Oxyhemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex in response to cognitive tasks: a systematic review

Purpose of the study: the aim of this study was to synthesize PFC fNIRS outcomes on the effects of cognitive tasks compared to resting/baseline tasks in healthy adults from studies utilizing a pre/post design.

Material and methods: original research studies were searched from seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PEDro and PubMed). Subsequently, two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts followed by full-text reviews to assess the studies' eligibility.

Results: eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and had data abstracted and quality assessed. Methodology varied considerably and yet cognitive tasks resulted in the ΔO₂Hb increasing in 8 of the 11 and ΔHHb decreasing in 8 of 8 studies that reported this outcome. The cognitive tasks from 10 of the 11 studies were classified as “Working Memory” and “Verbal Fluency Tasks”.

Conclusions: although, the data comparison was challenging provided the heterogeneity in methodology, the results across studies were similar.     

静脉输液滴速自动显示仪的研制

本文介绍了该产品基于数字电路和基于单片机ATMEL89C2051两种方案软硬件设计。能够正确显示静脉输液滴数，方便患者和减轻陪护人员的负担，并且在无药液和血管堵塞两种情况下，自动报警。在输液过程中，发光二极管同步显示液滴滴速快慢的变化。     

捻转补泻手法针刺合谷穴对其局部皮肤温度的影响

目的阐明针刺捻转补法与泻法的操作是否存在效应上的差异,并探讨其效应差异是否为补泻效应的差异.方法应用红外线热像技术,采用不同的捻转补泻手法针刺健康人合谷穴后,观察其在即刻,10、20、30min,对局部皮肤温度的影响.结果不同捻转补法与泻法的操作存在着不同程度的效应差异,其中补法可以使皮温升高,泻法可以使皮温降低,以石氏捻转补泻针法较为明显.结论1)补泻手法,补法和泻法的操作可产生不同的效应.2)不同捻转补泻手法对皮肤温度产生的升降效应为补泻效应,其中以石氏捻转补泻手法最为明显.3)证明补泻手法实施的必要性.     

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on diffuse inflammatory activation of de novo atheromatous lesions: Implications for systemic inflammation

AimsLocal coronary and systemic inflammation is pronounced in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Intracoronary thermography detects local inflammation and C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of systemic inflammation. We investigated whether or not, in patients with DM, thermal heterogeneity of culprit lesions (CLs) correlates with that of non-culprit lesions (NCLs) and with systemic inflammation.MethodsWe included DM patients who had two angiographically significant lesions and were undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We measured the temperature difference (ΔT) between the lesion and proximal vessel wall.ResultsWe included 104 (n = 208 lesions) patients: 32 (n = 64 lesions) had DM and 72 (n = 144 lesions) were non-DM (control group). ΔT was increased in DM in both CLs and NCLs (CLs: DM = 0.12 ± 0.06 °C; no DM = 0.06 ± 0.04 °C; P < 0.01 versus NCLs: DM = 0.13 ± 0.08 °C versus no DM = 0.06 ± 0.05 °C; P < 0.01). Patients with DM had similar ΔT in CLs and NCLs (P = 0.49). A linear correlation was detected between heat production in all lesions and CRP (R = 0.45; P < 0.01), which was attributed to the correlation of ΔT in lesions of patients with DM and CRP (R = 0.32; P < 0.01). In lesions of patients with low CRP, a greater rate of discrepancy was found, as 100% of lesions in patients with DM versus 66.1% of lesions of patients without DM had a high ΔT in one or both lesions (P < 0.01).ConclusionIn patients with DM, local inflammatory activation is diffuse and correlates with systemic inflammation. However, low systemic inflammatory activation does not always predict an increase in local thermal heterogeneity.     

Carbonate apatite crystals in primary normophosphatemic tumoral calcinosis

A 66‐year‐old woman developed firm, painless, slowly growing nodular masses over her elbows, fingers, toes, and left hip over four years. Aspiration of the elbow mass revealed a white chalky material that was shown to be carbonate apatite on infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. We discuss the classification of tumoral calcinosis and the nature of the calcium deposits. Tumoral calcinosis should be differentiated from tophaceous gout and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Polarizing light microscopy and crystal analysis by X‐ray and infrared spectroscopy, electron or X‐ray diffraction will confirm the diagnosis. Secondary causes of tumoral calcinosis should also be excluded.     

Mid-infrared spectroscopy on skin using a silver halide fibre probe in vivo

Background/aim: Mid-infrared spectroscopy is a versatile method for in vivo investigation of skin after topical treatment with skin care products.
Methods: FTIR-spectrometer (Bruker Optics) with a flexible silver halide fibre probe (Infrared Fiber Sensors).
Results: Absorbance spectra from 700 to 3000 cm⁻¹ have been recorded to gain information about proteins (amide-I and amide-II vibrations at 1650 and 1550 cm⁻¹), esters (1740 cm⁻¹), carboxylic acid (1710 cm⁻¹), polyalcohols (1050 cm⁻¹) and hydrocarbons (CH _n vibrations at 2800–3000 cm⁻¹).
Conclusions: Using the particular light guide, we were able to measure for the first time the effects of lip care products on lips directly. Furthermore, water binding and glycerol content of the skin could be determined simultaneously, as well as the replenishment of lipids by lipid-enriched bath oil.     

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease: morphological and microanalytical features

The light microscopic and polarization appearances of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposits in tissues are reviewed. In routine sections haematoxylinophilic crystalline deposits with a feathery or brush-like pattern are typical of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. Short rhomboidal crystals showing positive birefringence are seen on polarization; X-ray microanalytical and infrared spectroscopic data support the specificity of these appearances. The appearances of the crystal deposits in decalcified specimens are also described. We include six cases of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition within periarticular bone; to the best of our knowledge this has not previously been described.     

中医药结合红外热像仪治疗286例脑供血不足

目的 探讨红外热像仪产生的热图与中医学的辨证施治相结合治疗脑供血不足。方法 使用红外热像仪对286例脑供血不足患者进行检查，然后中医分型治疗，再每隔1个月用红外热像仪随访疗效。结果 1个月后平均总有效率85．6％，2个月后平均总有效率91．2％，3个月后平均总有效率达95．7％。结论 红外热像仪对早期诊断脑供血不足及疗效跟踪有很大帮助，为临床提供了一种新颖的检查方法。     

Comparison of Tympanic, Esophageal and Blood Temperatures during Mild Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Study using an Infrared Emission Detection Tympanic Thermometer

Objective. Tympanic temperature can be obtained instantaneously using an infrared emission detection (IRED) thermometer. Its accuracy has been documented in a variety of clinical settings, but its performance at low body temperatures is still unknown. In this study we evaluated its performance during coronary artery revascularization surgery in which mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used. Methods. Thirty adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were enrolled in the study. Tympanic temperature obtained using IRED thermometry (Tt1) was compared with core temperatures from the esophagus (Te), and venous blood of CPB (Tv) before, during, and after CPB. We also measured tympanic temperature using a thermocouple probe (Tt2) in 16 of the 30 patients in order to study the agreement between the two methods. Values for correlation coefficients and limits of agreement were computed to assess the degree of agreement among the temperatures obtained. Results. The highest agreement with Tv during CPB was obtained from Tt1 (r = 0.94, 0.41 ± 1.73, limits of agreement) and from Te (0.91, 0.36 ± 2.46). Tt1 also showed good agreement with Tt2 during surgery. Conclusions. Infrared tympanic thermometry is a reliable, alternative method to measure tympanic temperature and may be useful to assess core temperature in both normothermic and mild hypothermic conditions.