Qualidade de vida na terceira idade: um conceito subjetivo

Tendo-se em conta a expectativa de vida cada vez mais alta, vários estudos têm sido desenvolvidos de modo a contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida na terceira idade. Objetivou-se conhecer a opinião dos idosos de um município de porte médio do interior paulista sobre o que é qualidade de vida, através de uma pergunta aberta que foi incluída como parte de um inquérito populacional sobre estilo e qualidade de vida. A análise da referida questão foi realizada através do método de Análise de Conteúdo. Posteriormente calcularam-se as freqüências das categorias obtidas, agrupadas segundo o método de Ward, e em seguida os idosos foram agrupados segundo o método de k-médias. Os resultados indicaram a existência de três grupos de idosos segundo sua definição de qualidade de vida: o primeiro valorizou a questão afetiva e a família; o segundo priorizou a obtenção do prazer e conforto; o terceiro poderia ser sintetizado como o idoso que identifica a qualidade de vida colocando em prática o seu ideário de vida. Sugere-se que, na implementação de ações, se objetive melhorar a qualidade de vida do idoso, levando-se em conta as magnitudes e as diferenças de cada grupo.

Mapa dos programas sociais: transferência de renda e dinâmicas sociais no Rio Grande do Norte (2000-2007)

The question of evaluating the fight against poverty in a given society is very complex task, considering the range of factors that permeate, such as education, culture and economy itself. Come hence the relevance of the theme and its constant presence in discussions on the fruits of public policies, institutional structure and economic development which are the guiding elements of this work, and noted that seeks to highlight the social demographics and most important, the most significant trends and issues pertaining to her. The assessment was initially made in all the municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte doing a verticalilzação to the municipalities Caicó, Pau dos Ferros, Ipueira and Taboleiro Grande. Highlighting the role of a social policy through government programs, such as the Bolsa Familia Program (PBF), which creates the possibility of changes in the socio demographic profile given the importance that the action of this public policy has in shaping the regional economic reality As well as social programs and actions of the government here reported that generate mobility of people and new social demands, such as rural retirements, the benefit of continuing provision (BPC), the Program for the Eradication of Child Labor (PETI) that put on the market of population living on the margins of various forms of consumption. Accordingly, the socio economic profile of the state shows a significant improvement in their social indicators, vital education and redistribution of income, due to the significant improvement in life expectancy in the fall of school drop-out rate and the drop in indicators of Proportion Poor and destitute of the state. Where the fall in the proportion of poor and indigent is strongly associated with an increase in income, from social programs. With this transfer and redistribution of income can be gauged that occurs a strengthening of local economies and an engagement of families with the conditionalities of social programs and PETI Bolsa Familia. Our research concludes that simply raising the rents caused by transfers, presents relevant impacts on the education of young people in beneficiary families. There is no doubt that the programs of transfer income, no facing the social field, representing a mechanism to decrease the most perverse ills of poverty, social and economic inequality that is hungry. For a significant portion of the Brazilian population living below the poverty line, programs for the transfer of income are expressed directly in improving the material conditions of life and indirectly in improving self-esteem of women and all family members receiving encouraging yet the integration family. Experiments have shown that improvements in health and nutrition can be obtained through the implementation of adequate social policies like the programs of transfer income, while social inclusion and economic does not become full

Desigualdade da sobrevivência de trabalhadores de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CYR61, a cellular proliferation marker in dogs with prostatic disease

The life expectancy of dogs is increasing and is associated with a greater frequency of age-related disease, including that of the prostate gland. A marker of cell proliferation, CYR61, may be detected in a number of conditions in humans, including hyperplasia and neoplasia. The objective of the present study was to investigate the degree of CYR61 expression in a number of different prostate diseases in dogs in order to understand the potential of this marker for diagnosis of prostatic disease. Immunohistochemistry with a CYR61 antibody was performed on prostatic tissue from 22 dogs with different diseases. Intense stromal staining was observed in cases of prostatic dysplasia and benign prostate hyperplasia. In contrast, CYR61 staining was very intense in alveolar epithelial cells in cases of epithelial benign prostate hyperplasia and one case of adenocarcinoma. An obvious CYR61 staining pattern was absent in cases of prostatitis. In conclusion, CYR61 may be a useful marker of cell proliferation in a number of prostatic pathologies, although further studies of normal tissue are warranted. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gastric Ulcers in Middle-Aged Rats: The Healing Effect of Essential Oil from Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Histologia e ultra-estrutura do vaso dorsal de Scaptotrigona postica (Hymenoptera, Apidae) em operárias e rainhas de diferentes idades

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Demographic aspects of Chrysomya megracephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae) adults maintained under experimental conditions: Reproductive rate estimates

The objective of this work was to evaluate some aspects of the populational ecology of Chrysomya megacephala, analyzing demographic aspects of adults kept under experimental conditions. Cages of C. megacephala adults were prepared with four different larval densities (100, 200, 400 and 800). For each cage, two tables were made: one with demographic parameters for the life expectancy estimate at the initial age (eo), and another with the reproductive rate and average reproduction age estimates. Populational parameters such as the intrinsic growth rate (i) and thefinite growth rate (lambda) were calculated as well.

Influence of artificial saliva in biofilm formation of Candida albicans in vitro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Demographic aspects of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae) adults maintained under experimental conditions: reproductive rate estimates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fertility tables of two populations of the parthenogenetic species Poratia salvator (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Pyrgodesmidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Exercise training as a preventive tool for age-related disorders: a brief review

Aging populations are a worldwide phenomenon affecting both developed and developing countries. This issue raises serious concerns for both governments and the general population. Regular participation in physical activity and/or exercise training programs can minimize the physiological alterations that occur during aging and may contribute to improvements in health and well-being. The present review will discuss the role of regular exercise training in preventing age-related physiological decline and, consequently, associated chronic diseases. Compelling evidence that regular exercise and/or physical activity can improve quality of life, prevent or control the development of chronic disease and increase life expectancy is shown. In summary, regular exercise training and/or physical activity has an important influence on aging and may help to prevent age-related disorders.

Agrupamento de países segundo indicadores de padrão de vida

Foram estudados 125 países avaliados por um conjunto de 26 indicadores básicos, de saúde, econômicos e educacionais, usando-se três métodos estatísticos multivariados: Análise de Agrupamento, Análise de Componentes Principais e Análise de Variância Multivariada. As variáveis mais discriminatórias foram a expectativa de vida, as taxas de mortalidade infantil e de menores de cinco anos, as taxas de natalidade e de fertilidade e a taxa de matrícula no segundo grau para o sexo feminino. Os países foram ordenados de acordo com um índice de padrão de vida e separados em cinco grupos.

Condições associadas ao grau de satisfação com a vida entre a população de idosos

OBJECTIVE: As a result of overall growing population's life expectancy, it has become increasingly important to ensure not only that the elderly have greater longevity but also happiness and life satisfaction. The objective of the study was to describe factors associated with life satisfaction among elderly people.METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-five older persons, selected by means of random stratified proportional sampling, were interviewed in 2003. The instrument used was a combination of Flanagan and Nahas questionnaires and WHOQOL-100. There were added questions concerning physical activity extracted from International Physical Activity Questionnaire, questions regarding reported morbidity and emotional assessment, sociodemographic condition and an open question. The level of life satisfaction was measured using a scale from one to seven by means of visual recognition. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed including life satisfaction as a dependent variable and those included the final questionnaire, in blocks, as independent variables.RESULTS: Most elderly were generally rather satisfied with life as well as with specific aspects. The level of life satisfaction was associated with: comfort at home (OR=11.82; 95% Cl: 3.27; 42.63); appraising leisure as quality of life (OR=3.82; 95% Cl: 2.28; 6.39); waking up feeling well in the morning (OR=2.80; 95% Cl: 1.47; 5.36); not reporting loneliness (OR=2.68; 95% Cl: 1.54; 4.65); having three or more daily meals (OR=2.63; 95% Cl: 1.75; 5.90) and not reporting Diabetes Mellitus (OR-2.63; 95% Cl: 1.3 1; 5.27).CONCLUSIONS: Most elderly in the study were satisfied with life and their satisfaction was associated with situations related to being well and not being diabetic.

Calorimetry, Morphometry, Oxidative Stress, and Cardiac Metabolic Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Obese and Aged Rats

This study investigated the effects of growth hormone therapy on energy expenditure, lipid profile, oxidative stress and cardiac energy metabolism in aging and obesity conditions. Life expectancy is increasing in world population and with it, the incidence of public health problems such as obesity and cardiac alterations. Because growth hormone (GH) concentration is referred to be decreased in aging conditions, a question must be addressed: what is the effect of GH on aging related adverse changes? To investigate the effects of GH on cardiac energy metabolism and its association with calorimetric parameters, lipid profile and oxidative stress in aged and obese rats, initially 32 male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (n = 16), C: given standard-chow and water; H: given hypercaloric-chow and receiving 30 % sucrose in its drinking water. After 45 days, both C and H groups were divided into 2 subgroups (n = 8), C + PL: standard-chow, water, and receiving saline subcutaneously; C + GH: standard-chow, water, and receiving 2 mg/kg/day rhGH subcutaneously; H + PL: hypercaloric-chow, 30 % sucrose, receiving saline subcutaneously; H + GH: hypercaloric-chow, 30 % sucrose, receiving rhGH subcutaneously. After 30 days, C + GH and H + PL rats had higher body mass index, Lee-index, body fat content, percent-adiposity, serum triacylglycerol, cardiac lipid-hydroperoxide, and triacylglycerol than C + PL. Energy-expenditure (RMR)/body weight, oxygen consumption and fat-oxidation were higher in H + GH than in H + PL. LDL-cholesterol was highest in H + GH rats, whereas cardiac pyruvate-dehydrogenase and phosphofrutokinase were higher in H + GH and H + PL rats than in C + PL. In conclusion, the present study brought new insights on aging and obesity, demonstrating for the first time that GH therapy was harmful in aged and obesity conditions, impairing calorimetric parameters and lipid profile. GH was disadvantageous in control old rats, having undesirable effects on triacylglycerol accumulation and cardiac oxidative stress.

Músculo esquelético, insuficiência cardíaca crônica e o papel do exercício

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) show metabolic, hemodynamic and skeletal muscle alterations, which decrease the life expectancy. These alterations are attributed to several factors. The focus of this review was to approach the questions related to physiological, metabolic, morphological and molecular alterations which affect the muscular system of these patients. Later, it was discussed the benefits of physical exercise to this syndrome as well as the pharmacological interventions, which are in investigation aiming the treatment of the same. Some muscle alterations are already described on the literature. For example, the more predominance of type II fibers, lower oxidative enzymatic activity, muscle atrophy and elevated concentration of cytokines that affect the muscle integrity. Thus, further studies involving cellular and molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle in order to create strategies for prevention and treatment for patients with CHF are required