Perfil sociodemográfico, econômico e de saúde de idosos rurais segundo o indicativo de depressão* Sociodemographic, economic and health profile of the rural elderly, according to depression indicatorsPerfil sociodemográfico, económico y de salud de ancianos rurales según el indicativo de depresión

Previous studies have shown that males who have AIDS are more frequently affected by infectious diseases than females. The esophagus is the organ in the digestive tube that is more commonly affected by opportunistic infections during the syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of AIDS and of gender on local immunity of the esophageal epithelium. Fragments of the esophagus from 29 autopsied women and 37 autopsied men were collected at a university hospital from 1980 to 2009 and were divided in groups with and without AIDS. The IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells and Langerhans cells (LCs) were immunostained, respectively, with anti-IgA, anti-IgG, anti-IgM, and anti-S100. The software Image J was used to measure the esophageal epithelium and to count the epithelium cellular layers. Patients with AIDS, apart from gender, showed an increase in IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells and a reduction of Langerhans cells, in thickness and in number of cellular layers in the esophageal epithelium. However, among individuals with AIDS, men presented lower secretory expression of IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-positive cells than women and more intense reduction of LCs. Women have naturally presented better local esophageal immunity than men. Although AIDS possibly causes immunological and morphological alterations in the esophageal epithelium in both genders, women have better esophageal immunity, which may explain a greater frequency of hospital admissions due to infection of men with AIDS when compared with women.

Objective: to describe the relationship of spirituality and religiosity with gender, age and family income of the elderly people. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with 643 elderly people using a socio-demographic questionnaire and a brief multidimensional measure of religiosity/spirituality. A descriptive analysis, Student's t-test (sex) and Pearson correlation for age and Spearman for income (p<0.05) were performed. Results: female prevailed, age group 60|-70 years old, living with the partner, education level of 1|-5 years of study and income of a minimum wage. The female presented higher averages than the male in most of the dimensions of religiosity and spirituality. The age presented a weak positive correlation in the dimensions of organizational religiosity and global self-assessment; while income did not present a statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: female and older adults presented greater dimensions of religiosity and spirituality, while income did not present significant correlation. Descriptors: Health of the Elderly; Religion; Spirituality. Objetivo: descrever a relação da espiritualidade e religiosidade com sexo, idade e renda familiar de idosos. Métodos: estudo transversal com 643 idosos por meio de questionário sociodemográfico e Medida multidimensional breve de religiosidade/espiritualidade. Realizou-se análise descritiva, teste t-Student (sexo) e correlação de Pearson para idade e Spearman para renda (p<0,05). Resultados: prevaleceu o sexo feminino, faixa etária 60|-70 anos, residem com o companheiro, escolaridade de 1|-5 anos de estudo e renda de um salário mínimo. O sexo feminino apresentou médias superiores ao masculino na maioria das dimensões de religiosidade e espiritualidade. A idade apresentou correlação positiva fraca nas dimensões religiosidade organizacional e autoavaliação global; enquanto a renda não apresentou correlação estatisticamente significativa. Conclusão: os idosos do sexo feminino e mais velhos apresentaram maiores dimensões de religiosidade e espiritualidade, enquanto que a renda não apresentou correlação significativa. Descritores: Saúde do Idoso; Religião; Espiritualidade.

Studies have shown immunological and morphological alterations in the esophagus during the course of AIDS. Esophageal postmortem samples of 22 men with AIDS autopsied in a teaching hospital between 1982 and 2009 were collected. We carried out revision of the autopsy reports and medical records, morphometric analysis (Image J and KS-300 Kontron-Zeiss), and immunohistochemical (anti-S100, anti-IgA, anti-IgG, and anti-IgM) analysis of the esophagus. In accordance with most of the parameters evaluated, age and the smoking habit harmed the esophageal local immunity, whereas the use of antiretroviral therapy improved the immune characteristics of this organ. Patients with esophagitis also presented immunological fragility of the esophagus. This leads to the conclusion that alterations in the esophageal epithelium of patients with AIDS are not only caused by direct action of HIV but also the clinical and behavioral characteristics of the patient.

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