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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Energy cost of wearing chemical protective clothing during progressive treadmill walking.

While chemical protective (CP) clothing is known to adversely affect physical performance, few data exist regarding the physiological response of wearing US military CP clothing during incremental, dynamic exercise. To quantify the effects of CP clothing on energy cost and to test the hypothesis that the mask contributes little to this effect, oxygen uptake (VO2) and ventilation (VE) were determined in 14 male soldiers who walked on a treadmill at 1.56 m.s-1 for 20 min each at 0, 5, and 10% grades in three clothing conditions: BDU (battledress uniform only), MASK (BDU + M-17 protective mask), and CP clothing (MASK + overgarment, gloves and boots). In BDU's, exercise intensities expressed as %VO2max were 29, 42, and 59% at the three grades, respectively. VO2 was significantly (p < 0.01) greater at all grades (range 13 to 18%) in CP clothing compared to BDU. However, no differences in VO2 were seen between BDU and MASK at any level of exercise. VE was significantly higher at the two highest grades in CP clothing compared to BDU but when expressed relative to VO2 (VE/VO2) was significantly lower at 0% and 5% grades but not at 10%. In the MASK condition, VE was significantly lower at the 10% grade and VE/VO2 was significantly lower at all grades compared to BDU. The results show that despite the mask induced hypoventilation, VO2 is unaffected at exercise intensities up to 60% of VO2max.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Heat strain with combat clothing worn over a chemical defense (CD) vapor protective layer.

The purpose of the present study was to quantify and compare the heat strain when a new chemical defense (CD) vapor protective layer was worn under combat clothing. There were 23 unacclimatized males (27.1 +/- 5.6 y, 80.9 +/- 9.3 kg, 1.78 +/- 0.05 m) assigned to a light intermittent (L, n = 7), moderate continuous (M, n = 8) or heavy continuous (H, n = 8) exercise group. All subjects performed three trials at 40 degrees C and 30% relative humidity wearing the current CD protective clothing over combat clothing (CD-current), the CD vapor protective layer alone (CD-vapor) or under combat clothing (CD-vapor/combats). Tolerance times were significantly different among the three clothing trials for each exercise group. For group L, tolerance time increased from 116 min for CD-current to 208 min for CD-vapor/combats and to 289 min for CD-vapor. For group M, tolerance time increased from 67 to 87 and to 133 min for CD-current, CD-vapor/combats and CD-vapor, respectively. Finally for group H, respective times for CD-current, CD-vapor/combats and CD-vapor were 50 min, 59 min and 80 min. Significant differences among the clothing configurations were found also for the evaporative efficiency of sweat from the clothing, heart rates, rectal and skin temperatures. In all conditions, the response during CD-vapor/combats was between CD-current and CD-vapor. Although heat strain was reduced compared with CD-current, the improvements with CD-vapor/combats might be considered significant in an operational environment only at low metabolic rates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of stool containment in cloth and single-use diapers using a simulated infant feces.

Single-use diapers and cloth diapers with vinyl pants were compared for their relative abilities to contain stool within the diaper. Artificial feces with carbon black as an additive allowed a quantitative measure of fecal containment by image analysis in 60 infants. This method showed complete containment of feces in the diaper in 50% of the single-use diapers whereas only 10% of the cloth diapers showed complete containment. In infants where the border of the vinyl pants was used as the boundary of containment with the cloth diapers, complete containment occurred only 33% of the time. Fluorescein dye ratings for containment/leakage in 69 infants showed that 83% of single-use diapers and 30% of the cloth diapers were rated as having no or minor leakage of feces. Cultures were taken of laundered vinyl pants that had previously been used over cloth diapers to determine microbial contamination. Thirty-nine percent of the pants contained Gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacilli indicating fecal contamination. This study comparing single-use and cloth diapers for containment of artificial feces by use of image analysis and fluorescein dye ratings showed better containment by single-use diapers. The study also raises the question of possible spread of feces-borne pathogens by the vinyl pants used over cloth diapers, particularly in a day-care center.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1997

Echocardiography can detect cloth cover tears in fully covered Starr-Edwards valves: a long-term clinical and echocardiographic study.

The incidence of cloth cover tears in fully covered Starr-Edwards valves, as assessed by autopsy or repeat surgery, is approximately 1% per patient-year. However, no echocardiographic study has explored this phenomenon. This study was designed as a one-time observational study and aimed to explore the ability of two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography to identify cloth cover tears in 35 late survivors with 38 fully covered Starr-Edwards valves who had been operated on 20 to 24 years earlier. The hemodynamic profile, clinical status, and valve-related complications in this highly selected group of late survivors were also studied. Five patients also underwent transesophageal echocardiography. An elongated echogenic mass attached to the prosthetic valve cage and floating downstream was considered indicative of cloth tear. There were 16 patients with aortic valve prostheses, 16 with mitral valve prostheses, and three with double prosthetic valves. In six (17.1%) patients (four with aortic valve prostheses, two with mitral valve prostheses), an echogenic mass suggestive of cloth cover tear was detected, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography in three patients. In two patients the echocardiographic finding was confirmed at surgery. The initial presentation of these six patients was endocarditis, possible embolism, unexplained dyspnea, and weakness in one patient each. Two patients were asymptomatic. There was no evidence of significant prosthetic valve malfunction in any patient. The transvalvular gradients were similar in patients with and without cloth cover tears. Echocardiographic findings highly suggestive of cloth cover tears are not uncommon and can be detected in the third postoperative decade in patients with fully covered Starr-Edwards valves. A prospective study to evaluate the clinical significance of an incidental echocardiographic finding suggestive of cloth cover tears in asymptomatic patients with these valve models is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cloth tears in asymptomatic survivors of aortic valve replacement with Starr-Edwards prostheses: detection by transesophageal echocardiography.

Cloth-covered Starr-Edwards valves were withdrawn in the 1970s because of complications of cloth tear. Nevertheless, many patients are still alive with their prosthesis in place. We evaluated the ability of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to detect cloth tear in 9 asymptomatic patients operated on with a cloth-covered Starr-Edwards aortic valve at our institution. An echogenic mobile structure attached to the prosthesis, suggestive of a tear, was detected in 5 patients (55%). A tear was diagnosed in a sixth patient when TEE was repeated during follow-up because of neurologic symptoms. In all cases, transthoracic echocardiography failed to detect any abnormality. Two patients had symptoms develop and underwent reoperation; cloth tear was more extensive than suspected by TEE. Cloth tear is a frequent finding that can be detected by TEE in asymptomatic patients with cloth-covered Starr-Edwards aortic prosthesis. TEE is recommended in these patients and reoperation should be considered as soon as symptoms appear.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Characteristics of hemiplegic outpatients with stroke who try to remove their clothes unnecessarily].

We have observed that patients who suffer from hemiplegia after a cerebral stroke, tend to remove their clothes although it is not necessary to change them while they are in hospital. Not only does this activity make it difficult to manage the ward and carry out rehabilitation, but it also often becomes problematic for home care once the patient has been discharged from hospital. However, there have been no previous reports on this activity. In this study, we examined the characteristics pertaining to clothes removal in hemiplegic patients under home care. The subjects were chronic-stage, cerebral stroke hemiplegic patients hospitalized in the rehabilitation ward of this hospital since the first initial seizure. Once it was established that environmental factors, such as room temperature, were not the primary reason for the patients to try to remove their clothes, the patients were closely monitored and the circumstances under which they tried to remove their clothes (location, time and type of clothes removed) were recorded to examine the relationship among age, sex, side affected by paralysis, higher cortical function, motor paralysis and ADL. Thirty-five percent of the patients, mostly women, usually tried to remove their clothes and the tendency was for them to incompletely remove their tops without reason while they were confined to bed or sitting on the bed. This activity was also prevalent among patients with accompanying diminished intellectual function, left hemiplegia, and left unilateral spatial agnosia. The acquired level of ADL by FIM in the group in which this activity was observed was low, except regarding meals. Thus, it was inferred that in stroke hemiplegic patients being taken care of at home the removal of clothes was related to a diminished intellectual function or ADL, which suggested the importance of family guidance based on observations of the patient's behavior in the ward. Targeting a greater number of subjects, we would like to conduct further studies on home-care measures to deal with this activity.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Determination of body heat storage in clothing: calorimetry versus thermometry.

Two methods of estimating body heat storage were compared under differing conditions of clothing, training, and acclimation to heat. Six male subjects underwent 8 weeks of physical training [60-80% of maximal aerobic power (VO2max) for 30-45 min.day-1, 3-4 days.week-1 at < 25 degrees C dry bulb (db)] followed by 6 consecutive days of heat acclimation (45-55% VO2max for 60 min.day-1 at 40 degrees C db, 30% relative humidity)]. Nine other male subjects underwent corresponding periods of control observation followed by heat acclimation. Before and after each treatment, subjects walked continuously on a treadmill (1.34 m.s-1, 2% grade) in a climatic chamber (40 degrees C db, 30% relative humidity) for an average of 118 min (range 92-120 min) when wearing normal light combat clothing and for an average of 50 min (range 32-68 min) when wearing protective clothing resistant to nuclear, biological, and chemical agents. The heat storage was determined calorimetrically (by the balance of heat gains and losses) and thermometrically [by the conventional equations, using one or two set(s) of relative weightings for the rectal temperature (Tre) to mean skin temperature (Tsk) of 4:1 and 4:1, 2:1 and 4:1, or 2:1 and 9:1 in thermoneutral and hot environments, respectively]. Tsk was calculated from 12-site measurements, weighted according to the regional distribution of body surface area and the first eigenvectors of principal component analysis. There were only minor differences (< 5%) between the heat storage values calculated by given weighting factors for Tre and Tsk, whether the individual coefficients were derived from estimates of regional surface area or principal component methodologies. When wearing normal clothing, no significant differences were found between the two estimates of heat storage (calorimetry vs thermometry with an invariant relative weighting of 4:1) in any experimental condition, with one specific exception: when wearing protective clothing, thermometry underestimated the heat storage by 24-31%. This under-estimation was attenuated by using two sets of relative weightings of 2:1 and 4:1 or 2:1 and 9:1. The results suggest that when subjects wearing protective clothing are transferred from thermoneutral to hot environments, the accuracy of thermometric estimates of heat storage can be improved by using two sets of weighting factors for Tre and Tsk.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Correction of clothing insulation for movement and wind effects, a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis of the effect of body and air movement on the insulation provided by workwear and cold-weather clothing [1.22 clo (0.189 m2 degrees C W(-1)) < I(T)<4.14 clo (0.642 m2 degrees C W(-1))] using data from different sources was performed. For the effect of walking, datasets could be merged and a single prediction equation produced (r2=0.91). For the effect of wind, and interaction of movement and wind, separate equations were required for regular workwear (r2 = 0.93) and cold-weather clothing (r2 = 0.97). Differences were mainly due to the different amounts of nude surface area. An interaction between wind and walking effects was present (the size of the combined effects is less than the sum of the separate effects), and for cold-weather clothing an effect of clothing air permeability (p) was present (high p --> bigger effect). The resulting prediction equations will be proposed for inclusion in European and ISO standards on protective clothing to assist the user in determining the real-life clothing insulation value.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

An investigation of occlusive polyester surgical clothing.

The bacterial dispersion rate of people wearing operating room clothing made from several types of polyester fabric was compared to conventional cotton clothing, total-body exhaust gowns and disposable clothing. Airborne bacteria were measured in a chamber, three ultra-clean air operating rooms and a conventionally ventilated operating room. The polyester clothing was demonstrated to be much superior to conventional cotton clothing and at least as good as the total-body exhaust gowns and disposable clothing.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thermal characteristics of clothing ensembles for use in heat stress analysis.

The Heat Stress Index was an early model for the assessment of heat stress. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for required sweat rate is the current generation of heat balance methods for occupational heat stress. The method assumes cotton clothing and works adequately for cotton/polyester blends. To extend the usefulness of the model, the thermal characteristics of a variety of commercially available and prototype protective clothing ensembles have been determined for application in the ISO method. The fundamental principle for assessing thermal characteristics of work clothing is establishing the critical environmental conditions in which test subjects were just able to maintain thermal equilibrium. Critical conditions were found for warm, humid conditions; hot, dry conditions; intermediate conditions of temperature and humidity; and/or moderate conditions in which metabolic rate was increased to a limiting thermal load. Typically, five subjects at each condition for each ensemble were used. Metabolic rate, average skin temperature, and the environmental conditions (air temperature and vapor pressure) were noted at the critical conditions, and the total insulation was estimated for each ensemble. From these values, the total evaporative resistance, the clothing factor for dry heat exchange (CFcl), and the clothing factor for evaporative cooling (CFpcl) were determined. When compared with reports of others on thermal characteristics the results agreed when pumping factors and clothing wetness were considered. The result was higher than expected values for CFcl and lower values for CFpcl.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effects of moisture absorption in clothing on the human heat balance.

A theory of moisture absorption in clothing, with the associated effects of heat transfer, was developed and applied in a computer model. The model considers the body, underclothing, an outer layer, and the adjacent air layer. The theory was checked with an experiment involving four subjects. They wore heavy woollen clothing, which was either initially dry or humid, in both a warm and a cool environment. Model calculations and experimental results agree approximately upon the timing and magnitude of the effect of absorbing clothing on heat flows, temperatures and physiological reactions. Contrary to expectations the observed vapour resistance is lower in the heat than in the cold, probably due to differences in sweat distribution. It is pointed out that the usual way to determine the clothing characteristics by means of partitional calorimetry leads to considerable errors when the steady state has not been reached. In clothing that has high absorption properties the transient effects may be sustained for hours. Tests using the model show few beneficial effects of absorbing clothing on thermal sensation.

Absorption↗
PubMed1995

Physiological Method of Evaluating Protective Clothing for Work in a Cold Environment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of physiological studies in the evaluation of protective clothing for work in a cold environment. The study included the examination of the dynamics of changes in chosen physiological parameters (core and skin temperatures, heart rate, pulmonary minute ventilation) as well as physical ones (the temperature and relative humidity under the clothes) during work in protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation. The experiment was conducted in extreme environmental conditions (-10 and -15°C) at a work load defined by the clothing manufacturer as moderate. Results show that thermal equilibrium was achieved and maintained throughout the investigated work time (60 min) and that the protective clothing ensures safety on the time scale of a regular 8-hour work day. It was also shown that the dynamics of thermal stress physiological parameters can be used to determine the maximum duration of exposure for cold protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation.

cold environment↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adaptive clothing for persons with mobility disorders after burn injury.

Smart-looking clothes have been designed for wheelchair users. These clothes make dressing faster and easier, and the clothes fit better than the standard garments. The special features for new adaptive clothing for wheelchair users include easy handling fastenings, quick-access garment openings, conveniently placed pockets, custom-curved trousers, slacks, and jackets, custom-shaped dresses and skirts, ponchos or custom-made coats, easy-fit undergarments, and durable styled fabrics. These clothing adaptations are attractive and give the wearer and the observer the feeling that the person with the disability is not set apart by the clothing he or she wears.

Burns↗
PubMed2007

Transmission of lung sounds through light clothing.

BACKGROUND: Doctors are exhorted to always place the stethoscope directly on the skin and never to auscultate through clothing. Nevertheless, casual observation reveals that doctors and even pulmonologists often violate this principle. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of two common stethoscopes when used through clothing. METHODS: Littmann Classic and Littmann Master Cardiology stethoscopes were studied under conditions of light (60-100 g), medium (240 g) and heavy (555 g) force when placed on a lung sound test platform with one or two layers of cloth (T-shirt material and flannel) interposed between the stethoscope and the test surface. The test platform was designed to mimic the acoustic and mechanical properties of the chest wall and was driven by amplified white noise. The recorded amplitude spectra were compared over a range of 150-1,000 Hz. RESULTS: Compared to the sensitivity on a bare test platform surface, either fabric in single or double layers attenuated the sounds by a mean of 5-18 dB under light pressure. This attenuation was nearly abolished by the addition of either medium or heavy force on the stethoscope head. CONCLUSIONS: The deleterious effect of one or two layers of indoor clothing on lung sounds acquired through a stethoscope can be negated by force on the stethoscope head making effective auscultation possible. Nevertheless, auscultation through clothing remains problematic due to the hindrance to inspection and percussion and the risk of acoustic artifacts caused by clothing.

Auscultation↗
PubMed1983

A bacteriologically occlusive clothing system for use in the operating room.

A comparison was made in a laminar-flow operating room between total-body exhaust gowns and a clothing system made from Fabric 450. This disposable clothing was found to be much more comfortable and convenient than the total-body exhaust gowns. The average airborne bacterial counts obtained during total hip replacement operations from each of the clothing systems were identical when the downflow method of ventilation was used (0.7 per cubic metre) and no significant difference could be demonstrated when the crossflow system was used (2.2 per cubic metre with the total-body exhaust gowns and 3.1 per cubic metre with the disposable clothing). Tests in a dispersal chamber were carried out to find the effectiveness of each item of the disposable clothing in reducing bacterial dispersion. These tests demonstrated the relative ineffectiveness of wearing a surgical gown as compared with wearing the complete system. It was confirmed bacteriologically that the downflow system of ventilation was more efficient than the crossflow type; the importance of this observation with respect to clothing and sepsis is discussed in this paper.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1978

Teaching retarded women a clothing selection skill using community norms.

Five institutionalized retarded women were taught a clothing selection skill to coincide with popular fashion. Normative data concerning popular styles of color-coordinated clothing were collected through observations of women's apparel in a local community. Using a puzzle simulation of a woman with alternative pieces of colored clothing, color coordination training was conducted using modelling, instructions, practice, praise, and feedback to teach popular selections of color combinations. A generalization training component with actual clothing was also included. Training was accompanied by large increases in percentage of popular color selections with the puzzle and actual clothing. The increases maintained over a seven- to 14-week followup period. Time efficiency measures supported the use of the simulation procedure as opposed to total reliance on actual clothing. The results underscore the utility of local norms in community preparation programs and the efficacy of instructional procedures for severely and profoundly retarded persons as part of their participation in the deinstitutionalization movement.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Is endurance performance of handgrip exercise influenced by the two different clothing ensembles?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing two different clothing ensembles on endurance performance of handgrip exercise in eight female subjects in the climatic chamber (25 +/- 1 degrees C, 50 +/- 10% RH). The experimental clothing ensembles were HALF and LONG. The clothing ensemble HALF consisted of half-sleeved shirts, knee-length trousers and sandals; LONG of long-sleeved shirts, long-trousers, socks and walking shoes. The subjects carried out the preliminary exercise for 1 hr as scheduled which was composed of slow running on the horizontal treadmill for 25 min, rest for 10 min and running again for 25 min the same as the first running. After the preliminary exercise, the subject exercised with a hand ergometer lifting a weight of 15% of maximal voluntary contraction at the rate of 35 contractions per min until volitional exhaustion. Rectal temperature, skin temperatures, heart rate, body weight loss, clothing microclimate, number of contractions were measured during the experiment and compared between two clothing ensembles. An important result was that the endurance performance of handgrip exercise was significantly greater in HALF than in LONG, for which the lower maintenance of core temperature and mean skin temperature in HALF during the 1 hr preliminary exercise might be responsible. Our present and former results indicate a significant participation of clothing for the endurance performance of handgrip exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Perceptual criteria and attributes used for evaluation of clothing by women using wheelchairs.

The apparel and clothing attributes important to persons with disabilities are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify apparel attributes of personal value to persons using a wheelchair and used to evaluate clothing. Four focus group interviews on three categories of clothing, formal wear, casual wear, and undergarments, were conducted with 19 female wheelchair users. Participants discussed clothing generally and after viewing garments designed especially for people with disabilities. Analysis of the content of the interviews yielded 49 phrases or words that could be categorized into Physical Appearance, Physical Performance, Expressiveness, and Extrinsic Attributes. Participants were concerned most about Physical Appearance for which criteria are observable attributes of the garment. Attributes of value in order of importance are styling of garment, fabric, garment construction, and color. The Physical Performance criteria include in order of attention benefits of physical aspects such as convenience, performance of garment, fabric, and effect of care. Expressiveness criteria evoked participants' feelings and reaction to use. Extrinsic Attribute criteria are those used to evaluate and make purchase decisions and are of less importance. These 19 persons with disability value casual clothing which had regular features. Results describe useful information on the criteria disabled persons use to evaluate clothing for use.

Adult↗