Impaired baroreflex sensitivity and increased systolic blood pressure variability in chronic post-ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES: Acute post-stroke patients present cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, which manifests as lower heart rate variability and impaired baroreflex sensitivity. However, few studies performed to date have evaluated cardiovascular autonomic function in chronic post-stroke patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic modulation in chronic post-ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: The seventeen enrolled subjects were divided into a stroke group (SG, n=10, 5±1 years after stroke) and a control group (CG, n=7). Non-invasive curves for blood pressure were continuously recorded (Finometer®) for 15 minutes while the subject was in a supine position. Heart rate variability and blood pressure variability were analyzed in the time and frequency domains. RESULTS: No differences were observed in systolic and diastolic pressure and heart rate between post-stroke patients and healthy individuals. The SG group had lower indexes for heart rate variability in the time domain (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals, SDNN; variance of normal to normal R-R intervals, VarNN; and root mean square differences of successive R-R intervals, RMSSD) and a lower high-frequency band for heart rate variability than was observed in the CG. Systolic blood pressure variability and the low-frequency band for systolic pressure were higher in post-stroke patients, while the alpha index was lower in the SG than in the CG. CONCLUSION: After ischemic stroke, affected patients present chronically reduced heart rate variability, impaired cardiac vagal modulation, increased systolic blood pressure variability and higher sympathetic vascular modulation along with impaired baroreflex sensitivity, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, despite adequate blood pressure control.

ACE gene dosage determines additional autonomic dysfunction and increases renal angiotensin II levels in diabetic mice

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate cardiovascular autonomic modulation and angiotensin II (Ang II) activity in diabetic mice that were genetically engineered to harbor two or three copies of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene. METHODS: Diabetic and non-diabetic mice harboring 2 or 3 copies of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene were used in the present study. Animals were divided into 4 groups: diabetic groups with two and three copies of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (2CD and 3CD) and the respective age-matched non-diabetic groups (2C and 3C). Hemodynamic, cardiovascular, and autonomic parameters as well as renal Ang II expression were evaluated. RESULTS: Heart rate was lower in diabetic animals than in non-diabetic animals. Autonomic modulation analysis indicated that the 3CD group showed increased sympathetic modulation and decreased vagal modulation of heart rate variability, eliciting increased cardiac sympathovagal balance, compared with all the other groups. Concurrent diabetes and either angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism resulted in a significant increase in Ang II expression in the renal cortex. CONCLUSION: Data indicates that a small increase in angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in diabetic animals leads to greater impairment of autonomic function, as demonstrated by increased sympathetic modulation and reduced cardiac vagal modulation along with increased renal expression of Ang II.

Estresse oxidativo, envelhecimento renal e doença renal crônica terminal / Oxidative stress, renal aging and end-stage renal disease

O mundo está passando por uma transformação demográfica. O número de idosos vem aumentando progressivamente nas últimas décadas, levando a um crescente interesse pelo entendimento do processo de envelhecimento, que é universal, complexo e multifacetado. O estresse oxidativo, uma das teorias biológicas do envelhecimento mais aceita na atualidade, pode estar relacionado à senescência renal. Do ponto de vista do envelhecimento renal, sabe-se que o rim apresenta alterações morfológicas e funcionais com o avançar da idade que podem ser agravadas pela presença de comorbidades. A doença renal crônica terminal vem assumindo grande importância para a saúde pública, visto que a sua incidência e prevalência têm aumentado de forma significativa nas últimas décadas, principalmente na população idosa. Objetiva-se abordar a senescência renal e o desenvolvimento da doença renal crônica terminal e as possíveis relações com a teoria do estresse oxidativo.

The world is undergoing a demographic change. The number of elderly has increased progressively in the last few decades, leading to a growing interest in understanding the aging process, which is universal, complex and multifaceted. Oxidative stress, one of the currently most accepted biological theories of aging, may be related to renal senescence. From the standpoint of renal aging it is known that the kidney presents morphological alterations and, as people grow older, they may become worse due to the presence of comorbidities. End stage renal disease has become increasingly important in public health, since its incidence and prevalence have grown significantly in the last few decades, especially in the elderly population. The intention of this paper is to discuss renal senescence and the development of end stage renal disease, and its possible relations with the theory of oxidative stress.

Função pulmonar após cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdiocom e sem circulação extracorpórea / Pulmonary function following on and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Objetivos: avaliar e comparar a função pulmonar de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio com e sem o uso de circulação extracorpórea. Métodos: a amostra foi composta por 40 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio, classificados em dois grupos: com circulação extracorpórea (grupo CCEC ? 20 pacientes) ou sem circulação extracorpórea (grupo SCEC ? 20 pacientes). Registros espirométricos da capacidade vital forçada (CVF) e do volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) foram obtidos no período pré-operatório (considerado basal) e no primeiro, terceiro e quinto dias do período pós-operatório. Resultados: obser-vou-se que no geral os valores de CVF e VEF1 diminuíram no primeiro pós-operatório em relação ao basal (diferença média = 1,8±1,0, p<0,001 e 1,3±1,0, p<0,001, respectivamente), tendo recuperação parcial no terceiro e no quinto pós-operatórios, sem retornar aos valores iniciais (diferença média 1,2±1,1, p<0,001 e 0,9±0,9, p<0,001, respectivamente). Após controle para os valores basais, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos CCEC e SCEC quanto à CVF e ao VEF1 no quinto dia pós-operatório. Conclusões: a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio associou-se a um decréscimo significante na função pulmonar em todos os pacientes, havendo recuperação parcial da CVF e do VEF1 no quinto pós-operatório para os dois grupos, porém sem retorno aos valores basais. Não se observou associação estatisticamente significativa entre realização de circulação extracorpórea e função pulmonar no quinto dia pós-operatório.

Aims: To evaluate and compare the pulmonary function of patients submitted to myocardial revascularization surgery, with and without the use of extracorporeal circulation. Methods: The sample comprised 40 patients submitted to myocardial revascularization surgery, classified into two groups, depending on whether extracorporeal circulation was used (wECC ? 20 patients) or not (nECC ? 20 patients). Spirometric recordings of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were obtained during the preoperative period (considered baseline) and on the first, third and fifth days postoperatively. Results: In general, the values of FVC and FEV1 diminished on the first day postoperatively compared to the baseline (mean difference = 1.8±1.0, p<0.001 and 1.3±1.0, p<0.001, respectively), with partial recovery on the third and fifth day postoperatively, with no return to the initial values (mean difference = 1.2±1.1, p<0.001 and 0.9±0.9, p<0.001, respectively). After controlling for baseline values, no significant differences were observed between the wECC and nECC groups as to FVC and FEV1 on the 5th day postoperatively. Conclusions: Myocardial revascularization surgery was associated to a significant decrease in pulmonary function in all patients, with partial recovery of FVC and FEV1 on the fifth day postoperatively for all groups, with no return to baseline values. No statistically significant association was found between extracorporeal circulation and pulmonary function on the fifth day postoperatively.

Qualidade de vida de indivíduos com doença renal crônica terminal submetidos à hemodiálise / Quality of life in individuals with end-stage chronic kidney diseaseundergoing hemodialysis

Objetivos: avaliar a qualidade de vida de indivíduos com doença renal crônica terminal submetidos à hemodiálise. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado em pacientes portadores de doença renal crônica terminal, submetidos à hemodiálise no Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, por três meses ou mais. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada por meio do Questionário Genérico de Qualidade de Vida SF-36. As variáveis categóricas foram descritas como frequência absoluta e relativa e as numéricas como média±desvio padrão ou mediana e amplitude interquartil. Para as análises foram utilizados o coeficiente rho de Spearman e o teste de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: dos 49 indi-víduos incluídos no estudo, 26 (53%) eram do gênero masculino. A média de idade foi de 51,5±14,4 anos. O escore de qualidade de vida teve os seguintes resultados conforme os domínios: limitações por aspectos físicos: mediana 0 (amplitude interquartil: 0-100); estado geral de saúde: mediana 52 (amplitude interquartil 41-100); capacidade funcional: mediana 60 (amplitude interquartil 35-77,5); limitações por aspectos emocionais: mediana 66,6 (amplitude interquartil 0-100); vitalidade: mediana 70 (amplitude interquartil 40-80); dor: mediana 72 (amplitude interquartil 41-100);saúde mental: mediana 72 (amplitude interquartil 42-88); aspectos sociais: mediana 87,5 (amplitude interquartil 50-100). Não houve correlação entre qualidade de vida e as variáveis estudadas, nem diferenças de acordo com o gênero. Conclusões: os pacientes com doença renal crônica terminal submetidos à hemodiálise apresentaram valores reduzidos nos escores de qualidade de vida, principalmente nos domínios estado geral de saúde e limitações por aspectos físicos do SF-36.

Aims: To evaluate the quality of life of end-stage chronic kidney disease individuals who underwent hemodialysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study included individuals with end-stage chronic kidney disease diagnosis, who underwent hemodialysis at Hospital de Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The quality of life was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Questionaire 36 - Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Categorical variables were described as absolute and relative frequency and numerical variable as mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartil range. The correlation between age, time of dialysis and the SF-36 domains were analyzed by Spearman?s rho test and Mann-Whitney test. Results: From the 49 individuals, 26 (53%) were male. The mean age was 51.5±14.4 years. The scores for quality of life in the SF-36 scales were: Role-Physical: median 0 (interquartile range 0-100); General Health: median 52 (interquartile range 41-100); Physical Functioning: median 60 (interquartile range 35-77.5); Role-Emotional: median 66.6 (interquartile range 0-100); Vitality: median 70 (interquartile range 40-80); Social Functioning: median 87.5 (interquartile range 50-100); Bodily Pain: median 72 (interquartile range 41-100); and Mental Health: median 72 (interquartile range 42-88). There was no correlation between quality of life and the studied variables, and no differences according to gender. Conclusions: Patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis presented a reduction in the quality of life scores, particularly in the General Health and Role-Physical scales of the SF-36.

Exercícios físicos na doença arterial obstrutiva periférica / Physical exercise in peripheral occlusive arterial disease

A maioria dos pacientes portadores de claudicação intermitente, um aspecto clínico da doença arterial periférica, tem importante limitação nas atividades físicas e redução na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre a intervenção através de exercícios em portadores de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica com claudicação intermitente. Trata-se de uma revisão de artigos científicos consultados nos bancos de dados da BIREME, PubMed e SciELO, através das fontes LILACS e MEDLINE e a partir dos descritores em Ciências da Saúde claudicação intermitente, doenças vasculares periféricas, reabilitação, exercício e terapia por exercício. Concluiu-se que, apesar da variabilidade dos regimes de caminhada identificados na literatura, o treino aeróbio, de uma forma geral, proporciona benefícios a pacientes portadores de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica com claudicação intermitente, principalmente na melhora do desempenho de caminhada, o que pode ter impacto significativo na qualidade de vida desses pacientes.

Most patients with intermittent claudication, a clinical aspect of peripheral arterial disease, have important limitations on physical activity and a reduced quality of life. The purpose of this study was to review literature on exercise intervention for patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease and intermittent claudication. BIREME, PubMed (MEDLINE), SciELO and LILACS databases were searched for the terms intermittent claudication, peripheral vascular diseases, rehabilitation, exercise, exercise therapy, all of which were taken from the list of Health Science Descriptors (BIREME). It was concluded that, despite the variability of walking regimens identified in the literature, the aerobic training is of general benefit to patients with peripheral arterial disease and intermittent claudication, mainly improving their walking performance, which can have a significant impact on the quality of life of these patients.