Use Of Blankets Research Articles

Effects of Three Different Heating Devices on Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Network Meta-Analysis

PurposePerioperative hypothermia is a common anesthesia-related complication that can result in negative outcomes. Intraoperative active heating can affect patients. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of three common heating devices for controlling hypothermia, improving thermal comfort, and reducing anesthesia recovery time. DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis MethodsSeven electronic literature databases were searched from the inception date of the databases to March 18, 2022. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15.1 were used to perform meta-analyses on the obtained data, and the Cochrane Evaluation Manual was used for quality risk assessment of the included studies. ResultsA total of 18 studies involving 1511 patients undergoing surgery using heating devices were included. In this meta-analysis, a ranking method known as the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) was utilized. SUCRA provides a numerical measure of the effectiveness of treatments, with higher values indicating superior efficacy. The findings from this meta-analysis demonstrated that the concurrent use of three heating devices led to an elevation in core body temperatures (SUCRA = 69.2%) and enhanced delayed recovery (SUCRA = 88.6%), as compared to the application of a single device. Furthermore, for thermal comfort, the employment of heating blankets proved to be the most effective (SUCRA = 87.8%). ConclusionThis study showed the core body temperatures and improved delayed recovery were greater when three heating devices compared to use one of them alone, and the use of heating blankets was the most effective option for improving the thermal comfort of patients. Thus, clinicians should opt for appropriate heating equipment according to the type of surgery and the characteristics and needs of patients. The choice of appropriate heating equipment will ensure surgical safety, improve patient comfort, and reduce surgical risks.

The cost of keeping warm: a relationship between a rise in the cost of domestic energy and burn injuries caused by personal heating equipment

IntroductionDuring 2022–2023, the UK found itself in the midst of a domestic energy crisis, with the average domestic gas and electricity bill rising by 75% between 2019 and 2022. As a result, the use of hot water bottles, radiant heaters, and electric blankets increased. An unintended consequence of this may be an increase in burn injuries caused by misfortune, misuse, or the use of items in a state of disrepair. PurposeThe aim of this study was to explore any increase in referrals to a single burns centre in England for injuries caused by hot water bottles, radiant heaters, or electric blankets. MethodsThis was a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of referrals. All referrals between January 2022 and January 2023 were selected and compared with the same period from 2020–2021 (before the rise in energy prices). Referrals were screened for the terms “hot water bottle,” “electric heater,” “electric blanket,” and “heater.” Total referrals in each period, demographic data (age, gender), anatomical location and the mechanism of injury were compared between cohorts. ResultsWe found a statistically significant increase in the number of burns relating to heating implements between 2020/21 and 2022/23, rising from 54 to 81 (p = 0.03) – a 50% increase in injuries. Injuries in working age adults increased significantly (52% to 69%, p < 0.05). The most frequently injured area was the leg (30%) followed by the hand (18%). The commonest type of injury described was scald (72%). We found a moderately-strong correlation between the number of referrals and the average cost of energy in 2022–23. ConclusionThe number of injuries sustained by people using personal heating equipment is significantly increasing, which correlated with the rise in domestic energy prices. The most affected demographic appears to be working age adults, with wider implications around lost work-time yet to be explored. Further prospective, population-based work is indicated to assess the strength of the correlation seen in this study.

Variation of rectal temperature in dogs undergoing 3T-MRI in general anesthesia.

Managing body temperature during MRI scanning under general anesthesia poses challenges for both human and veterinary patients, as many temperature monitoring devices and patient warming systems are unsuitable for the use inside an MRI scanner. MRI has the potential to cause tissue and body warming, but this effect may be counteracted by the hypothermia induced by general anesthesia and the low ambient temperature usually encountered in scanner rooms. This study aimed to observe temperature variations in dogs undergoing MRI under general anesthesia. In this prospective observational study, client-owned dogs scheduled for 3-Tesla MRI under anesthesia between February and October 2020 at a veterinary teaching hospital were eligible for enrollment. Recorded data included breed, body mass, body condition score, age, fur quality, pre- and post-MRI rectal temperatures, time in the MRI room, scan area and coil used, application of contrast medium, choice of anesthetic agents, use of blankets, and infusion therapy. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. In total 171 dogs met the inclusion criteria. The median body temperature at admission was 38.4°C (IQR 38.1-38.7°C). The median body temperature before MRI was 38.2°C (IQR 37.8-38.6°C), and the median temperature after the MRI scan was 37.7°C (IQR 37.238.2°C) resulting in a median temperature difference (∆T) before and after MRI of - 0.6°C (IQR -0.8--0.1°C). The median duration of MRI scans was 49 min (IQR 38-63 min). A temperature loss of more than 0.1°C was observed in 121 (70.8%) dogs, 29 (16.9%) dogs maintained their temperature within 0.1°C, and 21 (12.3%) dogs experienced a temperature increase of more than 0.1°C. Factors associated with a higher post-MRI temperature included greater body mass, medium or long fur, and the application of α2- receptor-agonists. Dogs undergoing MRI under general anesthesia are likely to experience temperature loss in the given circumstances. However, in larger dogs and those with much fur, an increase in body temperature is possible and more common than generally anticipated, although clinically insignificant in most cases.

Effect of forced-air warming blankets on indoor air quality in unidirectional flow operating theatres

Perioperative hypothermia increases the likelihood that a patient will get a surgical site infection, which is one of the biggest public health problems. Controversy exists regarding the effect of forced-air warming systems on the disruption of unidirectional discharge of ultra-clean air in operating theaters. However, researchers agree that thermal blankets are indeed useful to prevent hypothermia. This work aims to analyze the effect of a forced-air warming blanket on the indoor air quality in the surgical field of a high-performance operating theater as a function of the supply velocity employing Computational Fluid Dynamics. An operating theater, its facilities, medical staff, and patient covered with a drape were modeled. Ten cases with driving speeds between 0.20 and 0.40 m/s at 0.05 m/s intervals, with thermal blankets ON and OFF, were simulated. Both air renewal and particle dispersion results in the breathing zone were analyzed. The results show that the use of thermal blankets to avoid patient hypothermia is acceptable at discharge velocities of 0.30 m/s because both the decontamination kinetics and air renewal are improved by 45.6% and 37.6%, respectively. Unfavorable results were obtained for the rest of the case studies with different supply velocities.

Extrinsic factors of pressure injuries in patients during surgery: A frequency matched retrospective study.

This study was to clarify the connection between extrinsic factors and the risk of perioperative pressure injuries (PIs) through the case-control approach, which involved making the intrinsic factors of the patients in the control group with no PIs consistent with those of the case group with PIs. We collected samples from a teaching hospital in Taiwan. We found a total of 132 patients deemed to have developed perioperative PIs. Using 1:2 frequency matching, we matched these cases with patients who had not developed PIs by gender, age, and BMI. Binary logistic regression analysis of the odds ratios of the extrinsic factors and PI risk revealed that the independent variables with statistical significance included duration of anaesthesia 3h, amount of blood loss, use of electric blankets, diastolic blood pressure below 60 mmHg during surgery, and oxyhemoglobin saturation by pulse oximetry (SPO2 ) below 93% during surgery. Emphasis should be placed on cooperation among the medical team during surgery, less use of electric blankets, control over the duration of anaesthesia and blood loss, continuous monitoring of the patient during surgery for any emergencies, and the maintenance of patient diastolic blood pressure and blood oxygen levels to reduce the risk of PIs.

Coercion in the ambulance setting.

Patients who resist medical assistance can undo the safety straps on the ambulance stretcher. Ambulance personnel have been known to make use of blankets, bandages and Velcro straps to restrain patients in transit. This study aims to establish how often this type of coercion is used. In 2021, approximately 400 ambulance service personnel in the county of Innlandet were invited by email to take part in an online survey about the use of coercion vis-à-vis patients who resist medical assistance. We received 85 responses, and 62 respondents (72.9%) stated that they had used coercion. Of these, 38 (44.7%) had restrained the arms/legs of patients using blankets, bandages or Velcro straps in order to keep them safe while in transit. A total of 36 respondents (42.4%) had observed other personnel travelling in an ambulance without a fastened seatbelt in order to maintain patient safety during transit. The results clearly show that ambulance personnel regularly use coercion when patients who resist their help are transported by ambulance. There is a need to discuss how such ambulance services can be provided in a safe, secure and caring way.

Hydrotherapeutic Heat Application as Support in Febrile Patients: A Scoping Review.

Background: Most often, fever is still treated by lowering body temperature with medication. In complementary and integrative health care, patients are supported during illness to use the positive effects of fever. Accompanying applications from the field of hydrotherapy are often used for gentle cooling, but there are references that warming in fever can also be used as a support. The aim of this scoping review was to identify available evidence on how, when, and why patients with fever are treated with heat application. Methods: The MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, COCHRANE, Google, and Google Scholar databases as well as references of identified literature were searched. As sources of evidence, publications studying patients who received heat application or were kept warm in febrile condition, regardless of medical situation, type of health care setting, and geographical background, were taken into consideration. Results: The literature search identified 1698 publications, of which only 7 were included. Methods of applying heat were the use of electric warming blankets, hot packs, hot-water bottles, or hot water footbaths. Most of the studies on heat application used temperatures of about 40°C and reported significantly lower body temperature after heat application. Conclusions: The literature suggests that hydrotherapeutic heat application is a common and well-appreciated method in Middle Eastern and Asian regions to support febrile patients. Using heat to support the energy-intensive and uncomfortable phase of rising fever may improve comfort, prevent unnecessarily high fever, and save biological energy. Therefore, high-quality studies on the role of heat application in fever are expected to be of high relevance for future fever management guidelines and integrative health care in general.

Infant Safe Sleep Initiative in a Small Volume Maternity Service.

Despite the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for preventing sudden unexpected infant death, there are approximately 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths annually in the United States. Modeling of safe sleep practices by nurses in the hospital influences parents' practice at home; however, safe sleep practices are not consistently modeled during the childbirth hospitalization. A quality improvement project was conducted to implement a safe sleep initiative based on the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for nurses caring for hospitalized infants after birth. Evaluation included testing of nurses' knowledge, infant crib audits, and nurses' evaluation of the intervention. A significant improvement was found in overall nurse education scores. Crib audits demonstrated a significant improvement in the following elements: use of multiple blankets, swaddling of the infant, and parent teaching. Nursing surveys reported an increase in confidence to practice safe sleep recommendations and educate and redirect parents. Implementing a safe sleep initiative can increase nurses' knowledge, improve adherence to recommendations with modeling safe sleep practices, and increase parent awareness of safe sleep recommendations, potentially positively affecting adherence after discharge.

Tracking the Impact of Weather on Equine Activity While Pastured

Keeping horses outdoors on pasture full-time with free access to shelter holds numerous advantages over housing in stalls, promoting both better mental and physical health. One reason for these benefits is the potential for increased physical activity in horses outdoors on pasture versus those confined to stalls. However, it is not guaranteed the horse will take advantage of this opportunity for greater movement. For this reason, it is important to understand the various reasons why horse activity patterns change. The objective of this study was to investigate how various weather factors – including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed – directly affect equine movement. To achieve this, horses on two similarly-managed farms were equipped with triaxial accelerometers during five independent time periods from January to August. These devices tracked number of steps, standing time, time lying down, and number of lying bouts. The movement data were then compared to the corresponding weather conditions. No strong correlations were found between the recorded movement of the horses and any of the environmental conditions. However, differences in average number of steps and average time lying down were observed between farms and across testing periods, suggesting other influences such as ground conditions and the use of blankets. Further studies are needed to determine the best management practices to encourage pasture activity and support optimal equine physical health.

Comparison of two different uses of underbody forced-air warming blankets for the prevention of hypothermia in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a prospective randomized study

BackgroundForced-air warming (FAW) is an effective method of preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH). However, its warming effects can be influenced by the style and position of the FAW blanket. This study aimed to compare the effects of underbody FAW blankets being placed under or over patients in preventing IPH.MethodsPatients (n=100) undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the lateral decubitus position were randomized into either under body (UB) group or the over body (OB) group (50 per group). The body temperature of the patients was recorded from baseline to the end of anesthesia. The incidences of postoperative hypothermia and shivering were also collected.ResultsA steady decline in the body temperature was observed in both groups up to 60 minutes after the start of FAW. After 60 minutes of warming, the OB group showed a gradual increase in the body temperature. However, the body temperature still decreased in UB group until 75 minutes, with a low of 35.7℃ ± 0.4℃. Then the body temperature increased mildly and reached 35.8℃ ± 0.4℃ at 90 minutes. After 45 minutes of warming, the body temperature between the groups was significantly different (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative hypothermia in the UB group was significantly higher than that in the OB group (P = 0.023).ConclusionsThe body temperature was significantly better with the use of underbody FAW blankets placed over patients than with them placed under patients. However, there was not a clinically significant difference in body temperature. The incidence of postoperative hypothermia was much lower in the OB group. Therefore, placing underbody FAW blankets over patients is recommended for the prevention of IPH in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.Trial registrationThis single-center, prospective, RCT has completed the registration of the Chinese Clinical Trial Center at 13/1/2021 with the registration number ChiCTR2100042071. It was conducted from 14/1/2021 to 30/10/2021 as a single, blinded trial in Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital.

Winter blanketing practices: An online survey of North American horse owners

Blanketing is a highly debated practice utilized in the equine community as part of winter horse management. Despite this, little research is available on the prevalence, reasoning, and management decisions related to use of blankets for horses in North America. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop an understanding of blanketing management practices and beliefs of North American horse owners. A 33-question, branched online survey was developed and available between December 1, 2020 and January 5, 2021 and advertised using social media and e-newsletters. The FREQ procedure for Chi-squared analysis in SAS was used when comparisons were made between participant-reported frequencies. There were 1,450 respondents from North America who completed the survey. Demographic information indicated the majority of respondents were from the Midwest region of the United States (68%); however, geographical region did not impact the frequency of blanket usage (P = .17, X2 = 8.99). When respondents were asked to self-report discipline, recreational riding was the most prevalent (40%). Overall, 54% of respondents (n = 790) reported blanketing the majority of their horses during the winter. The most frequently selected reason respondents chose to blanket horses was exposure to precipitation (78%). Out of the respondents who did not blanket the majority of their horses (n = 660), the primary reason for not blanketing was access to shelter (50%). This survey provides valuable information on blanketing and winter management practices reported by horse caretakers in North America and will help direct future research and education efforts.

Попередження інтраопераційної ненавмисної гіпотермії у пацієнтів із політравмою

Актуальність. Ненавмисна гіпотермія розвивається спонтанно як наслідок травми, хірургічного втручання та наркозу в результаті порушення відповідності теплопродукції тепловтрат і пригнічення компенсаторної терморегуляційної відповіді. Мета: вивчити ефективність способу корекції інтраопераційної ненавмисної гіпотермії з використанням системи конвекційного обігріву в пацієнтів із політравмою. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 20 пацієнтів із політравмою, яким проводились ургентні оперативні втручання. Пацієнти були розділені на 2 групи: I — основна група (n = 10), в якій інтраопераційно проводилося активне зігрівання системою конвекційного обігріву WarmAir 135 (CSZ) з використанням ковдр для зігрівання в умовах операційної; II — контрольна група (n = 10) без використання конвекційного зігрівання. Вивчалася температура ядра тіла (Тсо): початково, через 30, 60 хвилин і наприкінці операції. Розраховувалися наступні показники: мінімальна (Тмін.) і максимальна (Тмакс.) температура, середня температура (Тср.), температурний діапазон (Тдіап. = Tмакс. – Тмін.). Результати. У всіх пацієнтів із політравмою та проведенням ургентних хірургічних втручань відзначається розвиток клінічно значущої ненавмисної гіпотермії. На етапі 60 хвилин інтраопераційного періоду Тсо була вірогідно вище в I групі (35,38 ± 0,28 °С) порівняно з пацієнтами II групи (34,70 ± 0,39 °С) (p &lt; 0,05). Виявлено вірогідно вищий рівень середньої Тсо в I групі (35,53 ± 0,66 °С) порівняно з II групою (34,67 ± 1,74 °С) пацієнтів (p &lt; 0,05). Діапазон температур, який являє собою різницю максимальної та мінімальної Тсо, був вірогідно нижче в I групі пацієнтів (1,36 ± 0,74 °С) порівняно з II групою (4,55 ± 1,11 °С) (p &lt; 0,05). Висновки. Використання в комплексі інтенсивної терапії конвекційної системи зігрівання хоча й не дозволяє досягти вихідних значень Тсо, але попереджає прогресування поглиблення гіпотермії, ефективно забезпечуючи підтримку температурного гомеостазу у критичних пацієнтів із політравмою.

Model based prediction of age-specific soil and dust ingestion rates for children

BackgroundSoil and dust ingestion can be a primary route of environmental exposures. Studies have shown that young children are more vulnerable to incidental soil and dust ingestion. However, available data to develop soil and dust ingestion rates for some child-specific age groups are either lacking or uncertain.ObjectiveOur objective was to use the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation Soil and Dust (SHEDS-Soil/Dust) model to estimate distributions of soil and dust ingestion rates for ten age ranges from infancy to late adolescents (birth to 21 years).MethodsWe developed approaches for modeling age groups previously not studied, including a new exposure scenario for infants to capture exposures to indoor dust via pacifier use and accounting for use of blankets that act as a barrier to soil and dust exposure.ResultsOverall mean soil and dust ingestion rates ranged from ~35 mg/day (infants, 0–<6 m) to ~60 mg/day (toddlers and young children, 6m–<11 yr) and were considerably lower (about 20 mg/day) for teenagers and late adolescents (16–<21 y). The pacifier use scenario contributed about 20 mg/day to the median dust ingestion rate for young infants. Except for the infant age groups, seasonal analysis showed that the modeled estimates of average summer mean daily total soil plus dust ingestion rates were about 50% higher than the values predicted for the winter months. Pacifier use factors and carpet dust loading values were drivers of exposure for infants and younger children. For older children, influential variables included carpet dust loading, soil adherence, and factors that capture the frequency and intensity of hand-to-mouth behaviors.SignificanceThese results provide modeled estimates of children’s soil and dust ingestion rates for use in decision making using real-world exposure considerations.Impact statementThe parameterization of scenarios to capture infant soil and dust ingestion and the application of SHEDS-Soil/Dust to a broader age range of children provides additional estimates of soil and dust ingestion rates that are useful in refining population-based risk assessments. These data illuminate drivers of exposure that are useful to both risk management applications and for designing future studies that improve upon existing tracer methodologies.

The Emperor Is Naked: Replies to commentaries on the target article.

The 35 commentaries cover a wide range of topics and take many different stances on the issues explored by the target article. We have organised our response to the commentaries around three central questions: Are Friston blankets just Pearl blankets? What ontological and metaphysical commitments are implied by the use of Friston blankets? What kind of explanatory work are Friston blankets capable of? We conclude our reply with a short critical reflection on the indiscriminate use of both Markov blankets and the free energy principle.

Hypothermia and Cold Injury in Children.

Hypothermia and Cold Injury in Children.

Modeling and comparative analysis of changeover of homogeneous and heterogeneous core of BN-1200 reactor to equilibrium mode

Equilibrium reactor core operating in closed fuel cycle with breeding ratio close to 1 is one of the key features of reactor designs developed within the framework of «Proryv» project direction (PD). Equilibrium reactor core is characterized by the stable reactivity and power density pattern, as well as isotopic composition of recycled plutonium. When putting into operation fast reactor using plutonium extracted from thermal reactor spent fuel in bicomponent nuclear power, the reactor core would operate rather long (more than 10 years) in transient mode, which requires special studies and special measures for controlling reactivity coast down during reactor run.Virtual-digital modeling of fast reactor (FR) fuel cycle closure is an efficient tool in such study. In this paper, RTM-2 code package option is outlined and used. This option includes updated fuel cycle model allowing to simulate heterogeneous core layout, as well as to use radial and axial blankets.Analytical studies have been made on sodium cooled large size reactor (1200 MW). Reactivity stabilization in such reactor is slightly more difficult as compared to lead cooled reactors, and excess reactivity exceeds βeff value attributed to BREST type reactors. Owing to heterogeneity of the core, the required excess reactivity can be decreased in transient mode down to βeff level. In equilibrium mode of such core, its breeding ratio (BR) is overrated, and this would even cause reactivity increase (although relatively small). Fuel breeding can be used for assurance of equilibrium mode with high fuel burnup.Basically, there is no need to use blankets in the core designs under consideration. However, one should not discount the demand for fuel breeding, which is also one of the potential advantages of fast reactors. Modeling has shown the possibility of adaptable variation of BR of BN-1200 M reactor within the range of values from 1.05 to about 1.4 with the use of additional blankets (axial and radial) and enriched N15.

The Emperor's New Markov Blankets.

The free energy principle, an influential framework in computational neuroscience and theoretical neurobiology, starts from the assumption that living systems ensure adaptive exchanges with their environment by minimizing the objective function of variational free energy. Following this premise, it claims to deliver a promising integration of the life sciences. In recent work, Markov blankets, one of the central constructs of the free energy principle, have been applied to resolve debates central to philosophy (such as demarcating the boundaries of the mind). The aim of this paper is twofold. First, we trace the development of Markov blankets starting from their standard application in Bayesian networks, via variational inference, to their use in the literature on active inference. We then identify a persistent confusion in the literature between the formal use of Markov blankets as an epistemic tool for Bayesian inference, and their novel metaphysical use in the free energy framework to demarcate the physical boundary between an agent and its environment. Consequently, we propose to distinguish between "Pearl blankets" to refer to the original epistemic use of Markov blankets and "Friston blankets" to refer to the new metaphysical construct. Second, we use this distinction to critically assess claims resting on the application of Markov blankets to philosophical problems. We suggest that this literature would do well in differentiating between two different research programmes: "inference with a model" and "inference within a model." Only the latter is capable of doing metaphysical work with Markov blankets, but requires additional philosophical premises and cannot be justified by an appeal to the success of the mathematical framework alone.

Effect of Forced-Air Warming Blanket on Perioperative Hypothermia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Radical Resection of Colorectal Cancer.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of forced-air warming blanket combined with conventional thermal insulation measures on inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer. A total of 70 elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer with general anesthesia were included, and divided into conventional warming treatment (CT) group or forced-air warming treatment (FT) group. In the FT group, based on the conventional warming strategy, patients received prewarming with the forced-air warming blanket (38°C) for ≥20 minutes before induction of anesthesia, and received this treatment continuously during operation. The core body temperature, recovery time from anesthesia, extubating time, and length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit were recorded. The incidence of IPH and postoperative shivering was observed. The incidence of IPH was significantly lower, and average minimum body temperature during the operation was significantly higher in the FT group than that in the CT group (5.7% vs. 22.8% and 36.23°C vs. 35.89°C, respectively). The intraoperative body temperature decreased less (0.32°C vs. 0.69°C), the recovery time from anesthesia was faster (12.8 minutes vs. 17.1 minutes), and the incidence of postoperative shivering was less (2.8% vs. 28.6%) in the FT group than the CT group. In elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer, use of forced-air warming blankets combined with conventional warming measures is more effective to maintain normal body temperature during the perioperative period and reduce the incidence of IPH.

Effectiveness Of Polyethylene on Hypothermic Events in Low Birth Weight

Background: Treatment of low-birth-weight babies so far has mostly used incubators and swaddled babies using cloth whenever possible using the kangaroo method. While the kangoro method can be done if the mother and baby are both stable. Another way that can be done is to use a polyethylene blanket. The purpose of this study was to determine the use of polyethylene on the incidence of hypothermia in LBW.&#x0D; Methods: This type of research is a quasi-experimental design with Pre-Posttest Only Control Design, a sample of 60 LBW infants was taken by means of Systematic Random Sampling. Data collection techniques using the method of observation. Statistical analysis using the General Linear Model with a significant level of : 0.05&#x0D; Results: The results obtained in this study are based on the overall analysis obtained p-value 0.000 &lt;0.05, it can be interpreted that giving blankets polyethylene to respondents is effective in increasing the temperature of infants and reducing the incidence of hypothermia. Furthermore, the results of research based on Partial Eta analysis can be seen that blankets made of polyethylene increase the body temperature of low-birth-weight babies by 91.1%, while the increase in the kangaroo method group with Partial Eta 0.861 by 86.1%.&#x0D; Conclusion: This means that the use of blankets made from polyethylene increases the temperature higher than the kangaroo method.

Scabies and nocturnal pruritus: preliminary observations in a group of African migrants.

Pruritus of scabies is due to a type IV T cell-mediated reaction to the mite's saliva, eggs, excrements and other products released by the mite during its life cycle. Movements of the mite also induce pruritus. According to the literature, scabies pruritus has higher frequency and intensity at night. In this short communication we present the results of a survey on nocturnal pruritus in a group of African migrants with scabies. A questionnaire was given to 36 patients: "Is your pruritus more severe at night?" and "Do you wake up from the sleep because of pruritus?". The answer to the first question was "yes" in 13/18 patients (72.2%) visited from October 2018 to February 2019, and in 6/18 patients (33.3%) visited from May to September 2019. The answer to the second question was "yes" in 11/18 patients (61.1%) of the first group and in 5/18 patients (27.7%) of the second group. It is possible that nocturnal pruritus in scabies is due to the temperature of the skin surface: when it is high, because of the use of pajamas, heavy sheets and blankets (from October to February), pruritus increases; when the skin's temperature is low, as in the summertime, when people usually sleeps without blankets, with light sheets and pajamas or not having a stitch on, pruritus is less frequent and severe. These conclusions must be confirmed by studies based on larger groups of patients.