and its role on LV remodeling in myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension and aortic stenosis as additionally a note will be provided on the potential of miRNAs for therapeutics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo transversal sobre profilaxia da endocardite infecciosa: inquérito a médicos da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia

Copyright © Ordem dos Médicos 2022Introduction: In the last decade, the downgrading of indications for antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis caused an uncertain impact on the incidence of this condition. Since no data is available on the practice of infective endocarditis prophylaxis in Portugal, we aimed to characterize the pattern of antibiotic use for infective endocarditis prophylaxis and the compliance/awareness of scientific guidelines among physician members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. Material and methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted. An online self-completed questionnaire with 12 items on infective endocarditis prophylaxis was sent to 1330 physicians, specialists and residents, members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. In addition, descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: Two hundred and fifty-three valid questionnaires were responded. Eighty-seven per cent of respondents were cardiologists (specialists or residents), mostly between 30 and 40 years old (26.7%) and 50 to 80 years old (44.3%). The majority (83.0%) follow the European scientific guidelines. Still, 61.0% had or may have had doubts regarding prophylaxis of infective endocarditis in certain patients. Variable adherence to scientific guidelines was noted. Further scientific evidence was required by 60.6% of respondents. Conclusion: Infective endocarditis prophylaxis was generally guided by European scientific guidelines among physicians of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. There was, however, an evident discrepancy between the guidelines and real-world perception of the risk of infective endocarditis. This highlights the sensed gap in accessing more robust scientific evidence.Introdução: Na última década, a restrição das indicações para a profilaxia antibiótica na endocardite infeciosa teve um impacto incerto na incidência desta condição. Uma vez que não existem dados sobre a prática da profilaxia da endocardite infeciosa em Portugal, procurámos caracterizar o padrão de utilização antibiótica para a profilaxia da endocardite infeciosa e a conformidade/sensibilização das orientações científicas entre médicos, membros da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Material e Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional transversal. Um questionário online de autopreenchimento com 12 itens sobre profilaxia da endocardite infeciosa foi enviado a 1330 médicos, especialistas e internos, sócios da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Foi realizada uma análise estatística descritiva. Resultados: Foram validados 253 questionários respondidos. Oitenta e sete por cento dos inquiridos eram cardiologistas (especialistas ou internos), a maioria entre os 30 e os 40 anos (26,7%) e os 50 e 80 anos (44,3%). A maior parte (83,0%) segue as orientações científicas europeias. Ainda assim, 61,0% admitiu ter ou poder ter dúvidas sobre a profilaxia da endocardite infeciosa em determinados doentes. Verificou-se uma adesão variável às orientações científicas. A necessidade de mais evidência científica foi defendida por 60,6% dos respondedores. Conclusão: Entre médicos da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia, a profilaxia da endocardite infeciosa foi geralmente orientada pelas orientações científicas europeias. Existiu, no entanto, uma evidente discrepância entre as orientações e a perceção do risco de endocardite infeciosa na prática clínica. Isto reforça a necessidade de acesso a dados científicos mais robustos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aortic valve endocarditis by a rare infectious agent in a patient with a rare congenital mitral valve abnormality

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] description: A 66-year-old woman with a past medical history of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and no clinical evidence of immunocompromise, presented to the emergency room with fever and acute pulmonary oedema. The patient had presented low-grade fever and anorexia in the previous 3 weeks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The diversity of uses of building as a strategy for sustainability : the case of Baixa Chiado

Intento / coordenação [de] Mário João Alves Chaves. - Lisboa : Universidade Lusíada, 2022. - ISBN 978-989-640-253-2. - P. 1-184.A diversidade de usos no edificado permite a renovação e regeneração urbana dos locais onde se insere, através da criação de novas dinâmicas e novos polos de interesse para a população. Esta diversidade surge como um meio para a sustentabilidade, pois permite aproveitar recursos existentes, permite o reanimar e dinamizar zonas envelhecidas da cidade, através da diversidade, do dinamismo e do enaltecimento dos valores existentes

The accuracy of Hestia and simplified PESI to predict the prognosis in pulmonary embolism: systematic review with meta-analysis

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Introduction Pulmonary embolism (PE) patients at low risk of early complications may be considered for early discharge or home treatment. Last decades evidence has been growing about the safety of several clinical prediction rules for selecting those patients, such as simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) and Hestia Criteria. The aim of this review was to compare the safety of both strategies regarding 30-days mortality, venous thromboembolism recurrence and major bleeding. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Science on 6 th January 2022. We searched for studies that applied both Hestia Criteria and sPESI to the same population. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated for both stratification rules. Both Hestia and sPESI criteria of low risk were evaluated to set the number of patients that could be misclassified for each 1000 patients with PE. The estimates were reported with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results This systematic review included 3 studies. Only mortality data was able to be pooled. Regarding mortality, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio was 0.923 (95%CI: 0.843-0.964), 0.338 (95%CI: 0.262-0.423) and 6.120 (95%CI: 2.905-12.890) for Hestia Criteria; and 0.972 (95%CI: 0.917-0.991), 0.269 (95%CI: 0.209-0.338) and 12.738 (95%CI: 3.979-40.774) for sPESI score. The negative predictive values were higher than 0.977. The risk of misclassification of high-risk patients in low risk was 5 (95%CI: 3-11) with Hestia and 2 (95%CI: 1-6) with sPESI, for each 1000 patients with PE in terms of mortality. Conclusion The risk of misclassification of patients presenting with low-risk pulmonary embolism with the intent of early discharge or home treatment with both Hestia Criteria and sPESI score is low and these data supports methods for this purpose.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

‘Terreiros’ Under Attack? Criminal Governance in the Name of God and Armed Dominion Disputes over Control in Rio de Janeiro

In this article we analyze acts of violence inflicted by armed groups on members of Afro-Brazilian religions in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro. Based on a media content survey, it was found that in less than 15 years these conflicts ceased to derive from proximity relations and evolved to confrontations over armed hegemony of popular spaces, controlled by drug traffickers and/or militia, who present themselves as members of Pentecostal churches. The criminal governance operated by “traficrentes” and “milicrentes” combines commercial, theological, and doctrinal imperatives with a political project of nation that directly impacts peoples’ ways of life, especially the followers of Afro-Brazilian religions. In this article we analyze acts of violence inflicted by armed groups on members of Afro-Brazilian religions in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro. Based on a media content survey, it was found that in less than 15 years these conflicts ceased to derive from proximity relations and evolved to confrontations over armed hegemony of popular spaces, controlled by drug traffickers and/or militia, who present themselves as members of Pentecostal churches. The criminal governance operated by “traficrentes” and “milicrentes” combines commercial, theological, and doctrinal imperatives with a political project of nation that directly impacts peoples’ ways of life, especially the followers of Afro-Brazilian religions