Tympanic Temperature Research Articles

Effect of magnetic beads auricular point sticking therapy on intrapartum fever in primipara with epidural labor analgesia

To observe effect of magnetic beads auricular point sticking therapy on intrapartum fever in primipara with epidural labor analgesia and explore its possible mechanism. A total of 160 primipara were randomly divided into an observation group (80 cases, 12 cases dropped off ) and a control group (80 cases, 15 cases dropped off ). The primipara in the control group received epidural labor analgesia. In the observation group, 15 min after epidural labor analgesia was performed, magnetic beads auricular point sticking therapy was given at shenmen (TF4), neishengzhiqi (TF2), neifenmi (CO18) and jiaogan (AH6a), pressing and kneading once every 15 min, 1 min each time, until the end of first stage of labor. The tympanic temperature on Ta (before labor analgesia), Tb (2 h after labor analgesia), Tc (4 h after labor analgesia) and Td (1 h after labor) was recorded, and the intrapartum fever incidence and level of serum cortisol and IL-6 between two groups were compared. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score before and after labor analgesia, the pressing times of patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), and the dosage of sufentanil were observed. The active labor period, the second stage of labor, and the time of analgesia, the use of oxytocin, the number of vaginal examination and the rate of cesarean section were recorded in the two groups. There was no significant difference in tympanic temperature in the observation group at each time point (P>0.05), the tympanic temperature at Tc and Td in the control group was higher than that at Ta (P<0.05); the tympanic temperature at Tc and Td in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of serum cortisol and IL-6 at Td in the two groups were higher than those at Ta (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The second stage of labor in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the pressing times of PCEA, the dosage of sufentanil, intrapartum fever incidence, usage rate and total amount of oxytocin and the number of vaginal examinations were all lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Magnetic beads auricular point sticking therapy can reduce the amount of anesthetics, decrease the effect of epidural analgesia on primipara's body temperature regulation and labor progress, and lower the incidence of fever during labor analgesia by regulating the level of inflammatory response in the primipara.

Social buffering of cortisol release and tympanic temperature asymmetries during novelty and isolation stress in marmoset monkeys

Novel environments induce a conflicting emotional approach-withdrawal state that triggers stress-related reactions. Social support through the presence of a highly familiar conspecific buffers the individual against such challenges. Although aversive events seem to be predominantly processed by the right hemisphere, this is still under debate and little is known about functional cerebral asymmetries in nonhuman primates during novelty stress, isolation and social buffering. Here we isolated adult marmoset monkeys in a new open-field arena or in their familiar home-cages to establish hemisphere activity and whether the pairmate’s presence buffers the response. Monkeys socially isolated in either location had higher circulating cortisol levels than non-isolated marmosets, but different hemisphere activity patterns indicated by changes in baseline tympanic membrane temperatures (TMT). The bilateral increase in the monkeys that were isolated in the unfamiliar location may reflect an approach-withdrawal conflict. The left-sided increase in the home-cage isolation group was negatively related to cortisol release, this being potentially associated with a more proactive/approach-prone temperament. Interestingly, TMT and cortisol were unaltered when the pairmate was present. Thus, positive social interaction reduces the perceived intensity of the threat, alters hemisphere asymmetries and blocks the hormonal response to novelty stress, consistent with a buffering effect.

The influence of an active microclimate liquid-cooled vest on heat strain alleviation

This research was performed to test the effectiveness of the microclimate body cooling system which belongs to the group of active systems with liquid-cooled technology. The liquid cooling vest efficiency was observed concerning the physiological fitness of the standard protective set used in specific environmental conditions which imply increased thermal strain of the test subjects. Experimental results from the research are based on the examinations carried out in a thermo-physiological laboratory. Ten healthy male volunteers ? test subjects aged (23.4 ? 2.4 years, weight 74 ? 7 kg, and height 184 ? 9 cm) were exposed to thermal strain testing (40 ?C temperature, 40 ?3 % relative humidity, without wind) and simultaneously to physical effort caused by walking on the treadmill at a speed of 5 km/h, during 45 minutes. Tests were performed in two variants: without any cooling system and with the KewlFlow Circulatory Cooling Vest with Cooler Kit. Throughout heat exposure, the subject?s body core temperature (tympanic temperature ? Tty), mean skin temperature, Tsk, and heart rate were measured. Furthermore, sweat rate was calculated in order to determine all changes in the water and electrolyte status. Experimental results confirm that the results of this study have recognized the benefits of a liquid-cooled vest in lowering the thermal strain.

The association between body temperature and electrocardiographic parameters in normothermic healthy volunteers

Abstract Introduction Previous studies have observed that hypo- and hyperthermia are associated with several atrial and ventricular electrocardiographical parameters, including the corrected QT interval. Preclinical studies have shown that drugs that exert an effect on body temperature also exert an effect on the corrected QT interval. Therefore, increased characterization in healthy humans of the association between the corrected QT interval and body temperature within the normal body temperature range aids in understanding the mechanism behind drug induced corrected QT interval effects. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the association between body temperature and electrocardiographical parameters in normothermic healthy volunteers. Methods Data from 3023 volunteers collected at our center were analyzed. Only subjects considered healthy after review of collected data by a physician, including a normal tympanic body temperature (35.5–37.5 °C) and in sinus rhythm, were included in the analysis. Subjects were divided into body temperature quartiles for analysis and a linear multivariate model with body temperature as a continuous was performed. Another multivariate analysis was performed with only the QT subintervals as independent variables and body temperature as dependent variable. Results Mean age was 33.8±17.5 years and mean body temperature was 36.6±0.4 °C. Body temperature was independently associated with age (standardized coefficient (SC)=−0.252, P&amp;lt;0.001), gender (SC=+0.208, P&amp;lt;0.001), heart rate (SC=+0.230, P&amp;lt;0.001), J-point elevation in lead V4 (SC=−0.118, P&amp;lt;0.001), and Fridericia corrected QT interval (SC=−0.061, P=0.002). Atrial and AV nodal parameters were not independently associated with body temperature. The effects of temperature on the surface ECG are displayed in figure 1. QT subinterval analysis revealed that only QRS duration (SC=−0.121, P&amp;lt;0.001) was independently associated with body temperature. Conclusion Body temperature in normothermic healthy volunteers was associated with heart rate, J-point amplitude in lead V4 and ventricular conductivity, primarily through a prolongation of the QRS duration. In contrast, atrial and AV nodal ECG parameters were not independently associated with body temperature. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Development and validation of an environmental heat strain risk assessment (EHSRA) index using structural equation modeling based on empirical relations

BackgroundNeed to a simple, available, accurate, comprehensive, and valid indicator is felt to assess thermal effects. Therefore, the present study was aimed to develop and validate the environmental heat strain risk assessment (EHSRA) index using structural equation modeling (SEM) based on empirical relations.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 201 male workers in environments with various climatic conditions. The heart rate and tympanic temperature of the individuals were monitored at times of 30, 60, and 90 min after beginning the work. At these times, values of dry temperature, wet temperature, globe temperature, and air velocity were also measured and metabolism rate and clothing thermal insulation value were estimated. At the end, a theoretical model was depicted in AMOS software and obtained coefficients were applied to develop a novel index. The scores of this indicator were categorized into four risk levels via ROC curves and validate using linear regression analysis.ResultsIndirect effect coefficients of the globe temperature, dry temperature, wet temperature, air velocity, metabolism, and clothing thermal insulation variables on the tympanic temperature were computed by 0.77, 0.75, 0.69, 0.24, 0.49, and 0.39, respectively. These coefficients were applied to develop the index. Optimal cut-off points of boundaries between risk levels included 12.02, 15.88, and 17.56. The results showed that the EHSRA index justified 75% of the variations of the tympanic temperature (R2 = 0.75).ConclusionsThe novel index possesses appropriate validity. It was suggested that this indicator is applied and validated in various environments in the next studies.

Retrograd İntrarenal Cerrahi Esnasında Oluşan Vücut Sıcaklık Değişikliklerini Etkileyen Faktörler

Objectives : When compared to other endourologic operations, irrigation fluid with lower flow rate and volume is used during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). In our study, body temperature changes occurring due to irrigation fluid and factors affecting these were assessed. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients were prospectively included in the study. During operations, a standart izotonic irrigation fluid kept in the operating room at 21 °C was used. Active heating was not applied to any patient. Body temperature of patients was measured peripherally before anesthesia induction and before recovery. Relationship of body temperature differences with patient characteristics, operation time, irrigation fluid volüme and stone size was evaluated. Results : Mean tympanic body temperature was 36,3±0,35°C at the start of operation and 35,8±0,5°C at the end. Post-operative fall in body temperature (0,67±0,47°C) was recorded in 102 patients (79.7%). When body tempertaure values before and after the operation were compared, a significant reduction was found (p<0,0001). No statistically significant correlation was obtained between this reduction and patient and operative data. Conclusion : Body temperature falls after RIRC however, no relation was found between temperature change and patient and operative data other than operating room temperature.

The Influence of Warm-Up on Body Temperature and Strength Performance in Brazilian National-Level Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes.

Background and Objectives: The effects of warm-up in athletic success have gained strong attention in recent studies. There is, however, a wide gap in awareness of the warm-up process to be followed, especially in Paralympic powerlifting (PP) athletes. This study aimed to analyze different types of warm-up on the physical performance of PP athletes. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 12 elite Brazilian PP male athletes (age, 24.14 ± 6.21 years; bodyweight, 81.67 ± 17.36 kg). The athletes performed maximum isometric force (MIF), rate of force development (RFD), and speed test (Vmax) in three different methods of warm-up. Tympanic temperature was used to estimate the central body temperature. Results: A significant difference was observed for MIF in the without warm-up (WW) condition in relation to the traditional warm-up (TW) and stretching warm-up (SW) (p = 0.005, η2p = 0.454, high effect). On the contrary, no significant differences were observed in RFD, fatigue index (FI) and time in the different types of warm up (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in relation to the maximum repetition (p = 0.121, η2p = 0.275, medium effect) or the maximum speed (p = 0.712, η2p = 0.033, low effect) between the different types of warm up. In relation to temperature, significant differences were found for the TW in relation to the “before” and “after” conditions. In addition, differences were found between WW in the “after” condition and SW. In addition, WW demonstrated a significant difference in relation to TW in the “10 min later” condition (F = 26.87, p = 0.05, η2p = 0.710, high effect). Conclusions: The different types of warm-up methods did not seem to provide significant differences in the force indicators in elite PP athletes.

High temperature impairs cognitive performance during a moderate intensity activity

High temperatures are one of the main causes of work safety accidents associated with cognitive impairment. However, the effects of elevated ambient temperature on cognitive performance during moderate-intensity activities are unclear. In this study, subjects (N = 32) were exposed to four different air temperatures, i.e., 26, 30, 33, and 37 °C, and a relative humidity of 70% in a climate chamber. During the experiment, the subjects were required to complete neurobehavioral cognitive tests while walking on a treadmill with an estimated metabolic rate of 165 W/m2. During the 90-min experiment, the tympanic temperature, weight loss, heart rate, and percentage of adjacent inter-beat cardiac intervals differing by > 50 ms (pNN50) were measured. Subjective responses were collected using questionnaires.The accuracy of subjects’ responses to the semantic interference and visual perception tests were significantly decreased at 37 °C after 45 min of exercise. Additionally, over the exposure period at 37 °C, the accuracy of various cognitive tests also decreased, while the speed increased. The changes in the cognitive test results at 37 °C were associated with the elevation of the tympanic temperature, heart rate, dehydration rate, and decline of the pNN50. Similarly, the elevated thermal discomfort and intensity of neurobehavioral symptoms were related to these changes.In conclusion, exposure to a temperature of 37 °C for 45 min has a negative impact on the accuracy of personnel with moderate-activity intensity. Therefore, 45 min is recommended as a safe time for continuous work with moderate intensity at 37 °C.

Effects of Time of Day on Pacing in a 4-km Time Trial in Trained Cyclists.

Time of day has been shown to impact athletic performance, with improved performance observed in the late afternoon-early evening. Diurnal variations in physiological factors may contribute to variations in pacing selection; however, research investigating time-of-day influence on pacing is limited. To investigate the influence of time-of-day on pacing selection in a 4-km cycling time trial (TT). Nineteen trained male cyclists (mean [SD] age 39.0 [10.7]y, height 1.8 [0.1]m, body mass 78.0 [9.4]kg, VO2max 62.1 [8.7]mL·kg-1·min-1) completed a 4-km TT on 5 separate occasions at 08:30, 11:30, 14:30, 17:30, and 20:30. All TTs were completed in a randomized order, separated by a minimum of 2d and maximum of 7d. No time-of-day effects were observed in pacing as demonstrated by similar power outputs over 0.5-km intervals (P = .78) or overall mean power output (333.0 [38.9], 339.8 [37.2], 335.5 [31.2], 336.7 [35.2], and 334.9 [35.7]W; P = .45) when TTs were performed at 08:30, 11:30, 14:30, 17:30, and 20:30. Preexercise tympanic temperature demonstrated a time-of-day effect (P < .001), with tympanic temperature higher at 14:30 and 17:30 than at 08:30 and 11:30. While a biological rhythm was present in tympanic temperature, pacing selection and performance when completing a 4-km cycling TT were not influenced by time of day. The findings suggest that well-trained cyclists can maintain a robust pacing strategy for a 4-km TT regardless of time of the day.

Ultrasound assessment of heart remodelling affected by therapeutic hypothermia and MSC on myocardial infarction model

Background. Late seeking medical advice, limited number of cardiac surgery hospitals and conservative treatment, which does not seem to be always efficacious, trigger the search for new, more effective mode therapy of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have come into sharp focus of scientists due to the prospects for clinical use. On the other hand, multicenter studies have proved that therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has neuro- and cardioprotective effects, and it is administered as one of the urgent methods in providing primary health care.&#x0D; Purpose. Providing and analyzing ultrasonography (US) of rat hearts with experimental MI in order to determine the nature of heart remodelling under combined use of TH and introducing allogeneic MSCs.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study involved 90 outbred white rats weighing 240–270 g. Myocardial infarction was reproduced by ligating the descending branch of the left coronary artery on the border of the upper and middle third of the vessel. Therapeutic hypothermia was performed in a cold chamber, 60 minutes long. The local skin temperature of the neck area was maintained at +4 оC, while the rectal and tympanic temperature decreased to + 25 оC. A suspension of allogeneic cryopreserved MSCs of the placenta with a concentration of 1.2 × × 106 cells/ml was administered once intravenously through v. saphena magna. Heart sonography was carried out by means of «Сономед 500» («СПЕКТРОМЕД», Russia) ultrasound scanner in B- and M-mode using a linear sensor 7.5L38 with frequency of 7.5 MHz.&#x0D; Results and discussion. The control group with experimental MI showed significantly suppressed function of the left ventricle (LV). It resulted in decreasing stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) and on the whole indicated reduced ejection fraction (EF) to 46.04 %, that was 35 % less than the corresponding normal range. According to the values of relative wall thickness (RWT) and left ventricular mass (LVM) on day 7 and day 30 after ligating the left coronary artery, LV remodelling was proceeding via eccentric mode of LV alteration. Therapeutic hypothermia was not able to completely stop the pathophysiological processes associated with coronary ligation. EF was not significantly different from the control group, and was 51.08 ± ± 2.68 %. On day 7 of the experiment, heart remodelling in this group was proceeding according to the normal geometry model, and on day 30 – according to the eccentric model. In spite of the volume overload causing post-infarction extension of the left ventricular cavity, in the group with applying MSCs, on day 7 there was a compensatory increase of the stroke volume, 1.8 times over compared to the group with normal range values and 2.3 over compared to the control group. The ejection fraction was 17 % less than the normal range, but statistically significantly higher than the corresponding indicator of the control group of this observation period. Heart remodelling after applying allogeneic MSCs associated with MI at all stages of observation was proceeding by eccentric LV hypertrophy. Аfter therapeutic hypothermia and applying MSCs associated with experimental myocardial infarction on day 7 and day 30, the group recorded the best values of echo params of LV anatomical structures, indicating no dilatation along with occuring moderate myocardial hypertrophy. The ejection fraction showed the best outcome, i. e. 58.78 %, while LV remodelling was minimal, occurring according to normal heart geometry.&#x0D; Conclusions. Applying echocardiography in rats is a very informative diagnosis method which makes it possible to describe the type of structural and functional remodelling of the myocardium associated infarction at early and late observation stages. The ultrasound study showed that the closest to the normal range was the group of animals exposed to therapeutic hypothermia and MSC transplantation. According to LVM and RWT values, in the rats of that group on day 7 and day 30 of the experiment, LV remodelling was characterized by normal geometry.

Changes in the physiological strain and graded exercise performance due to warming or cooling of the lower body in a temperate environment

The effects of a reduced or mildly elevated exercising muscle temperature on the graded exercise test (GXT) performance have yet to be studied. The present study clarified the effects of a range of exercising muscle temperatures on GXT performance in a temperate environment. Eight male subjects (age: 24.0±0.5 years old; height: 175±2 cm; weight: 64.8±2.0 kg; peak oxygen consumption [V̇O<inf>2peak</inf>]: 51.1±2.4 mL/kg/min) performed 4 GXTs at different exercising muscle temperatures using a cycle-ergometer in a temperate environment (24.1±0.2 °C). The exercise began at 0.3 kilopond (kp) with 60 revolutions per minute (rpm) and increased 0.3 kp every minute until volitional exhaustion. Subjects passively cooled (averaged deep thigh and calf temperature [Tmm], cold: 31 °C or cool: 33 °C) or warmed (Tmm; warm: 35 °C or hot: 37 °C) the exercising muscle using water perfusion pants throughout the test. The peak oxygen consumption (V̇O<inf>2peak</inf>), exercise time to exhaustion (TTE), heart rate (HR), tympanic (Tty) and mean body temperature (Tb), and total sweat loss were also measured. No significant differences were observed in the V̇O<inf>2peak</inf> or TTE among the 4 conditions; however, the HR, Tb, and total sweat loss were significantly higher (P<0.05) under warming conditions than cooling conditions. These results suggest that although the cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain is higher under warming conditions than cooling conditions, the exercising muscle temperature does not affect the performance of a GXT lasting approximately 15 min in a temperate environment.

The influence of warm-up duration on simulated rugby league interchange match performance

ABSTRACT Objective The study was conducted to understand the effects of a short (10 min) and a long (30 min) duration warm-up on subsequent readiness to exercise and movement during simulated rugby league match play. Methods: Using a randomised cross-over design, 13 male rugby players (age: 23.6 ± 4.1 y) completed 10- or 30-min warm-up immediately before 2 × 23 min rugby league movement simulation protocol. Results: Total distance, high- and low speed running and tympanic temperature (ES = 0.56 to 20.8) were all higher in the 30 min warm-up, with differences in relative distance and heart rate unclear (ES = -0.36 to 0.06). Differences in participants’ readiness to exercise after the warm-ups were unclear (ES = 0.25). Differences between trials for movement characteristics (ES = -0.13 to -0.32), RPE (ES = -0.13 to 0.04) and B[La] after the simulation were mostly unclear, with only trivial changes in high-speed running (ES = 0.08) and a lower heart rate (ES = -0.26) between the two playing bouts after the 30 min warm-up trial. Conclusion: Practitioners can use warm-ups between 10 or 30 minutes for rugby league interchange players without any implications for subsequent match running performance.

Effect of ambient temperature on fat oxidation during an incremental cycling exercise test

Aim: The objective of this current research was to compare fat oxidation rates during an incremental cycling exercise test in a temperate vs. hot environment. Methods: Twelve healthy young participants were recruited for a randomised crossover experimental design. Each participant performed a VO2max test in a thermoneutral environment followed by two cycling ramp test trials, one in a temperate environment (18.3°C) and another in a hot environment (36.3°C). The ramp test consisted of 3-min stages of increasing intensity (+10% of VO2max) while gas exchange, heart rate and perceived exertion were measured. Results: During exercise, there was a main effect of the environment temperature on fat oxidation rate (F = 9.35, P = 0.014). The rate of fat oxidation was lower in the heat at 30% VO2max (0.42 ± 0.15 vs.0.37 ± 0.13 g/min; P = 0.042), 60% VO2max (0.37 ± 0.27 vs.0.23 ± 0.23 g/min; P = 0.018) and 70% VO2max (0.22 ± 0.26 vs.0.12 ± 0.26 g/min; P = 0.007). In addition, there was a tendency for a lower maximal fat oxidation rate in the heat (0.55 ± 0.2 vs.0.48 ± 0.2 g/min; P = 0.052) and it occurred at a lower exercise intensity (44 ± 14 vs.38% ± 8% VO2max; P = 0.004). The total amount of fat oxidised was lower in the heat (5.8 ± 2.6 vs 4.6 ± 2.8 g; P = 0.002). The ambient temperature also produced main effects on heart rate (F = 15.18, P = 0.005) and tympanic temperature (F = 25.23, P = 0.001) with no effect on energy expenditure (F = 0.01, P = 0.945). Conclusion: A hot environment notably reduced fat oxidation rates during a ramp exercise test. Exercising in the heat should not be recommended for those individuals seeking to increase fat oxidation during exercise.

Relationship between dietary composition and normal body temperature and hypothermia

Abstract Background Maintaining a core temperature of 37.0 °C is important for autoimmunity, but reports in recent years show a declining trend in body temperature in Japan. The present study aimed to identify the factors leading to hypothermia by examining the relationship between dietary composition. Methods The subjects were 80 healthy females (average age: 18.2±1.0 years). We used a questionnaire format to survey the dietary pattern of the subjects. The dietary patterns were assessed by examining the average meal content consumed per week over the last 1-2 months and meal consumption, including nutritional content and other factors, using analysis software. The subjects measured their tympanic temperature using a thermometer after waking up. Correlation coefficient was calculated to determine correlations between tympanic temperature and each item. Results A significant correlation was observed between tympanic membrane temperatures upon waking up and iodine intake (r = 0.301,P&amp;lt;0.05) as well as the adequacy ratio of iodine reference intake (ratio of iodine intake to the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese, r = 0.301,P&amp;lt;0.05). A comparison between the group with tympanic membrane temperatures of ≥ 36.0 °C upon waking up and that with temperatures of &amp;lt; 36.0 °C showed a significant difference in iodine intake (732±518μg vs 422±248μg,P&amp;lt;0.05) and the adequacy ratio of iodine reference intake (5.6±4.0 vs 3.2±1.9,P&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions We examined the association of body temperature in Japanese women in their teens with their dietary composition and found a correlation between iodine intake and the adequacy ratio of iodine reference intake. Iodine is a substance essential for the production of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Thyroid hormones regulate biochemical reactions, such as protein synthesis and enzyme activity, and play an important role in regulating metabolic activity. Therefore, iodine may influence body temperature via these hormones. Key messages Regular body temperature monitoring is recommended for the prevention of infectious diseases. When there is a decrease in the body temperature, dietary composition of the individual should be checked.

Thermal Sensation in Older People with and without Dementia Living in Residential Care: New Assessment Approaches to Thermal Comfort Using Infrared Thermography.

The temperature of the indoor environment is important for health and wellbeing, especially at the extremes of age. The study aim was to understand the relationship between self-reported thermal sensation and extremity skin temperature in care home residents with and without dementia. The Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) was used to discriminate residents to two categories, those with, and those without, dementia. After residents settled and further explanation of the study given (approximately 15 min), measurements included: tympanic membrane temperature, thermal sensation rating and infrared thermal mapping of non-dominant hand and forearm. Sixty-nine afebrile adults (60–101 years of age) were studied in groups of two to five, in mean ambient temperatures of 21.4–26.6 °C (median 23.6 °C). Significant differences were observed between groups; thermal sensation rating (p = 0.02), tympanic temperature (p = 0.01), fingertip skin temperature (p = 0.01) and temperature gradients; fingertip-wrist p = 0.001 and fingertip-distal forearm, p = 0.001. Residents with dementia were in significantly lower air temperatures (p = 0.001). Although equal numbers of residents per group rated the environment as ‘neutral’ (comfortable), resident ratings for ‘cool/cold’ were more frequent amongst those with dementia compared with no dementia. In parallel, extremity (hand) thermograms revealed visual temperature demarcation, variously across fingertip, wrist, and forearm commensurate with peripheral vasoconstriction. Infrared thermography provided a quantitative and qualitative method to measure and observe hand skin temperature across multiple regions of interest alongside thermal sensation self-report. As an imaging modality, infrared thermography has potential as an additional assessment technology with clinical utility to identify vulnerable residents who may be unable to communicate verbally, or reliably, their satisfaction with indoor environmental conditions.

Physical and social warmth: Warmer daily body temperature is associated with greater feelings of social connection.

Growing evidence suggests that physical warmth and social warmth-feeling socially connected to others-are linked. In particular, thermoregulatory systems that maintain a relatively warm internal body temperature may also support feelings of social connection. However, it is unknown whether and how feelings of physical and social warmth fluctuate together across time in daily life. To this end, the current study examined tympanic temperature, a measure of internal body temperature, and feelings of social connection assessed multiple times a day over 1 week. Consistent with hypotheses, moment-to-moment changes in tympanic temperature covaried with feelings of social connection across assessments. Thus, warmer body temperatures, in the nonfebrile range, were associated with greater feelings of social connection, and cooler body temperatures were associated with lower feelings of social connection. These findings provide further evidence for the link between physical and social warmth and contribute to an understanding of the dynamic fluctuation of affective experience across time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Perioperative Temperature Management in Children: What Matters?

We carried out a prospective observational study in children undergoing anesthesia in our tertiary pediatric unit. We included 869 patients (<16 y) undergoing emergency/elective surgeries over 2 months. Our team recorded the incidence of hypothermia (tympanic core temperature < 36°C) within 15 minutes of arrival to the postanesthetic care unit. We collected data such as patient demographic, surgical, anesthetic (including monitoring and warming measures used), and operating theater (OT) temperature. We performed statistical analysis to identify risk factors associated with hypothermia. Postoperative hypothermia incidence was 12.3% (107/869). The mean core temperature on arrival to the postanesthetic care unit was 36.6°C (+SD 0.45) in normothermic patients versus 35.6°C (+SD 0.34) in hypothermic patients. Multivariable analysis identified starting ambient OT temperature [odds ratio (OR) = 0.83, confidence interval (CI): 0.71-0.96; P = 0.010], intraoperative temperature monitoring (OR = 0.49, CI: 0.28-085; P = 0.011), use of occlusive dressing (OR = 0.35, CI: 0.15-0.85; P = 0.020), and active forced-air warming (OR = 0.42, CI: 0.25-0.70; P = 0.001) as factors independently protective of postoperative hypothermia. Hypothermia occurred less frequently with emergency vs. elective procedures (OR 0.43, CI: 0.21-0.91; P = 0.026). Routine core temperature monitoring and active forced-air warming are useful measures to prevent hypothermia. Additionally, occlusive covers and controlling ambient OT temperature are cost-effective and safe methods to reduce inadvertent hypothermia.

Developing a new index for evaluating physiological safety in high temperature weather based on entropy-TOPSIS model - A case of sanitation worker

ObjectivesSanitation workers are at high-risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses in high temperature weather. However, some well-known heat stress indexes have limitations in practical application. This paper aims to establish a new index-comprehensive physiological index (CPI) for evaluating physiological safety. MethodsFirstly, the real-time weights of physiological parameters are obtained by entropy method. Secondly, the new index- CPI is established based on the distance between the measured values and the ideal solutions by the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Then the reasonability of CPI is verified. Finally, the safety range of the CPI is determined. ResultsThe mean skin temperature (MST), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the sanitation workers are greatly affected by the high temperature. The weight range of the MST, tympanic temperature, SBP, DBP and heart rate is 0.155–0.274, 0.146–0.200, 0.173–0.399, 0.150–0.298 and 0.146–0.200, respectively. And the weights of MST, SBP and DBP account for a relatively large proportion, ranging from 60.1% to 70.9%. The danger range of the CPI is (0, 0.6] while the safety range of the CPI is (0.6, 1.0]. ConclusionsThe CPI can provide simple and easily-measured real-time monitoring of the physiological status. It has the potential to be a practical index for guaranteeing occupational health for sanitation workers in summer.

A comprehensive evaluation of microchips to measure temperature in dairy calves

Elevated temperature is often an indicator of an immune response and used in the diagnosis of illness in dairy calves; however, measuring rectal temperature is labor intensive and often not measured daily on the farm. The objective of this study was to measure body temperature using a microchip and determine an appropriate implant site that would passively read body temperature in dairy calves. First, the precision of the temperature microchips and the rectal thermometer were tested ex vivo. Then, Holstein bull calves (n = 12) at 14 ± 12 d (mean ± SD) of age were implanted with microchips subcutaneously by the scutulum of the ear, subcutaneously in the upper scapula (SCAP), and intramuscularly in the trapezius muscle of the neck. One week after implantation, a temperature reading was taken for every microchip implant site using a radiofrequency ID (RFID) reader, as well as rectally and in the tympanic membrane using a digital thermometer every 60 min for 24 h in each calf (hereafter, the hourly study). Additionally, microchip readings and rectal temperatures were taken daily at 0800 h from 8 wk of age (n = 9; 57 ± 12 d of age) until 2 wk postweaning for a subset of the bull calves used in the hourly study (hereafter, the daily study). In the ex vivo trial, the microchip readings were very highly correlated with the rectal thermometer (r = 0.96), and the average coefficient of variation between microchip readings was very low (0.12 ± 0.03%). The relationships between the microchip readings within ear, SCAP, and neck and rectal and tympanic temperatures were analyzed using Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman plots. The ear and neck readings were strongly correlated for the hourly study [individual animal correlation; median (Q1, Q3), r = 0.78 (0.73, 0.84)] and for the daily study [r = 0.79 (0.73, 0.89)] across calves. However, rectal temperature was not significantly correlated with ear, SCAP, neck, or tympanic temperature for the daily and hourly studies. Results suggest that temperature microchips measure temperature appropriately, but temperature is dependent upon the implant site in calves, and temperature measured at ear, SCAP, and neck implant sites cannot be used to estimate rectal temperature. Future research should determine thresholds for fever that are specific to implant sites in calves.

The Impact of a 20-Minute Animal-Assisted Activity Session on the Physiological and Emotional States in Patients With Fibromyalgia

ObjectiveTo study the direct physiological and emotional impact of an animal-assisted activity (AAA) session (a form of complementary and integrative medicine) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Patients and MethodsThe study population consisted of 221 participants with FM who were attending Mayo Clinic’s Fibromyalgia Treatment Program between August 5, 2017, and September 1, 2018. This was a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (a 20-minute session with a certified therapy dog and handler) or the control group (a 20-minute session with a handler only). To gain a better understanding of the direct physiological and emotional effects of AAA in patients with FM, we used multiple noninvasive physiologic-emotional biomarkers, including salivary cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, tympanic membrane temperatures, and various cardiac parameters, in addition to standardized pain and mood-based questionnaires. ResultsResults show a decrease in heart rate, an increase in heart rate variability, an increase in well-being survey scores, an increase in salivary oxytocin, and subsequent tympanic membrane temperature changes, suggesting that participants in the treatment group were in a more positive emotional-physiologic state as a result of the AAA session compared with the control group. ConclusionOur results suggest that a 20-minute therapy dog visit in an outpatient setting can significantly and positively impact the physical and mental health of patients with FM.