ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Renal dysfunction is an important risk factor for stroke. Brazilian studies on stroke knowledge are generally population based. Studies stratifying stroke knowledge according to comorbidities are rare. Scientific data are essential to guide the awareness of stroke. OBJECTIVE: To assess stroke knowledge in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study of patients with CKD on hemodialysis in north-eastern Brazil. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey on stroke awareness was administered to patients with CKD on hemodialysis between April and November 2022. The chi-square test and other descriptive statistics were used. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 197 patients were included in the analysis. The Brazilian acronym for stroke was used by 53.5% of the participants. Less than 10.0% of the sample showed optimal decision-making ability regarding stroke. Of the participants, 29.9% knew at least one risk factor and one symptom; however, this was considered as having below the minimum capacity because they did not know the emergency service call number. In the analysis adjusted for income and education, females (odds ratio [OR], 0.40%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.82), older patients (OR, 0.24%; 95% CI, 0.09-0.63) and having at most one comorbidity (OR, 0.48%; 95% CI, 0.23-0.98) were factors for lower levels of knowledge or ideal decision-making capacity against stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on hemodialysis, especially women and older people, have little knowledge about stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The passive cycle ergometer aims to prevent hypotrophy and improve muscle strength, with a consequent reduction in hospitalization time in the intensive care unit and functional improvement. However, its effects on oxidative stress and immune system parameters remain unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of a passive cycle ergometer on the immune system and oxidative stress in critical patients. METHODS: This paper describes a randomized controlled trial in a sample of 19 patients of both genders who were on mechanical ventilation and hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Hospital Agamenom Magalhães. The patients were divided into two groups: one group underwent cycle ergometer passive exercise for 30 cycles/min on the lower limbs for 20 minutes; the other group did not undergo any therapeutic intervention during the study and served as the control group. A total of 20 ml of blood was analysed, in which nitric oxide levels and some specific inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10)) were evaluated before and after the study protocol. RESULTS: Regarding the demographic and clinical variables, the groups were homogeneous in the early phases of the study. The nitric oxide analysis revealed a reduction in nitric oxide variation in stimulated cells (p=0.0021) and those stimulated (p=0.0076) after passive cycle ergometer use compared to the control group. No differences in the evaluated inflammatory cytokines were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that the passive cycle ergometer promoted reduced levels of nitric oxide, showing beneficial effects on oxidative stress reduction. As assessed by inflammatory cytokines, the treatment was not associated with changes in the immune system. However, further research in a larger population is necessary for more conclusive results.

Introdução: A doença renal crônica (DRC) e o tabagismo são problemas de saúde pública. Objetivo: Analisar o tabagismo como fator risco para a progressão da DRC. Métodos: Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática nas bases Medline, LILACS, SciELO, Google Acadêmico, Trials.gov e Embase com artigos publicados até fevereiro de 2013. Incluíram-se estudos: tipo coorte, ensaios clínicos e caso-controle. Realizados em seres humanos com idade ≥ 18 anos tendo tabagismo como fator de risco para progressão da DRC. Excluíram-se estudos que não referiam tabagismo e DRC no título ou tinham proposta de combate ao fumo. Resultados: Das 94 citações, 12 artigos foram selecionados. Destes, seis eram multicêntricos realizados em países desenvolvidos e quatro foram aleatorizados. Predominou o sexo masculino 51%-76%. Houve progressão associada ao tabagismo em 11 estudos. Identificou-se que o consumo ≥ 15 maços/ ano aumenta o risco de progressão da DRC. Conclusão: Tabagismo é fator de risco para progressão da DRC.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and smoking are public health problems. Objective: To assess smoking as a risk factor for progression of CKD. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in Medline, LILACS, SciELO, Google Scholar, Embase and Trials.gov with articles published until February/2013. Were included: cohort, clinical trials and case-control. Performed in humans, aged ≥ 18 years with smoking as a risk factor for progression of CKD. We excluded studies that reported no smoking and CKD in the title or had proposed to reduce smoking. Results: Among 94 citations, 12 articles were selected. Of these, six were multicenter conducted in developed countries, four were randomized. Males predominated 51-76%. There was associated with smoking progression in 11 studies. It was found that the consumption ≥ 15 packs/ year increases the risk of progression of CKD. Conclusion: Smoking is a risk factor for progression of CKD.