Conhecimento sobre o VIH, perceção de risco para o VIH e comportamento sexual de jovens mulheres portuguesas

ABSTRACT - Background: Young women make up most cases of HIV infection in Portugal (e.g., 26% in 2012), but their sexual behaviour, ability to recognize sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk in partners, and knowledge and practice of safe sex are underresearched. Methods: We studied these issues in a group of 177 women from Northern Portugal, together with their social, educational, and religious background. The women filled out several self-report questionnaires developed in the USA that have been adapted and validated for use in Portugal. They assess HIV knowledge, risk perception, and sexual risk behaviour. Results: We documented good knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention, although there are still some myths; 79.9% of the women knew that condoms prevent HIV transmission, but only 46% of them declared to use them regularly. Thus, knowledge does not imply adequate preventive behaviour. Women lacking higher education had poorer knowledge of HIV biology and of partner HIV risk. Despite being aware of HIV cases in their communities, most women deemed themselves at little risk, especially those lacking higher education, with many arguing that monogamy protects them, and, importantly, many preferring to ignore their partners’ current and past behaviour when assessing their exposure. Conclusion: These results point to important intervention targets for campaigns to curb STD infections among young women.RESUMO - Antecedentes: As mulheres jovens constituem a maioria das infeções por VIH em Portugal (por exemplo, 26% em 2012), mas o seu comportamento sexual, a capacidade de reconhecer o risco de IST em parceiros e o conhecimento e a prática de sexo seguro são pouco investigados. Métodos: Estudaram-se essas questões num grupo de 177 mulheres do Norte de Portugal, juntamente com seus antecedentes sociais, educacionais e religiosos. As mulheres em estudo preencheram vários questionários de auto relato desenvolvidos nos Estados Unidos da América e que foram adaptados e validados para uso em Portugal. Foi avaliado o conhecimento sobre o VIH, a perceção de risco e o comportamento sexual de risco. Resultados: Documentaram- se bons conhecimentos sobre a transmissão e a prevenção do VIH, embora haja alguns mitos; 79,9% das mulheres sabem que os preservativos impedem a transmissão do VIH, mas apenas 46% declara usá-los regularmente. O conhecimento não implica o comportamento preventivo adequado. As mulheres que não possuíam escolaridade de nível superior tinham um conhecimento mais pobre no que se refere à biologia do VIH e ao risco de VIH no parceiro. Apesar de estarem cientes dos casos de VIH em suas comunidades, a maioria das mulheres considerou-se com pouco risco, especialmente aquelas que não possuem ensino superior, argumentando que a monogamia as protege e, principalmente, muitas preferem ignorar o comportamento atual e passado de seus parceiros ao avaliar a sua exposição. Conclusão: Os resultados identificam importantes alvos de intervenção para as campanhas de prevenção de ISTs na população feminina.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Platelets in aging and cancer—“double-edged sword”

Platelets control hemostasis and play a key role in inflammation and immunity. However, platelet function may change during aging, and a role for these versatile cells in many age-related pathological processes is emerging. In addition to a well-known role in cardiovascular disease, platelet activity is now thought to contribute to cancer cell metastasis and tumor-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) development. Worldwide, the great majority of all patients with cardiovascular disease and some with cancer receive anti-platelet therapy to reduce the risk of thrombosis. However, not only do thrombotic diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, cancer, especially metastasis, is still the second cause of death worldwide. Understanding how platelets change during aging and how they may contribute to aging-related diseases such as cancer may contribute to steps taken along the road towards a “healthy aging” strategy. Here, we review the changes that occur in platelets during aging, and investigate how these versatile blood components contribute to cancer progression

The role of phospho-tyrosine signaling in platelet biology and hemostasis

Platelets are small enucleated cell fragments specialized in the control of hemostasis, but also playing a role in angiogenesis, inflammation and immunity. This plasticity demands a broad range of physiological processes. Platelet functions are mediated through a variety of receptors, the concerted action of which must be tightly regulated, in order to allow specific and timely responses to different stimuli. Protein phosphorylation is one of the main key regulatory mechanisms by which extracellular signals are conveyed. Despite the importance of platelets in health and disease, the molecular pathways underlying the activation of these cells are still under investigation. Here, we review current literature on signaling platelet biology and in particular emphasize the newly emerging role of phosphatases in these processes

Targeting Tyrosine Phosphatases by 3-Bromopyruvate Overcomes Hyperactivation of Platelets from Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the most common causes of cancer related mortality. It has been speculated that hypercoagulation in cancer patients is triggered by direct or indirect contact of platelets with tumor cells, however the underlying molecular mechanisms involved are currently unknown. Unraveling these mechanisms may provide potential avenues for preventing platelet-tumor cell aggregation. Here, we investigated the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the functionality of platelets in both healthy individuals and patients with gastrointestinal cancer, and determined their use as a target to inhibit platelet hyperactivity. This is the first study to demonstrate that platelet agonists selectively activate low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMWPTP) and PTP1B, resulting in activation of Src, a tyrosine kinase known to contribute to several platelet functions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these phosphatases are a target for 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP), a lactic acid analog currently investigated for its use in the treatment of various metabolic tumors. Our data indicate that 3-BP reduces Src activity, platelet aggregation, expression of platelet activation makers and platelet-tumor cell interaction. Thus,

Aging-related predictive factors for oxygenation improvement and mortality in COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients exposed to prone position: A multicenter cohort study

Background: Elderly patients are more susceptible to Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and are more likely to develop it in severe forms, (e.g., Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome [ARDS]). Prone positioning is a treatment strategy for severe ARDS; however, its response in the elderly population remains poorly understood. The main objective was to evaluate the predictive response and mortality of elderly patients exposed to prone positioning due to ARDS-COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study involved 223 patients aged ≥ 65 years, who received prone position sessions for severe ARDS due to COVID-19, using invasive mechanical ventilation. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was used to assess the oxygenation response. The 20-point improvement in PaO2/FiO2 after the first prone session was considered for good response. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographic data, laboratory/image exams, complications, comorbidities, SAPS III and SOFA scores, use of anticoagulants and vasopressors, ventilator settings, and respiratory system mechanics. Mortality was defined as deaths that occurred until hospital discharge. Results: Most patients were male, with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the most prevalent comorbidities. The non-responders group had higher SAPS III and SOFA scores, and a higher incidence of complications. There was no difference in mortality rate. A lower SAPS III score was a predictor of oxygenation response, and the male sex was a risk predictor of mortality. Conclusion: The present study suggests the oxygenation response to prone positioning in elderly patients with severe COVID-19-ARDS correlates with the SAPS III score. Furthermore, the male sex is a risk predictor of mortality