Função pulmonar de crianças com leucemia aguda

Introduction: The leukemias are the most common malignancy in children and adolescents. With the improvement in outcomes, there is a need to consider the morbidity to generate the protocols used in children under treatment. Aim: To evaluate pulmonary function in children with acute leukemia. Method: This study is an observational cross sectional. We evaluated 34 children distributed in groups A and B. Group A comprised 17 children with acute leukemia in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy treatment and group B with 17 healthy students from the public in the city of Natal / RN, matched for gender, age and height. The thoracic mobility was evaluated by thoracic expansion in the axillary and xiphoid levels. Spirometry was measured using a spirometer Microloop Viasys ® following the rules of the ATS and ERS. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured with digital manometer MVD300 (Globalmed ®). The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 17.0 software assigning the significance level of 5%. Descriptive analysis was expressed as mean and standard deviation. T'student test was used to compare unpaired values found in group A with group B values, as well as with the reference values used. To compare the respiratory coefficients in the axillary level with the xiphoid in each group, we used paired testing t student. Results: Group A was significantly decreased thoracic mobility and MIP compared to group B, and MIP compared to baseline. There was no significant difference between spirometric data from both groups and the values of group A with the reference values Mallozi (1995). There was no significant difference between the MIP and MEP values and lower limits of reference proposed by Borja (2011). Conclusion: Children with acute leukemia, myeloid or lymphoid, during maintenance phase of chemotherapy treatment have reduced thoracic mobility and MIP. However, to date, completion of clinical treatment, the spirometric variables and the strength of the expiratory muscles appear to remain preserved in children between five and ten years

Efeito do método pilates no desempenho muscular e no equilíbrio corporal de mulheres idosas: ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

Background: The Pilates Method is a modality of exercise that has been growing in recent decades, but few researches has been conducted with elderly and little is known about its benefits in this population. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a program of Mat Pilates exercises in muscle performance and postural balance in elderly women. Materials and Method: This is a randomized controlled trial that evaluated the muscle performance (isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 3 Pro®) and postural balance (Balance Master System®) of 33 women aged 65-80 years. The experimental group (EG) participated of a 12-week program of Mat Pilates exercises with two weekly sessions. Data normality was verified by the Shapiro - Wilk test and were adopted p value < 0.05 as significance level. Results: There were no differences between groups after training. However, the EG showed an increase in the values of extension and flexion average power to 60 ° / s after training (32.19 W to 37.04 W and 14.48 W to 17.56 W, respectively). Conclusion: The proposed exercise program was not effective in the total work and average power of flexor and extensor of the knee, as well as static and dynamic balance of participants

Influência do método pilates na força e atividade elétrica dos músculos respiratórios de idosas - ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

The reduction of physiological capacity present in the process of aging causes a marked decline in lung function. The exercise does promote several positive changes in the physical health of people and protect the cardiorespiratory function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a program of Pilates exercices on the strengh and electrical activity of respiratory muscles of elderly. This is a randomized, controlled clinical trial, evaluating 33 elderly aged 65 and 80 (70.88 ± 4.32), healthy, sedentary, without cognitive impairment and able the practice physical activity. The sample was divided into two groups, one experimental group with 16 elderly women who did Pilates exercises and a control group (17) that was not submitted to the exercises, but received educational booklets on aging and health care. The elderly were evaluated initially and after a period of three months, taking into account the Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), obtained by Manovacuometry and intensity of EMG activity was measured using the values of Root Mean Square (RMS) for the diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscles, during the course of diaphragmatic breathing and MIP maneuver. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. For all tests, we used a significance level or p value < 0.05 and confidence interval 95%. RMS in diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscles in both tests increased, but the data were significant for the rectus abdominis during diaphragmatic breathing (p = 0.03) and the diaphragm during the MIP maneuver (p = 0.01). There was no significant variation of the MIP and MEP. Pilates exercises were responsible for increasing the electrical activation of the diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscles in a group of healthy elderly, but had no influence on changes in strength of respiratory muscles

Efeitos agudos do alongamento estático antes e após exercício e as características neuromusculares do membro inferior: estudo controlado, randomizado e cego

Objective: To evaluate the acute effects of static stretching before and after isokinetic exercise, neuromuscular and biomechanical properties of muscles Biceps Femoris (BF) and semitendinosus (ST). Methods: Eighty-nine volunteers of both genders, healthy and physically active, with a mean age of 22.52 ± 2.6 years and mean BMI 23.86 ± 3.2 kg/m² were randomized into 4 groups: Control Group (CG) made only one Protocol Exercise (PE) without performing the stretching, the Experimental Group 1 (EG1) did stretching before PE; EG2 did the stretching after PE and EG3 did stretching before and after PE. The volunteers were evaluated on the following variables: Range of motion (ROM), soreness, dynamometric variables concentric and eccentric, Neuromuscular Latency Time (NLT) and electromyographic. In the data analysis was assigned a significance level of 5%. Results: ADM and TLNM reported significant reduction in CG, but remained unchanged in GE with p<0,05 and p<0,01, respectively. As for the soreness, no differences between the groups. The electromyographic activity of the BF and ST, in the concentric phase, showed a significant decrease in all groups (p<0,01). However, in the eccentric phase, ST revealed reduction in all groups (p <0.01), except for the CG, while the BF remained unchanged in all groups. The PT showed significant reduction in both conditions (concentric and eccentric) for all groups, with no difference between them (p<0,01). Conclusion: The results of this study do not favor the use of static stretching, even of short duration, before physical activity. However, after exercise or at times unrelated to the sport, he should be given with the aim of avoiding muscle shortening

Efeitos imediatos da laserterapia sobre o desempenho neuromuscular após fadiga muscular induzida: ensaio clínico controlado, randomizado e cego

The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of laser therapy on neuromuscular performance in healthy subjects after a muscle fatigue. This is a clinical trial, controlled, randomized, blinded, attended by 80 volunteers of both genders, healthy, with ages between 18 to 28 years. Initially the volunteers performed an initial evaluation (EV1) using electromyography in the biceps muscle, associated with assessment in isokinetic dynamometry with 5 concentric contractions (60 °/s) for elbow flexion. The subjects were randomly allocated into 4 groups: G1 (control, n = 20), G2 (placebo, n = 20), G3 (pre-fatigue laser, n = 20), and G4 (post fatigue laser, n = 20). The muscular fatigue protocol had 30 concentric isokinetic contractions (120 °/s). We used a 808 nm laser, power of 100 mW, applied at the belly of the biceps muscle. After the speeches the volunteers performed a final evaluation (EV2). Test was applied to two-way ANOVA with post hoc Turkey, with a significance level of 5%. There was no significant difference in electromyographic evaluation. In dynamometric evaluation showed a drop in peak torque, peak torque normalized to body weight (p <0.001) and average power (p <0, 05) between the initial and final evaluations in control. Among the groups there was a significant difference between the control and the other groups in relation to peak torque (p <0.05), peak torque to body weight (p <0.001) and average power (p <0.05). Therefore, the low intensity laser therapy does not alter the immediate neuromuscular performance after fatigue

Efeito in vitro da terapia fotodinâmica sobre bactérias orais em suspensão e na formação de biofilme : ensaio com azul de metileno e toluidina ativados por luz halógena

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as an alternative method for the treatment of biofilm-dependent oral diseases like dental caries. This therapy consists of simultaneous action of a visible light (L) and a photosensitizer (FS) in the presence of oxygen, which leads to production of different reactive oxygen species that can interact with the bacterial cell components, and promote cell death. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial action of PDT on oral bacteria in suspension, as well as the formation of mono and multi-species biofilms, in vitro, from a standard strain of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) and saliva samples, respectively. The dye methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB) were used at a concentration of 100 mg/ L and activated by halogen light (600 to 750 nm) from a modified hand held photopolymerizer (Ultralux ®, Dabi Atlante, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo, Brazil.). Planktonic cultures were prepared and submitted to different experimental conditions: 1. PDT using TB 2. PDT using MB, 3. L+ FS- , 4. TB + L - ; 5. MB+ L-; 6. L- FS- (negative control) and 7. administration of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (positive control) (Periogard ®, Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, USA). The immediate and mediated action of PDT on bacterial suspensions, as well as its effect on biofilm formation were observed from the number of colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) and measures optical density (OD). The data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for the significance level of 5%. According to the results, the PDT showed no antibacterial action on suspensions of S. mutans, regardless of the dye used. PDT with MB activated by halogen light was able to reduce 86.6% CFU/mL multi-species planktonic cultures, however, this reduction was not significant (p > 0.05). PDT showed antibacterial effect, mediate on multi-species planktonic cultures with TB (p < 0.001) and MB (p < 0.001), activated by halogen light. PDT was able to prevent the formation of multispecies biofilm, through the activation of TB by halogen light (p = 0.01). We conclude that activation of the dye toluidine blue and methylene blue, by halogen light (PDT) showed antimicrobial activity, compared to multi-species planktonic cultures prepared from saliva samples

Análise de células t regulatórias foxp3+no líquen plano oral

T regulatory cells have the function of controlling immune responses and maintaining self-tolerance. The FoxP3 has been considered the most specific marker for Treg cells. The aiming of this paper was to evaluate the immunoexpression of FoxP3 in the inflammatory infiltrate from oral lichen planus (OLP) and to compare it with the infiltrate in fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH) and then, between reticular and erosive forms of OLP. The samples were composed by 32 cases of OLP (17 reticular and 15 erosive) beyond 10 cases of FIH that were submitted to immunohistochemistry staining for FoxP3. Localization of the staining was classified in underepithelial and intraepithelial and the amount of FoxP3+ cells was evaluated through cells counting in 10 consecutive fields, at 400x power magnification. The values were expressed in mean ± standart deviation, and submitted to statistical tests with 5% of significance level. It was observed a statistical significant difference in the amount of FoxP3+ Treg cells between the two combined forms of OLP (1,6 ± 2,2) and the FIH (0,5 ±0,4) (P<0,05). This maybe could be explained by immunological mechanism of OLP, which involves a permanent antigenic induction likely with consequent perpetuation of lesion, eliciting the proliferation and constant recruitment of Treg cells. Otherwise, FIH presents a different etiopathogenesis, in which there is also generation of a variable inflammatory infiltrate, however qualitatively distinct from that seen in OLP. The erosive form of OLP exhibited a greater number (1,7 ± 2,4) of FoxP3+ Treg cells than reticular form (1,5 ± 2,1). These alterations could have relation with the great disease activity verified in erosive OLP, or also, with abnormalities in the regulatory function of Treg cells that could cause the increase observed. Considering the capacity already well established in the literature, both about Treg cells in modulating immune responses, as in the oral mucosa in showing great potential for regeneration, it is suggested that the possibility of development and implantation of immunotherapeutic strategies that regulate the frequency and function of these cells, may help in future treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as OLP

Análise da resposta th17 em líquen plano oral

Th17 cells have been strongly associated with the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IL-17 and IL-23 are important cytokines associated with this lineage. The aim of this study was to analyze, through immunohistochemical methods, the immunoexpression of IL-17 and IL-23 in the inflammatory infiltrate of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesion compared to that of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) and between clinical forms reticular and erosive of OLP. The sample included 41 cases of OLP, of which 23 were reticular and 18 erosive and 10 cases of IFH. The results were subjected to nonparametric statistical tests with a 5% significance level. In OLP lesions histomorphological analysis, the most common findings were: hyperparakeratinization, specimens with atrophic epithelium in erosive clinical form (p = 0.011), epithelial projections in most of reticular type of lesions, in addition Civatte bodies were identified in most samples of both clinical forms. For immunohistochemistry analysis, five fields with strong immunoreactivity for IL-17 and IL-23 were photomicrographed at 400x magnification, images were transferred to a computer where with ImageJ software®, lymphocytes that exhibited cytoplasmic immunostaining for these cytokines were counted. A mean was established after for each case. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of imunopositive lymphocytes for IL-17 and IL-23 among the group of OLP and IFH group, however a larger amount of lymphocytes imunopositive for IL-17 was found in the LPO group (p = 0.079) and significantly higher amounts of those lymphocytes were found in the erosive OLP when compared to the group of reticular OLP and IFH (p = 0.019). Furthermore, a marker epithelial immunopositivity for IL-17 was observed in OLP group. Although the results of this study do not permit the forceful assertion about the participation of Th17 lineage in OLP lesions, the findings of immunopositive lymphocytes counting for IL-17 and IL-23, which are potent proinflammatory cytokines, together with the the marked epithelial immunopositivity found for IL-17 in this study, suggest a possible role of this lineage in the pathogenesis of this disorder

Imunoexpressão do EGFR e da podoplanina em cistos radiculares e dentígeros

The radicular cysts (RCs) and dentigerous (DCs), despite having different etiologies, form a pathological cavity lined by epithelium, which grows due to the buildup of fluid inside, as the surrounding bone is reabsorbed and the epithelium will being induced to proliferate. The epithelial proliferation, which has been identified as one of the key processes in the growth of odontogenic cystic lesions, is influenced by growth factors such as EGFR (epidermal growth receptor factor) and podoplanin (PDPN), many of which may have its production stimulated mainly during inflammatory processes. The objective of this research was to evaluate and compare the immunohistochemical expression of EGFR and PDPN in 30 cases of RCs and 30 cases of DCs, semiquantitatively, in light microscopy, associating it with the degree of inflammation, cellular localization of immunostaining and with the immunostained epithelial layers. Data were statistically analyzed by Chi-square test and Fisher exact test, considering a significance level of 5 %. The results showed high immunoreactivity of both proteins in the lesions studied, only statistically significant difference was observed in immunostaining of PDPN (p=0.033), which proved higher in RCs. The other analyzed parameters showed no relevant significant differences. We conclude that, as EGFR and PDPN showed high immunoreactivity in cystic lesions analyzed, these proteins participate the pathogenesis of these lesions through the epithelial stimulation process, despite having different etiologies. Furthermore, it can infer that the higher immunostaining of PDNP in RCs that DCs showed no distinction indicator between the two lesions, regarding their etiologies, once this protein also showed a considerable expression in DCs, independent of the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate

Avaliação da angiogênese em lesões de líquen plano oral e pênfigo vulgar

Oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris are chronic diseases mucous membrane immune of unknown aetiology that can be observed affecting to the oral mucous. A relevant as regards neoplasies the role angiogenesis in the inflammatory chronic disease pathogenesis as it provides a substancial interest can be considered as being an activity diseases marker; besides being through specialised research of this angiogenic process to improve of understanding pathogenic mechanism. This research proposes to assess angiogenic active through of antibody immunohistochemistry expression antiCD34 antibody in 26 OLP of reticular cases, 14 OLP erosives cases, 18 of PV cases and 15 specimens of normal oral mucosa. The result was submitted non-parametric tests of 5% significance level. It is not statistically significant correlacion was seen regarding between average vessels. However, only be effectively observed the median of OLP cases was larger than pemphigus vulgaris in fact proved average larger than oral normal mucosa (p=0,280). Regarding the microvascular count of CD34 concerning clinic form oral lichen planus (reticular and erosion) increased emphasis is more cross-border average for the form erosion clinic. Despite of the statistic tests could not be more effective (p=0,720). Even though, the results of the research is not sufficient to enable to consider of angiogenic process in the pathogenesis and lesions progression of oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris, we suggest this process is present in both forms lesion, however, more studies must be made in the near future in order to prepare a well-founded proposal

Imunoexpressão da IL-17 e RORγt em carcinomas de células escamosas de lábio e língua

Th17 cells have been strongly associated to the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, although their influence on the carcinogenesis is still little known, there are reports of anti-tumor and protumoral actions. The objective of this study is to research the presence of Th17 lineage in lip and tongue SCC, using the analysis of the immunoexpression of IL-17 and RORγt, relating this immunoexpression with clinical and morphological findings in the attempt to better comprehend the role of these cells on the tumoral immunity of OSCCs. The results were submitted to non-parametric statistical tests with significance level of 5%. On the histomorphological analysis, it was observed the predominance of low level lesions on lip and high level lesions on tongue (p=0,024). It was not observed statistical significance between clinical stage and histological gradation of malignancy (p=0,644). For the immunohistochemical study, 5 random fields with greater immunoreactivity of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate were photomicrographed on the 400x magnification. It was done the count of lymphocytes which showed cytoplasmic and pericytoplasmic staining for the IL-17 cytokine as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining for RORγt. It was observed statistical significance difference on the quantity of immunopositive lymphocytes to IL-17 between the groups of SCC of lip and tongue (p=0,028). For the RORγt it was not observed statistical significance difference between the groups of SCC of lip and tongue (p=0,915). It was not observed statistical difference between the immunostaining of IL-17 and RORγt with histological gradation of malignancy and clinical staging. The findings of this research suggest a possible anti-tumor role of IL-17 for cases of lip. The results of the analysis of the RORγt are possibly due to the wide duality of the anti-tumor and protumoral role of the Th17 cells and their plasticity which, in the presence of different cytokines expressed on the tumor microenvironment, can alter its phenotype.

Estudo da expressão imuno-histoquímica das proteínas MMP-9, MMP-13 e TIMP-1 em ameloblastomas e tumores odontogênicos ceratocistos

Ameloblastomas and keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOT) represent odontogenic lesions that, despite their benign nature, are distinguished by a distinct biological behavior, characterized by locally aggressive growth and recurrent episodes. The gnathic bone resorption caused by the growth of these lesions is a key to the expansion of the same, both being mediated by osteoclastic cells like enzymatic activity of various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) factor. The expression of stimulatory factors and inhibitors of bone resorption has been correlated with the development of these lesions, with emphasis to some MMPs such as collagenases and gelatinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), among others. Based on the premise that stimulatory and inhibitory factors of osteolytic processes can be decisive for the growth rate of intraosseous odontogenic lesions, this experiment evaluated the immunoreactivity of MMP-9, -13 and TIMP-1 protein in the epithelium and mesenchyme of ameloblastoma and the KOT specimens, by a quantitative analysis of the immunoreactivity cells. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests with a significance level set at 5 %. Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9, -13 and TIMP-1 was observed in 100% of cases both in the epithelium and in mesenchyme. The immunoreactivity in the epithelium of KOT and ameloblastomas revealed a predominance of score 3 for MMP-9 (p=0.382) and MMP-13 (p=0.069) and no statistically significance for TIMP-1, the latter being significantly higher immunoreactivity in ameloblastomas. In the mesenchyme, there was a higher score immunoreactivity of MMP-13 (p=0.031) in ameloblastomas in relation to KOT, whereas for MMP-9 and TIMP-1 no statistically significant difference (p=0.403 was observed, p=1.000). The calculation of the ratio of scores revealed expression of proteins in general, similarity of the lesions, a significant predominance of equal expression of TIMP-1 and MMP-9 was observed only in the epithelium of ameloblastoma. The marked immunostaining of MMP-9 , MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in epithelium and mesenchyme of the lesion indicate that these proteins involved in ECM remodeling required for tumor progression, however, specific differences in the expression of some of these proteins, are not sufficient to suggest differences in the biological behavior of ameloblastomas and KOTs

Sistema de produção misto de caprino na região central do estado do Rio Grande do Norte

This study aimed to evaluate the performance and profitability of Canindé goats kept under semi-intensive management in mix farming system. 84 animals were used, being 81 does e three bucks.. The means of fertility rate at parturition, prolificacy and percentages of pregnant, kid survival and reproductive rate were compared by Tukey test at significance level of 5.0%. The kid weights from birth to weaning were submitted to variance analysis considering sex and birth type and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5.0% of significance. The percentages of fertility rate by ultrassographic were 91.36 and parturition 74.84. The prolificacy was 1.53. Independently of sex the mortality rate of kids from birth to weaning was 12.3. The average weights of offspring were 2.11 and 1.92 kg and 6.74 and 6.84 kg for male and female offspring at birth and weaning, in this order. The average weights of kids, meaning PN, P28, P56, P63, in the first season of kidding were 2.11 ± 0.46 kg, 3.63 ± 1.04 kg, 5.96 ± 158 kg and 6.74 ± 1.79 kg. There was significant differences (P<0,05) only to birth weight of kids sons of buck 135. However, the fertility at parturition for first and second breeding seasons (BS) were 87.65 and 62.96, respectively (P<0.05). The prolificacy was 1.58 and 1.47 to first and second BS in this order. The percentages of offspring survival from birth to weaning, to first and second BS were 92.86 and 80.00, respectively. From the first BS the reproduction rate was 1.28 while in the second was 0.74. After weaning the duration of lactation was 104 days to first breeding parturition and 38 days in the second one. The total milk production was 853.50 kg. The kids weight gain was influenced by season of year, wet and dry and buck (P<0.05). Were concluded that the seasons of year when breeding season and parturition occur strongly affected the productive performance and profitability of production system

Levantamento exploratório da composição e frações proteicas do leite bovino em propriedades leiteras

The direct relationship with the processing, industrial yield and price of milk, the importance of the centesimal composition of milk and their protein fractions has increased for both the dairy industry and for the producers, so it is important to identify the possible causes on variation of these components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the seasons, order of calving and lactation phase on milk composition and protein fractions in dairy farms in the Agreste and Leste meso-regions, of Rio Grande do Norte State (RN). Milk samples were taken in seven milk farms directly from the bulk tanks except for one farm where samples were taken from higher milking cows producers and heifers. The experiment was done in seven properties with milk samples taken directly from the bulk tanks and in one property were collected from higher production cows and heifers. Composition analyses were carried out for both experiments and sensorial trial was performed for the second experiment only. The data results were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test performed for 5% significance level. In the first experiment was observed response of the seasons, dry and rainy season; while in the second, the effect of the order of calving and lactation phase had influence on milk composition and protein fractions. There was significant response (p < 0.05) for season effects but due to farms. The rainy season had higher averages in the protein, lactose, total solids and nonfat dry extract. Multiparous cows had higher CCS, NUL and PCAS milk contents; while, first calving heifers showed higher average for the sensory attribute, color of milk. The final third of lactation was responsible for the elevation of the levels of almost all milk components and their protein fractions

Disfunção sexual feminina e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais em mulheres obesas atendidas no ambulatório de cirurgia bariátrica do hospital universitário Onofre Lopes em Natal/RN

A disfunção sexual corresponde a alterações em uma ou mais fases da resposta sexual humana e apresenta maior prevalência na população feminina. Ademais, a participação de alguns fatores como obesidade e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais na disfunção sexual feminina (DSF) permanece incerta. O presente estudo deteve-se na análise da ocorrência de DSF numa população de mulheres portadoras de obesidade, cadastradas no Ambulatório de Cirurgia Bariátrica do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, no município de Natal, RN. O estudo foi realizado em uma amostra composta por trinta e uma mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 50 anos, com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) > 30 Kg/m2. A todas as pacientes foi aplicado um questionário composto por uma seção com dados socio-econômicos, e outra abordando a saúde sexual feminina, sendo esta última correspondente ao Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), para diagnóstico de DSF. A partir dessa caracterização, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos CD (pacientes com disfunção, n= 9) e SD (sem disfunção, n= 22). Para a análise do efeito da obesidade na DSF, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos 1 (6 pacientes com IMC grau I e II: entre 30 e 40 Kg/m2) e 2 (25 com IMC grau III: acima de 40). Para o estudo da participação dos hormônios esteroidais foram determinadas as concentrações séricas de cortisol, estradiol e dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) pelo método de quimiluminescência. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada usando os testes ANOVA, MANOVA (Pillai), além de análise de Cluster. Para identificar as diferenças entre os domínios do FSFI, foi usado o teste T de Student. A significância considerada para todos os testes foi para p< 0,01. Das pacientes estudadas, 25,8% apresentaram DSF de acordo com o escore total do FSFI. A análise estatística posterior evidenciou que as diferenças ocorreram para os domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. Não foi encontrada relação da presença de DSF com os diferentes graus de obesidade ou com os níveis hormonais dos esteróides cortisol, estradiol ou DHEA. Contudo, foi encontrado aumento significativo nos níveis séricos de estradiol para o grupo 1, que corresponde ao de menor índice de IMC. Estes resultados mostram que a prevalência de DSF não diferiu entre os graus I,II e III de obesidade das pacientes deste estudo mas, quando presente, a disfunção ocorre nos domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. A maior concentração de estradiol encontrada nas pacientes de menor índice de IMC sugere uma possível relação entre as duas variáveis que precisa ser investigada em estudos futuros.