RESUMO Objetivo analisar os efeitos das vivências em sexualidade na ansiedade e na qualidade de vida de pessoas idosas. Método estudo transversal e analítico desenvolvido com 550 pessoas idosas. Foram utilizados instrumentos validados para a obtenção dos dados sobre sexualidade, ansiedade e qualidade de vida. A análise foi realizada com o teste de Kruskal-Wallis e a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados dentre as dimensões da sexualidade, as relações afetivas e o melhor enfrentamento das adversidades física e social exerceram efeitos de redução da ansiedade. Além disso, o ato sexual e o melhor enfrentamento das adversidades física e social exerceram efeitos de aumento da qualidade de vida. Conclusão e implicações para a prática os profissionais de saúde podem investir na sexualidade, a ser trabalhada de forma grupal e individual, especialmente no componente afetivo, visto que exerceu efeito forte e positivo sobre a qualidade de vida, e nas adversidades física e social, que exerceram efeito moderado e negativo sobre a ansiedade.

ABSTRACT Objective to analyze the effects of experiences in sexuality on anxiety and quality of life of elderly people. Method this is a cross-sectional and analytical study developed with 550 elderly people. Validated instruments were used to obtain data on sexuality, anxiety and quality of life. The analysis was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Structural Equation Modeling with 95% confidence interval. Results among the dimensions of sexuality, affective relationships and better coping with physical and social adversity exerted anxiety-reducing effects. In addition, sexual intercourse and better coping with physical and social adversities exerted effects of increased quality of life. Conclusion and implications for practice health professionals can invest in sexuality, to be worked on in groups and individually, especially in the affective component, since it had a strong and positive effect on quality of life, and in physical and social adversity, which had a moderate and negative effect on anxiety.

RESUMEN Objetivo analizar los efectos de las experiencias en la sexualidad sobre la ansiedad y sobre la calidad de vida de los ancianos. Método estudio transversal y analítico desarrollado con 550 ancianos. Se utilizaron instrumentos validados para obtener datos sobre sexualidad, ansiedad y calidad de vida. El análisis se realizó mediante la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis y el Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales con intervalo de confianza del 95%. Resultados entre las dimensiones de la sexualidad, las relaciones afectivas y el mejor afrontamiento de las adversidades físicas y sociales ejercieron efectos reductores de la ansiedad. Además, el acto sexual y el mejor enfrentamiento de las adversidades físicas y sociales ejercieron efectos de aumento de la calidad de vida. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica: los profesionales de la salud pueden invertir en la sexualidad, para ser trabajada de forma grupal e individual, especialmente en el componente afectivo, ya que tuvo un efecto fuerte y positivo en la calidad de vida y en las adversidades físicas y sociales, que tuvo un efecto moderado y negativo sobre la ansiedad.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a nematode that causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis, a widespread human parasitism in Latin America. This study aimed to characterize the protease profiles of different developmental stages of this helminth. First-stage larvae (L1) were obtained from the faeces of infected Sigmodon hispidus rodents and third-stage larvae (L3) were collected from mollusks Biomphalaria glabrata previously infected with L1. Adult worms were recovered from rodent mesenteric arteries. Protein extraction was performed after repeated freeze-thaw cycles followed by maceration of the nematodes in 40 mM Tris base. Proteolysis of gelatin was observed by zymography and found only in the larval stages. In L3, the gelatinolytic activity was effectively inhibited by orthophenanthroline, indicating the involvement of metalloproteases. The mechanistic class of the gelatinases from L1 could not be precisely determined using traditional class-specific inhibitors. Adult worm extracts were able to hydrolyze haemoglobin in solution, although no activity was observed by zymography. This haemoglobinolytic activity was ascribed to aspartic proteases following its effective inhibition by pepstatin, which also inhibited the haemoglobinolytic activity of L1 and L3 extracts. The characterization of protease expression throughout the A. costaricensis life cycle may reveal key factors influencing the process of parasitic infection and thus foster our understanding of the disease pathogenesis.