FbpA is the periplasmic binding protein of the transferrin and lactoferrin-iron transport systems. FbpA is conserved among neisserial species and is required for Neisseria gonorrhoeae to sustain growth on transferrin and lactoferrin. The identification of other putative TonB-dependent outer membrane transporters suggests that gonococci may employ other uncharacterized iron uptake systems that do not require FbpA. Previous work in our lab demonstrated that gonococcal strain FA19 utilizes iron from a number of xenosiderophores of the catecholate and hydroxamate classes. In this study we created conditional FbpA mutants to evaluate whether FbpA plays a role in the ability of gonococci to utilize iron from xenosiderophores. Strain FA19 was able to acquire iron from the xenosiderophores enterobactin and salmochelin in an FbpA-dependent and TonB-independent manner. We were also able to detect an extracellular population of FbpA indicating that FbpA may play a novel role in the internalization of iron in the absence of a dedicated transporter.

Determina la concentración de glucosa, proteínas totales, albúmina, colesterol y triglicéridos en el fluido folicular; en los tres estadios del desarrollo folicular. Se utilizaron 27 alpacas del CIP Chuquibambilla de la UNA – Puno, las que fueron evaluadas mediante un ecógrafo Aloka SSD 500 y un transductor lineal de 7.5 MHz. Los animales fueron sometidos a un procedimiento de sincronización de la onda folicular a la presencia de un folículo ≥7 mm, y a los 9 días post-sincronización fueron identificados en tres grupos específicos; G1 (folículo ≥7 mm en estadio de crecimiento), G2 (folículo ≥7 mm en estadio de estática) y G3 (folículo ≥7 mm en estadio de regresión). Seguidamente, se procedió a la aspiración del fluido folicular del folículo dominante; después el fluido fue centrifugado y el sobrenadante colocado en viales. Las muestras fueron almacenadas en nitrógeno líquido hasta su análisis, que fue realizado mediante kits comerciales específicos (FAR Diagnostics, Italia) y un analizador bioquímico semiautomático; en el laboratorio de fisiología de la UNMSM. Los resultados obtenidos fuerondesa glucosa 37.04, 41.19 y 30.07 (mg/dl); proteínas totales 1.65, 1.93 y 1.79 (g/dl); albúmina 1.14, 1.42 y 1.31 (g/dl); colesterol 15.82, 18.3 y 11.08 (mg/dl); triglicéridos 11.3, 12.35 y 10.78 (mg/dl). Con la excepción de la glucosa, no hubo diferencias significativas en los demás componentes entre los estadios de desarrollo folicular. La concentración de la glucosa entre el estadio de regresión y estática fue diferente (p< 0.05), siendo menor el valor en el estadio de regresión. La misma tendencia fue observada en el colesterol; sin embargo no hubo diferencia significativa entre dichos estadios. Estos resultados indicarían que en el estadio de regresión se produciría una disminución de algunos componentes bioquímicos, lo que podría repercutir en deficiencias reproductivas cuando la ovulación ocurra en el estadio en mención. / Tesis

A thesis completed by published work, Submitted to the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg, South Africa December 2016. / Introduction With the largest epidemic in the world, the consequences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa extend far beyond its disease burden. In fact, patterns of HIV-related infection and mortality in South Africa still reflect social cleavages and inequalities. Similarly, poverty-related issues such as poor education, unemployment and subsequent low socio-economic status, rural residence and inadequate access to health care are all implicated in human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cervical cancer-related mortality (of which South Africa also has the highest globally). Despite the knowledge of reproductive functions and sexuality being poor among adolescents in South Africa, the majority commence their sexual activity early with an estimated national average of 15 years for girls and 14 years for boys. Further, many South African adolescents engage in sexual risk-taking behaviours including concurrent partners and unprotected sexual acts that considerably increase their vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections including HIV and HPV. In recognising the unique health needs of adolescents in South Africa, the national government has already pin-pointed school health services as a strategic arm of primary health care re-engineering. The aim of this body of work is to elaborate on restructuring of adolescent health care by introducing the HIV and HPV vaccine concomitantly in South Africa via a school-based sexual and reproductive health service. Methodology Data from four studies were analysed and are presented in three published and two unpublished papers. The first study evaluated the synergism between HIV and HPV in the South African context and formed the basis of the literature review. The second study considered HIV vaccine implementation alone. The third study assessed dual HIV and HPV vaccine strategies among females and the final study compared the dual vaccination strategy against recognised biomedical HIV prevention interventions. The studies evaluated the implementation of a hypothetical HIV vaccine and the bivalent HPV vaccine both individually and in combination when administered to school-going adolescents in South Africa. The health outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of these strategies were assessed. Assumptions were made regarding the hypothetical HIV vaccine (based on HIV vaccine studies conducted to date) including a coverage rate of 60% (uncertainty range: 30-70%), vaccine efficacy of 50% (uncertainty range: 30-70%) and vaccine price per dose of US$ 12 (uncertainty range: US$ 3-24). The uncertainty ranges were tested in the sensitivity analysis. Mortality statistics, disease transition parameters (for the individual diseases and the models representing joint disease) and HPV vaccine characteristics were drawn from the South African literature. The joint effectiveness of the dual vaccine strategy was considered multiplicative. Nine year old adolescents attending South African schools in 2012 were eligible for the intervention (vaccination) that was introduced opportunistically as part of the national health initiative introducing school-based sexual and reproductive health services. The learners were targeted prior to their reported sexual debut. The HIV vaccine was considered against the comparator of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and the national roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) that constituted the standard of care in South Africa. The HPV vaccine was modelled as prevention against HPV-related cervical cancer and pre-cancerous HPV-related cervical states. The health service provider (provider) perspective was adopted and the cohort was modelled through a lifetime horizon of 70 years with annual cycles. The economic costs and health outcomes were discounted at 3% with an uncertainty range between 0% and 6% assessed. Cost valuations were for 2012 and costs were adjusted to this common year. The quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was used as the outcome measure of health related quality of life and was used to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the comparator against the vaccination interventions. The core model was a semi-Markov simulation with annual cycles. The study population entered the model HIV and HPV disease free and were exposed to the risk of acquiring each disease annually. The model structure was parameterised drawing from South African data available in the literature. One-way sensitivity analyses evaluated the impact of single assumptions on cost and outcomes. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) with a bootstrapping technique explored the uncertainty in the model and evaluated the robustness of the results. The PSA data generated determined if the intervention fell below the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold. As South Africa does not have a pre-defined WTP threshold, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (for 2012) was used as a proxy in accordance with the World Health Organization’s Guide to Cost-Effective Analysis. Additionally, benchmark interventions were used in the final comparison study as a measure of cost-effectiveness. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) of the University of the Witwatersrand. Findings The second study explored the implementation of the HIV vaccine on an individual and national, programmatic level. The simultaneous implementation of HIV vaccination services with current HIV management programmes would be cost-effective, even at relatively higher vaccine cost. At base vaccine cost of US$ 12, the ICER was US$ 43 per QALY gained, with improved ICER values yielded at lower vaccine costs. The ICER was sensitive to the duration of vaccine-mediated protection and to variations in the vaccine efficacy. Data from this work demonstrate that vaccines offering longer duration of protection and at lower cost would result in improved ICER values. Assessing this HIV vaccine model on a national programmatic level, yielded an ICER of US$ 5 per life-year gained (LYG) (95% CI US$ 3-12) compared with the comparator. This fell considerably below the national WTP threshold of cost-effectiveness. This also translated to an 11% increase in per capita costs from US$ 80 to US$ 89. National implementation of this intervention could potentially result in an estimated cumulative gain of 24 million years of life (95% CI 8–34 million years) among those adolescents aged between 10-19 years that were vaccinated. The 10 year absolute risk reduction projected by HIV vaccine implementation was 0.42% for HIV incidence and 0.41% for HIV mortality. The ICER was sensitive to the HIV vaccine efficacy, coverage and vaccine pricing in the sensitivity analysis. The third study assessed the impact of dual HIV and HPV implementation strategies. Programmes that involved the dual vaccine strategy were assessed as cost-saving. ICER values were sensitive to the HIV vaccine cost. The dual vaccine strategy resulted in 10 year absolute risk reductions in HIV incidence (5.24%), dual mortality (1.21%) and a reduction in HPV incidence (0.39%) compared with no vaccination. Importantly, the reduction in HIV incidence rate and dual mortality rate in the dual vaccine strategy exceeded the reductions noted with the use of the HIV vaccine alone. All scenarios assessed with the dual vaccine strategy were cost-effective. Lower vaccine prices and reduced discount rates were associated with improved ICER outcomes. The final study compared the biomedical interventions of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) and the scaling-up of ART coverage against the vaccine strategies. When compared with other biomedical HIV prevention interventions, the dual vaccination intervention was the most cost-effective strategy (US$ 7 per QALY gained) and averted 29% of new HIV infections. VMMC (US$ 30 per QALY gained) proved more cost-effective than HIV vaccination alone (US$ 93 per QALY gained), though VMMC averted 6% more new infections than the HIV vaccine. PrEP interventions were the least cost-effective. Combined dual vaccination and VMMC strategies represent the only dominant intervention. Strategies involving oral PrEP were the least cost-effective. Conclusion The findings of this thesis have implications for school-based adolescent health care and HIV- and HPV-related disease prevention among adolescents, a highly susceptible population. The cost-effectiveness of the dual HIV and HPV vaccine strategy was demonstrated, and the improved health outcomes associated with the interventions quantified. Proposals were suggested regarding possible combinations of HIV prevention interventions that could yield the favourable health outcomes with the most efficient use of financial resources. Several important areas for future research were identified to shed light on improving adolescent health care and for optimising HIV prevention strategies. These include integrating HIV and HPV services as part of the re-engineering of primary health care in South Africa, and then formulating economic evaluations of HIV/HPV prevention strategies targeting adolescents specifically. Further, more effective methods of collecting data on socially marginalised populations such as young people need to be explored. Another vital research area is the discussion and implementation of existing school health documents with the ideals embodied in the school health programme envisaged under the National Health Insurance restructuring. Once these are integrated, the cost implication of the combined programmes need to be assessed. / MT2017

O tumor venéreo transmissível (TVT) é uma das neoplasias de maior incidência na espécie canina acometendo principalmente o trato genital masculino e feminino. Embora o tratamento de escolha seja a quimioterapia, a resistência às drogas tem sido um fenômeno freqüentemente observado na prática clínica. A determinação dos receptores esteróides (estrógeno e progesterona) por imunoistoquímica em tecidos normais e tumorais de humanos e várias espécies animais, tem mostrado grande importância tanto na avaliação prognóstica da doença tumoral, como também na possibilidade de tratamentos hormonais como adjuvantes à quimioterapia. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram avaliar a expressão e comparar a concentração dos receptores de estrógeno &#945; (RE-&#945;) e progesterona (RP4) no tecido vaginal íntegro de fêmeas hígidas e no tecido vaginal e tumoral de fêmeas portadoras de TVT, nas fases do ciclo estral. Foram utilizadas 58 cadelas divididas em grupo experimental (portadoras de TVT) e grupo controle (fêmeas hígidas), agrupadas segundo a fase do ciclo estral determinada por citologia vaginal, dosagem hormonal e aspecto macroscópico dos ovários. Sob anestesia geral, foram colhidos fragmentos da vagina e do tecido tumoral e estes fixados, blocados em parafina e posteriormente submetidos a imunoistoquímica. Nas cadelas do grupo controle houve maior expressão dos RE-&#945; no anestro, proestro e estro (p<0,05) em relação ao diestro. Nas fêmeas do grupo experimental houve maior expressão dos RE-&#945; no diestro (p<0,05) em relação ao estro, porém não mostrou diferença significante quando comparada com o anestro. Não houve diferença estatística para os RP4, nas fases do ciclo estral para os animais do grupo controle e no epitélio vaginal das fêmeas do grupo experimental não houve positividade em nenhum dos fragmentos avaliados. Não se observou positividade para RE-&#945; e RP4 no TVT, porém o endotélio de vasos sanguíneos do tumor apresentou expressão de RE-&#945; em algumas amostras. Concluiu-se que a expressão dos RE-&#945; nos tecido vaginal das cadelas hígidas e de cadelas portadoras de TVT, tem expressão diferente em função do hormônio esteróide circulante, porém não se expressa no tecido tumoral / One of the most frequent canine neoplasias is the Transmissible Venereal Tumour (TVT) which affects male and female genital tract. In clinical routine the standard treatment is chemotherapy, to which nevertheless drug resistance is a common feature. Immunohistochemical determination of steroid hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone) in normal and tumoral tissues of humans and several other species is of great relevance for prognostic evaluation of oncological patients, as well as for the decision of whether to make use of hormonal therapy in association to chemotherapy. The aim of this research was to determine immunohistochemically estrogen (ER-&#945;) and progesterone (PR4) receptors expression in vaginal tissue of non-affected bitches and in vaginal and tumoral tissues of TVT affected bitches. Fifty-eight bitches were equally divided in 2 groups: experimental group (TVT) and control group (non-affected). Canine estrous cycle phases were determined by means of vaginal cytology, hormonal assay and macroscopic appearance of ovaries. Samples from vaginal and tumoral tissues were obtained with bitches submitted to general anesthesia. Samples were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and then mounted in paraffin-embedded sections. Anestrous, proestrous and estrous control females presented higher ER-&#945; expression than diestrous bitches. Within the experimental group, there was statistical difference between estrous and diestrous phases, being ER-&#945; expression higher for diestrous bitches. However, no significant difference in relation to anestrous females was established. In relation to RP4 expression, no difference among estrous cycle phases of the control group was verified. Furthermore, no RP4 expression was noted in vaginal tissue of TVT affected females. In tumoral tissues ER-&#945; and RP4 were not expressed, although some samples presented ER-&#945; expression in blood vessels’ endothelium. In conclusion, different ER-&#945; expression was verified in vaginal tissue of experimental and control bitches under distinct steroid influence, whereas no ER-&#945; expression in tumoral tissues was evidenced

AbstraktBakgrundKvinnlig könsstympning är, en djupt rotad tradition som drabbar över 200 miljoner kvinnor världen över idag. Detta är en olaglig handling i många länder i världen och ett brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna. Studier har visat att dessa kvinnor upplever allvarliga hälsorisker och komplikationer både fysiskt och psykiskt. Kvinnor som är könsstympade känner sig sårbara och utlämnade i mötet med sjukvården, på grund av brist på förståelse hos sjukvårdspersonalen. Kvinnlig könsstympning är svårt att prata om. Könsstympade kvinnor riskerar att få fel diagnos vilket i sin tur leder till fortsatt ohälsa och diskriminering.SyfteSyftet med denna studie var att beskriva sjukvårdspersonals erfarenheter av att vårda kvinnor som är könsstympade.MetodDetta var en systematisk litteraturstudie med en innehållsanalys enligt Forsberg och Wengström (2013) av 3 kvalitativa och 5 kvantitativa studier.SlutsatsStudien visar att det är svårt att ge vård på lika villkor till kvinnor som är könsstympade om inte sjukvårdspersonalen ges rätt förutsättningar för att göra det. Sjukvårdspersonal känner sig utlämnade, inkompetenta, rädda och oroliga när de vårdar den könsstympade kvinnan. Studien visar att sjukvårdpersonalens avsikt och önskan att ge en jämlik och personcentrerad vård till dessa kvinnor, inte möjliggörs på de olika vårdinrättningar där de arbetar. Studien visar att det behövs tillgängliga och tydligare riktlinjer och behov av mer träning och utbildning.Nyckelord - Healthcare professional, experience, female genital mutilation.Stort tack till Emil Danehorn för hans stöd och uppmuntran genom hela detta arbete.

Bakgrund: Idag lever uppskattningsvis 200 miljoner kvinnor som har utsatts för könsstympning. Till följd av migration från länder där ingreppet praktiseras kommer den västerländska sjukvården att möta könsstympade kvinnor, vilket kan innebära nya utmaningar för vårdpersonalen. Syfte: Att beskriva könsstympade kvinnors upplevelser av mötet med västerländsk sjukvård. Metod: Allmän litteraturstudie med 12 originalartiklar av kvalitativ ansats. Studiernaanalyserades och utifrån teman kunde syftet besvaras. Resultat: Fyra teman framkom; “Könsstympade kvinnor i en främmande kontext”, “Oro och rädsla i mötet med västerländsk sjukvård”, “Kommunikationsbarriärer” samt “Positiva upplevelser i mötet med västerländsk sjukvård”. Resultaten visade att kvinnor upplever känslor av att vara annorlunda, kränkande behandling i form av kommentarer och blickar samt oro och rädsla vad gäller personalens kunskap och kompetens. Vidare beskrevs positiva upplevelser när personal bemötte kvinnorna med respekt samt hade ett professionellt förhållningssätt gentemot dem. Slutsats: Könsstympade kvinnor upplevde många gånger ett negativt bemötande vid kontakt med västerländsk sjukvård. Vårdpersonalens kunskap om ingreppet, samt förståelse och respekt för kvinnornas bakgrund var viktig för deras upplevelse av mötet. Det finns behov av mer forskning i ämnet då den västerländska vården i större utsträckning kommer att möta kvinnor som utsatts för könsstympning, till följd av ökad migration. / Background: It is estimated that 200 million women today are living with female genital mutilation. As a result of migration from countries where the procedure is practiced, Western health care will meet women who have been genital mutilated, which can pose new challenges for healthcare professionals. Aim: To describe genital mutilated women's experience of meetings with Western health care. Method: Literature review with 12 original articles of qualitative approach. The studies were analyzed and, based on themes, the purpose could be answered. Result: Four themes emerged; "Genital mutilated women in a foreign context", “Concern and fear in the meeting with Western health care”, "Communication barriers" and "Positive experiences in the meeting with Western health care". Results showed that women experienced feelings of being different, offensive treatment in the form of comments and looks, and concerns and fears regarding the staff's knowledge and competence. Furthermore, positive experiences were described when staff responded to the women with respect and had a professional attitude towards them. Conclusion: Genital mutilated women often experienced poor treatment in the contact with Western health care. Knowledge of the intervention, as well as understanding and respect for the women's background, were important to their experience of the meeting. There is a need for more research into this subject, as the immigration from countries where genital mutilation is common, are increasing.

Severe perineal trauma with injury to the anal sphincter at childbirth can have a profound effect on the physical and psychological wellbeing of women. This thesis describes literature examining resulting outcomes including effects on body image. It describes patient-based outcome measures used to capture this information, and evaluation of their psychometric properties. Body Image can be defined as an individual's perceptions and feelings about their own body. There is a growing interest in how this concept can influence quality of life and psychosocial dysfunction in medical disorders. This thesis aimed to examine relationships between severity of perineal trauma, general and genital specific body image and potentially influences such as symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. No patient-reported outcome measure validated for use in women after anal sphincter injury exists and this thesis also aimed to psychometrically evaluate an existing electronic questionnaire, ePAQ (electronic personal assessment questionnaire), for this application. In the thesis, a retrospective review of body image and physical outcomes attending a perineal clinic shows over half of women report perceived changes in body image after anal sphincter injury, with negative effects on self-esteem. A prospective observational cohort study explored genital and general body image in primiparous women grouped according to degree of perineal trauma or caesarean delivery. Women completed the Female Genital Self Image Score, the modified Body Image Score, ePAQ and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale a mean of 15.5 weeks (standard deviation 1.6) after delivery. There were significant differences in genital body image scores between the groups, but not in general body image, with regression analysis showing the greatest influence on genital body image to be the anatomical extent of the trauma. Embedded into this study was the evaluation of reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and validity (face, content and construct) of ePAQ in the group of women with anal sphincter tears. This thesis presents the first research to quantify issues surrounding severe perineal trauma and body image and demonstrates that more severe trauma leads to a poorer genital body image. It also reports psychometric evaluation of ePAQ in women after anal sphincter injury providing the first single instrument with validity and reliability for use in this context.

Compara las características de la actividad sexual en gestantes con y sin infección genitourinaria atendidas en el Hospital San Juan de Lurigancho de Lima, año 2018. Realiza un estudio de diseño descriptivo comparativo, de corte transversal y prospectivo, con dos grupos de 56 gestantes con y sin infecciones genitales y urinarias a quienes se aplicó el cuestionario de sexualidad en la gestación (QSXG) para evaluar la forma en que viven las gestantes y perciben su sexualidad. Se usó estadística descriptiva con cálculo de frecuencias (absolutas y relativas), medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión. Encuentra en la conducta sexual de gestantes con y sin infección genitourinaria, que el inicio de relaciones sexuales fue a partir de los 15 años, tuvieron más de 3 parejas sexuales, relaciones sexuales más de dos veces por semana (el 32.1% de las gestantes con infección genitourinaria) y una vez por mes (el 28.6% de las gestantes sin infección). El sexo oral y el sexo anal se dio más en gestantes con infección genitourinario y la masturbación en las gestantes sin infección genitourinaria. Mayormente la pose sexual “el misionero” fue practicada en gestantes sin infección genitourinaria y las demás poses por gestantes con infección genitourinaria. En la fisiología sexual, el nivel de deseo y excitación sexual en gestantes sin infección genitourinaria tuvo un promedio de 4.0, siendo mayor que en gestantes con infección genitourinaria. De los aspectos simbólicos de la sexualidad fue poco el gusto por la actividad sexual, y la percepción de la relación sexual fue regular. El sexo oral y la penetración vaginal fueron las prácticas placenteras mayormente en gestantes con infección genitourinaria. En la importancia que se otorga al sexo durante la gestación se tuvo una media mayor en las gestantes sin infección urinaria (3.89) que en las que tuvieron dicha infección (4.11). Concluye que las gestantes con infección genitourinaria tuvieron mayor frecuencia de relaciones sexuales, y menor nivel de deseo y excitación sexual que las gestantes sin infección genitourinaria atendidas en el Hospital San Juan de Lurigancho de Lima de abril a junio 2018. / Tesis

O Lobo-marinho-sul-americano (A. australis) apresenta particularidades em seu ciclo reprodutivo que revelam sua interação com o ecossistema onde habita. Dentre estas podemos citar o intervalo entre partos de 12 meses, a sincronização dos partos e cópulas no início do verão, umlongo período de diapausa e uma implantação do blastocisto no inicio do inverno, que ocorre 4 a 5 meses após a cópula. A anatomia e fisiologia reprodutivas desta espécie ainda não foram profundamente estudadas. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo, a partir do emprego de métodos não invasivos de pesquisa, descrever a anatomia, histologia, quando possível a ultraestrutura, e a vascularização arterial dos órgãos genitais femininos, bem como investigar proteínas e RNAs mensageiros de fatores de crescimento relacionados à vascularização nestes tecidos. Os dados morfológicos foram correlacionados com dados ambientais, oriundos de estações climatológicas próximas à área da colônia estudada. O A. australis apresenta especializações morfológicas passíveis de correlação com o ambiente, hábitos reprodutivos e ciclo reprodutivo sazonal. Estas estruturas foram identificadas como importantes em momentos específicos da biologia reprodutiva e auxiliam na manutenção do status de conservação da espécie. Análises dos dados climatológicos e sua relação com as variações durante o ano revelam que os eventos do parto, cópula e implantação embrionária, ocorrem em momentos onde as maiores variações ambientais acontecem. Os dados morfológicos revelam que existe uma interação entre o ciclo reprodutivo e as especializações anatômicas dos órgãos genitais femininos / The South-American-fur-seal (A.australis) presents unique features in its reproductive cycle, which reflect their interaction with the ecosystem where it lives. The parturition interval of 12 months, synchronization of parturition and copulation in the beginning of the summer, long diapause and implantation of the blastocyst in the beginning of the winter, which occurs 4 to 5 months after copulation are some of these features. The anatomy and reproductive physiology of this species have not been widely studied. This work describes the anatomy, histology, some ultrastructural characteristics, and the main arterial vascularization of the female genital organs using non invasive methods. Moreover, this study investigates the proteins and messenger RNAs of growth factors which are related to vascularization in these tissues. An association between morphological and environmental data from climatology stations near the area of the studied colony was investigated. A. australis presented morphological specialization in genital organs, which might be related to the environment, reproductive habits and seasonal reproductive cycle. Some of these identified structures are essential in specific stages of A. australis reproductive biology, and play an important role in the maintenance and conservation status of this species. Analysis of climatological data and their relation with changes over the year showed that parturition, copulation and embrionary implantation occur in time periods where the highest environmental variations take place. Morphological data revealed an interaction between the reproductive cycle and the anatomic specialization of female genital organs

Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo que teve como objetivo analisar se a sexualidade é uma das dimensões do cuidado de enfermagem nas mulheres com câncer ginecológico e mamário, num hospital universitário. A coleta de dados foi realizada empregando-se como fontes de informação a entrevista individual semiestruturada. Foram entrevistadas 16 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem, sendo nove alocadas na Seção de Enfermagem da Unidade de Ginecologia e sete no Ambulatório de Mastologia e Oncologia Ginecológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Utilizouse o referencial metodológico da análise de conteúdo, e o suporte teórico de análise dos dados foi a sexualidade como construção sociocultural. Os dados foram codificados, inicialmente, em dois núcleos de sentido. A partir desses dois núcleos de sentido, foram construídas quatro unidades temáticas: \"A doença e a sexualidade da mulher: reconhecendo o problema\"; \"A sexualidade como dimensão do cuidado de enfermagem\"; \"Identificando barreiras na abordagem da sexualidade\" e \"Reconhecendo a necessidade de reestruturação da assistência prestada\". No primeiro núcleo temático, destacaram-se as percepções das profissionais de enfermagem em relação ao comprometimento da sexualidade da mulher acometida pelo câncer ginecológico e mamário. Reconhecendo que a vaidade é inerente ao sexo feminino e que as mulheres dão muita importância para a aparência física, foram discutidas as dificuldades apresentadas em viver com o corpo mutilado, bem como as repercussões dessas alterações físicas nas relações conjugais. No segundo tema, exploraram-se as práticas assistenciais que incluem a temática sexualidade. As profissionais de enfermagem entrevistadas incluem a dimensão da sexualidade no cuidado de forma não sistematizada, o que na maioria das vezes não dá identidade às suas práticas e elas passam a ser descontinuadas. Depreende-se que a abordagem da sexualidade pode ser feita de forma irreverente, bem como pode ser beneficiada por certas condições. O terceiro tema enfoca as barreiras mencionadas como impeditivas da abordagem da sexualidade dentro das práticas adotadas. Essas barreiras dizem respeito ao modelo de saúde, às características da dinâmica institucional e às interpretações sociais da sexualidade, sendo reconhecidas como moduladoras das ações. Na construção do quarto tema, consideraram-se as perspectivas de mudança na assistência prestada, pautadas nas reflexões e propostas mencionadas pelas profissionais de enfermagem. A reestruturação que se almeja passa por mudanças na formação, nos valores pessoais e profissionais, assim como pelo reconhecimento das possibilidades de intervenção. Este estudo apresenta limitações por tratar de um tema complexo como a sexualidade. Entretanto as considerações realizadas, a respeito do cuidado prestado pela equipe de enfermagem, instigam à reflexão e à busca por novos paradigmas assistenciais. As discussões não se esgotam e novos estudos são necessários, inclusive dirigidos à própria mulher acometida pela doença, possibilitando confrontar os pontos de vistas em relação à problemática da sexualidade. / This qualitative study aimed to analyze if the sexuality is one of the dimensions of nursing care for women with gynecological and breast cancer assisted at a university hospital. Data collection was performed using semi-structured individual interview as sources of information. 16 professionals of the nursing team were interviewed; being nine allocated in the Nursing Section of the Gynecology Unit and seven in the Mastology and Gynecological Oncology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School. The content analysis methodology was used and the theoretical support for data analysis was sexuality as socio-cultural construction. Data were coded initially in two cores of meaning. From these two cores of meaning, four thematic units were built: \"Disease and sexuality of women: recognizing the problem\", \"Sexuality as a dimension of nursing care\", \"Identifying barriers in addressing sexuality\", and \"Recognizing the need for restructuring assistance\". In the first thematic core, the perceptions of nursing staff in relation to impairment of the sexuality of women affected by gynecological and breast cancer were highlighted. Recognizing that vanity is inherent in female nature and that women give much importance to physical appearance, the difficulties faced in living with the mutilated body as well as the impact of these physical changes in marital relations were discussed. In the second theme, the care practices that include sexuality were explored. The nursing professionals, who were interviewed, include the issue of sexuality in care in a nonsystematic manner, which most often does not give identity to their practices that become discontinued. It infers that the approach of sexuality can be irreverent and can be benefited in certain conditions. The third theme focuses on the barriers mentioned as hindering the approach of sexuality within the practices adopted. These barriers relate to the health model, to the characteristics of institutional dynamics and to the social interpretations of sexuality, being recognized as modulators of the actions. In the development of the fourth theme, the perspectives for change in assistance were considered, guided by reflections and proposals mentioned by the nurse professionals. The wanted restructuring go through changes in the development, in the personal and professional values as well as through the recognition of the possibilities of intervention. This study has limitations because it deals with a complex subject such as sexuality. However the considerations made about the care provided by nursing staff instigate the reflection and search for new paradigms of care. The discussions are not limited and further studies are needed, including those directed to the woman affected by the disease, making it possible to confront the views regarding the issue of sexuality.