Facial skin surface temperature changes during a "concealed information" test.
Department of Defense Polygraph Institute, 7540 Pickens Ave., Fort Jackson, SC, 29207, USA.
When individuals who commit a crime are questioned, they often show involuntary physiological
responses to remembered details of that crime. This phenomenon is the basis for the concealed
information test, in which rarely occurring crime-related details are embedded in a series of more
frequently occurring crime-irrelevant items while respiratory, cardiovascular, and electrodermal responses are recorded. Two experiments were completed to investigate the feasibility of using facial skin surface temperature (SST) measures recorded using high definition thermographic images as the physiological measure during a concealed information test. ... During both experiments, there were significant facial SST differences between deceptive and nondeceptive participants early in the analysis interval. In the second experiment, hemifacial (i.e., "half-face" divided along the longitudinal axis) effects were combined with the bilateral responses to correctly classify 91.7% of participants. These results suggest that thermal image analysis can be effective in discriminating deceptive and nondeceptive individuals during a concealed information test.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of autism via meridian theory.
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of autism via meridian theory.
Lo SY.
Source Quantum Health Research Institute, 3788 Oakdale Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA. ideaclinic@yahoo.com
Abstract
A twelve-week pilot study was conducted on 11 male children, aged five to 19 years, who had ASD (autistic symptom disorder) of varying degrees of severity. These eleven subjects were each examined three times in the 12-week period: at the first week, 6th week, and 12th week. During each examination, two sets of full-body thermographs were taken of each child, before and fifteen minutes after drinking a solution of stable water clusters with a double helix configuration. This solution of stable water clusters is called double helix water (DHW). In the before thermographs, a consistent thermal pattern of six hot regions of body surface temperature were identified. They are: left and right upper forehead region of the face; left and right area in front of the center of the ear; left and right area of the inner extreme point of the eye; left and right collarbone region; left and right side neck region; and left and right armpit region. These areas may be interpreted as regions surrounding various acupoints along the GB, BL, ST, SI, SJ meridians. These meridians are yang meridians that on one end reach the head, and hence have branches reaching into the brain, and on the other end reach to the gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder system. Thus, they can be considered to explain the major clinical symptoms of ASD. These thermal patterns, if confirmed in a larger clinical study, may lead to a new way to diagnose ASD, and to test the effectiveness of any treatment. When such a thermal pattern is discovered early, say around the age of 18 months, preventive action can be initiated before observation of any behavior disorder. We simultaneously studied the healing effect of stable water clusters with double helix configuration (DHW) on these subjects. The quantitative reduction of maximum temperature at these six regions was calculated. A consistent reduction was noted and suggests a positive healing effect taking place within a very short time period (fifteen minutes), and lasting over a long time period (12 weeks). Quantitative evaluation by the parents over the 12-week period showed that eight out of 11 children had physiological and behavioral improvement. Our findings with these small numbers suggest a reliable method of early diagnosis/detection and also an effective treatment of ASD. We therefore conclude that a study of larger numbers of children with ASD should be conducted.
Lo SY.
Source Quantum Health Research Institute, 3788 Oakdale Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA. ideaclinic@yahoo.com
Abstract
A twelve-week pilot study was conducted on 11 male children, aged five to 19 years, who had ASD (autistic symptom disorder) of varying degrees of severity. These eleven subjects were each examined three times in the 12-week period: at the first week, 6th week, and 12th week. During each examination, two sets of full-body thermographs were taken of each child, before and fifteen minutes after drinking a solution of stable water clusters with a double helix configuration. This solution of stable water clusters is called double helix water (DHW). In the before thermographs, a consistent thermal pattern of six hot regions of body surface temperature were identified. They are: left and right upper forehead region of the face; left and right area in front of the center of the ear; left and right area of the inner extreme point of the eye; left and right collarbone region; left and right side neck region; and left and right armpit region. These areas may be interpreted as regions surrounding various acupoints along the GB, BL, ST, SI, SJ meridians. These meridians are yang meridians that on one end reach the head, and hence have branches reaching into the brain, and on the other end reach to the gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder system. Thus, they can be considered to explain the major clinical symptoms of ASD. These thermal patterns, if confirmed in a larger clinical study, may lead to a new way to diagnose ASD, and to test the effectiveness of any treatment. When such a thermal pattern is discovered early, say around the age of 18 months, preventive action can be initiated before observation of any behavior disorder. We simultaneously studied the healing effect of stable water clusters with double helix configuration (DHW) on these subjects. The quantitative reduction of maximum temperature at these six regions was calculated. A consistent reduction was noted and suggests a positive healing effect taking place within a very short time period (fifteen minutes), and lasting over a long time period (12 weeks). Quantitative evaluation by the parents over the 12-week period showed that eight out of 11 children had physiological and behavioral improvement. Our findings with these small numbers suggest a reliable method of early diagnosis/detection and also an effective treatment of ASD. We therefore conclude that a study of larger numbers of children with ASD should be conducted.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Contemporary applications of infrared imaging in medical diagnostics
Contemporary applications of infrared imaging in medical diagnostics
Mikulska D.
Katedra i Klinika Chorób Skórnych i Wenerycznych Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej al. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
INTRODUCTION: Thermal imaging is a non-contact, non-invasive diagnostic method
for study human body temperature. Therefore infra red thermal imaging finds
increasing application in clinical medicine.
PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to
present and discuss the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature dealing with the history and applications
of thermal imaging in medicine has been reviewed.
RESULTS: Medical thermography was born in 1957 when a surgeon, Dr. R. Lawson discovered that his breast cancer patients had higher skin temperature over the cancer area. Since the 1970's thermography has been used in many areas of medicine. Early problems such as low detector sensitivity, but most significantly, poor training of thermography technicians was the source of error in thermography and retarded the acceptance of this technique until 1990. Since that time, thermographic equipment has evolved significantly. Modern thermal imaging systems comprise
technically advanced thermal cameras coupled to computers with sophisticated software solutions. The recorded images are now of good quality and may be further processed to obtain reliable information. Thermography can be applied as a diagnostic tool in oncology, allergic diseases, angiology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and elsewhere. Contemporary thermal imaging must be performed according to certain principles aimed at reliability and reproducibility of results.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. Thermography is a safe, accurate and, most importantly, a noninvasive
diagnostic method in clinical medicine. 2. Ignoring any of the principles worked out by the European Association of Thermology leaves thermography open to error and thus reduces acceptance of this technique in medical diagnostics.
Mikulska D.
Katedra i Klinika Chorób Skórnych i Wenerycznych Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej al. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
INTRODUCTION: Thermal imaging is a non-contact, non-invasive diagnostic method
for study human body temperature. Therefore infra red thermal imaging finds
increasing application in clinical medicine.
PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to
present and discuss the history and applications of thermal imaging in medicine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature dealing with the history and applications
of thermal imaging in medicine has been reviewed.
RESULTS: Medical thermography was born in 1957 when a surgeon, Dr. R. Lawson discovered that his breast cancer patients had higher skin temperature over the cancer area. Since the 1970's thermography has been used in many areas of medicine. Early problems such as low detector sensitivity, but most significantly, poor training of thermography technicians was the source of error in thermography and retarded the acceptance of this technique until 1990. Since that time, thermographic equipment has evolved significantly. Modern thermal imaging systems comprise
technically advanced thermal cameras coupled to computers with sophisticated software solutions. The recorded images are now of good quality and may be further processed to obtain reliable information. Thermography can be applied as a diagnostic tool in oncology, allergic diseases, angiology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and elsewhere. Contemporary thermal imaging must be performed according to certain principles aimed at reliability and reproducibility of results.
CONCLUSIONS: 1. Thermography is a safe, accurate and, most importantly, a noninvasive
diagnostic method in clinical medicine. 2. Ignoring any of the principles worked out by the European Association of Thermology leaves thermography open to error and thus reduces acceptance of this technique in medical diagnostics.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Evaluation of low level laser and interferential current in the therapy of complex regional pain syndrome by infrared thermographic camera.
Evaluation of low level laser and interferential current in the therapy of complex regional pain syndrome by infrared thermographic camera.
[Article in Serbian] Kocić M, Lazović M, Dimitrijević I, Mancić D, Stanković A. Source Klinicki centar Nis, Klinika za fizikalnu medicinu, rehabilitaciju i protetiku, Nis, Srbija. kocicm60@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM; Complex regional pain syndrom type I (CRPS I) is characterised by continuous regional pain, disproportional according to duration and intensity and to the sort of trauma or other lesion it was caused by. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare, by using thermovison, the effects of low level laser therapy and therapy with interferential current in treatment of CRPS I.
METHODS: The prospective randomized controlled clinical study included 45 patients with unilateral CRPS 1, after a fracture of the distal end of the radius, of the tibia and/or the fibula, treated in the Clinical Centre in Nis from 2004 to 2007. The group A consisted of 20 patients treated by low level laser therapy and kinesy-therapy, while the patients in the group B (n = 25) were treated by interferential current and kinesy-therapy. The regions of interest were filmed by a thermovision camera on both sides, before and after the 20 therapeutic procedures had been applied. Afterwards, the quantitative analysis and the comparing of thermograms taken before and after the applied therapy were performed.
RESULTS: There was statistically significant decrease of the mean maximum temperature difference between the injured and the contralateral extremity after the therapy in comparison to the status before the therapy, with the patients of the group A (p < 0.001) as well as those of the group B (p < 0.001). The decrease was statistically significantly higher in the group A than in the group B (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: By the use of the infrared thermovision we showed that in the treatment of CRPS I both physical medicine methods were effective, but the effectiveness of laser therapy was statistically significantly higher compared to that of the interferential current therapy
[Article in Serbian] Kocić M, Lazović M, Dimitrijević I, Mancić D, Stanković A. Source Klinicki centar Nis, Klinika za fizikalnu medicinu, rehabilitaciju i protetiku, Nis, Srbija. kocicm60@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM; Complex regional pain syndrom type I (CRPS I) is characterised by continuous regional pain, disproportional according to duration and intensity and to the sort of trauma or other lesion it was caused by. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare, by using thermovison, the effects of low level laser therapy and therapy with interferential current in treatment of CRPS I.
METHODS: The prospective randomized controlled clinical study included 45 patients with unilateral CRPS 1, after a fracture of the distal end of the radius, of the tibia and/or the fibula, treated in the Clinical Centre in Nis from 2004 to 2007. The group A consisted of 20 patients treated by low level laser therapy and kinesy-therapy, while the patients in the group B (n = 25) were treated by interferential current and kinesy-therapy. The regions of interest were filmed by a thermovision camera on both sides, before and after the 20 therapeutic procedures had been applied. Afterwards, the quantitative analysis and the comparing of thermograms taken before and after the applied therapy were performed.
RESULTS: There was statistically significant decrease of the mean maximum temperature difference between the injured and the contralateral extremity after the therapy in comparison to the status before the therapy, with the patients of the group A (p < 0.001) as well as those of the group B (p < 0.001). The decrease was statistically significantly higher in the group A than in the group B (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: By the use of the infrared thermovision we showed that in the treatment of CRPS I both physical medicine methods were effective, but the effectiveness of laser therapy was statistically significantly higher compared to that of the interferential current therapy
Monday, November 16, 2015
Infrared thermography as an access pathway for individuals with severe motor impairments.
Infrared thermography as an access pathway for individuals with severe motor impairments.
Memarian N, Venetsanopoulos AN, Chau T. Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
BACKGROUND: People with severe motor impairments often require an alternative access pathway, such as a binary switch, to communicate and to interact with their environment. A wide range of access pathways have been developed from simple mechanical switches to sophisticated physiological ones. In this manuscript we report the inaugural investigation of infrared thermography as a non-invasive and non-contact access pathway by which individuals with disabilities can interact and perhaps eventually communicate.
METHODS: Our method exploits the local temperature changes associated with mouth opening/closing to enable a highly sensitive and specific binary switch. Ten participants (two with severe disabilities) provided examples of mouth opening and closing. Thermographic videos of each participant were recorded with an infrared thermal camera and processed using a computerized algorithm. The algorithm detected a mouth open-close pattern using a combination of adaptive thermal intensity filtering, motion tracking and morphological analysis.
RESULTS: High detection sensitivity and low error rate were achieved for the majority of the participants (mean sensitivity of all participants: 88.5% +/- 11.3; mean specificity of all participants: 99.4% +/- 0.7). The algorithm performance was robust against participant motion and changes in the background scene.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that further research on the infrared thermographic access pathway is warranted. Flexible camera location, convenience of use and robustness to ambient lighting levels, changes in background scene and extraneous body movements make this a potential new access modality that can be used night or day in unconstrained environments.
Memarian N, Venetsanopoulos AN, Chau T. Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
BACKGROUND: People with severe motor impairments often require an alternative access pathway, such as a binary switch, to communicate and to interact with their environment. A wide range of access pathways have been developed from simple mechanical switches to sophisticated physiological ones. In this manuscript we report the inaugural investigation of infrared thermography as a non-invasive and non-contact access pathway by which individuals with disabilities can interact and perhaps eventually communicate.
METHODS: Our method exploits the local temperature changes associated with mouth opening/closing to enable a highly sensitive and specific binary switch. Ten participants (two with severe disabilities) provided examples of mouth opening and closing. Thermographic videos of each participant were recorded with an infrared thermal camera and processed using a computerized algorithm. The algorithm detected a mouth open-close pattern using a combination of adaptive thermal intensity filtering, motion tracking and morphological analysis.
RESULTS: High detection sensitivity and low error rate were achieved for the majority of the participants (mean sensitivity of all participants: 88.5% +/- 11.3; mean specificity of all participants: 99.4% +/- 0.7). The algorithm performance was robust against participant motion and changes in the background scene.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that further research on the infrared thermographic access pathway is warranted. Flexible camera location, convenience of use and robustness to ambient lighting levels, changes in background scene and extraneous body movements make this a potential new access modality that can be used night or day in unconstrained environments.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
The application of temperature measurement of the eyes by digital infrared thermal imaging as a prognostic factor of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy.
The application of temperature measurement of the eyes by digital infrared thermal imaging as a prognostic factor of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Shih SR, Li HY, Hsiao YL, Chang TC.
Source
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) involves autoimmune process resulting in proptosis, congestion, oedema and diplopia. Werner's NOSPECS classification and clinical activity score (CAS) of GO cannot objectively describe the inflammatory status. Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) detects local temperature and may reflect the degree of orbital inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of the eye temperature measured by DITI.
METHODS:
Forty-six patients with GO receiving intravenously methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPT) were included in this study. Local temperatures of the lateral orbit, upper eyelid, inner caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva, lower eyelid and cornea were measured with DITI before and after MPT. CAS, proptosis, eye movement (EOM) and diplopia were also recorded. Improvement of CAS was defined as at least one point decrease at either side of the eye, which was 0.5 score decrease as to the average of bilateral CAS.
RESULTS:
Local temperatures of the eyes decreased after MPT. The mean value of temperature (MT) of 12 points including the lateral orbit, upper eyelid, inner caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva and lower eyelid of both eyes before MPT was 32.65 degrees . The mean change of MT after MPT (DeltaT) was -0.22 degrees. DeltaT significantly negative-correlated with basal MT (correlation coefficient=-0.54, p=0.004). Higher baseline MT and CAS before MPT correlated with higher possibility of improvement of CAS after MPT (p=0.013 and 0.012, respectively). Baseline MT and CAS together correlated with improvement of CAS after MPT
better than baseline CAS alone could do (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 82.81% and 66.63%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
Basal temperature of the eyes measured by DITI was an objective indicator of inflammation of GO. Combining CAS and MT could better predict the outcome of MPT than CAS alone.
Shih SR, Li HY, Hsiao YL, Chang TC.
Source
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) involves autoimmune process resulting in proptosis, congestion, oedema and diplopia. Werner's NOSPECS classification and clinical activity score (CAS) of GO cannot objectively describe the inflammatory status. Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) detects local temperature and may reflect the degree of orbital inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of the eye temperature measured by DITI.
METHODS:
Forty-six patients with GO receiving intravenously methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPT) were included in this study. Local temperatures of the lateral orbit, upper eyelid, inner caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva, lower eyelid and cornea were measured with DITI before and after MPT. CAS, proptosis, eye movement (EOM) and diplopia were also recorded. Improvement of CAS was defined as at least one point decrease at either side of the eye, which was 0.5 score decrease as to the average of bilateral CAS.
RESULTS:
Local temperatures of the eyes decreased after MPT. The mean value of temperature (MT) of 12 points including the lateral orbit, upper eyelid, inner caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva and lower eyelid of both eyes before MPT was 32.65 degrees . The mean change of MT after MPT (DeltaT) was -0.22 degrees. DeltaT significantly negative-correlated with basal MT (correlation coefficient=-0.54, p=0.004). Higher baseline MT and CAS before MPT correlated with higher possibility of improvement of CAS after MPT (p=0.013 and 0.012, respectively). Baseline MT and CAS together correlated with improvement of CAS after MPT
better than baseline CAS alone could do (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 82.81% and 66.63%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
Basal temperature of the eyes measured by DITI was an objective indicator of inflammation of GO. Combining CAS and MT could better predict the outcome of MPT than CAS alone.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Vision of the future: initial experience with intraoperative real-time high-resolution dynamic infrared imaging
Vision of the future: initial experience with intraoperative real-time high-resolution dynamic infrared imaging.
Technical note.
Ecker RD, Goerss SJ, Meyer FB, Cohen-Gadol AA, Britton JW, Levine JA. Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
High-resolution dynamic infrared (DIR) imaging provides intraoperative real-time physiological,
anatomical, and pathological information; however, DIR imaging has rarely been used in neurosurgical patients. The authors report on their initial experience with intraoperative DIR imaging in 30 such patients. A novel, long-wave (8-10 micron), narrow-band, focal-plane-array infrared photodetector was incorporated into a camera system with a temperature resolution of 0.006 degrees C, providing 65,000 pixels/frame at a data acquisition rate of 200 frames/second. Intraoperative imaging of patients was performed before and after surgery. Infrared data were subsequently analyzed by examining absolute differences in cortical temperatures, changes in temperature over time, and infrared intensities at varying physiological frequencies. Dynamic infrared imaging was applied in a variety of neurosurgical cases. After resection of an arteriovenous malformation, there was postoperative hyperperfusion of the surrounding brain parenchyma, which was consistent with a loss of autoregulation. Bypass patency and increased perfusion of adjacent brain were documented during two of three extracranial-intracranial bypasses. In seven of nine patients with epilepsy the results of DIR imaging corresponded to seizure foci that had been electrocorticographically mapped preoperatively. Dynamic infrared imaging demonstrated the functional cortex in four of nine patients undergoing awake resection and cortical stimulation. Finally, DIR imaging exhibited the distinct thermal footprints of 14 of 16 brain tumors. Dynamic infrared imaging may prove to be a powerful adjunctive intraoperative diagnostic tool in the neurosurgical imaging armamentarium. Real-time assessment of cerebral vessel patency and cerebral perfusion are the most direct applications of this technology. Uses of this imaging modality in the localization of epileptic foci, identification of functional cortex during awake craniotomy, and determination of tumor border and intraoperative brain shift are avenues of inquiry that require further investigation.
Technical note.
Ecker RD, Goerss SJ, Meyer FB, Cohen-Gadol AA, Britton JW, Levine JA. Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
High-resolution dynamic infrared (DIR) imaging provides intraoperative real-time physiological,
anatomical, and pathological information; however, DIR imaging has rarely been used in neurosurgical patients. The authors report on their initial experience with intraoperative DIR imaging in 30 such patients. A novel, long-wave (8-10 micron), narrow-band, focal-plane-array infrared photodetector was incorporated into a camera system with a temperature resolution of 0.006 degrees C, providing 65,000 pixels/frame at a data acquisition rate of 200 frames/second. Intraoperative imaging of patients was performed before and after surgery. Infrared data were subsequently analyzed by examining absolute differences in cortical temperatures, changes in temperature over time, and infrared intensities at varying physiological frequencies. Dynamic infrared imaging was applied in a variety of neurosurgical cases. After resection of an arteriovenous malformation, there was postoperative hyperperfusion of the surrounding brain parenchyma, which was consistent with a loss of autoregulation. Bypass patency and increased perfusion of adjacent brain were documented during two of three extracranial-intracranial bypasses. In seven of nine patients with epilepsy the results of DIR imaging corresponded to seizure foci that had been electrocorticographically mapped preoperatively. Dynamic infrared imaging demonstrated the functional cortex in four of nine patients undergoing awake resection and cortical stimulation. Finally, DIR imaging exhibited the distinct thermal footprints of 14 of 16 brain tumors. Dynamic infrared imaging may prove to be a powerful adjunctive intraoperative diagnostic tool in the neurosurgical imaging armamentarium. Real-time assessment of cerebral vessel patency and cerebral perfusion are the most direct applications of this technology. Uses of this imaging modality in the localization of epileptic foci, identification of functional cortex during awake craniotomy, and determination of tumor border and intraoperative brain shift are avenues of inquiry that require further investigation.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Assessment of hand osteoarthritis: correlation between thermographic and radiographic methods.
Assessment of hand osteoarthritis: correlation between thermographic and radiographic methods.
Varju G, Pieper CF, Renner JB, Kraus VB. Box 3416, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
27710, USA.
OBJECTIVE: Anatomical stages of digital osteoarthritis (OA) have been characterized radiographically as progressing through sequential phases from normal to osteophyte formation, progressive loss of joint space, joint erosion and joint remodelling. Our study was designed to evaluate a physiological parameter, joint surface temperature, measured with computerized digital infrared thermal imaging, and its association with sequential stages of radiographic OA (rOA).
METHODS:
Thermograms, radiographs and digital photographs were taken of both hands of 91 subjects with nodal hand OA. Temperature measurements were made on digits 2-5 at distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (2184 joints in total). We fitted a repeated measures ANCOVA model to analyse the effects of rOA on temperature, with handedness, joint group, digit and NSAID use as covariates.
RESULTS:
The reliability of the thermoscanning procedure was high (generalizability coefficient 0.899 for two scans performed 3 h apart). The mean joint temperature decreased with increasing rOA severity, defined by the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale. The mean temperature of KL0 joints was significantly different from that of each of the other KL grades (P </=0.002). After adjustment for the other covariates, there was a strong association of rOA with joint surface temperature (P<0.001). The earliest discernible radiographic disease (KL1) was associated with a higher surface temperature than KL0 joints (P = 0.01) and a higher surface temperature than any other KL grade. Joint erosions were not associated with a change in joint temperature.
CONCLUSION:
Joint surface temperature varied with the severity of rOA. Joints were warmer than normal at the onset of OA. As the severity of rOA worsened, joint surface temperature declined. These data support the supposition that digital OA progresses in phases initiated by an inflammatory process. The cooler surface temperatures in later stages of the disease may in part explain the paucity of symptoms reported by patients with hand OA.
Varju G, Pieper CF, Renner JB, Kraus VB. Box 3416, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
27710, USA.
OBJECTIVE: Anatomical stages of digital osteoarthritis (OA) have been characterized radiographically as progressing through sequential phases from normal to osteophyte formation, progressive loss of joint space, joint erosion and joint remodelling. Our study was designed to evaluate a physiological parameter, joint surface temperature, measured with computerized digital infrared thermal imaging, and its association with sequential stages of radiographic OA (rOA).
METHODS:
Thermograms, radiographs and digital photographs were taken of both hands of 91 subjects with nodal hand OA. Temperature measurements were made on digits 2-5 at distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (2184 joints in total). We fitted a repeated measures ANCOVA model to analyse the effects of rOA on temperature, with handedness, joint group, digit and NSAID use as covariates.
RESULTS:
The reliability of the thermoscanning procedure was high (generalizability coefficient 0.899 for two scans performed 3 h apart). The mean joint temperature decreased with increasing rOA severity, defined by the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale. The mean temperature of KL0 joints was significantly different from that of each of the other KL grades (P </=0.002). After adjustment for the other covariates, there was a strong association of rOA with joint surface temperature (P<0.001). The earliest discernible radiographic disease (KL1) was associated with a higher surface temperature than KL0 joints (P = 0.01) and a higher surface temperature than any other KL grade. Joint erosions were not associated with a change in joint temperature.
CONCLUSION:
Joint surface temperature varied with the severity of rOA. Joints were warmer than normal at the onset of OA. As the severity of rOA worsened, joint surface temperature declined. These data support the supposition that digital OA progresses in phases initiated by an inflammatory process. The cooler surface temperatures in later stages of the disease may in part explain the paucity of symptoms reported by patients with hand OA.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Peripheral facial paralysis aided by infrared thermography.
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1991 Jun, 11(2):139-45
Peripheral facial paralysis aided by infrared thermography.
We have carried out clinical observations on 34 patients with peripheral facial paralysis treated by
acupuncture therapy prescribed according to selection of treatment regimen on the basis of facial
thermogram and temperature. A comparison was made with a control group of 97 patients who received conventional acupuncture therapy only. It was found that: (1) The cure rate in the group of selecting acupoints by thermogram (hereinafter referred to as the thermography--aided treatment group) was 67.65%, with a marked improvement rate of 26.40%; while the cure rate of the conventional acupuncture treatment group (hereinafter called the conventional treatment group) was 46.39%, the marked improvement rate being 29.90%, indicating a significant difference in therapeutic efficacy between the two groups (P less than 0.02). (2) The average duration of acupuncture therapy for the thermography aided treatment group was 6.02 weeks, whereas that for the conventional treatment group, 24 weeks. There was also a significant difference between the two groups (p less than 0.01). (3) During the entire therapeutic course, 25.2 sessions of treatment were given on the average in the thermography--aided treatment group, and 78.8 sessions in the conventional treatment group, showing a very significant difference (P less than 0.001). The present thermography--aided method exhibits advantages over the conventional one in enhancing the cure rate and shortening the duration of treatment, which is worthy to be popularized in clinical practice. It is also of certain significance in standardization and scientification of acupuncture therapy.
Zhang D; Wei Z; Wen B; Gao H; Peng Y; Wang F.
Peripheral facial paralysis aided by infrared thermography.
We have carried out clinical observations on 34 patients with peripheral facial paralysis treated by
acupuncture therapy prescribed according to selection of treatment regimen on the basis of facial
thermogram and temperature. A comparison was made with a control group of 97 patients who received conventional acupuncture therapy only. It was found that: (1) The cure rate in the group of selecting acupoints by thermogram (hereinafter referred to as the thermography--aided treatment group) was 67.65%, with a marked improvement rate of 26.40%; while the cure rate of the conventional acupuncture treatment group (hereinafter called the conventional treatment group) was 46.39%, the marked improvement rate being 29.90%, indicating a significant difference in therapeutic efficacy between the two groups (P less than 0.02). (2) The average duration of acupuncture therapy for the thermography aided treatment group was 6.02 weeks, whereas that for the conventional treatment group, 24 weeks. There was also a significant difference between the two groups (p less than 0.01). (3) During the entire therapeutic course, 25.2 sessions of treatment were given on the average in the thermography--aided treatment group, and 78.8 sessions in the conventional treatment group, showing a very significant difference (P less than 0.001). The present thermography--aided method exhibits advantages over the conventional one in enhancing the cure rate and shortening the duration of treatment, which is worthy to be popularized in clinical practice. It is also of certain significance in standardization and scientification of acupuncture therapy.
Zhang D; Wei Z; Wen B; Gao H; Peng Y; Wang F.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Infrared thermography: a rapid, portable, and accurate technique to detect experimental pneumothorax.
Infrared thermography: a rapid, portable, and accurate technique to detect experimental pneumothorax.
Rich PB, Dulabon GR, Douillet CD, Listwa TM, Robinson WP, Zarzaur BL, Pearlstein R, Katz LM.
Source
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Medical Wing D Room 186, CB #7228, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7228 USA. prich@med.unc.edu
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE:
Pneumothorax (Ptx) is a life-threatening complication that can result from trauma, mechanical ventilation, and invasive procedures. Infrared thermography (IRT), a compact and portable technology, has become highly sensitive. We hypothesized that IRT could detect Ptx by identifying associated changes in skin temperature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Bilateral nonpenetrating chest incisions or needle punctures were performed in 21 anesthetized rats. Rats were then randomized to no, bilateral, left, or right Ptx by either open (n = 16) or closed percutaneous (n = 5) puncture through selected pleurae. Real-time thermographic images and surface temperature data were acquired with a noncooled infrared camera.
RESULTS:
In all cases, blinded observers correctly identified each Ptx with real-time grayscale image analysis. When compared to either the ipsilateral baseline or an abdominal reference, experimental Ptx produced a significantly greater decrease in surface temperature when compared to non-Ptx control.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results demonstrate that portable infrared imaging can rapidly and accurately detect changes in thoracic surface temperature associated with experimental pneumothorax.
Rich PB, Dulabon GR, Douillet CD, Listwa TM, Robinson WP, Zarzaur BL, Pearlstein R, Katz LM.
Source
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Medical Wing D Room 186, CB #7228, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7228 USA. prich@med.unc.edu
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE:
Pneumothorax (Ptx) is a life-threatening complication that can result from trauma, mechanical ventilation, and invasive procedures. Infrared thermography (IRT), a compact and portable technology, has become highly sensitive. We hypothesized that IRT could detect Ptx by identifying associated changes in skin temperature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Bilateral nonpenetrating chest incisions or needle punctures were performed in 21 anesthetized rats. Rats were then randomized to no, bilateral, left, or right Ptx by either open (n = 16) or closed percutaneous (n = 5) puncture through selected pleurae. Real-time thermographic images and surface temperature data were acquired with a noncooled infrared camera.
RESULTS:
In all cases, blinded observers correctly identified each Ptx with real-time grayscale image analysis. When compared to either the ipsilateral baseline or an abdominal reference, experimental Ptx produced a significantly greater decrease in surface temperature when compared to non-Ptx control.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results demonstrate that portable infrared imaging can rapidly and accurately detect changes in thoracic surface temperature associated with experimental pneumothorax.
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