Sex steroids have been widely described to be associated with a number of human diseases, including hormone-dependent tumors. Several studies have been concerned about the factors regulating the availability of sex steroids and its importance in the pathophysiological aspects of the reproductive cancers in women. In premenopausal women, large fluctuations in the concentration of circulating estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) orchestrate many events across the menstrual cycle. After menopause, the levels of circulating E2 and P4 decline but remain at high concentration in the peripheral tissues. Notably, there is a strong relationship between circulating sex hormones and female reproductive cancers (e.g. ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers). These hormones activate a number of specific signaling pathways after binding either to estrogen receptors (ERs), especially ERα, ERα36, and ERβ or progesterone receptors (PRs). Importantly, the course of the disease will depend on particular transactivation pathway. Identifying ER- or PR-positive tumors will benefit patients in terms of proper endocrine therapy. Based on hormonal responsiveness, effective prevention methods for ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers represent a special opportunity for women at risk of malignancies. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might significantly increase the risk of these cancer types, and endocrine treatments targeting ER signaling may be helpful against E2-dependent tumors. This review will present the role of sex steroids and their receptors associated with the risk of developing female reproductive cancers, with emphasis on E2 levels in pre and postmenopausal women. In addition, new therapeutic strategies for improving the survival rate outcomes in women will be addressed.

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnant women in a public health service.Methods A study of 496 pregnant women at 35-37 gestational weeks was conducted from September 2011 to March 2014 in 21 municipalities of the 18th Health Region of Paraná State. Vaginal and anorectal samples of each woman were plated on sheep blood agar, and in HPTH and Todd-Hewitt enrichment broths.Results Of the 496 pregnant women, 141 (28.4%) were positive for GBS based on the combination of the three culture media with vaginal and anorectal samples. The prevalence was 23.7% for vaginal samples and 21.9% for anorectal ones. Among the variables analyzed in this study, only urinary infection was a significant factor (0.026) associated with GBS colonization in women.Conclusions Based on these results, health units should performs universal screening of pregnant women and hospitals should provide adequate prophylaxis, when indicated.

SUMMARYIntroduction:Group B streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae can colonize the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and has been considered one of the most important risk factors for the development of neonatal disease. The present study evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility of GBS isolates from pregnant women who were attended at a public health service in Northern Paraná, Brazil. Methods:A descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was performed with 544 pregnant women, at ≥ 35 weeks of gestation. One hundred and thirty-six GBS isolates from pregnant women were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Results:All of the GBS isolates showed susceptibility to the drug that is most frequently used for intrapartum prophylaxis: penicillin. Resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin was detected, thus decreasing the options of prophylaxis in women who are allergic to penicillin. Conclusions: Additional studies should be conducted to increase the knowledge of GBS sensitivity profile to antimicrobials in other health centers.

Objectives: to estimate the prevalence of drug abuse in pregnant women and to associate with the variables education, family income, race and number of pregnancies. Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative research. Developed in the municipality of Bandeirantes-PR, from June 2016 to December 2017. The population was 114 pregnant women and the dependent variables were alcohol / tobacco use and illicit drugs and the independent variables were education, race, family income and number of pregnancies. The analysis was the comparison between the variables and Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS 20.0 was used. It was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results: the use of drugs of abuse during pregnancy was 19.2%, presenting as a sociodemographic profile characterization the age between 19 to 29 years, predominance of nonwhite race, with study time ≤ 9 years, with income from 1 to 2 minimum wages and multiparous women. The most commonly used drug of abuse was alcohol, followed by tobacco. Concomitant use between drugs was significant with alcohol and tobacco / illicit drugs and tobacco. Conclusions: drug use had a prevalence of 19.2% and acts in conjunction with social issues and this case, intervening is necessary with an individualized care plan, thus ensuring the promotion and prevention of maternal and child health.

Objetivo: analisar o conhecimento dos profissionais de escolas municipais após a prática educativa de atendimento de primeiros socorros na infância. Método: estudo quase‑experimental, quantitativo. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se um questionário sobre primeiros socorros na infância, aplicado antes e após uma prática educativa com 88 profissionais. Na análise dos dados, adotou-se o percentual de acertos para cada questão e a média percentual de acertos total. Aplicaram-se os testes McNemar e Wilcoxon. Resultados: após a prática educativa, houve aumento significativo no percentual de acertos em seis questões, redução do acerto em uma questão; e não alteração em duas questões, totalizando em 30% o acréscimo da retenção de conhecimento. Conclusão: o nível de conhecimento prévio dos profissionais sobre primeiros socorros foi relativamente baixo, entretanto observou-se uma apreensão de conhecimento significativo após a prática educativa, que poderá contribuir para o atendimento inicial de qualidade à vítima.