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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Cold protecting ointments and frostbite. A questionnaire study of 830 conscripts in Finland.

Application of ointments to the face is one of many measures used to avoid frostbite of the head in cold climates. A recent epidemiological study indicated, however, that the use of ointments in the cold may be a considerable risk factor in development of frostbite of the face and ears. A questionnaire on the use of protective ointments was completed by 830 young male conscripts divided into 4 groups by climatic home region on the south - north axis of Finland. Personal estimates of cold exposure, sensitivity to cold, smoking, and cumulative incidence of frostbite to the face and ears were reported. Twenty-one percent of the conscripts had used cold protective ointments, mostly at school age or earlier. In 25% of the conscripts' families some other member (mostly women and children) had used emollients in order to prevent cold injuries. Both the conscripts and their families living in southern Finland used protective ointments more often than those in northern Finland. Almost half (47%) of the conscripts had had frostbites of the head, 42% of the ears and 23% of the face. Those who had used ointments in the cold had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of frostbites on the face (p=0.0031), especially on the cheeks and chin. Their subjective experience concerning the protective effect of ointments in the cold was somewhat or clearly positive in 84% of respondents. The controversy between subjective experience and increased incidence of facial frostbite in ointment users needs further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Gamma shielding factor for typical houses in Brazil.

The housing features in a country depend much on its climate. Dwellings in warm countries are much lighter constructions than in cold ones, which will reflect on the amount of shielding against radiation they provide. In addition to that, wealth is another factor that influences the building's finishing. Great effort has been taken to determine parameters to more accurately estimate dose to a population in case of a radioactive or nuclear accident. Nevertheless, most available data are concerned with typical housing in cold climate countries. This study aims to determine shielding factors for typical building materials used in the southeast of Brazil, a warm area, due to radioactive material deposited on the surrounding field, walls and ceiling of the external surfaces. The shielding factors determination was performed by simulation with the MCNP5 Monte Carlo computer code. The air kerma indoors for the 300, 662 and 3000 keV photon energies have been determined for three different housing patterns, ranging from the very simple to a very complex structure. The shielding factor, defined as the ratio of the air kerma indoor to the air kerma in open field, for the most simple house type and 300 keV photon energy was found to be twice of the best finished one for the same energy.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2004

Rapid rise of sea level 19,000 years ago and its global implications.

Evidence from the Irish Sea basin supports the existence of an abrupt rise in sea level (meltwater pulse) at 19,000 years before the present (B.P.). Climate records indicate a large reduction in the strength of North Atlantic Deep Water formation and attendant cooling of the North Atlantic at this time, indicating a source of the meltwater pulse from one or more Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. Warming of the tropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Southern Hemisphere also began at 19,000 years B.P. These responses identify mechanisms responsible for the propagation of deglacial climate signals to the Southern Hemisphere and tropics while maintaining a cold climate in the Northern Hemisphere.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Non-occlusal dental microwear variability in a sample of Middle and Late Pleistocene human populations from Europe and the Near East.

Non-occlusal, buccal tooth microwear variability has been studied in 68 fossil humans from Europe and the Near East. The microwear patterns observed suggest that a major shift in human dietary habits and food processing techniques might have taken place in the transition from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene populations. Differences in microwear density, average length, and orientation of striations indicate that Middle Pleistocene humans had more abrasive dietary habits than Late Pleistocene populations. Both dietary and cultural factors might be responsible for the differences observed. In addition, the Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal specimens studied show a highly heterogeneous pattern of microwear when compared to the other samples considered, which is inconsistent with a hypothesis of all Neanderthals having a strictly carnivorous diet. The high density of striations observed in the buccal surfaces of several Neanderthal teeth might be indicative of the inclusion of plant foods in their diet. The buccal microwear variability observed in the Neanderthals is compatible with an overall exploitation of both plant and meat foods on the basis of food availability. A preliminary analysis of the relationship between buccal microwear density and climatic conditions prevailing in Europe during the Late Pleistocene has been attempted. Cold climatic conditions, as indicated by oxygen isotope stage data, seem to be responsible for higher densities of microwear features, whereas warmer periods could correspond to a reduced pattern of scratch density. Such a relationship would be indicative of less abrasive dietary habits, perhaps more meat dependent, during warmer periods.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Insect cold hardiness: a Canadian perspective.

The cold climates and diverse environments of Canada have allowed key studies of insect cold hardiness that developed and widened the understanding of this subject. For example, freezing tolerance, chilling tolerance, freezing resistance, supercooling, cryoprotectants and other features can be combined in many different ways, reflecting a wide range of adaptations. Many other factors interact with and influence cold hardiness, such as habitats and their selection, and water and energy balances. These findings suggest several topics that would be especially fruitful for further study in northern Canada.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological situation of Japanese encephalitis in Nepal.

A human Japanese encephalitis (JE) case is considered to have elevated temperature (over 380 C) along with altered consciousness or unconsciousness and is generally confirmed serologically by finding of specific anti-JE IgM in the cerebro spinal fluid. No specific treatment for JE is available. Only supportive treatment like meticulous nursing care, introduction of Ryle's tube if the patient is unconscious, dextrose solution if dehydration is present, manitol injection in case of raised cranial temperature and diazepam in case of convulsion. Intra venous fluids, indwelling catheter in conscious patient and corticosteroids unless indicated should be avoided. Pigs, wading birds and ducks have been incriminated as important vertebrate amplifying hosts for JE virus due to viremia in them. Man along with bovines, ovines and caprines is involved in transmission cycle as accidental hosts and plays no role in perpetuating the virus due to the lack of viremia in them. The species Cx tritaeniorhyncus is suspected to be the principal vector of JE in Nepal as the species is abundantly found in the rice-field ecosystem of the endemic areas during the transmission season and JE virus isolates have been obtained from a pool of Cx tritaeniorhyncus females. Mosquito vector become infective 14 days after acquiring the JR virus from the viremic host. The disease was first recorded in Nepal in 1978 as an epidemic in Rupandehi district of the Western Development Region (WDR) and Morang of the Eastern Region (EDR). At present the disease is endemic in 24 districts. Although JE as found endemic mainly in tropical climate areas, existence and proliferation of encephalitis causing viruses in temperate and cold climates of hills and valleys are possible. Total of 26,667 cases and 5,381 deaths have been reported with average case fatality rate of 20.2% in an aggregate since 1978. More than 50% of morbidity and 60% mortality occur in the age group below 15 years. Upsurge of cases take place after the rainy season (monsoon). Cases start to appear in the month of April - May and reach its peak during late August to early September and start to decline from October. There are four designated referral laboratories, namely National Public Health Laboratory (Teku), Vector Borne Diseases Research and Training Center (Hetauda), B.P. Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences (Dharan) and JE Laboratory (Nepalgunj), for confirmatory diagnosis of JE. For prevention of JE infection; chemical and biological control of vectors including environmental management at breeding sites are necessary. Segregate pigs from humans habitation. Wear long sleeved clothes and trousers and use repellent and bed net to avoid exposure to mosquitos. For the prevention of the disease in humans, safe and efficacious vaccines are available. Therefore immunize population at risk against JE. Immunize pigs at the surroundings against JE. 225,000 doses of live attenuated SA-14-14.2 JE vaccine were received in donation from Boran Pharmaceuticals, South Korea for the first time in Nepal. Altogether 224,000 children aged between 1 to 15 years were vaccinated in Banke, Bardiya and Kailali districts during 1999. From China also, 2,000,000 doses of inactivated vaccine were received in 2000 and a total of 481,421 children aged between 6m to 10 yrs were protected from JE during 2001/2002. Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Livestock Services has vaccinated around 200,000 pigs against JE in terai zone during February 2001.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Reducing uncertainty about carbon dioxide as a climate driver.

The lack of an adequate ancient analogue for future climates means that we ultimately must use and trust climate models, evaluated against modern observation and our best geologic records of warm and cold climates of the past. Armed with an elevated confidence in the models, we will then be able to make reliable predictions of the Earth's response to our risky experiment with the climate system.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed2004

A time-series analysis of mortality and air temperature in Greater Beirut.

The literature on the association between health and weather in the temperate to semi-arid cities of the Eastern Mediterranean is scarce. The quantification of the relationship between temperature and daily mortality can be useful for developing policy interventions such as heat-warning systems. A time-series analysis of total daily mortality and weather data for the city of Beirut was carried out. The study covered the period between 1997 and 1999. Poisson auto-regressive models were constructed, with mean daily temperature and mean daily humidity as explanatory variables. Delayed effects, up to 2 weeks, were accounted for. The regression models were used next to assess the effect of an average increase in temperature on yearly mortality. The association between temperature and mortality was found to be significant. A relatively high minimum-mortality temperature (TMM) of 27.5 degrees C was calculated. A 1 degrees C rise in temperature yielded a 12.3% increase (95% confidence interval: 5.7-19.4%) and 2.9% decrease (95% confidence interval: 2-3.7%) in mortality, above and below TMM, respectively. Lag temperature variables were found to be significant below TMM but not above it. Where the temperature change was less than 0.5 degrees C, annual above-TMM losses were offset by below-TMM gains, within a 95% confidence interval. TMM for Beirut fell within the range usually associated with warm climates. However, the mild below-TMM and steep above-TMM slopes were more typical of cities with temperate to cold climates. Our findings suggest that heat-related mortality at moderately high temperatures can be a significant public health issue in countries with warm climates. Moreover, at the projected climate change over the next 50 years, heat-related losses are unlikely to be offset by cold-related gains.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Low-temperature microbial degradation of crude oil products differing in the extent of condensation].

Out of the 30 strains capable of oil degradation at 4-6 degrees C, four were selected by the ability to degrade 40% of the oil substrate present in the growth medium: Rhodococcus spp. DS-07 and DS-21 and Pseudomonas spp. DS-09 and DS-22. We studied the activity of these strains as degraders of oil products of various condensation degrees (crude oil, masut, petroleum oils, benzene resins and ethanol-benzene resins) at 4-6 degrees C. The maximum degrees of degradation of masut and ethanol-benzene resins were observed in Pseudomonas spp. DS-22 (17.2% and 5.2%, respectively). The maximum degradation of petroleum oils and benzene resins was observed in Rhodococcus spp. DS-07 (40% and 16.6%, respectively). The strains provide a basis for developing biodegrader preparations applicable to bioremediation of oil-polluted sites under the conditions of cold climate.

Benzene↗
PubMed2006

[Two cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis difficult to evoke symptoms by provocation test].

We report two cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA), which were hardly induced by provocation test in the hospital. Case 1: A 28-years-old Japanese female suffers repeated episodes of sternutation, nasal discharge and edema of eyelids after wheat ingestion of wheat followed by exercise. Case 2: A 14-years-old Japanese male suffers repeated episodes of wheal formation on whole body and dyspnea after lunch containing apple followed by exercise. Both of them had never developed symptoms by either ingestion or exercise alone. Provocation tests were performed on admission by combinations of the ingestion of suspected foods, exercise, and aspirin, but no symptoms were reproduced by any combination of them. After discharge, case 1 reproduced symptoms during exercise after the ingestion of wheat under prostration and cold climate. Case 2 reproduced symptoms during exercise after ingestion of apple when he suffered from common cold. Warm and comfortable condition in admission may make it harder to evoke symptoms by the provocation test. Frigidity, cold, prostration, and stress should be reckoned with in the provocation test to improve the accuracy of diagnosis for FDEIA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Impact of temperature on the physiological status of a potential bioremediation inoculant, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus A6.

Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus A6 (A6) can degrade large amounts of 4-chlorophenol in soil at 5 and 28 degrees C. In this study, we investigated the effects of temperature on the physiological status of this bacterium in pure culture and in soil. A derivative of A6 tagged with the gfp gene (encoding green fluorescent protein [GFP]) was used to specifically quantify A6 cells in soil. In addition, cyano-ditolyl-tetrazoliumchloride was used to stain GFP-fluorescent cells with an active electron transfer system ("viable cells") whereas propidium iodide (PI) was used to stain cells with damaged membranes ("dead cells"). Another derivative of the strain (tagged with the firefly luciferase gene [luc]) was used to monitor the metabolic activity of the cell population, since the bioluminescence phenotype is dependent on cellular energy reserves. When the cells were incubated in soil at 28 degrees C, the majority were stained with PI, indicating that they had lost their cell integrity. In addition, there was a corresponding decline in metabolic activity and in the ability to be grown in cultures on agar plates after incubation in soil at 28 degrees C, indicating that the cells were dying under those conditions. When the cells were incubated in soil at 5 degrees C, by contrast, the majority of the cells remained intact and a large fraction of the population remained metabolically active. A similar trend towards better cell survival at lower temperatures was found in pure-culture experiments. These results make A. chlorophenolicus A6 a good candidate for the treatment of chlorophenol-contaminated soil in cold climates.

Arthrobacter↗
PubMed2003

[Keeping beef cattle and sheep outdoors in winter].

Whole-year free ranging of beef cattle and sheep is a low-cost keeping system, but during winter special regard is required because the insulating effect of barns is missed. Because of various reactions of adaptation to cold climate, beef cattle and sheep are able to cope with out-wintering. But reactions have to be supported by an animal friendly keeping system to prevent heat loss which could lead to cold stress. In addition to demand that only healthy animals with sufficient body fat should be wintered outdoors, animals must have experience with winter climate and area. Because of heat loss from wind and the observation that suckler cows avoided lying on cold and wet floor, a straw-bedded and wind protected lying area for all animals has to be provided. Suckler cows did not require a roofed shelter as investigations for 10 years in a low mountain range called Solling with an average annual precipitation of 850 to 900 mm showed. In all weather conditions cows were able to maintain homeothermy. Besides, fertility performance of out-wintered suckler cows was not negatively affected by keeping system. However, health condition of cows was positively influenced by out-wintering because of the absence of respiratory diseases and infections with ectoparasites. In addition, not only hardy breeds but also beef breeds were suitable for out-wintering which means that the low cost out-wintering could be combined with the production of meaty carcasses. However, in predestined areas magnesium supply of cows could be inadequate and in autumn stress associated with weaning or poor weather conditions could lead to hypomagnesaemia. Because of a low cold tolerance of newborn lambs, out-wintered lambing ewes required a roofed shelter with a straw-bedded floor and with 3 side walls. Only ewes with good mothering abilities should be wintered outdoors because the reliable adoption of lamb/lambs after birth, an early dry licking and a clear presentation of the udder increased vigour and as a result cold tolerance of newborn lambs.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1992

Cold and the airways.

Physiological and pathological respiratory responses are triggered by various conditions of exposure to cold climates. Beside airway smooth muscle, both the pulmonary and the tracheobronchial vasculatures are major effectors of respiratory responses to cold. General exposure to cold causes pulmonary vasoconstriction known as "Raynaud's phenomenon of the lung" in subjects with primary Raynaud syndrome and favors acute pulmonary oedema in subjects with congestive heart failure. In healthy subjects acute hyperventilation of very cold air has led to acute respiratory failure closely similar to hypoxic pulmonary oedema. In outdoor exercising people years long repetition of hyperventilation of subfreezing air causes "eskimo lung" made of obstructive lung disease and increased wall thickness of pulmonary arteries. At a lesser degree hyperventilation of dry air cools the central airways and triggers subclinical bronchial obstruction in healthy subjects. In asthmatic subjects hyperventilation of dry air causes asthma attacks. Results of recent animal and human experiments point to a key role of mucosal vessels in thermal balance of the airways. Simultaneously, there is increasing evidence that hyperventilation-induced asthma is triggered by a thermal stimulus.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Exploring the relationship between homelessness and risk factors for heroin-related death--a qualitative study.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between housing status, associated social networks and risk factors for heroin-related death. We used semi-structured face-to-face qualitative interviews, recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically by framework techniques at three centres providing services to homeless people in a large cosmopolitan city. Different types of accommodation for homeless people have differing social cultures which have an impact upon the amount of heroin used, likelihood of injecting alone or likelihood of achieving abstinence. Hostel accommodation appeared to be linked with a culture of group injecting, which tends to increase the amount of heroin taken. Those with experience of rough sleeping described heroin use to ameliorate the uncomfortable realities of outdoor sleeping, although the overall amount used tended to be less due to having less money to spend on drugs. The prison setting was described as a setting where heroin use was reduced or stopped. Moving away from homelessness towards sustaining an independent tenancy appeared to be associated with a move towards solitary use. We postulate that a progression towards solitary use in a housed environment is one explanation for previous research findings showing the average age of heroin-related death to be increasing despite a decrease in the average age of initiation into heroin use. Hostel accommodation should form a priority setting for future health promotion interventions aimed to reduce heroin-related death. They appear to be linked with an increase in heroin use in the presence of a third party. Drug users sleeping rough in cold climates need to be made aware of the dangers of medicating with heroin to address problems of insomnia due to cold weather.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Physiological and haematological responses to cold exposure in the elderly.

Throughout Europe, including Norway, increased winter mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is well described. However, while there are associations between high CVD mortality and cold climate, the reason for the excess deaths is not entirely known. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that brief outdoor exposure to cold conditions may be linked to increased winter mortality in the elderly. However, the question as to whether alterations in the haemostatic system following exposure to cold could be responsible for the increased winter risk has been little investigated in elderly subjects. In this study, we have compared the effect of exposing lightly clothed healthy elderly men and women (60-70 years) for 90 minutes to either a mild cold stress (16 degrees C) or thermoneutral conditions (28 degrees C). Measurements of a variety of autonomic and haematological parameters were made in order to compare to what extent exposure to cold stress affects production of thrombogenic risk factors. The overall autonomic responses clearly showed that the subjects were mildly cold exposed. The main changes in the blood system were a cold exposure increase in hemoconcentration and an increase in the fibrinolytic parameter, t-PA. This coupled with other changes support previous findings and it is concluded that short term mild cold exposure in the elderly initiates a mild inflammatory reaction and a tendency for an increased state of hypercoagulability.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Selection of microorganisms capable of degrading petroleum and petroleum products at decreased temperatures].

Of 150 cultures capable of degrading petroleum at +6 degrees C, 40 strains growing in the liquid mineral nutrient medium containing petroleum (2%) as a sole source of carbon were selected. Of them, 13 cultures displaying a petroleum degradation rate exceeding 25% were selected. Abilities of these cultures and their associations to utilize fuel oil and its components--oils and benzene resins--were studied. The culture exhibiting degradation rates of fuel oil, its oils, benzene resins, and petroleum amounting to 17, 26, 10, and 51%, respectively, was selected. This culture can be used for cleanup of petroleum pollution under cold climatic conditions.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1999

Mercury in a spanish peat bog: archive of climate change and atmospheric metal deposition

A peat core from a bog in northwest Spain provides a record of the net accumulation of atmospheric mercury since 4000 radiocarbon years before the present. It was found that cold climates promoted an enhanced accumulation and the preservation of mercury with low thermal stability, and warm climates were characterized by a lower accumulation and the predominance of mercury with moderate to high thermal stability. This record can be separated into natural and anthropogenic components. The substantial anthropogenic mercury component began approximately 2500 radiocarbon years before the present, which is near the time of the onset of mercury mining in Spain. Anthropogenic mercury has dominated the deposition record since the Islamic period (8th to 11th centuries A.D.). The results shown here have implications for the global mercury cycle and also imply that the thermal lability of the accumulated mercury can be used not only to quantify the effects of human activity, but also as a new tool for quantitative paleotemperature reconstruction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Pyridostigmine bromide does not alter thermoregulation during exercise in cold air.

This study examined the effects of acute and chronic pyridostigmine bromide (PB) administration on thermoregulatory and metabolic responses to exercise in cold air (5 degrees C). Seven healthy men completed two 7-day trials in a double-blind, crossover experimental design: during one trial they received PB (30 mg three times daily) and during the other trial they received placebo. For each trial, subjects attempted four (3 h) exercise tests: low-intensity exercise (approximately 25% VO2max) and moderate-intensity exercise (approximately 50% VO2max), on days 2 and 3 and again on days 6 and 7. Metabolic rate, body temperatures, and venous blood samples were obtained before and during exercise. Red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition induced by PB increased (p < 0.05) from 34% on day 1 to 43% on days 3-7. Metabolic rate, body temperatures, and regional heat conductance responses were not different between trials. Plasma glucose, glycerol, free fatty acid, lactate, sodium, and potassium concentrations were not different between trials. In addition, differences were not found between acute and chronic experiments for any thermoregulatory or metabolic responses. These findings demonstrate that the PB dosage used by military personnel, as a pharmacological defense against nerve-agent poisoning, should not cause any adverse thermoregulatory or metabolic effects during moderate activity in cold climates.

Adult↗