Our findings reveal that, as the animals age, there is an increase of proliferation in restricted areas of the prostate epithelium, and a concomitant reduction of the apoptosis rate with an increase in cell survival induced by caspase-8, indicating a focused and spontaneous disruption of tissue homeostasis.

Besides androgens, estrogen signaling plays a key role in normal development and pathologies of the prostate. Irreversible synthesis of estrogens from androgens is catalyzed by aromatase. Interestingly, animals lacking aromatase do not develop cancer or prostatitis, whereas those with overexpression of aromatase and, consequently, high estrogen levels develop prostatitis and squamous metaplasia via estrogen receptor 1 (ERα). Even with this evidence, the aromatase expression in the prostate is controversial. Moreover, little is known about the occurrence of age-dependent variation of aromatase and its association with histopathological changes commonly found in advanced age, a knowledge gap that is addressed herein. For this purpose, the immunoexpression of aromatase was evaluated in the prostatic complex of young adult to senile Wistar rats. ERα was also investigated, to extend our understanding of estrogen responsiveness in the prostate. Moderate cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for aromatase was detected in the glandular epithelium. Eventually, some basal cells showed intense staining for aromatase. The expression pattern for aromatase appeared similar in the normal epithelium when young and senile rats were compared; this result was corroborated by Western blotting. Conversely, in senile rats, there was an increase in the frequency of basal cells intensely stained for aromatase, which appeared concentrated in areas of intraepithelial proliferation and prostatitis. These punctual areas also presented increased ERα positivity. Together, these findings suggest a plausible source for hormonal imbalance favoring estrogen production, which, by acting through ERα, may favor the development of prostatic lesions commonly found in advanced age.

Objetivo: compreender a vivência da espiritualidade de idosos em cuidados paliativos de um hospital público de Belo Horizonte. Método: trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa com 11 idosos em cuidados paliativos, por meio uma entrevista a partir de três questões norteadoras. Para análise dos dados, foram aplicadas as três etapas previstas no processo de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: emergiram duas categorias, “A espiritualidade no idoso em cuidados paliativos” e “A percepção do idoso sobre a abordagem da espiritualidade pela equipe de saúde”. Conclusão: os idosos em cuidados paliativos vivenciam a espiritualidade, as relações com o transcendente, independentemente de possuir uma religião. Buscam adaptações às novas condições de vida, dando alívio dos sintomas por meio da relação com o sagrado.