Therapeutic effects of mitoquinol during an acute heat stress challenge in growing barrows.

Study objectives were to determine the effects of mitoquinol (MitoQ, a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant) on biomarkers of metabolism and inflammation during acute heat stress (HS). Crossbred barrows [n = 32; 59.0 ±â€…5.6 kg body weight (BW)] were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 environmental-therapeutic treatments: 1) thermoneutral (TN) control (n = 8; TNCon), 2) TN and MitoQ (n = 8; TNMitoQ), 3) HS control (n = 8; HSCon), or 4) HS and MitoQ (n = 8; HSMitoQ). Pigs were acclimated for 6 d to individual pens before study initiation. The trial consisted of two experimental periods (P). During P1 (2 d), pigs were fed ad libitum and housed in TN conditions (20.6 ±â€…0.8 °C). During P2 (24 h), HSCon and HSMitoQ pigs were exposed to continuous HS (35.2 ±â€…0.2 °C), while TNCon and TNMitoQ remained in TN conditions. MitoQ (40 mg/d) was orally administered twice daily (0700 and 1800 hours) during P1 and P2. Pigs exposed to HS had increased rectal temperature, skin temperature, and respiration rate (+1.5 °C, +6.8 °C, and +101 breaths per minute, respectively; P < 0.01) compared to their TN counterparts. Acute HS markedly decreased feed intake (FI; 67%; P < 0.01); however, FI tended to be increased in HSMitoQ relative to HSCon pigs (1.5 kg vs. 0.9 kg, respectively; P = 0.08). Heat-stressed pigs lost BW compared to their TN counterparts (-4.7 kg vs. +1.6 kg, respectively; P < 0.01); however, the reduction in BW was attenuated in HSMitoQ compared to HSCon pigs (-3.9 kg vs. -5.5 kg, respectively; P < 0.01). Total gastrointestinal tract weight (empty tissue and luminal contents) was decreased in HS pigs relative to their TN counterparts (6.2 kg vs. 8.6 kg, respectively; P < 0.01). Blood glucose increased in HSMitoQ relative to HSCon pigs (15%; P = 0.04). Circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased in HS compared to TN pigs (P < 0.01), although this difference was disproportionately influenced by elevated NEFA in HSCon relative to HSMitoQ pigs (251 µEq/L vs. 142 µEq/L; P < 0.01). Heat-stressed pigs had decreased circulating insulin relative to their TN counterparts (47%; P = 0.04); however, the insulin:FI ratio tended to increase in HS relative to TN pigs (P = 0.09). Overall, circulating leukocytes were similar across treatments (P > 0.10). Plasma C-reactive protein remained similar among treatments; however, haptoglobin increased in HS relative to TN pigs (48%; P = 0.03). In conclusion, acute HS exposure negatively altered animal performance, inflammation, and metabolism, which were partially ameliorated by MitoQ.

Heat stress (HS) compromises animal health and productivity, and this causes major economic losses in almost every livestock sector. The negative consequences of HS are thought to originate from intestinal barrier dysfunction and subsequent immune activation. The underlying causes of lost intestinal integrity during HS are likely multifactorial; however, intestinal ischemia, increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and the ensuing epithelial oxidative damage might be potential causes. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, such as mitoquinol (MitoQ), are probably more effective than traditional dietary antioxidants (i.e., selenium, vitamin E) at alleviating oxidative stress, as they localize and accumulate within the mitochondria, potentiating their antioxidant activity. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate MitoQ's role during a thermal event in growing pigs. Herein, HS increased all body temperature indices, decreased feed intake (FI), and induced substantial body weight (BW) loss. Interestingly, the reduction in FI and BW was less dramatic in pigs receiving MitoQ. Changes in circulating metabolism and the acute phase response were observed due to the HS challenge; however, contrary to our expectations, these changes were not offset by MitoQ administration. Although our results suggest a positive MitoQ effect on growth performance, future studies are needed to corroborate the replicability of this response during HS.

Establishment and risk factor assessment of the abnormal body temperature probability prediction model (ABTP) for dairy cattle.

The study aims to develop an abnormal body temperature probability (ABTP) model for dairy cattle, utilizing environmental and physiological data. This model is designed to enhance the management of heat stress impacts, providing an early warning system for farm managers to improve dairy cattle welfare and farm productivity in response to climate change. The study employs the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm to analyze environmental and physiological data from 320 dairy cattle, identifying key factors influencing body temperature anomalies. This method supports the development of various models, including the Lyman Kutcher-Burman (LKB), Logistic, Schultheiss, and Poisson models, which are evaluated for their ability to predict abnormal body temperatures in dairy cattle effectively. The study successfully validated multiple models to predict abnormal body temperatures in dairy cattle, with a focus on the temperature-humidity index (THI) as a critical determinant. These models, including LKB, Logistic, Schultheiss, and Poisson, demonstrated high accuracy, as measured by the AUC and other performance metrics such as the Brier score and Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) test. The results highlight the robustness of the models in capturing the nuances of heat stress impacts on dairy cattle. The research develops innovative models for managing heat stress in dairy cattle, effectively enhancing detection and intervention strategies. By integrating advanced technologies and novel predictive models, the study offers effective measures for early detection and management of abnormal body temperatures, improving cattle welfare and farm productivity in changing climatic conditions. This approach highlights the importance of using multiple models to accurately predict and address heat stress in livestock, making significant contributions to enhancing farm management practices.

A case report on the physiological responses to extreme heat during Sicily's July 2023 heatwave.

July 2023 has been confirmed as Earth's hottest month on record, and it was characterized by extraordinary heatwaves across southern Europe. Field data collected under real heatwave periods could add important evidence to understand human adaptability to extreme heat. However, field studies on human physiological responses to heatwave periods remain limited. We performed field thermo-physiological measurements in a healthy 37-years male undergoing resting and physical activity in an outdoor environment in the capital of Sicily, Palermo, during (July 21; highest level of local heat-health alert) and following (August 10; lowest level of local heat-health alert) the peak of Sicily's July 2023 heatwave. Results indicated that ~40 min of outdoor walking and light running in 33.8°C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) conditions (July 21) resulted in significant physiological stress (i.e., peak heart rate: 209 bpm; core temperature: 39.13°C; mean skin temperature: 37.2°C; whole-body sweat losses: 1.7 kg). Importantly, significant physiological stress was also observed during less severe heat conditions (August 10; WBGT: 29.1°C; peak heart rate: 190 bpm; core temperature: 38.48°C; whole-body sweat losses: 2 kg). These observations highlight the physiological strain that current heatwave conditions pose on healthy young individuals. This ecologically-valid empirical evidence could inform more accurate heat-health planning.

Chronophysiology of domestic animals.

This review highlights recent findings on biological rhythms and discusses their implications for the management and production of domestic animals. Biological rhythms provide temporal coordination between organs and tissues in order to anticipate environmental changes, orchestrating biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes as the right process may occur at the right time. This allows animals to adapt their internal physiological functions, such as sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, hormone secretion, food intake and regulation of physical performance to environmental stimuli that constantly change. The study and evaluation of biological rhythms of various physiological parameters allows the assessment of the welfare status of animals. Alteration of biological rhythms represents an imbalance of the state of homeostasis that can be found in different management conditions.

Normal range and risk factors for deviating body temperatures during the first 24 hours in term-born infants under standardised care: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Body temperature for a known ambient temperature is not known for infants born at term. We aimed to determine the normal range and the incidences of hypothermia and hyperthermia during the first 24 hours of life in healthy term-born infants nursed according to WHO recommendations. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Norwegian single centre district hospital. Infants were observed during skin-to-skin care or when dressed in cots. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 951 healthy infants born at term. METHODS: Delivery room temperature was aimed at 26-30°C and rooming-in temperature at 24°C. We measured rectal and room temperatures at 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentile curves for rectal temperature. Proportions and risk factors for hypothermia and hyperthermia. RESULTS: The mean (SD) room temperature was 24.0°C (1.1), 23.8°C (1.0), 23.8°C (1.0)., 23.7°C (0.9) and 23.8°C (0.9). The median (2.5, 97.5 percentile) rectal temperature was 36.9°C (35.7-37.9), 36.8°C (35.9-37.5), 36.9°C (36.1-37.5), 37.0°C (36.4-37.7) and 37.1°C (36.5-37.7). Hypothermia (<36.5°C) occurred in 28% of the infants, 82% of incidents during the first 8 hours. Risk factors for hypothermia were low birth weight (OR 3.1 (95% CI, 2.0 to 4.6), per kg), male sex, being born at night and nursed in a cot versus skin to skin. Hyperthermia (>37.5°C) occurred in 12% and most commonly in large infants after 8 hours of life. Risk factors for hyperthermia were high birth weight (OR 2.2 (95% CI, 1.4 to 3.5), per kg), being awake, nursed skin to skin and being born through heavily stained amniotic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Term-born infants were at risk of hypothermia during the first hours after birth even when nursed in an assumed adequate thermal environment and at risk of hyperthermia after 8 hours of age.

Prediction of coronary artery disease based on facial temperature information captured by non-contact infrared thermography.

BACKGROUND: Current approaches for initial coronary artery disease (CAD) assessment rely on pretest probability (PTP) based on risk factors and presentations, with limited performance. Infrared thermography (IRT), a non-contact technology that detects surface temperature, has shown potential in assessing atherosclerosis-related conditions, particularly when measured from body regions such as faces. We aim to assess the feasibility of using facial IRT temperature information with machine learning for the prediction of CAD. METHODS: Individuals referred for invasive coronary angiography or coronary CT angiography (CCTA) were enrolled. Facial IRT images captured before confirmatory CAD examinations were used to develop and validate a deep-learning IRT image model for detecting CAD. We compared the performance of the IRT image model with the guideline-recommended PTP model on the area under the curve (AUC). In addition, interpretable IRT tabular features were extracted from IRT images to further validate the predictive value of IRT information. RESULTS: A total of 460 eligible participants (mean (SD) age, 58.4 (10.4) years; 126 (27.4%) female) were included. The IRT image model demonstrated outstanding performance (AUC 0.804, 95% CI 0.785 to 0.823) compared with the PTP models (AUC 0.713, 95% CI 0.691 to 0.734). A consistent level of superior performance (AUC 0.796, 95% CI 0.782 to 0.811), achieved with comprehensive interpretable IRT features, further validated the predictive value of IRT information. Notably, even with only traditional temperature features, a satisfactory performance (AUC 0.786, 95% CI 0.769 to 0.803) was still upheld. CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, we demonstrated the feasibility of using non-contact facial IRT information for CAD prediction.

The potential of in ovo-fed amino acids to alleviate the effects of heat stress on broiler chickens: effect on performance, body temperature, and oxidative status during the finisher phase.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of in ovo-fed amino acids (AA) to reduce the effects of heat stress on finishing broiler chickens. To achieve this, a total of 1,400 fertile hatching eggs were randomly distributed into 5 groups (n = 280/group) and injected with one of the following in ovo treatments on embryonic day 18: 52 µL of sterile diluent/egg (CTRL), CTRL + 1.0 mg of L-Leucine (T1), CTRL + 0.45 mg of leucine + 1.15 mg of methionine (T2), CTRL + 3.0 mg of methionine + 2.0 mg of cysteine (T3), and CTRL + 0.40 mg of leucine + 1.60 mg of methionine + 1.60 mg of cysteine (T4). After hatch, chicks were allocated according to a complete randomized block design comprising 2 thermal conditions: thermoneutral (24°C, 45% RH) and heat stress (34°C, 55-60% RH) with 5 pens/group/condition. The cyclical heat stress regimen (10 h/d) was then applied from d 29 to d 34. Compared to the CTRL group, T3 and T4 exhibited a higher BW during the starter phase (P < 0.001). T4 also had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than CTRL during this same phase (P = 0.03). During the grower phase, males of all treatment groups consistently exhibited higher BW compared to the CTRL group, which was not observed among female birds (PSex × TRT = 0.005). During the finisher phase, the in ovo treatment effect on performance was not significant. However, heat-stressed birds from treatment group T3 and T4 exhibited lower facial temperatures (Pday × TRT < 0.001) as well as lower plasma (Pcondition x TRT = 0.039) and liver (Pcondition x TRT < 0.001) malonaldehyde concentrations compared to the CTRL group. In conclusion, in ovo-fed AA have the potential to modulate the effects of heat stress on finishing broiler chickens by limiting its detrimental consequences, including increased body temperature and oxidative damage.

Normothermia to Decrease Surgical Site Infection Risk: Silver Bullet or Fool's Gold? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the leading cause of nosocomial infections among surgical patients in the United States. Currently, there is compelling evidence suggesting that temperature dysregulation in surgical patients may be a risk factor for the development of SSI. We examined the relationship between perioperative hypothermia (PH) and SSI in a population of surgical patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: This retrospective cohort review was conducted on patients with a history of DM undergoing orthopaedic surgery at our institution between May 1, 2018, and April 1, 2022. Inclusion criteria were age older than 15 years, a history of DM or recent hemoglobin A1c concentration of ≥6.5%, and operation of at least 60 minutes under general anesthesia. Perioperative hypothermia was defined as an intraoperative temperature ≤ 35.5°C. Continuous variables were compared using the t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared test. We constructed a multivariable logistic regression model to estimate SSI risk while controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: A total of 236 patients were included in the final analysis. The overall incidence of SSI was 5.93%. 99 patients (42%) experienced PH. No difference was observed in the risk of SSI between the normothermic and hypothermic cohorts. Among the 99 patients who experienced PH, increasing HbA1c was associated with increasing risk of SSI (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.12 to 5.32, P-value = 0.0222). The multivariable logistic regression model had good discriminatory ability (c-statistic 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.89) and good predictive accuracy (sensitivity 64%, specificity 73%). DISCUSSION: PH is not an independent risk factor of SSI. However, in the presence of elevated HbA1c, PH may more than double the risk of SSI. Perioperative hypothermia may be an additive risk factor in the setting of poor glycemic control and potentially in the setting of other known risk factors.

Regional Intraspecific Differences of Thermal Biology in a Marsupial Hibernator.

AbstractDuring periods of torpor, hibernators can reduce metabolic rate (MR) and body temperature (Tb) substantially. However, to avoid physiological dysfunction at low temperatures, they defend Tb at a critical minimum, often between ~0°C and 10°C via an increase in MR. Because thermoregulation during torpor requires extra energy, individuals with lower Tb's and thus minimal MR during torpor should be selected in colder climates. Such inter- and intraspecific variations occur in some placental mammals, but for the evolutionary separate marsupials, available information is scarce. Marsupial eastern pygmy possums (Cercartetus nanus; ~22 g body mass), widely distributed along the Australian southeastern coast including subtropical to alpine areas, were used to test the hypothesis that the defended Tb of torpid individuals is related to the climate of their habitat. Possums were captured from five regions, 1,515 km apart, with midwinter (July) minimum environmental temperatures (min Tenv's) ranging from -3.9°C to 6.6°C. Captive possums in deep torpor were slowly cooled with ambient temperature (Ta), while their MR was measured to determine the minimum torpor metabolic rate (TMR), the Ta at which their MR increased for thermoregulation (min Ta), and the corresponding minimum Tb (min Tb). Partial least squares regression analysis revealed that Ta and Tenv were the strongest explanatory variables for the min Tb. The min Tb and Ta were also correlated with latitude but not elevation of the capture sites. However, the best correlations were observed between the min Tenv and the min Tb and Ta for individuals experiencing min Tenv>0°C; these individuals thermoconformed to min Ta's between -0.8°C and 3.7°C, and their min Tb ranged from 0.5°C to 6.0°C and was 0.5°C-2.6°C below the min Tenv at the capture site. In contrast, individuals experiencing a min Tenv of -3.9°C regulated Tb at 0.6°C±0.2°C or 4.5°C above the Tenv. The minimum TMR of all possums did not differ with Ta and thus did not differ among populations and was 2.6% of the basal MR. These data provide new evidence that thermal variables of marsupials are subject to regional intraspecific variation. It suggests that min Tb is a function of the min Tenv but only above 0°C, perhaps because the Tb-Ta differential for torpid possums in the wild, at a min Tenv of -3.9°C, remains small enough to be compensated by a small increase in MR and does not require the physiological capability for a reduction of Tb below 0°C.

Changes in body surface temperature reveal the thermal challenge associated with catastrophic moult in captive gentoo penguins.

Once a year, penguins undergo a catastrophic moult, replacing their entire plumage during a fasting period on land or on sea-ice during which time individuals can lose 45% of their body mass. In penguins, new feather synthesis precedes the loss of old feathers, leading to an accumulation of two feather layers (double coat) before the old plumage is shed. We hypothesized that the combination of the high metabolism required for new feather synthesis and the potentially high thermal insulation linked to the double coat could lead to a thermal challenge requiring additional peripheral circulation to thermal windows to dissipate the extra heat. To test this hypothesis, we measured the surface temperature of different body regions of captive gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) throughout the moult under constant environmental conditions. The surface temperature of the main body trunk decreased during the initial stages of the moult, suggesting greater thermal insulation. In contrast, the periorbital region, a potential proxy of core temperature in birds, increased during these same early moulting stages. The surface temperature of the bill, flipper and foot (thermal windows) tended to initially increase during the moult, highlighting the likely need for extra heat dissipation in moulting penguins. These results raise questions regarding the thermoregulatory capacities of penguins in the wild during the challenging period of moulting on land in the current context of global warming.

Effects of neuromuscular taping form I on wound temperature and erythema in diabetic foot ulcer: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of neuromuscular taping (NMT) form I (a polyacrylate tape 0.6cm wide and 30cm long) on wound temperature and erythema in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) as an initial study in NMT intervention trials. METHOD: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest and post-test design with a seven-day observation. The research sample was 38 patients with DFU grades 2 and 3. The sample was divided into two groups: the control group (n=19) and the intervention group (n=19). In wound care, the modern dressing was applied to both groups while NMT was applied to the intervention group in form I with 30cm long and 6mm wide strips, and on the proximal, distal and lateral sides. The wound bed temperature was measured with a non-contact infrared thermometer, and erythema was measured with Corel Photo-Paint X5 software (Corel Corp, Canada). Statistical analysis between the two groups was carried out using the Mann-Whitney test, independent t-test and Chi-squared test with p< 0.05 representing statistical significance. RESULTS: The preliminary results revealed that no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were noted between the groups in sociodemographic or clinical characteristics, including age, body mass index, blood sugar, duration of diabetes, sex, smoking history, wound temperature and degree of erythema. Finally, it was also observed that, after seven days of application, NMT form I increased wound bed temperature, and reduced the level of erythema (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, NMT form I has been shown to increase the wound bed temperature and reduce the degree of erythema in DFUs.

Monitoring Intrarenal temperature changes during Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy in patients undergoing retrograde intrarenal surgery: a novel pilot study.

Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy is widely used for urinary stone treatment, but concerns persist regarding its thermal effects on renal tissues. This study aimed to monitor intrarenal temperature changes during kidney stone treatment using retrograde intrarenal surgery with Ho: YAG laser. Fifteen patients were enrolled. Various laser power settings (0.8 J/10 Hz, 1.2 J/12 Hz) and irrigation modes (10 cc/min, 15 cc/min, 20 cc/min, gravity irrigation, and manual pump irrigation) were used. A sterile thermal probe was attached to a flexible ureterorenoscope and delivered into the calyceal system via the ureteral access sheath. Temperature changes were recorded with a T-type thermal probe with ± 0.1 °C accuracy. Laser power significantly influenced mean temperature, with a 4.981 °C difference between 14 W and 8 W laser power (p < 0.001). The mean temperature was 2.075 °C higher with gravity irrigation and 2.828 °C lower with manual pump irrigation (p = 0.038 and p = 0.005, respectively). Body mass index, laser power, irrigation model, and operator duty cycle explained 49.5% of mean temperature variability (Adj. R2 = 0.495). Laser power and operator duty cycle positively impacted mean temperature, while body mass index and specific irrigation models affected it negatively. Laser power and irrigation rate are critical for intrarenal temperature during Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy. Optimal settings and irrigation strategies are vital for minimizing thermal injury risk. This study underscores the need for ongoing research to understand and mitigate thermal effects during laser lithotripsy.

Turning down the body heat: A novel mechanism for TRPV1 antagonist-induced hyperthermia.

While effective analgesics, TRPV1 antagonists can dangerously alter thermoregulation. In this issue of Neuron, Huang et al.1 demonstrate that interaction with the S4-S5 linker of TRPV1 determines whether an antagonist affects core body temperature, with promising implications for analgesic development.

Identification of hypothermia-inducing neurons in the preoptic area and activation of them by isoflurane anesthesia and central injection of adenosine.

Hibernation and torpor are not passive responses caused by external temperature drops and fasting but are active brain functions that lower body temperature. A population of neurons in the preoptic area was recently identified as such active torpor-regulating neurons. We hypothesized that the other hypothermia-inducing maneuvers would also activate these neurons. To test our hypothesis, we first refined the previous observations, examined the brain regions explicitly activated during the falling phase of body temperature using c-Fos expression, and confirmed the preoptic area. Next, we observed long-lasting hypothermia by reactivating torpor-tagged Gq-expressing neurons using the activity tagging and DREADD systems. Finally, we found that about 40-60% of torpor-tagged neurons were activated by succeeding isoflurane anesthesia and by icv administration of an adenosine A1 agonist. Isoflurane-induced and central adenosine-induced hypothermia is, at least in part, an active process mediated by the torpor-regulating neurons in the preoptic area.

[Association between intraoperative hypothermia and outcomes in neonatal patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery].

Objective: To investigate the impact of intraoperative hypothermia on postoperative outcome in neonatal patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Methods: The data of 1 008 neonates undergoing non-cardiac surgery in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2020 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected,which included 558 males and 450 females, with a midian age [M (Q1, Q3)] of 6 (2, 14) days. Neonates were divided into 4 groups according to whether hypothermia (below 36 ℃) occurred and the lowest body temperature during the surgery: normal temperature group (n=246), mild hypothermia group (the lowest temperature ranged 35.0-35.9 ℃, n=434), moderate hypothermia group (the lowest temperature ranged 34.0-34.9 ℃, n=232) and severe hypothermia group (the lowest temperature<34 ℃, n=96). The primary outcome was the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia. The four groups' difference of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative mortality within 30 days, postoperative pulmonary complications, postoperative hemorrhage/blood transfusion and acidosis were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between intraoperative hypothermia and prolonged postoperative hospital stay (>14 d), 30 d-mortality and other complications. Results: In the 1 008 neonatal patients, 762 (75.6%) cases suffered intraoperative hypothermia, among which the incidence of mild, moderate and severe hypothermia was 43.1% (434/1008), 23.0% (232/1008) and 9.5% (96/1008), respectively. The postoperative hospital stay in normal, mild, moderate and severe hypothermia groups was 9.0 (5.8, 18.0), 12.0 (7.0, 21.0), 17.0 (10.0, 34.5) and 31.5 (12.5, 55.8) days. The mortality rate with 30 days after surgery was 2.9% (7/246), 4.4% (19/434), 6.9% (16/232) and 14.7% (14/96), the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was 31.7%(78/246), 39.9%(173/434), 44.8%(104/232) and 67.4%(64/96), the rate of postoperative hemorrhage/blood transfusion was 19.9%(49/246), 32.3%(140/434), 49.1%(114/232) and 79.0%(75/96), and the incidence of acidosis was 26.8%(66/246), 35.7%(155/434), 44.4%(103/232) and 46.3%(44/96), respectively. All differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). According to the adjusted logistic regression analysis, compared with the normal body temperature group, severe hypothermia was associated with prolonged postoperative hospital stay (OR=1.962, 95%CI: 1.063-3.619) and postoperative pulmonary complications (OR=2.020, 95%CI: 1.149-3.553). The mild, moderate and severe hypothermia group could increase the risk of postoperative blood/transfusion rate (mild: OR=1.690, 95%CI: 1.080-2.644; Moderate: OR=2.382, 95%CI: 1.444-3.927; Severe: OR=8.334, 95%CI: 3.123-8.929). The mild and moderate hypothermia could raise the risk of acidosis (mild: OR=1.458, 95%CI: 1.009-2.107; Moderate: OR=1.949, 95%CI: 1.279-2.972). Conclusion: Intraoperative hypothermia can prolong the postoperative hospital stay, and increase the risk of postoperative mortality, postoperative pulmonary complications, postoperative hemorrhage/transfusion, and acidosis.

Genetic parameters for novel climatic resilience indicators derived from automatically-recorded vaginal temperature in lactating sows under heat stress conditions.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal records of automatically-recorded vaginal temperature (TV) could be a key source of data for deriving novel indicators of climatic resilience (CR) for breeding more resilient pigs, especially during lactation when sows are at an increased risk of suffering from heat stress (HS). Therefore, we derived 15 CR indicators based on the variability in TV in lactating sows and estimated their genetic parameters. We also investigated their genetic relationship with sows' key reproductive traits. RESULTS: The heritability estimates of the CR traits ranged from 0.000 ± 0.000 for slope for decreased rate of TV (SlopeDe) to 0.291 ± 0.047 for sum of TV values below the HS threshold (HSUB). Moderate to high genetic correlations (from 0.508 ± 0.056 to 0.998 ± 0.137) and Spearman rank correlations (from 0.431 to 1.000) between genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) were observed for five CR indicators, i.e. HS duration (HSD), the normalized median multiplied by normalized variance (Nor_medvar), the highest TV value of each measurement day for each individual (MaxTv), and the sum of the TV values above (HSUA) and below (HSUB) the HS threshold. These five CR indicators were lowly to moderately genetically correlated with shoulder skin surface temperature (from 0.139 ± 0.008 to 0.478 ± 0.048) and respiration rate (from 0.079 ± 0.011 to 0.502 ± 0.098). The genetic correlations between these five selected CR indicators and sow reproductive performance traits ranged from - 0.733 to - 0.175 for total number of piglets born alive, from - 0.733 to - 0.175 for total number of piglets born, and from - 0.434 to - 0.169 for number of pigs weaned. The individuals with the highest GEBV (most climate-sensitive) had higher mean skin surface temperature, respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), and hair density, but had lower mean body condition scores compared to those with the lowest GEBV (most climate-resilient). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the CR indicators evaluated are heritable with substantial additive genetic variance. Five of them, i.e. HSD, MaxTv, HSUA, HSUB, and Nor_medvar share similar underlying genetic mechanisms. In addition, individuals with higher CR indicators are more likely to exhibit better HS-related physiological responses, higher body condition scores, and improved reproductive performance under hot conditions. These findings highlight the potential benefits of genetically selecting more heat-tolerant individuals based on CR indicators.

External auricle temperature enhances ear-based wearable accuracy during physiological strain monitoring in the heat.

Body core temperature (Tc) monitoring is crucial for minimizing heat injury risk. However, validated strategies are invasive and expensive. Although promising, aural canal temperature (Tac) is susceptible to environmental influences. This study investigated whether incorporation of external auricle temperature (Tea) into an ear-based Tc algorithm enhances its accuracy during multiple heat stress conditions. Twenty males (mean ± SD; age = 25 ± 3 years, BMI = 21.7 ± 1.8, body fat = 12 ± 3%, maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) = 64 ± 7 ml/kg/min) donned an ear-based wearable and performed a passive heating (PAH), running (RUN) and brisk walking trial (WALK). PAH comprised of immersion in hot water (42.0 ± 0.3 °C). RUN (70 ± 3%VO2max) and WALK (50 ± 10%VO2max) were conducted in an environmental chamber (Tdb = 30.0 ± 0.2 °C, RH = 71 ± 2%). Several Tc models, developed using Tac, Tea and heart rate, were validated against gastrointestinal temperature. Inclusion of Tea as a model input improved the accuracy of the ear-based Tc algorithm. Our best performing model (Trf3) displayed good group prediction errors (mean bias error = - 0.02 ± 0.26 °C) but exhibited individual prediction errors (percentage target attainment ± 0.40 °C = 88%) that marginally exceeded our validity criterion. Therefore, Trf3 demonstrates potential utility for group-based Tc monitoring, with additional refinement needed to extend its applicability to personalized heat strain monitoring.

Thermal mapping the eye: A critical review of advances in infrared imaging for disease detection.

Infrared thermography (IRT) has become more accessible due to technological advancements, making thermal cameras more affordable. Infrared thermal cameras capture the infrared rays emitted by objects and convert it into temperature representations. IRT has emerged as a promising and non-invasive approach for examining the human eye. Ocular surface temperature assessment based on IRT is vital for the diagnosis and monitoring of various eye conditions like dry eye, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, allergic conjunctivitis, and inflammatory diseases. A collective sum of 192 articles was sourced from various databases, and through adherence to the PRISMA guidelines, 29 articles were ultimately chosen for systematic analysis. This systematic review article seeks to provide readers with a thorough understanding of IRT's applications, advantages, limitations, and recent developments in the context of eye examinations. It covers various aspects of IRT-based eye analysis, including image acquisition, processing techniques, ocular surface temperature measurement, three different approaches to identifying abnormalities, and different evaluation metrics used. Our review also delves into recent advancements, particularly the integration of machine learning and deep learning algorithms into IRT-based eye examinations. Our systematic review not only sheds light on the current state of research but also outlines promising future prospects for the integration of infrared thermography in advancing eye health diagnostics and care.

Effects of dynamic visual feedback system on seasickness.

Motion sickness (MS) poses challenges for individuals affected, hindering their activities and travel. This study investigates the effect of a visual dynamic device, forming an artificial horizon plane, on symptoms and physiological changes induced by MS. This device consists of vertical light-emitting diodes whose illumination varies according to the boat's movements. Fifteen subjects with moderate-to-severe MS susceptibility were exposed to a seasickness simulator with and without the device. Symptoms were assessed immediately after exposure. Time spent in the simulator, heart rate, and temperature were also recorded. Symptom intensity at the end of the experience did not differ, but the time spent in the simulator was significantly longer with the device (+46%). Variations in heart rate were also observed. The device delays symptom onset and can be used as a tool against MS. Further research is needed to evaluate its effects, for example, during more prolonged exposure to MS-inducing stimuli.