Arte, scienza e storia in un mondo globalizzato: il caso Italia-Cina

Art and science, over the centuries, though starting from different positions, have very often led to the same conclusions. History, on the other hand, establishes identities that derive from our past and allows for exchanges and unity between people of different nationalities, in both a commercial and scientific context, in a world without borders, in spite of obvious contradictions related to this globalized world. The case of Italy-China bears witness to this in a significant way.A case in point is represented by the scientific collaboration between the Alma Mater University of Bologna and Zhejiang University, as well as that between the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome and Fudan University in Shanghai, Zhejiang University and the Foreign Studies University of Beijing.In the first case, the ongoing research project “Historical anamnesis, preservation and valorization of the statues of the Longxing Buddhist Temple of Qingzhou (China)” is being carried out between the Department of Cultural Heritage Diagnostic Laboratory for Cultural Heritage of the University of Bologna and the Cultural Heritage Institute of Zhejiang University. In the second case, collaboration between the Salesian Pontifical University and the Chinese Universities, covers activities relating to the study of philosophy, pedagogy and Latin language and literature.The paper highlights the importance of drawing value of a cultural, conservative, social, identitary nature within the context of the holistic value of cultural heritage and respecting ethical aspects at a personal and interpersonal level, in particular, by offering young people the opportunity to enter the employment market and of which they are currently experiencing all the problematic fluctuations.Arte e scienza, nel corso dei secoli, pur partendo da posizioni iniziali differenti, molto spesso conducono alle stesse conclusioni. D’altra parte la storia stabilisce le identità che nascono dal passato e permette scambi e coesioni fra genti di diversa nazionalità, in campo sia commerciale sia scientifico, in un mondo senza confini. Pur con contraddizioni evidenti riconducibili a questo mondo globalizzato, una significativa testimonianza è rappresentata da Italia-Cina. Al riguardo, si fa riferimento alla collaborazione scientifica fra l’Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna e Zhejiang University nonché fra l’Università Pontificia Salesiana di Roma e Fudan University di Shanghai, Zhejiang University e Beijing Foreign Studies University. Nel primo caso è in atto il progetto di ricerca “Historical anamnesis, preservation and valorization of the statues of the Longxing Buddhist Temple of Qinzhou (Cina)” fra il Dipartimento di Beni Culturali - Laboratorio Diagnostico per i Beni Culturali dell’Università di Bologna e il Cultural Heritage Institute di Zhejiang University. Nel secondo caso la collaborazione fra l’Università Pontificia Salesiana e le Università cinesi riguarda attività relative agli studi di filosofia, pedagogia e lettere latine. Si fa presente l ’importanza di trarre benefici di carattere culturale, conservativo, sociale, identitario nell’ ambito del valore olistico del bene culturale e nel rispetto degli aspetti etici a livello personale e interpersonale, offrendo in particolare ai giovani la possibilità di entrare nel mercato del lavoro del quale vivono le attuali e problematiche fluttuazioni

Virus, Art and Faith: How to Respond to Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

"We are not living an epoch of change so much as an epochal change”, to quote Pope Francis. And in this new world full of new challenges, difficult to understand, the pandemic has prevented us from having direct and indirect contact, from sharing, from alterity. And in art, a well-known introspective tool for exploring the soul and the body, what are the responses and reactions in considering the present dramatic and lasting pandemic moment? And can faith offer a new perspective in a world where the main social projects have proved inadequate? That is to say the same faith from which the need to develop research, in all its forms and levels, starting with scientific research, as a service and as a way to invest in "construction"."Ci troviamo non solo in un'epoca di cambiamento, ma in un cambiamento d'epoca" per dirla con Papa Francesco. E in questo nuovo mondo pieno di nuove sfide, anche difficili da comprendere, l'evento pandemico ci ha impedito contatti diretti e indiretti, la condivisione, l'alterità. E nell'arte, noto strumento introspettivo per esplorare l'anima e il corpo, quali sono le risposte e le reazioni anche nella considerazione del presente momento pandemico drammatico e perdurante? Ed ancora: la fede può offrire una prospettiva nuova in un mondo in cui le principali progettualità sociali si sono rivelate inadeguate? Ci si riferisce a quella stessa fede da cui promana l'esigenza di sviluppare la ricerca, in ogni sua forma e livello, a partire da quella scientifica, come servizio per prevenire e investire nella "costruzione"

Pensando indipendentemente e, dopo, insieme: il rapporto fra verità, arte e scienza nell’ambito della transdisciplinarità

I would define the following text as a Note in which different cultural extractions and equally different personal ideas have led to a discussion and the consequent need on the part of each of the authors to write the short paper which, rightly and emphatically, does not exclude others, but rather integrates them into the specific subject matter.The theme it discusses — “Truth” — as an axiom itself, in this case is directed at the cul­tural areas in which, and for which, the authors themselves operate: art and science.Thus the authors of the paper, the scientist, the philosopher and the jurist, with the perspective of openness toward transcendence that unites them, albeit in different ways and with different convictions, give meaning and reason to the concept of “inter­disciplinarity” and “transdisciplinarity.”In this regard, I would like to underline that this concept, which has developed into the stronger form of “cross-disciplinarity,” is present in the Apostolic Constitution “Veritatis Gaudium,” defined as another step in the cultural revolution of Pope Francis.Here, in short: “Thinking independently and, then, as one.”La definirei una Nota nella quale estrazioni culturali differenti e idee personali altrettanto differenti hanno condotto ad un confronto e al conseguente bisogno di stendere, da parte di ciascuno degli autori, il breve scritto che, a ragione e con forza non esclude gli altri, bensì li integra sullo specifico argomento.L’argomento “Verità”, di cui si tratta, quale assioma di per sé, in questo caso è direzionato ad aree culturali nelle e per le quali gli stessi autori operano ovvero: arte e scienza.E così lo scienziato, il filosofo e il giurista, autori dello scritto, con una prospettiva di apertura alla trascendenza che li unisce, ancorché in maniera e con convinzioni differenti, danno significato e ragion d’essere al concetto di “interdisciplinarità”.Al riguardo, vorrei sottolineare che tale concetto, assurto alla sua forma forte di “transdisciplinarità”, è presente nella Costituzione apostolica “Veritatis gaudium”, definita un’altra pietra della rivoluzione culturale di Papa Francesco.Ecco, in sintesi: “Pensando indipendentemente e, dopo, insieme”

Surgical repair of post-infarction ventricular free-wall rupture in the Netherlands: data from a nationwide registry

Background: Ventricular free-wall rupture (VFWR) is an infrequent but catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Most reports about outcome after surgical treatment are single-center experiences. We examined the early and mid-term outcomes after surgical repair of post-AMI VFWR using the Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) database. Methods: We included data from NHR patients (>18 years old) who underwent surgery for post-AMI VFWR between 2014 and 2019. The primary end-point was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications and mid-term survival. Results: The study included 148 patients (54.7% male, mean age 66.5±11.1 years). Critical preoperative status was found in 62.6% of subjects. In-hospital mortality was 31.1% (46 of 148). Multivariable analysis identified female sex [odds ratio (OR), 5.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.24–13.46] and critical preoperative status (OR, 4.06; 95% CI: 1.36–12.13) as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The overall median postoperative follow-up was 2.2 (interquartile range, 0.7–3.8) years. Overall survival rates at three and five years were 58.9% and 55.7%, respectively. Among hospital survivors, only 15 (14.7%) patients died during follow-up, with a five-year survival rate of 80.8%. Conclusions: In-hospital mortality after surgical repair of post-AMI VFWR is considerable. Female sex and preoperative critical status are independent predictors of early postoperative (in-hospital) death. Logistic EuroSCORE I can reliably predict in-hospital mortality (optimal cut-off >33%). Mid-term follow-up of patients surviving in-hospital course shows excellent results

A score system for complete cytoreduction in selected recurrent ovarian cancer patients undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery: predictors- and nomogram-based analyses

Objective: To test the applicability of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gyn\ue4kologische Onkologie (AGO) and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) criteria in predicting complete cytoreduction (CC) in patients undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) for recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). Methods: Data of consecutive patients undergoing SCS were reviewed. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gyn\ue4kologische Onkologie OVARian cancer study group (AGO-OVAR) and MSK criteria were retrospectively applied. Nomograms, based on AGO criteria, MSK criteria and both AGO and MSK criteria were built in order to assess the probability to achieve CC at SCS. Results: Overall, 194 patients met the inclusion criteria. CC was achieved in 161 (82.9%) patients. According to the AGO-OVAR criteria, we observed that CC was achieved in 87.0% of patients with positive AGO score. However, 45 out of 71 (63.4%) patients who did not fulfilled the AGO score had CC. Similarly, CC was achieved in 87.1%, 61.9% and 66.7% of patients for whom SCS was recommended, had to be considered and was not recommended, respectively. In order to evaluate the predictive value of the AGO-OVAR and MSK criteria we built 2 separate nomograms (c-index: 0.5900 and 0.5989, respectively) to test the probability to achieve CC at SCS. Additionally, we built a nomogram using both the aforementioned criteria (c-index: 0.5857). Conclusion: The AGO and MSK criteria help identifying patients deserving SCS. However, these criteria might be strict, thus prohibiting a beneficial treatment in patients who do not met these criteria. Further studies are needed to clarify factors predicting CC at SC

Predicting Factors for High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia in Women With Low-Grade Cervical Cytology and Nonvisible Squamocolumnar Junction

To assess the risk of developing high-grade cervical dysplasia among women with low-grade cervical cytology and nonvisible squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) at colposcopic examination