Background: Infrared thermography is a growing area of interest in sports science due to the potential of skin temperature (T-sk) measurements to provide valuable information from rest to exercise.... Show moreBackground: Infrared thermography is a growing area of interest in sports science due to the potential of skin temperature (T-sk) measurements to provide valuable information from rest to exercise. However, limited research exists on T-sk in older adults and the impact of factors such as sex and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on T-sk. This study aims to investigate T-sk at rest and after acute exercise in older adults and assess whether sex or CRF influences T-sk.Methods: Ninety-two participants (41 women, 68.48 +/- 3.01 years) were examined with a thermographic camera in a conditioned room (23.02 +/- 3.01 degrees C) at rest and after a graded protocol. The T-sk of 25 regions of interest (ROIs) were extracted and analysed.Results: Men had higher overall T-sk at rest in 76% of ROIs, showing significant differences (p < 0.010) in six specific ROIs, independent of CRF. Both sexes had similar T-sk responses after graded exercise, with increases in distal parts (1.06 +/- 0.50 C-degrees), decreases in proximal parts (-0.62 +/- 0.42 degrees C), and stable central T-sk (0.23 +/- 0.59 degrees C). Increases in lower limb T-sk were significantly associated with CRF in men and women (beta = 0.438, p = 0.001, and beta = 0.535, p < 0.001, respectively), explaining 17% and 27% of the variance, respectively.Conclusions: This study demonstrates a sex-specific effect on resting T-sk in older adults, suggesting that sex-specific T-sk patterns should be considered when analysing T-sk in this population. Additionally, the association between increases in lower limb T-sk and CRF suggests that T-sk could be a promising predictor of CRF in older adults. Show less
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) care pathways evolve slowly as new evidence emerges. We report the sixth version of "European Guidelines for the Management of RDS " by a panel of experienced... Show moreRespiratory distress syndrome (RDS) care pathways evolve slowly as new evidence emerges. We report the sixth version of "European Guidelines for the Management of RDS " by a panel of experienced European neonatologists and an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to end of 2022. Optimising outcome for babies with RDS includes prediction of risk of preterm delivery, appropriate maternal transfer to a perinatal centre, and appropriate and timely use of antenatal steroids. Evidence-based lung-protective management includes initiation of non-invasive respiratory support from birth, judicious use of oxygen, early surfactant administration, caffeine therapy, and avoidance of intubation and mechanical ventilation where possible. Methods of ongoing non-invasive respiratory support have been further refined and may help reduce chronic lung disease. As technology for delivering mechanical ventilation improves, the risk of causing lung injury should decrease, although minimising time spent on mechanical ventilation by targeted use of postnatal corticosteroids remains essential. The general care of infants with RDS is also reviewed, including emphasis on appropriate cardiovascular support and judicious use of antibiotics as being important determinants of best outcome. We would like to dedicate this guideline to the memory of Professor Henry Halliday who died on November 12(,) 2022.These updated guidelines contain evidence from recent Cochrane reviews and medical literature since 2019. Strength of evidence supporting recommendations has been evaluated using the GRADE system. There are changes to some of the previous recommendations as well as some changes to the strength of evidence supporting recommendations that have not changed. This guideline has been endorsed by the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS). Show less
Where people live and work together it is not always possible to modify the ambient temperature; ways must therefore be found that allow individuals to feel thermally comfortable in such settings.... Show moreWhere people live and work together it is not always possible to modify the ambient temperature; ways must therefore be found that allow individuals to feel thermally comfortable in such settings. The Embr Wave (R) is a wrist-worn device marketed as a 'personal thermostat' that can apply a local cooling stimulus to the skin. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an intermittent mild cold stimulus of 25 degrees C for 15-20 s every 5 min over 3.5 days under free-living conditions on 1) skin temperature, 2) perception of skin temperature, 3) sleep quality and 4) resting energy expenditure (REE) in young, healthy adults. Ten subjects wore the device for 3.5 consecutive days. This intervention reduced distal skin temperature after correcting for personal ambient temperature (P < 0.05), but did not affect the subjects' the perception of skin temperature, sleep quality or REE (all P >= 0.051). Thus, this intermittent mild cold regime can reduce distal skin temperature, and wearing it under free-living conditions for 3.5 days does not seem to impair the perception of skin temperature and sleep quality or modify REE. Show less
Sweet, D.G.; Carnielli, V.; Greisen, G.; Hallman, M.; Ozek, E.; Pas, A. te; ... ; Halliday, H.L. 2019
An iButton is a temperature sensor of small dimensions (button-sized; 16 x 6 mm(2)), relatively low cost ((similar to)US50$), with a stable and autonomous system that measures temperature and... Show moreAn iButton is a temperature sensor of small dimensions (button-sized; 16 x 6 mm(2)), relatively low cost ((similar to)US50$), with a stable and autonomous system that measures temperature and records the data in a protected memory section. These devices are used in different fields and the company offers a software (One-Wire Viewer) with several limitations. The present study describes Temperatus (R) software with the main aim of making the task of programming, downloading, and analysing the massive amount of data generated by iButtons smoothly, intuitive, time-efficient, and user-friendly. Show less
Background & aim: The thermic effect of food (TEF) refers to the increase of the metabolic rate and body temperature in response to a single meal. To date, most of the studies have focused to... Show moreBackground & aim: The thermic effect of food (TEF) refers to the increase of the metabolic rate and body temperature in response to a single meal. To date, most of the studies have focused to determine the TEF in terms of energy expenditure, but little is known about which is the response in terms of skin temperature. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the thermic effect of food (TEF) on the skin temperature with a standardized and individualized liquid meal test is different in young adult men than in young adult women.Methods: A total of 104 young adults (36 men and 68 women, age: 18-25 years old) consumed a standardized and individualized liquid meal (energy intake: 50% of measured basal metabolic rate, 50% carbohydrates, 35% fat, 15% protein). The skin temperature was measured by means of 17 iButtons during 3 h and 20 min. The mean, proximal, distal, and supraclavicular skin temperature, as well as the peripheral gradient, were determined as a proxy of a peripheral vasoconstriction. The participants reported the thermal sensation of the whole body, clavicular, feet, and hands zones. The body composition was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry.Results: The overall, mean, proximal, and supraclavicular skin temperature significantly increased after the meal intake (all P < 0.05 vs. the baseline temperature). There was a postprandial peripheral vasoconstriction right after the meal intake and over the first hour and a peripheral vasodilatation during the second and third hour. Women had a higher increase in all skin temperature parameters in comparison to men (all, P < 0.05), whereas there were no sex differences in the proximal skin temperature (P = 0.279). The pattern of thermal sensation was similar between sexes, but women always felt colder than men. All of the results persisted after adjusting the analyses for body composition or menstrual cycle.Conclusion: A standardized and individualized liquid meal test increases the skin temperature in young adults, being the thermic effect higher in women than in men. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved. Show less
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity is commonly assessed with a positron emission tomography with computed tomography scan (PET/CT). This technique has several limitations and... Show moreBrown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity is commonly assessed with a positron emission tomography with computed tomography scan (PET/CT). This technique has several limitations and alternative techniques are needed. Supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons and infrared thermography (IRT) has been proposed as an indirect marker of BAT activity. We studied the concurrent validity of skin temperature measured with iButtons vs. IRT and the association of supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons and IRT with BAT. We measured skin temperature upon a shivering threshold test with iButtons and IRT in 6 different regions in 12 participants (n = 2 men). On a separate day, we determined supraclavicular skin temperature with an iButton and IRT after 2 h of a personalized cooling protocol. Thereafter, we quantified BAT volume and activity by PET/CT. We observed that the absolute differences between the devices were statistically different from 0 (all P < 0.05) after the shivering threshold test. Moreover, we did not find any association between supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons or IRT and BAT F-18-FDG activity (r = -0.213; P = 0.530 and r = -0.079; P = 0.817). However, we observed a negative association of supraclavicular skin temperature measured by IRT with BAT F-18-FDG volume (r = -0.764; P = 0.006), but not with supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons (r = -0.546; P = 0.082). In light of these results, we concluded that the measurement of skin temperature obtained by iButtons and IRT are not comparable. Furthermore, it seems that supraclavicular skin temperature is not associated with BAT F-18-FDG activity, but it appears to be negatively associated with BAT F-18-FDG volume in the case of IRT. Show less
In complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), motor disturbances are common and cause significant disability. Although motor dysfunction is a well known and often described characteristic of CRPS, the... Show moreIn complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), motor disturbances are common and cause significant disability. Although motor dysfunction is a well known and often described characteristic of CRPS, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This thesis aimed to obtain a better understanding of the pathophysiology underpinning the motor dysfunction in CRPS. First, a quantitative analysis of the motor disturbances was performed, and subsequently its relation to pain intensity was examined. Next, we evaluated the effects of botulinum toxin in muscles of a subgroup of CRPS patients suffering from abnormal posturing. Also, circadian temperature regulation and its variation during long-term registration in affected and unaffected extremities of chronic CRPS patients was examined. Furthermore, a literature review was performed to research the origin and change in meaning over time of akinesia, bradykinesia and hypokinesia, terms that are frequently used to describe disturbances of motor function in movement disorders in general. Show less
Romeijn, N.; Raymann, R.J.E.M.; Most, E.; Lindert, B.T.; Meijden, W.P. van der; Fronczek, R.; ... ; Someren, E.J.W. van 2012
The first part deals with the hypothalamic hypocretin system in disorders that are accompanied by narcolepsy-like sleep disturbances, i.e. Prader-Willi Syndrome, Parkinson__s Disease and Huntington... Show moreThe first part deals with the hypothalamic hypocretin system in disorders that are accompanied by narcolepsy-like sleep disturbances, i.e. Prader-Willi Syndrome, Parkinson__s Disease and Huntington__s Disease. To determine whether the hypocretin system is affected in these disorders, the total number of hypocretin neurons was determined using quantitative techniques in post-mortem human hypothalami. The reason why hypocretin neurons disappear in narcolepsy is still a mystery. A putative autoimmune aetiology has been hypothesized, but a screening for autoantibodies and a n=1 trial with intravenous immunoglobulins yielded no unequivocal results in favor of this hypothesis. In the second part, the consequences of hypocretin deficiency in narcoleptic patients are explored, focussing on vigilance, metabolism and the autonomic nervous system and skin temperature regulation. The ability of a specific neuropsychological test to measure vigilance as a severity indicator for narcolepsy is explored. Two possible causes for the obesity commonly seen in narcolepsy are a decreased basal metabolic rate and a changed autonomic tone. To assess the influence of hypocretin deficiency on skin temperature regulation, thermoregulatory profiles of the proximal and distal skin of narcoleptic subjects were compared to profiles of healthy controls during a daytime sleep registration. Show less
