Contributions for a new body representation paradigm in pattern design. Generation of basic patterns after the mobile body

Tese apresentada à Faculdade de Arquitectura de Lisboa da Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Design

a detailed view of the methodology

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are prevalent and leading causes of disability and consumption of healthcare and social resources. EpiReumaPt is a national population-based survey developed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology that aimed to estimate the prevalence of RMDs and determine their impact on function, quality of life, mental health and use of healthcare resources. This article describes in detail the design, methodology and planned analyses of EpiReumaPt. Recruitment started in September 2011 and finished in December 2013. This study involved a three-stage approach. The first step was a face-to-face survey performed by trained interviewers at the household of 10,661 subjects who where randomly selected by a stratified multistage sampling. A highly sensitive screening questionnaire for RMDs was used. Secondly, participants who screened positive (64%) for at least one RMD as well as 20% of individuals with a negative screening were invited for assessment by a rheumatologist. In total, 3,877 subjects participated in this second phase, where they were also invited to donate a blood sample to be stored at the Biobanco-IMM. History and physical examination, followed by appropriate laboratory and imaging tests were performed. At the end of the visit, the rheumatologist established a diagnosis. Finally, a team of three experienced rheumatologists reviewed all the clinical data and defined the diagnoses according to previously validated criteria. The EpiReumaPt dataset, containing data from several questionnaires, various clinical measurements and information from laboratory and imaging tests, comprises an invaluable asset for research. The large amount of information collected from each participant and the large number of participants, with a wide age range covering and being representative of the adults from the entire country, makes EpiReumaPt the largest study of RMDs performed in Portugal.publishersversionpublishe

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

RAMIRO Y LOS DERECHOS HISTÓRICOS DE LA PAC

Ramiro es un mediano agricultor de unos 60 años y dos hijos. Es propietario de una explotación de 50 hectáreas: una parte en secano y otra en regadío. En la parcela de regadío tiene cultivos herbáceos de temporada, mientras que en la de secano tiene una plantación de olivar. Es beneficiario de las ayudas directas de la PAC, que le suponen un buen colchón de seguridad tal como están hoy de bajos los precios de los productos. Querría que los precios fueran más elevados, más justos, como se decía en una pancarta de las grandes movilizaciones del año pasado en las que participó siguiendo la llamada del sindicato. Pero la realidad es la que es, y no pierde el tiempo en lamentarse. No confía mucho en la nueva ley de la cadena alimentaria, pero valora la importancia de la PAC, ya que hay años en los que las ayudas directas significan casi un tercio de su renta

A FRAX model for the estimation of osteoporotic fracture probability in Portugal.

The objective of this study was to develop a Portuguese version of the World Health Organization fracture risk assessment tool ( FRAX® )

Diferenciais da mortalidade por violência contra adolescentes segundo estrato de condição de vida e raça/cor na cidade do Recife The mortality differentials by violence against adolescents according to living conditions strata and race/color in the city of Recife

Um estudo ecológico foi conduzido com o objetivo de analisar os diferenciais da mortalidade por violência contra adolescentes segundo estrato de condição de vida e raça/cor, no Recife, no período de 1998 a 2004. O coeficiente médio de mortalidade por violência para o período foi calculado para o município e para os estratos de condição de vida. Os dados relativos à violência foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade. Para a raça/cor, foram calculadas proporções e considerado o período de 1999 a 2004. A taxa de mortalidade por mortes violentas contra adolescentes para o município foi de 88,24 por 100 mil adolescentes, sendo 46,93 no estrato I, de "melhor condição de vida", e 95,00 no estrato III, de "pior condição de vida". Dentre as mortes violentas, 92,45% acometeram adolescentes pretos e 7,55%, adolescentes brancos. Os resultados demonstram desigualdades na mortalidade por violência revelando um trágico panorama na trajetória de vida dos adolescentes.<br>An ecological study was conducted in order to analyze the differences in mortality by violence against adolescents according to living conditions strata and race/color in Recife in the period from 1998 to 2004. The average mortality coefficient for violence during this period was calculated for the city and by living conditions strata. The data related to the violence were obtained from the System of Information on Mortality. For the race/color, proportions have been calculated and within the period of 1999 to 2004. The mortality rate for violent deaths against adolescents for the city was of 88.24 per 100 thousand adolescents, being 46.93 in stratum I, of "better living condition", and 95.00 in stratum III, of "worse condition of life". Amongst the violent deaths, 92.45% reached black adolescents and 7.55% white ones. The results show up inequalities in mortality by violence disclosing a tragic panorama in the trajectory of life of the adolescents

Portuguese guide lines for the use of biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis - october 2011 update

The authors present the revised version of the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR) guidelines for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with biological therapies. In these guidelines the criteria for introduction and maintenance of biological agents are discussed as well as the contraindications and procedures in the case of non-responders. Biological treatment (with a tumour necrosis factor antagonist, abatacept or tocilizumab) should be considered in RA patients with a disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) equal to or greater than 3.2 des pite treatment with at least 20mg-weekly-dose of methotrexate (MTX) for at least 3 months or, if such treatment is not possible, after 3 months of other conventional disease modifying drug or combination therapy. A DAS 28 score between 2.6 and 3.2 with a significant functional or radiological deterioration under treatment with conventional regi -mens could also constitute an indication for biological treatment. The treatment goal should be remission or, if that is not achievable, at least a low disease activity, defined by a DAS28 lower than 3.2,without significative functional or radiological worsening. The response criteria, at the end of the first 3 months of treatment, are a decrease of at least 0.6 in the DAS28 score. After 6 months of treatment res ponse criteria is defined as a decrease greater than 1.2 in the DAS28 score. Non-responders, in accordance to the Rheumatologist's clinical opi -nion, should try a switch to another biological agent (tumour necrosis factor antagonist, abatacept, rituxi mab or tocilizumab).publishersversionpublishe

Practical guide for the use of biological therapies in rheumatoid arthritis - Update of December 2011

The authors review the practical aspects of biologi -cal therapy use for rheumatoid arthritis patients, commenting safety issues before and after treatment initiation and the best treatment strategies to optimize efficacy.publishersversionpublishe