Dynamic Thermography: Analysis of Hand Temperature During Exercise

Exercise has a noted effect on skin blood flow and temperature. We aimed to characterize the normal skin temperature response to exercise by thermographic imaging. A study was conducted on ten healthy and active subjects (age=25.8 ± 0.7 years) who were exposed to graded exercise for determination of maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), and subsequently to constant loads corresponding to 50%, 70%, and 90% of VO₂ max. The skin temperature response during 20 min of constant load exercise is characterized by an initial descending limb, an ascending limb and a quasi-steady-state period. For 50% VO₂ the temperature decrease rate was --0.0075±0.001°C/s during a time interval of 390 ±47 s and the temperature increase rate was 0.0055 ± 0.0031 °C/s during a time interval of 484 ±99 s. The level of load did not influence the temperature decrease and increase rates. In contrast, during graded load exercise, a continuous temperature decrease of --0.0049 ± 0.0032 °C/s was observed throughout the test. In summary, the thermographic skin response to exercise is characterized by a specific pattern which reflects the dynamic balance between hemodynamic and thermoregulatory processes. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8722Pg, 8759Wc, 8745Dr, 0180+b, 8745Hw     

Relationship between core temperature and skin blood flux in lower limbs during prolonged arm exercise in persons with spinal cord injury

The purposes of the present study were to examine the response of the skin blood flux (SBF) in the paralyzed lower limbs of persons with spinal cord injury (PSCI) and to clarify the relationship between the SBF and core temperature during prolonged arm exercise. Eight male PSCI with lesions from T6 to L5 and six male control subjects (CS) participated in this study. The subjects rested for 60 min and then performed arm-cranking exercise at 20 W for 30 min at 25 °C. The tympanic membrane temperature (T _ty) and SBF in the anterior thigh (SBFT) and in the posterior calf (SBFC) were continuously measured throughout the experiment. The SBFC did not change in either PSCI or CS during the experiment. The SBFT in four PSCI with high lesions (T6 to T12), remained unchanged during exercise. The SBFT in the other four PSCI with low lesions (T12 to L5, SBFT+) began to elevate markedly when the T t, exceeded a threshold temperature of 36.69 °C. The pattern of increase of SBFT in SBFT+ was similar to that in CS, although onset of the increase in SBFT was delayed and the peak of SBFT during exercise was significantly lower in comparison with the CS. We consider that these differences between the SBFT+ and CS were largely attributable to the lowerT _ty in the former group, which took a prolonged time to reach the threshold of 36.69 °C.     

Block Copolymers of Methyl Vinyl Ether and Isobutyl Vinyl Ether With Thermo‐Adjustable Amphiphilic Properties

The thermo‐adjustable hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of AB, ABA and BAB block copolymers in which A is poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE) and B is poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) (PIBVE) have been investigated. The block copolymers were prepared by “living” cationic polymerization using sequential addition of monomers. The polymerizations were carried out with the system acetal/trimethylsilyl iodide as initiator and ZnI₂ as activator. The initiating system based on diethoxyethane leads to AB block copolymers whereas the initiating system based on tetramethoxypropane leads to ABA or BAB triblock copolymers. Well‐defined block copolymers of different composition with controlled molecular weights up to approx. 10 000 have been prepared. When IBVE is added to living PMVE, PIBVE‐blocks form only in the presence of an additional amount of ZnI₂, which is attributed to the fact that part of the ZnI₂ is inactive because of complex formation with PMVE. At room temperature, the combination of hydrophilic (PMVE) and hydrophobic (PIBVE) segments provides the copolymers with surfactant properties. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PMVE, situated around 36 °C, the PMVE‐blocks become hydrophobic and the amphiphilic nature of the block copolymers is lost. The corresponding changes in hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance have been evaluated by investigation of the emulsifying properties of the block copolymers for water/decane mixtures as a function of the temperature. Below the LCST, the block copolymers have emulsifying properties similar to or better than those of the commercial PEO‐PPO block copolymers (Pluronic®). Either oil‐in‐water or water‐in‐oil emulsions can be obtained, depending on the polymer architecture and the water/decane volume ratio. The emulsifying properties are strongly reduced or completely lost above 40 °C. Emulsions obtained with a PMVE₃₆‐b‐PIBVE₅₄ block copolymer for a water/decane (v/v) ratio of 85/15 remained stable for more than six months.

50/50 and a 85/15 water/decane w/o emulsion (15 g/l) with the PMVE₃₆‐b‐PIBVE₅₄ block copolymer at 20 °C.     

Salivary cooling,escape reaction and heat pain in capsaicin-desensitized rats

Salivary thermolytic mechanism (weight of salivary glands, effect of desalivation on water intake and body temperature, grooming activity) as well as escape behaviour and reaction to heat pain were studied in capsaicin-desensitized and control rats exposed to various warm ambient temperatures. Body temperature of the desensitized rats increased more than the controls at all the ambient temperatures studied (32, 34 and 36°C); however, significant differences in the mechanism of salivary cooling were obtained only at 34 and 36°C. Central impairment of saliva spreading in desensitized rats seems evident. Complete surgical desalivation did not increase hyperthermia of control and desensitized animals in warm environments. Therefore other mechanisms, primarily vasodilatatory, must also be involved in the rat's thermolytic normal response. Although desensitized rats did not show a tendency to escape from the warm environment their response to heat pain was normal. In conclusion, it is suggested that heat perception in desensitized animals is impaired; however, the existence of some capsaicin-insensitive thermolytic mechanisms (prone extension of the body) cannot be excluded.Supported by the Scientific Research Council, Ministry of Health, Hungary /4-05-0303-04-2/0/ and MTA-OM-MÉM-EÜM 70.211/79     

Cortisol and testosterone concentrations in wheelchair athletes during submaximal wheelchair ergometry

It is yet unknown how upper body exercise combined with high ambient temperatures affects plasma testosterone and cortisol concentrations and furthermore, how these hormones respond to exercise in people suffering spinal cord injuries. The purpose of this study was to characterize plasma testosterone and cortisol responses to upper body exercise in wheelchair athletes (WA) compared to able-bodied individuals (AB) at two ambient temperatures. Four WA [mean age 36 (SEM 13) years, mean body mass 66.9 (SEM 11.8) kg, injury level T₇–T₁₁], matched with five AB [mean age 33.4 (SEM 8.9) years, mean body mass 72.5 (SEM 13.1) kg] exercised (cross-over design) for 20 min on a wheelchair ergometer (0.03 kg resistance · kg⁻¹ body mass) at 25 °C and 32 °C. Blood samples were obtained before (PRE), at min 10 (MID), and min 20 (END) of exercise. No differences were found between results obtained at 25 °C and 32 °C for any physiological variable studied and therefore these data were combined. Pre-exercise testosterone concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in WA [18.3 (SEM 0.9) nmol · l⁻¹] compared to AB [21.9 (SEM 3.6) nmol · l⁻¹], and increased PRE to END only in WA. Cortisol concentrations were similar between groups before and during exercise, despite higher rectal temperatures in WA compared to AB, at MID [37.21 (SEM  0.14) and 37.02 (SEM  0.08)°C, respectively] and END [37.36 (SEM 0.16) and 37.19 (SEM 0.10)°C, respectively]. Plasma norepinephrine responses were similar between groups. In conclusion, there were no differences in plasma cortisol concentrations, which may have been due to the low relative exercise intensities employed. The greater exercise response in WA for plasma testosterone should be confirmed on a larger population. It could have been the result of the lower plasma testosterone concentrations at rest in our group. Accepted: 4 September 2000     

Genetic diagnoses and associated anomalies in fetuses prenatally diagnosed with esophageal atresia

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital anomaly occurring in 2.3 per 10,000 live births. Due to advances in prenatal imaging, EA is more readily diagnosed, but data on the associated genetic diagnoses, other anomalies, and postnatal outcome for fetuses diagnosed prenatally with EA are scarce. We collected data from two academic medical centers (n = 61). Our data included fetuses with suspected EA on prenatal imaging that was confirmed postnatally and had at least one genetic test. In our cohort of 61 cases, 29 (49%) were born prematurely and 19% of those born alive died in the first 9 years of life. The most commonly associated birth defects were cardiac anomalies (67%) and spine anomalies (50%). A diagnosis was made in 61% of the cases; the most common diagnoses were vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, radial or renal dysplasia, and limb anomalies association (43%, although 12% met only 2 of the criteria), trisomy 21 (5%), and CHARGE syndrome (5%). Our findings suggest that most fetuses with prenatally diagnosed EA have one or more additional major anomaly that warrants a more comprehensive clinical genetics evaluation. Fetuses diagnosed prenatally appear to represent a cohort with a worse outcome.     

Effects of prolonged exercise at a similar percentage of maximal oxygen consumption in trained and untrained subjects

Summary Six trained male cyclists and six untrained but physically active men participated in this study to test the hypothesis that the use of percentage maximal oxygen consumption (% , as a normalising independent variable is valid despite significant differences in the absolute of trained and untrained subjects. The subjects underwent an exercise test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer to determine and lactate threshold. The subjects were grouped as trained (T) if their exceeded 60 ml ·kg^–1 ·min^–1, and untrained (UT) if their was less than 50 ml · kg^–1 · min-^–1. The subjects were required to exercise on the ergometer for up to 40 min at power outputs that corresponded to approximately 50% and 70% The allocation of each exercise session (50% or 70% was random and each session was separated by at least 5 days. During these tests venous blood was taken 10 min before exercise (–10 min), just prior to the commencement of exercise (–10 min), after 20 min of exercise (20 min), at the end of exercise and 10 min postexercise (+ 10 min) and analysed for concentrations of cortisol, [Na⁺], [K⁺], [CI^–], glucose, free fatty acid, lactate [la-], [NH₃], haemoglobin [Hb] and for packed cell volume. The oxygen consumption ( ) and related variables were measured at two time intervals (14–15 and 34–35 min) during the prolonged exercise tests. Rectal temperature was measured throughout both exercise sessions. There was a significant interaction effect between the level of training and exercise time at 50% for heart rate ( _c:) and venous [la^–]. At 70% and ventilation ( ) for the T group and and carbon dioxide production for the UT group increased significantly with time and there was a significant interaction effect forf _c, ]Ia^–1], [Hb] and [NH₃]. The change in body mass at 50% and 70% was significantly greater in the T group. The present study found that when two groups of male subjects with different absolute exercised at a similar percentage of some effector responses were significantly different, questioning the validity of selecting % as a normalising independent variable.     

Molecular typing of the bacterial flora in sputum of cystic fibrosis patients

Despite recent advances in therapy, lower airway infections remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Bacterial colonisation of the lower airways in CF is limited to a few bacterial species, commonly Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae. Burkholderia cepacia colonisation is much rarer, but it has been thought to be associated with more advanced lung disease and increased mortality. A rapid characterisation of the bacterial flora in sputum of CF patients is of great importance for proper treatment. The aim of this study was to establish bacterial profiles and to identify pathogenic bacteria in respiratory specimens by means of molecular methods including temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) and DNA sequencing of PCR amplicons derived from 16S rDNA variable V3 and V6 regions. Sputa of 13 CF patients (7 males/6 females, age 19-59 years) collected at the Stockholm CF centre were analysed. TTGE revealed the presence of complex bacterial profiles in all samples. The V3 and V6 PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced by real-time DNA Pyrosequencing. DNA from Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, was identified together with sequences from normal oral cavity flora. The results were in reasonable agreement with those obtained by conventional bacterial culture, considering that only known CF pathogens are included in routine reports. However, the methodology seems too elaborate to be introduced into daily routine     

Residual effects of prior exercise and recovery on subsequent exercise-induced metabolic responses

Abstract Data on the metabolic responses to repeated endurance exercise sessions are limited. Thus, the aims of this study were to examine (1) the impact of prior exercise on metabolic responses to a subsequent exercise session and (2) the effect of different recovery periods between two daily exercise sessions on metabolic responses to the second bout of exercise. Nine male elite athletes participated in four 25-h trials: one bout of exercise (ONE), two bouts of exercise separated by 3 h of rest and one meal (SHORT), two bouts of exercise separated by 6 h of rest and two meals (LONG), and a trial with no exercise (REST). All exercise bouts consisted of 10 min cycling at 50% followed by 65 min at 75% of maximal O₂ uptake. Compared to no prior exercise (ONE), a previous bout of exercise (SHORT) was followed by higher mean O₂ uptake, heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (T_R), excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and lower respiratory exchange ratio (R) during and after a similar exercise session 3 h later. A longer rest interval between the two exercise bouts (6 h versus 3 h) and an additional meal resulted in a decrease in O₂ uptake, HR, T_R and an increase in R during the second bout of exercise, but no effects on post-exercise metabolism were found. Thus, augmented metabolic stress was observed when strenuous exercise was repeated after only 3 h of recovery, but this was attenuated when a longer recovery period including an additional meal was provided between the exercise sessions.