Maintenance Of Body Temperature Research Articles

Recruitment of Muscle Genes as an Effect of Brown Adipose Tissue Ablation in Cold-Acclimated Brandt’s Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)

Skeletal muscle-based nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) plays an important role in the regulation and maintenance of body temperature in birds and large mammals, which do not contain brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, the relative contribution of muscle-based NST to thermoregulation is not clearly elucidated in wild small mammals, which have evolved an obligate thermogenic organ of BAT. In this study, we investigated whether muscle would become an important site of NST when BAT function is conditionally minimized in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). We surgically removed interscapular BAT (iBAT, which constitutes 52%~56% of total BAT) and exposed the voles to prolonged cold (4 °C) for 28 days. The iBAT-ablated voles were able to maintain the same levels of NST and body temperature (~37.9 °C) during the entire period of cold acclimation as sham voles. The expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and its transcriptional regulators at both protein and mRNA levels in the iBAT of cold-acclimated voles was higher than that in the warm group. However, no difference was observed in the protein or mRNA levels of these thermogenesis-related markers except for PGC-1α in other sites of BAT (including infrascapular region, neck, and axilla) between warm and cold groups either in sham or iBAT-ablated voles. The iBAT-ablated voles showed higher UCP1 expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) than sham voles during cold acclimation. The expression of sarcolipin (SLN) and sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA) in skeletal muscles was higher in cold than in warm, but no alteration in phospholamban (PLB) and phosphorylated-PLB (P-PLB) was observed. Additionally, there was increased in iBAT-ablated voles compared to that in the sham group in cold. Moreover, these iBAT-ablated voles underwent extensive remodeling of mitochondria and genes of key components related with mitochondrial metabolism. These data collectively indicate that recruitment of skeletal muscle-based thermogenesis may compensate for BAT impairment and suggest a functional interaction between the two forms of thermogenic processes of iBAT and skeletal muscle in wild small mammals for coping cold stress.

HDL-localized plasma ceramides support body temperature regulation

Abstract As organisms age, the balance of energy expenditure is disrupted. One of the major ways in which this disruption is observed is in an inability to maintain body temperature. Our lab is interested in understanding the signals that regulate this energy balance, and we focus on lipids as energy substrates and signaling molecules to regulate this process. During cold exposure, plasma lipids produced by peripheral tissues are required to fuel and activate heat production in the brown adipose tissue. One of the lipid classes that increases with cold exposure is plasma ceramides. Beyond cold exposure, ceramide lipids are also elevated in aged individuals and are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease where they are thought to signal inflammation. However, the functions of ceramides in non-disease states are unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we have shown that ceramide production in 12-week-old C57Bl6/J mice is required for body temperature maintenance in the cold. Moreover, plasma ceramide levels in 2-year-old mice are unchanged in the cold, and these mice are unable to maintain their body temperature. In disease states, ceramides are transported through the plasma in LDL, but ceramides are enriched in the HDL plasma fraction in the cold. This differential plasma lipid transport suggests dynamic modes of lipid uptake and tissue targeting to regulate energy expenditure. This work will identify molecular mechanisms governing ceramide function in the mammalian response to cold and better our understanding of the systemic lipid metabolism dysregulated in disease.

Communal nesting is the optimal strategy for heat conservation in a social marsupial: lessons from biophysical models.

Endothermy, understood as the maintenance of continuous and high body temperatures owing to the combination of metabolic heat production and an insulative cover, is severely challenged in small endotherms inhabiting cold environments. As a response, social clustering combined with nest use (=communal nesting) is a common strategy for heat conservation. To quantify the actual amount of energy that is saved by this strategy, we studied the social marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (monito del monte), an endemic species of the cold forests of southern South America. It is hypothesized that sociability in this marsupial was driven by cold conditions, but evidence supporting this hypothesis is unclear. Here, we used taxidermic models ('mannequins') to experimentally test the energetic benefits of clustering combined with nest use. To do this, we fitted and compared cooling curves of solitary and grouped mannequins, within and outside of a nest, at the typical winter ambient temperatures of their habitat (5°C). We found that the strategy that minimized euthermic cost of maintenance was the combination of nest use and clustering, thus supporting communal nesting as a social adaptation to cope with the cold. Considering the basal metabolic rate of monitos, our estimates suggest that the savings represents almost half of energy consumption per day (in resting conditions). This study shows how simple biophysical models could help to evaluate bioenergetic hypotheses for social behavior in cold-adapted endotherms.

38 Effect of Breed Composition and Genome-Wide Association Study on Epidermis Thickness in a Multibreed Angus-Brahman Population

Abstract Heat stress in cattle has recently received growing attention because of anticipated increases in environmental temperature by global warming. Heat stress limits the production efficiency of cattle, and it is one of the principal causes of economic loss for beef cattle producers in these environments. Thermotolerance can be defined as the ability to maintain optimal growth, feed intake, and reproduction under the presence of heat stress, and it varies among individual animals and breeds. The objectives of the analysis were to investigate the amount of variation on epidermis thickness, test the effect of breed composition and age group on skin histology traits and to conduct a genome-wide association study on skin properties of beef cattle, focusing on the epidermis thickness. Skin biopsy samples were collected from 318 heifers from a UF multibreed population (animals ranging from 100% Brahman to 100% Angus), genotyped with the Bovine GGP F250K chip. Quality control was conducted with BLUPF90 software, including a call rate of 0.90 and a MAF < 0.01. BLUPF90 software was used to fit a single locus mixed model to test the effect of each marker. Breed group and age group were included as fixed effects. There is a significant effect in breed group ((P < 0.0001) and in age group (P < 0.0001). This study shows there is a large amount of variation in epidermis thickness across and within breed groups. Significant SNPs for the thickness of the epidermis were found in the HBEGF gene, which is a protein coding involved in several processes, including epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway and there is a variation across breed Skin histology traits are fundamental for the ability to lose heat more efficiently and allow the maintenance of normal body temperatures under extreme conditions. This study could contribute toward improving cattle’s adaptation to thermal stress.

Avian adjustments to cold and non‐shivering thermogenesis: whats, wheres and hows

Avian cold adaptation is hallmarked by innovative strategies of both heat conservation and thermogenesis. While minimizing heat loss can reduce the thermogenic demands of body temperature maintenance, it cannot eliminate the requirement for thermogenesis. Shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) are the two synergistic mechanisms contributing to endothermy. Birds are of particular interest in studies of NST as they lack brown adipose tissue (BAT), the major organ of NST in mammals. Critical analysis of the existing literature on avian strategies of cold adaptation suggests that skeletal muscle is the principal site of NST. Despite recent progress, isolating the mechanisms involved in avian muscle NST has been difficult as shivering and NST co-exist with its primary locomotory function. Herein, we re-evaluate various proposed molecular bases of avian skeletal muscle NST. Experimental evidence suggests that sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) and ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1) are key in avian muscle NST, through their mediation of futile Ca2+ cycling and thermogenesis. More recent studies have shown that SERCA regulation by sarcolipin (SLN) facilitates muscle NST in mammals; however, its role in birds is unclear. Ca2+ signalling in the muscle seems to be common to contraction, shivering and NST, but elucidating its roles will require more precise measurement of local Ca2+ levels inside avian myofibres. The endocrine control of avian muscle NST is still poorly defined. A better understanding of the mechanistic details of avian muscle NST will provide insights into the roles of these processes in regulatory thermogenesis, which could further inform our understanding of the evolution of endothermy among vertebrates.

Cutaneous TRPV4 Channels Activate Warmth-Defense Responses in Young and Adult Birds.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels are sensitive to warm ambient temperatures (Tas), triggering heat loss responses in adult rats in a Tas range of ∼26–30°C. In birds, however, the thermoregulatory role of TRPV4 has never been shown. Here, we hypothesized that stimulation of TRPV4 induces thermolytic responses for body temperature (Tb) maintenance in birds, and that this function is already present in early life, when the Ta range for TRPV4 activation does not represent a warm condition for these animals. We first demonstrated the presence of TRPV4 in the dorsal and ventral skin of chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) by immunohistochemistry. Then, we evaluated the effects of the TRPV4 agonist, RN1747, and the TRPV4 antagonists, HC067047 and GSK2193874, on Tb and thermoeffectors at different Tas in 5-day-old chicks and 60-day-old adult chickens. For the chicks, RN1747 transiently reduced Tb both in thermoneutrality (31°C) and in a cold Ta for this phase (26°C), which relied on huddling behavior inhibition. The TRPV4 antagonists alone did not affect Tb or thermoeffectors but blocked the Tb decrease and huddling inhibition promoted by RN1747. For the adults, TRPV4 antagonism increased Tb when animals were exposed to 28°C (suprathermoneutral condition for adults), but not to 19°C. In contrast, RN1747 decreased Tb by reducing metabolic rate and activating thermal tachypnea at 19°C, a Ta below the activation range of TRPV4. Our results indicate that peripheral TRPV4 receptors are functional in early life, but may be inhibited at that time when the range of activation (∼26–30°C) represents cold Ta for chicks, and become physiologically relevant for Tb maintenance when the activation Ta range for TRPV4 becomes suprathermoneutral for adult chickens.

Perioperative Hypothermia Is Associated With Increased 30-Day Mortality in Hip Fracture Patients in the United Kingdom: Α Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the relationship between perioperative hypothermia and mortality after surgery for hip fracture. A systematic literature search of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases was performed using the Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews with no publication year limit. Only studies available in the English language were included. Predetermined inclusion criteria were patients of any age with a hip fracture, exposure was their body temperature and outcome was mortality rate. Any comparative study design was eligible. The quality of selected studies was assessed according to each study design with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies (MINORS) used for all the retrospective comparative studies. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of evidence. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. The literature search identified 1016 records. After removing duplicates and those not meeting inclusion criteria, 3 studies measuring 30-day mortality were included. All included studies were carried out in the United Kingdom. The mortality rate was higher in the hypothermic groups as compared with the normothermic group in all the studies, with the difference being significant in 2 of the studies (P < 0.0001). The meta-analysis showed that low body temperature was associated with an increased mortality risk (estimated odds ratio: 2.660; 95% confidence interval: 1.948-3.632; P < 0.001) in patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture. This study shows that low body temperature in hip fracture patients is associated with an increased 30-day mortality risk in the United Kingdom. Randomized control trials are required to determine whether the association between perioperative hypothermia in hip fracture patients and mortality is causal. Nevertheless, based on this analysis, we urge the maintenance of normal body temperature in the perioperative period to be included in national hip fracture guidelines. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Too cool to fight: Is ambient temperature associated with male aggressive behavior in the mesquite lizard?

AbstractAggressive behavior is performed in the context of intraspecific competition for gaining access to mates, food, or suitable territories. However, aggressive confrontations may divert time and energy from other important activities and increase the likelihood of suffering physical injury or predation. Aggressive behavior is particularly costly for ectotherms because it may reduce the time available for thermoregulation, which is a time‐consuming activity but indispensable for adequate maintenance of metabolic processes. In this study, we analyzed the long‐term effect of the thermal quality (i.e. the degree of discrepancy between the temperatures available in a given environment and temperatures that animals prefer) on the aggressive behavior of the mesquite lizard Sceloporus grammicus. Our hypothesis was that time allocated to aggressive behavior in low thermal quality environments is diverted from time spent on the acquisition and maintenance of an adequate body temperature. Accordingly, we found that lizards from the low thermal quality location (i.e. low environmental temperature) exhibited less aggressive behavior than those captured in middle and high thermal quality locations. Our results show that in the low thermal quality location aggressive behavior was almost absent, suggesting that this behavior may interfere with the acquisition and maintenance of an adequate body temperature. Therefore, it is likely that the benefits of thermoregulation outweigh those of aggressive behavior at low thermal quality locations.

107 Nursing Interventions in the Temperature Management of Acute Burn Patients in the Burn Operating Room

IntroductionThe development of hypothermia in the operating room is a known risk that has been well documented in the literature. The typical surgical patient undergoing general anesthesia experiences a temperature loss of approximately 4°F without warming interventions. Burn patients are at a higher risk for hypothermia due to the greater body surface area exposure and evaporative losses related to their burn injury and length of their operative interventions. The purpose of this review is to determine the average loss of body temperature of the burn surgical patient as it pertains to total body surface area (TBSA) injury and the use of warming interventions.MethodsA two year retrospective review was performed on acute burn surgical cases in our two dedicated burn operating rooms within our burn center. Data obtained included TBSA of each case, pre and post-procedure patient temperatures, maximum OR room temperature, and use of adjunctive warming interventions. The surgical procedures were categorized by percent TBSA burn of < 10%, 10-20%, 21-40%, and >40%.ResultsWe identified 415 cases that were included in this review from 2019 and 2020. As expected, patients with larger TBSA involvement led to a greater temperature decline. As seen in Table 1, forced warm air devices were utilized in 67.2% of cases. In our large Burn OR suite, we utilize a heat panel that is integrated in the ceiling above the OR table. Utilization of these devices is determined by the Burn OR nurse. They are either initiated prior to the start of the case or intra-operatively if the patient’s temperature is declining and intervention is required. Mean operating room temperatures were 80.1°F in all cases with cooler room temperatures in the smallest TBSA group. Our average patient temperature decline was 1.25°F in all cases. However, in the largest TBSA group, the mean temperature loss was 2.68°F which is significantly less than the 4°F loss in general anesthesia procedures without warming interventions.ConclusionsThe use of elevated ambient operative room temperatures along with other warming interventions aid in the maintenance of core body temperature in the burn surgical patient. Having dedicated burn operative nurses with investment in the outcome of the burn surgical patient contributes to the overall safety and the maintenance of temperature homeostatic state.

The effect of warm and humidified gas insufflation in gynecological laparoscopy on maintenance of body temperature: a prospective randomized controlled multi-arm trial

BackgroundHypothermia is defined as a decrease in body core temperature to below 36 °C. If intraoperative heat-preserving measures are omitted, a patient’s temperature will fall by 1 – 2 °C. Even mild forms of intraoperative hypothermia can lead to a marked increase in morbidity and mortality. Using warm and humidified gas insufflation in laparoscopy may help in the maintenance of intraoperative body temperature.MethodsIn this prospective randomized controlled study, we investigated effects of temperature and humidity of the insufflation gas on intra- and postoperative temperature management. 150 patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to either insufflation with non-warmed, non-humidified CO2 with forced air warming blanket (AIR), humidified warm gas without forced air warming blanket (HUMI) or humidified warm gas combined with forced air warming blanket (HUMI+). We hypothesized that the use of warmed laparoscopic gas would have benefits in the maintenance of body temperature and reduce the occurrence of hypothermia.ResultsThe use of warm and humidified gas insufflation alone led to more hypothermia episodes with longer duration and longer recovery times as well as significantly lower core body temperature compared to the other two groups. In the comparison of the AIR group and HUMI + group, HUMI + patients had a significantly higher body temperature at arrival at the PACU (Post Anaesthesia Care Unit), had the least occurrence of hypothermia and suffered from less shivering.ConclusionThe use of warm and humidified gas insufflation alone does not sufficiently warm the patients. The optimal temperature management is achieved in the combination of external forced air warming and insufflation of warm and humidified laparoscopy gas.

Igniting adipocyte thermogenesis

Maintenance of body temperature is intimately tied to energy expenditure and body weight regulation. In this issue of Cell, Li, Wang, etal. discovered that localized hyperthermia induces the thermogenic program to increase energy expenditure and decrease body weight in mice and humans.

Time Limiting Boundaries of Reversible Clinical Death in Rats Subjected to Ultra-Deep Hypothermia.

Background:It is well known that body temperature maintenance between 20 and 35°C prevents hypoxic damage. However, data regarding the ideal duration and permissible temperature boundaries for ultra-deep hypothermia below 20°C are rather fragmentary. The aim of the present study was to determine the time limits of reversible clinical death in rats subjected to ultra-deep hypothermia at 1–8°C.Results:Rat survival rates were directly dependent on the duration of clinical death. If clinical death did not exceed 35 min, animal viability could be restored. Extending the duration of clinical death longer than 45 min led to rat death, and cardiac functioning in these animals was not recovered. The rewarming rate and the lowest temperature of hypothermia experienced did not directly influence survival rates.Conclusions:In a rat model, reversible ultra-deep hypothermia as low as 1–8°C could be achieved without the application of hypercapnia or pharmacological support. The survival of animals was dependent on the duration of clinical death, which should not exceed 35 min.

Rumen temperature is a reliable proxy of core body temperature in sheep (

Context In ruminant animals, such as sheep, the maintenance of a stable core body temperature is achieved through the controlled process of thermoregulation. The live export of sheep from Australia can expose sheep to heat stress, especially when vessels near, or cross, the equator, that can impact on animal welfare by causing hyperthermia. Aim The use of thermologgers located in the rumen of sheep could provide a direct, real-time method to monitor the thermal status of sheep during live export without the need to handle animals during shipping. We determined the relationship between core temperature and rumen temperature during changes in various factors that impact on an animal’s heat balance. Methods Sixteen wethers were implanted with thermologgers in the rumen to measure rumen temperature and in the abdominal cavity to measure core temperature. The sheep were exposed to environmental conditions similar to those experienced by sheep on live export vessels. The environment was assessed using the wet-bulb temperature. In the first trial, eight Merinos were shorn while the remaining eight retained their fleece. In the second trial all sheep were shorn, and eight sheep were offered a chaff diet and eight a pelletised diet while the wet bulb temperature increased. The rumen and core temperatures were compared. Key results We show that when core temperature increased during exposure to heat load, so did rumen temperature and, despite relatively large changes in overall body temperature, the difference between these temperatures remained stable. The daily average relationship between rumen and core temperatures was 0.5 ± 0.1°C and that difference was not affected by water ingestion, length of fleece, diet composition, or exposure to hot and humid conditions similar to those reported on live export vessels. Conclusion and implications By subtraction of 0.5°C from the measured rumen temperature in live export sheep, the use of rumen thermologgers would provide a reliable measure of core temperature and hence an indication of the thermal status of the sheep throughout the export journey.

Research and Design Handle Temperature Camera

Thermal cameras are useful devices that are used in many different situations, such as quality control, system maintenance, structural repair, security, medical, monitoring, treatment and diagnose human health or to research and develop advanced technological components. It provides visual temperature information that cannot be perceived by the human senses. Gade &amp; Moeslund (2014) specified that Thermal cameras are passive sensors that capture the infrared radiation emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero. This type of camera was originally developed as a surveillance and night vision tool for the military, but recently the price has dropped, significantly opening up a broader field of applications. Our study shows With basic functions that can be used such as non-contact body temperature measurement, maintenance, maintenance, quality inspection and repair of electronic, electromechanical, telephone, chip, IC, over temperature detection, electrical system lines, underground cables, recessed walls, utilities, gas leak detection, ventilation furnaces, fireplaces, etc., the device can be a useful and effective civil tool.

Two-way habitat use between reefs and open ocean in adult greater amberjack: evidence from biologging data

We investigated the relationships between vertical movements and both oceanographic features and physiological factors in greater amberjack Seriola dumerili, which is a reef-associated predator in the East China Sea. S. dumerili in the coastal waters of eastern Taiwan were equipped with archival tags or pop-up satellite archival tags that recorded depth and temperature, resulting in a dataset covering a total of 1331 d from 12 individuals. To classify the vertical movement patterns of S. dumerili, we performed a hierarchical cluster analysis for the depth profile. We observed multiple vertical movement patterns. Around topographic features, S. dumerili showed short-step dives (averaging &lt;35 m) during both the daytime and nighttime. In contrast, S. dumerili in offshore areas showed diel vertical movements. S. dumerili occasionally performed frequent dives to approximately 150 m throughout the day. These movements may be related to foraging behaviors associated with changes in water depth. We further analyzed the response of the peritoneal cavity temperature to variations in the ambient temperature in 7 S. dumerili with archival tags. The peritoneal cavity temperatures fluctuated according to the ambient temperature changes, indicating that the vertical movement of S. dumerili is limited by physiological constraints for the maintenance of body temperature. Together, our results indicate that the vertical movement of S. dumerili may be affected by the trade-off between foraging and thermoregulation.

Efficient Evaporative Cooling and Pronounced Heat Tolerance in an Eagle-Owl, a Thick-Knee and a Sandgrouse

Avian evaporative cooling and the maintenance of body temperature (Tb) below lethal limits during heat exposure has received more attention in small species compared to larger-bodied taxa. Here, we examined thermoregulation at air temperatures (Tair) approaching and exceeding normothermic Tb in three larger birds that use gular flutter, thought to provide the basis for pronounced evaporative cooling capacity and heat tolerance. We quantified Tb, evaporative water loss (EWL) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in the ∼170-g Namaqua sandgrouse (Pterocles namaqua), ∼430-g spotted thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) and ∼670-g spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), using flow-through respirometry and a stepped Tair profile with very low chamber humidities. All three species tolerated Tair of 56–60°C before the onset of severe hyperthermia, with maximum Tb of 43.2°C, 44.3°C, and 44.2°C in sandgrouse, thick-knees and eagle-owls, respectively. Evaporative scope (i.e., maximum EWL/minimum thermoneutral EWL) was 7.4 in sandgrouse, 12.9 in thick-knees and 7.8 in eagle-owls. The relationship between RMR and Tair varied substantially among species: whereas thick-knees and eagle-owls showed clear upper critical limits of thermoneutrality above which RMR increased rapidly and linearly, sandgrouse did not. Maximum evaporative heat loss/metabolic heat production ranged from 2.8 (eagle-owls) to 5.5 (sandgrouse), the latter the highest avian value yet reported. Our data reveal some larger species with gular flutter possess pronounced evaporative cooling capacity and heat tolerance and, when taken together with published data, show thermoregulatory performance varies widely among species larger than 250 g. Our data for Namaqua sandgrouse reveal unexpectedly pronounced variation in the metabolic costs of evaporative cooling within the genus Pterocles.

Mitochondrial H+ Leak and Thermogenesis.

Mitochondria of all tissues convert various metabolic substrates into two forms of energy: ATP and heat. Historically, the primary focus of research in mitochondrial bioenergetics was on the mechanisms of ATP production, while mitochondrial thermogenesis received significantly less attention. Nevertheless, mitochondrial heat production is crucial for the maintenance of body temperature, regulation of the pace of metabolism, and prevention of oxidative damage to mitochondria and the cell. In addition, mitochondrial thermogenesis has gained significance as a pharmacological target for treating metabolic disorders. Mitochondria produce heat as the result of H+ leak across their inner membrane. This review provides a critical assessment of the current field of mitochondrial H+ leak and thermogenesis, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in the function and regulation of uncoupling protein 1 and the ADP/ATP carrier, the two proteins that mediate mitochondrial H+ leak.

332 New Methods for the Functional In Vitro Characterization of Isolated Human Eccrine Sweat Glands

For humans the evaporation chill through sweat secretion by eccrine sweat glands is the main mechanism for the maintenance of body temperature. In hyperhidrosis, the excess sweat formation can lead to unwanted odours that are, if not pathological, mostly prevented by reducing sweat excretion using antiperspirants. However, in vitro neither the evaluation or approval of new antiperspirants, nor basic research on sweat gland physiology can sufficiently be addressed with currently available model systems. For this very reason the development of a new functional model and assay system is of immense importance. It was thus the aim of this study to develop new methods, that enable the functional characterization of whole human eccrine sweat glands in vitro. From human skin, eccrine sweat glands were isolated enzymatically to improve yield and reproducibility. A resazurin-based vitality assay was adapted from rat sweat glands to assess vitality of human sweat glands. Furthermore, visualization of Calcium (Ca2+) currents was established, including a fluorescent Ca2+ flux assay. Using the resazurin-based assay the vitality of the isolated sweat glands now can be easily assessed and compared after isolation and treatment. Subsequently, for the first time Ca2+ currents and contractions of isolated human sweat glands were observed in vitro in the established Ca2+ flux assay. This was achieved by administration of physiological relevant stimuli that were validated by inhibition. Altogether it is now possible to assay Ca2+ currents of isolated human eccrine sweat glands. These Ca2+ currents represent a first step in the cascade that finally leads to the production of sweat. In the future the prerequisites made here could lead to a more sophisticated in vitro human sweat gland model system.

Thermoregulation Practices among Mothers with New-Born Babies Attending Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya

Thermal protection is a major challenge for new-born survival in most developing regions. Despite continued emphasis on correct thermoregulation care practices, suboptimal care still persists. This study therefore sought to determine the practices for maintenance of optimal neonatal body temperature among mothers with new-born babies attending Kenyatta National Hospital. The study adopted a mixed methods cross sectional design using qualitative and quantitative methods. The study population comprised of mothers with new-born babies attending the postnatal clinic and paediatric emergency unit at Kenyatta National Hospital. Slovin’s Formula was used determine a sample size of 200 respondents. The study used primary data through questionnaires, focus group discussion and observation. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were conducted with the help of SPSS. Results showed that majority 66.5% (n=133) had good thermoregulation practices. Age (p=0.001) and level of education (p=0.000) were significant. Thermoregulation practices among mothers with new-born babies attending Kenyatta National Hospital were good. All the same, mothers should therefore be sensitised on covering their baby well during movement and checking of wet diapers and clothing to ensure that the baby is kept warm at all times. Keywords: Thermoregulation Practices, Thermal protection, new-born care, neonatal body temperature.

P-027. The prognostic role of maternal angiogenic markers in suspected pre-eclampsia in twin pregnancies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex age-related neurodegenerative disease, associated with central and peripheral metabolic anomalies, such as impaired glucose utilization and insulin resistance. These observations led to a considerable interest not only in lifestyle-related interventions, but also in repurposing insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs to prevent or treat dementia. Body temperature is the oldest known metabolic readout and mechanisms underlying its maintenance fail in the elderly, when the incidence of AD rises. This raises the possibility that an age-associated thermoregulatory deficit contributes to energy failure underlying AD pathogenesis. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a central role in thermogenesis and maintenance of body temperature. In recent years, the modulation of BAT activity has been increasingly demonstrated to regulate energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization, which could also provide benefits for AD. Here, we review the evidence linking thermoregulation, BAT and insulin-related metabolic defects with AD, and we propose mechanisms through which correcting thermoregulatory impairments could slow the progression and delay the onset of AD.