Introduction: Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) present low cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity. Metabolic changes, due to the disease, can result in a variety of pathophysiological conditions that favor the development of respiratory muscle weakness. However, very little is known about the performance of the respiratory muscles and the influence of HD on them. Aim: To evaluate and correlate pulmonary function, functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength in patients with CKD undergoing HD. Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising 23 patients with CKD, that met the following inclusion criteria: patients of both genders, who perform HD three times a week for a minimum period of three months. Respiratory muscle strength was evaluated using a respiratory pressure meter, lung function through spirometry and functional capacity through the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) before the HD session. Results: All patients were male and mean age was 50.2 ± 15.8 years. The median duration of HD was 3 (1.5 to 6.0) years. The mean values obtained in comparison to those predicted were MIP% 36.0 ± 13.6, MEP% 49.5 ± 15.8, FVC% 93.8 ± 21.1, FEV1% 93.7 ± 21.1, FVC/VEF1% 104.1 ± 10.3, and 6MWT% 66.33 ± 20.53. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the 6MWT and MIP (r = .63, p =.001) and MEP (r = .67, p < .001), between the MIP and MEP (r =.79, p < .001) and between the FEV1 and FVC (r = .91, p < .001). Conclusion: Patients with CKD undergoing HD present changes in respiratory muscle strength, with the predicted values decreasing for age and gender, as well as the distance covered in the 6MWT, although, with normal spirometric values. Functional capacity was dependent on respiratory muscle strength, as well as the values of MIP and MEP, and the values of FVC and FEV1.

BackgroundHypertension is a complex chronic condition characterized by elevated arterial blood pressure. Management of hypertension includes non-pharmacologic strategies, which may include techniques that effectively reduce autonomic sympathetic activity. Respiratory exercises improve autonomic control over cardiovascular system and attenuate muscle metaboreflex. Because of these effects, respiratory exercises may be useful to lower blood pressure in subjects with hypertension.Methods/designThis randomized, double-blind clinical trial will test the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training in reducing blood pressure in adults with essential hypertension. Subjects are randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. Intervention consists of inspiratory muscle training loaded with 40 % of maximum inspiratory pressure, readjusted weekly. Control sham intervention consists of unloaded exercises. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures are co-primary endpoint measures assessed with 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Secondary outcome measures include cardiovascular autonomic control, inspiratory muscle metaboreflex, cardiopulmonary capacity, and inspiratory muscle strength and endurance.DiscussionPreviously published work suggests that inspiratory muscle training reduces blood pressure in persons with hypertension, but the effectiveness of this intervention is yet to be established. We propose an adequately sized randomized clinical trial to test this hypothesis rigorously. If an effect is found, this study will allow for the investigation of putative mechanisms to mediate this effect, including autonomic cardiovascular control and metaboreflex.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02275377. Registered on 30 September 2014.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1514-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introdução: O crack é uma forma fumável de cocaína capaz de causar grande dependência. Uma vez que o pulmão é o principal órgão exposto, complicações pulmonares são frequentemente observadas. Objetivo: Investigar na literatura as principais complicações pulmonares em decorrência do uso de crack. Método: Foi realizada uma busca nas principais bases de dados: Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, PEDro e Cochrane. Resultado: Foram encontrados 107 artigos com o termo “Crack Cocaine”, no Lilacs; 1.981, no Medline; 85, no Cochrane; 55, no SciELO, e 2, no PEDro. Conclusão: A maioria dos artigos tratava de relatos de casos, e os autores são unânimes em afirmar que o crack tem a capaci¬dade de lesar todos os componentes estruturais do pulmão, causando disfunções pulmo¬nares diversas, levando a doenças e até ao óbito.