The experiences of lesbian women in medical encounters prove particularly relevant for understanding their difficulties in their relationship with professionals and health services. We carried out semistructured interviews with 30 women aged 21 to 63 years, who define themselves as lesbian. The analysis highlights the difficulties experienced in disclosure of sexuality in medical encounters, the tendency for doctors to come across as heteronormative, and also medical practices experienced as appropriate by interviewees. Analysis of participant experiences demonstrates the need for reflection and decision making to promote the recognition of the sexual citizenship of lesbian women and their empowerment.

Adapting and providing quality services for people as they age is a common challenge across Europe. The perspective of older people is fundamental in a person-centred care approach. Expanding research at the European level that explicitly includes their views can offer a relevant contribution to the development of evidence-based guidelines that can be shared in education and training across health and social care professions. This study aimed to identify common meaningful dimensions of professional competence in health and social care emphasised by older people from six countries in different regions of Europe according to their experiences. A qualitative approach was chosen with a total of 95 semi-structured interviews conducted in Austria, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey and UK, following a common topic guide. Participants in this study were aged 60 and above, and recruitment considered age, gender, level of education and living arrangements. Results identified a set of universal skills and practices that according to older people, health and social care professionals should meet. Competences at the interpersonal level were central in older people's discourses, and its core dimensions are anchored in relational, communication and socio-emotional skills of professionals. These findings reinforce the aspiration of establishing best practices in care that relies on the harmonisation of a competence framework that can be shared in the training and education of health and social care professionals across Europe and that voices older people's preferences, expectations and needs.

A população lésbica em estudos da saúde: contributos para uma reflexão crítica

SUMMARY: The present study aimed to identify and quantify the dimethyl acetal (DMA) levels in the muscle of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, and to investigate the possible influence of octopus feeding ecology on their spatial and seasonal variations. The research was performed over one year in three areas of the Portuguese coast: Viana do Castelo, Cascais and Tavira. Significantly higher values of DMA were detected in Tavira (p<0.05), an area where the importance of bivalves in the octopus' diet was higher. The biochemical analyses performed in several prey items, belonging to five major taxonomic groups identified in octopus stomachs, revealed significant differences in DMA levels (p<0.05). The highest values were obtained in bivalves (1.15 mg 100 g -1 dry weight), followed by gastropods (0.74 mg 100g -1 dw), cephalopods (0.67 mg 100 g -1 dw), crustaceans (0.23 mg 100 g -1 dw) and osteichthyes (0.10 mg 100 g -1 dw). Therefore, based on these findings it can be speculated that the higher DMA levels in O. vulgaris obtained in Tavira throughout the year were evidence of its feeding ecology. Since DMAs are derived from ether glycerophospholipids, including plasmalogens (PLMs), the importance and role of this phospholipid class is discussed.Key words: Octopus vulgaris, dimethyl acetal, plasmalogens, phospholipids, feeding ecology. RESUMEN: CAMBIOS ESPACIO-TEMPORALES EN LOS NIVELES DE DIMETIL ACETAL (OCTADENAL) DE OCTOPUS VULGARIS(MOLLUSCA: CEPHALOPODA): RELACIÓN CON LA ECOLOGÍA TRÒFICA. -El presente trabajo ha tenido como objetivo la identificación y la cuantificación del nivel de dimetil acetal (DMA) en el músculo de Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, e investigar la influencia de la ecología alimentaria del pulpo en los variaciones espacio-temporales de este compuesto. El estudio ha sido realizado durante un año en tres zonas de la costa portuguesa: Viana do Castelo, Cascais y Tavira. Se han obtenido valores significativamente superiores del DMA (p<0.05) en Tavira, un área donde la importancia relativa de los bivalvos en la dieta fue superior. Los análisis bioquímicos realizados en distintos tipos de presas, pertenecientes a los cinco grupos taxonómicos identificados en los contenidos estomacales del pulpo, han revelado la existencia de diferencias significativas en los niveles de DMA entre los grupos (p<0,05). Los valores más elevados han sido obtenidos en los bivalvos (1.15 mg 100 g -1 ), seguidos de los gasterópodos (0.74 mg 100 g -1 ), cefalópodos (0.67 mg 100 g -1 ), crustáceos (0.23 mg 100 g -1 ) e osteichthies (0.10 mg 100 g -1 ). En base a estos resultados se puede especular que los valores más elevados obtenidos en Tavira a lo largo de todo el año constituyen una evidencia de la ecología alimentar del pulpo. Dado que los DMA son derivados de los eter glicerofosfolípidos, donde se incluyen los plasmalogénos (PLM), se discute la importancia y el papel funcional de esta clase de fosfolípidos.