Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:46:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 732491 bytes, checksum: c2af66010c87f8d24393ea862d22b7f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-03-29 / The objective of the present work was to study the relationship between two methods of evaluation (CAP Andrologic Evaluation by Points and Sexual Behavior) of Nelore bulls (Bos taurus indicus), and verify the accuracy of the tests to predict the reproductive potential of the bulls, by the gestation rate at the end of the breeding season of ninety days. Fourteen Nelore bulls were used, all classified like ables to reproduction, evaluated by an andrologic examination and submited to an andrologic classification by points (CAP) and observation of the sexual behavior at field (test of libido) by consecutives 12 hours. Of these, eleven bulls were evaluated in individual handling, with an average proportion bull:cow of 1:46 and the rest of the animals (three) were evaluated in a multiple handling, with an average proportion bull:cow of 1:23. The CAP had an average pontuation of 78.92 ± 8.92 (very good) and score of 9.85 ± 0.36 (excellent) for the libido. The greater the time of the test, the highest the libido scores were, but when the bulls were observed for the first hour as questionable, at the end of the test (12 hours) they showed excellent libido. The correlations among libido, scrotal perimeter (PE), physics and morphological characteristics of semen and the gestation rate were low and no significatives (P>0,05). The correlations among CAP, scrotal perimeter (PE) and physics characteristics of semen were positive and significative (P<0,05), but, for the morphologic characteristics, were not (P>0,05). The correlation between CAP and gestation rate was negative and significative (P<0,05). The correlation between libido and the CAP was not significative (P>0,05). The general gestation rate after a period of breeding season was of 74.69 %. During the libido test, the average frequency of the physiological events related to the sexual behavior was practically uniform among all the bulls, which showed higher incidence of smelling and licking of the vulva, Flehmen reflex (RF) and mount relflex (RM). When the behavior classification frequency were compared between the morning and afternoon period of observations, there was a difference between the behaviors classification like identification, precopulatories and others, except for copulation behavior. Showing that the identification behavior was higher in the morning time (from 6:00 to 12:00 h), while the pre-copulatories behaviors and others behaviors were more frequent in the afternoon time (12:00 to 18:00 h). These results indicate that CAP or libido test are independent evaluations and must be used like a complement of the andrologic examination. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a relação entre dois métodos de avaliação (CAP Classificação Andrológica por Pontos e Comportamento Sexual) de touros da raça Nelore (Bos taurus indicus), e verificar a acurácia dos testes em predizer o potencial reprodutivo dos touros, por meio da taxa de gestação ao final da estação de monta de 90 dias em média. Foram utilizados 14 touros da raça Nelore, todos classificados como aptos à reprodução, avaliados por exame andrológico, e submetidos a classificação andrológica por pontos (CAP) e observação do comportamento sexual a campo (teste da libido), por 12 horas consecutivas. Desses, 11 touros foram avaliados em manejo individual, com proporção média touro:vaca de 1:46, e o restante (três animais) foram avaliados em manejo múltiplo, com proporção média touro:vaca de 1:23. O CAP teve pontuação média de 78,92 ± 8,92 (muito bom) e escore de 9,85 ± 0,36 (excelente) para a libido. Quanto maior o tempo de teste, maiores foram os escores da libido, sendo que na primeira hora de observação os touros foram classificados como questionáveis e ao no final do teste (12 horas) como de libido excelente. As correlações entre a libido com o perímetro escrotal (PE), as características físicas e morfológicas do sêmen e a taxa de gestação foram baixas e não significativas (P>0,05). As correlações entre o CAP e o PE e as características físicas do sêmen foram positivas e significativas (P<0,05), enquanto para as características morfológicas não foi observado correlação significativa (P>0,05). Já, a correlação entre o CAP e a taxa de gestação foi negativa e significativa (P<0,05). A correlação entre a libido e o CAP não foi significativa (P>0,05). A taxa geral de gestação alcançada após período de estação de monta foi de 74,69 %. Durante os testes da libido, a freqüência média dos eventos fisiológicos relacionados ao comportamento sexual foi praticamente uniforme entre todos os touros, apresentando maior incidência na realização dos eventos de cheirada e lambida de vulva (CV); reflexo de Flehmen (RF) e reflexo de monta (RM). Quando comparado a freqüência das classes de comportamentos entre dois períodos de observação (manhã e tarde), verificou-se diferença para as classes de comportamentos de identificação, pré-copulatórios e outros, exceto para a classe de comportamento de cópula. Demonstrando, assim, que a classe de comportamentos de identificação apresentou maior ocorrência no período da manhã (6:00 às 12:00 h), enquanto as classes de comportamentos pré-copulatórios e outros comportamentos foram mais freqüentes no período da tarde (12:00 às 18:00 h). Esses resultados indicam que tanto o CAP como o teste da libido são avaliações independentes e devem ser utilizadas de forma complementar ao exame andrológico.

Aims: The overall aim was to determine how lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) affect sleep, health related quality of life and disease specific quality of life, and how the men’s urinary symptoms affect their partners. Subjects and methods: In papers I–II, a descriptive design with a pre-test and post-test was used and in papers III-IV the design was descriptive and comparative. The method was self-administered questionnaires. In papers I- II: The questionnaires were translated in the ethnographic mode. In paper I the reliability of the questionnaire was tested in 122 patients with LUTS/ BPO. The disease specific quality of life was studied before and after intervention in 572 consecutive patients with BPO, aged 45-94 yrs. In paper II, the partner specific quality of life was studied in partners to men with BPO before and after TURP. The reliability and the responsiveness of the questionnaire were tested in two groups with 51 partners each. Papers III-IV: A study of 239 men with LUTS, aged 45-80 yrs, and their partners (n=126) who were compared to randomly selected men from the population (n=213) and their partners (n=131). The men had an extra control group, men with inguinal hernia (n=200). Sleep and health related quality of life was studied in both men and their partners. The partners’ specific quality of life was also studied and the men with LUTS answered questions about urinary symptoms and disease specific quality of life. Results: Papers I-II: All the tested questionnaires showed an acceptable reliability and responsiveness. I: Before and after intervention the prevalence of urinary incontinence was 46 % and 16 % respectively. II: Partners were affected by the patients’ BPO symptoms before and improved after the patients TURPs. III: Most sleep variables were significantly impaired in men with LUTS compared to one or both of the control groups. The men with LUTS had a significantly higher prevalence of insomnia (40 %) than both control groups and significantly lower sleep efficiency (49 %) than men with hernia. The men with LUTS were significantly impaired in most domains of the health related quality of life compared to men in the population. IV: There were no significant differences between the two partner groups regarding the quantity and quality of sleep or the health related quality of life. Conclusions: All tested questionnaires showed an acceptable reliability and responsiveness. The prevalence of urinary incontinence before and after intervention was higher than earlier reported. Men with LUTS had significantly poorer sleep quality, reduced sleep efficiency and a higher prevalence of insomnia than men in the population and men with inguinal hernia. The HRQOL is impaired in men with LUTS compared to men in the population and men with inguinal hernia. Partners are affected by the patients’ symptoms, and it is emotional rather than practical aspects that affect them most. Partners of men with LUTS did not differ significantly from partners in the population with regard to sleep and health related quality of life.

Although the female menopause has been extensively characterized as a well-defined symptomatic state of oestrogen deficiency, which responds relatively well to oestrogen replacement therapy, the symptomatic state of androgen deficiency in men is poorly defined and uncertainty exists whether it responds to testosterone replacement. It has been proposed that hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT)-axis function (responsible for the production of androgens) and regulation could be viewed as a ‘barometer’ of health status in older men and that potential alterations in HPT-axis function and regulation reflect subclinical and clinical deficits in function and health, which may result in an aged phenotype of human health and disease in older men. The HPT-axis constitutes a well-defined, tractable, clinically-relevant, biological system, which may permit insight into the mechanisms underlying the expression of ageing-related phenotypes of human health and disease. By using a different lens – such as the genetic background; the compensatory responses within the HPT-axis; the syndromes of androgen deficiency; the ethnic background of an individual or the life course trajectory of function and health from conception into older age – to magnify potential dysregulation in the HPT-axis will it be possible to visualize and understand the phenotypic expression of human male ageing as a gradient of functional and health outcomes. This will allow for a better understanding of the physiological mechanics underlying symptomatic expression of dysregulation in the HPT-axis.