Body Surface Temperature Distribution Research Articles

Application of thermography in the assessment of physical effort on body surface temperature distribution in racehorses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of thermography in assessing the impact of regular physical effort on changes in the body surface temperature of the upper body parts of young racehorses. The study involved monitoring 33 racehorses aged 3 years in 3 imaging sessions over a period of 3 months. Temperature measurements of the neck and upper part of the forelimbs and hindlimbs from both sides were taken just before and after training. Three regions of interest (ROIs) located at the base of the neck, elbow and quarter on both sides of the body were analysed. Before physical effort, the average temperatures in all ROIs did not differ significantly between the right and left side of the body. After physical effort average surface temperatures of the left side of the elbow and quarter were significantly higher compared to the opposite side and the temperature at the base of the neck was higher on the right side in comparison to the left side (p<0.001). Body surface temperatures of all ROIs after physical effort significantly (p≤0.001) increased, with the greatest increase observed in the elbow (4.7°C) and the lowest in the base of the neck (3ºC). All regions demonstrated a positive correlation between average surface temperatures on the left and right side of the body, before and after training. There was a strong positive correlation between the average temperatures in the analyzed ROIs after physical effort with the strongest correlation between the elbow and quarter (r=0.773) and the weakest between the quarter and base of the neck (r=0.474). In conclusion, our study revealed that thermography remains a feasible diagnostic modality for identifying changes in upper parts of the body in response to physical effort and can therefore provide valuable insights into the assimilation of training regimes by the equine physiology.

Application of multipoint heat source model to breast surface temperature map

This paper proposed a new method of the clinical analysis of breast tumors based on infrared thermal imaging. The theoretical foundation was constructed on the basis of the widely-used Pennes bio-heat transfer equation to find the relationship between the body surface temperature distribution and the inner heat source. Then, a multi-point heat source model was established. Benign and malignant lesions could be distinguished by analyzing the feature parameters of inner heat source. Moreover, without harm to and contact with human body, this method was suitable for breast cancer screening for its good sensitivity and rapid diagnosis process.

Application of infrared thermography for animal health study

Infrared thermography (IRT) is an advanced, safe, non-invasive, and contactless technology used to determine the surface temperature of an object. Thermal cameras absorb the infrared radiation generated by the surface, then transform it into electrical signals, and provide a thermal image of the body's surface temperature distribution. In addition to human medicine, IRT has mostly been used in veterinary medicine for diagnostic purposes and to detect distress in an animal. However, IRT can be a very effective technique for livestock and poultry breeding research viz. thermoregulation, reproduction, animal welfare, etc. Before preclinical testing, it is crucial to intervene to reduce the stress levels in experimental animals for the betterment of the experimental outcome. Where the infrared thermography could help us to monitor and assess the health status or the stress level in addition to behavioral and physiological parameters before the pre-clinical testing might be beneficial for better outcome and reproducibility. Therefore, this manuscript reviews the recent advances in infrared thermography and its use in animal science.

High-Resolution Infrared Body Surface Temperature and Self-Perceived Warmth Distribution in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa Patients

Abstract. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with thermoregulatory disturbances such as hypothermia. However, few studies have explored body warmth in AN patients. In this study, we assessed the body surface temperature distribution in adolescent AN patients using high-resolution infrared thermal imaging and through a patient questionnaire, and explored how this differed between intervention and control group and length of treatment. Adolescent AN patients admitted to a multimodal inpatient treatment programme based on an integrative perspective were assessed at three time-points: admission (t1), 6 weeks post-admission (t2), and 3 months after t2 (t3). Healthy control participants were assessed once at baseline. In both groups we assessed participants’ surface temperature and the perception of warmth, using thermal imaging and a questionnaire, in the face, hands, abdomen, and feet. We recruited 40 AN patients and 40 healthy controls, who were admitted to the treatment programme for an average of 70 days ( SD = 24.07). The AN patients were significantly colder in all chosen body domains, except the abdomen area, at t1 compared to healthy controls at baseline. The questionnaire findings supported this result. Differences between the intervention and control groups noted at t1 were significantly reduced by t2 and t3. Our findings suggest that abnormities in the body warmth distribution of AN patients are reversible after having received an AN-specific treatment. Reducing the loss of warmth could improve therapeutic outcomes in AN patients and be a predictor of recovery, and should be investigated in further studies.

Thermography as a non-invasive, reliable diagnostic tool in medicine - examples

Thermographic imaging is a measurement of a body surface temperature distribution. The symmetry of the skin temperature distribution is an important indicator of proper physiological body functions. Improper distribution brings information about the disorders which might be the first signals of a developing disease. In recent years, the dynamic expansion of thermographic imaging Is observed in many medical areas such as rheumatology, neurology, rehabilitation, orthopaedics, oncology and sports medicine. Thermography allows to visualize initial patho-physiological changes which are still too small to be detected by any other anatomy imaging techniques which are widely used. It is a valuable addition to standard imaging methods and allows to monitor the therapeutic process (both pharmacological and physiotherapeutic) in a non-stress and, what is particularly important, non-invasive way.

Thermal Imaging of Body Surface Temperature Distribution in Women with Anorexia Nervosa.

The drastic reduction in body weight observed in anorexia nervosa (AN) leads to various endocrine changes and consequently to disturbance in thermoregulation mechanisms and body temperature. Thermography allows for a noninvasive diagnosis of the distribution of skin surface temperatures, which is especially important for difficult patients such as women with AN, who are often very sensitive and difficult to treat. The main aim of this study was to measure the mean temperatures (Tmean ) of selected body areas in young women diagnosed with AN and identify those areas where the temperature differences were particularly significant between healthy women and them. Additionally, we determined the relationships between body mass index, body composition (especially subcutaneous and VFM) and the value of mean surface temperature (Tmean ) in AN woman. In the subjects with AN, Tmean of the abdomen, lower back and thighs were significantly higher than in the reference group, while Tmean of the hands were significantly lower. Among other things, analysis showed a significant negative correlation between Tmean of the abdomen, lower back and thighs, and the mass of subcutaneous and visceral fat. The lower Tmean of the hand was directly proportional to the reduced anthropomorphic parameters. The direct evaluation of body surface temperature distribution could provide clinical implications for the treatment of anorexic patients, including the potential use of thermotherapy in stimulating the circulatory system, especially in hypothermia, bradycardia and hypotension.

Body surface temperature distribution in relation to body composition in obese women

Adipose tissue levels and human obesity are known to be associated with increased heat production. At the same time, subcutaneous adipose tissue provides an insulating layer that impedes heat loss. The energy implications of obesity and body thermoregulatory mechanisms remain relatively poorly understood. This study attempted to examine the potential relationship between body composition (subcutaneous and visceral fat) determined by bioimpedance as well as BMI (body mass index), and skin surface temperature distribution recorded at rest.One specific aim of this study was to draw a thermal map of body areas in obese women and compare this with women of normal body mass, and thus to identify body regions within which heat transfer is particularly impeded. As high fat content is a good insulator, it could reduce the body‘s ability to respond effectively to changes in environmental temperature, which would be problematic for thermal homeostasis. Our results showed that core temperature did not differ between obese and normal body mass participants, while skin temperature of most body surfaces was lower in obese subjects.The results of regression analysis showed that the mean body surface temperature (Tmean) decreased with increasing percentage of body fat (PBF) of the abdominal area. The opposite relationship was observed for the front area of the hand (simultaneous increase in Tmean and PBF). We also found a negative correlation between BMI and Tmean of the thigh areas, both the front and the back. From this it could be concluded that the mean body surface temperature is dependent on body fat.

Use of infrared thermography to assess laying-hen feather coverage

Infrared thermography (IRT) was compared with the traditional 4-scale feather scoring (FS, with 1 representing the worst feather coverage and 4 the best) method for assessing feather coverage of laying hens. The feather coverage of 6 body parts (head, dorsal neck, front neck and crop, back, breast, and belly), body surface temperature distribution, and relative change in sensible heat loss of 60 laying hens (Lohmann SL white breed) at 28, 56, or 73 wk of age (20 hens per age group) were compared by using IRT. For all the 6 body parts and the area-weighted overall, the area of excellent feather (EF) determined by IRT was positively correlated with the 4-scale scores determined by FS (P < 0.05), whereas the areas of fair feather (FF), no feather (NF), and body surface temperature were negatively correlated with FS scores (P < 0.05). Feather deterioration occurred for elder hens at all body parts. Feather coverage of the hens was classified as 98.7% EF, 1.3% FF, and 0% NF at 28 wk of age; 70.2% EF, 20.6% FF, and 9.2% NF at 56 wk of age; and 35.4% EF, 17.1% FF, and 49.5% NF at 73 wk of age. As a result of less feather coverage and higher surface temperature, sensible heat loss was speculated to be higher for 56- and 73-wk-old hens than for 28-wk-old hens, potentially leading to higher feed-to-egg conversion for the elder hens. It was concluded that IRT is a promising technique or tool that may provide a more objective and quantitative evaluation of laying-hen feather conditions and delineation of bird thermoregulation.

Why wrapping premature neonates to prevent hypothermia can predispose to overheating

Wrapping low-birth-weight neonates in a plastic bag prevents body heat loss. A bonnet can also be used, since large amounts of heat can be lost from the head region, but may provide too much thermal insulation, thus increasing the risk of overheating. We assessed the time required to reach warning body temperature (t38 degrees C), heat stroke (t40 degrees C), or extreme value (t43 degrees C) in a mathematical model that involved calculating various local body heat losses. Simulated heat exchanges were based on body surface temperature distribution measured in preterm neonates exposed to 33 degrees C air temperature (relative air humidity: 35%; air velocity: <0.1 m/s) and covered (torso and limbs) or not with a transparent plastic bag. We also compared metabolic heat production with body heat losses when a bonnet (2 or 3.5 mm thick) covered 10%, 40%, or 100% of the head. Wrapping neonates in a bag (combined or not with a bonnet) does not induce a critical situation as long as metabolic heat production does not increase. When endogenous heat production rises, t38 degrees C ranged between 75 and 287, t40 degrees C between 185 and 549, and t43 degrees C between 287 and 702 min. When this increase was accompanied by a fall in skin temperature, overheating risk was accentuated (37<or=t38 degrees C<or=45; 99<or=t40 degrees C<or=117; 169<or=t43 degrees C<or=194 min). Thus plastic bag and bonnet may result in hyperthermia but only when metabolic heat production rises while skin temperature falls (impeding body heat losses), as can sometimes happen with fever.

Thermographic imaging of the body surface temperature distribution during spinal anaesthesia: 12.

Thermographic imaging of the body surface temperature distribution during spinal anaesthesia: 12.

12: Thermographic imaging of the body surface temperature distribution during spinal anaesthesia

12: Thermographic imaging of the body surface temperature distribution during spinal anaesthesia

On the Laminar Flow Heat-Transfer of the Two-Dimensional Body Surface of Arbitrary Temperature Distribution

This report is concerned with the heat transfer from a two-dimensional body placed in uniform stream. We calculated the temperature distribution in the boundary layer and the local heat-transfer coefficient on the body surface under the following assumptions : (1) The outer layer velocity U is expressed by [numerical formula] (2) The body surface temperature distribution A is expressed by [numerical formula] (3) Flow is incompressible. (4) The density ρis independent of temperature. (5) The kinetic viscosity νand the thermal diffusivity α are the linear functions of temperature.