Quantitative assessment of pain-related thermal dysfunction through clinical digital infrared thermal imaging

Background  

The skin temperature distribution of a healthy human body exhibits a contralateral symmetry. Some nociceptive and most neuropathic pain pathologies are associated with an alteration of the thermal distribution of the human body. Since the dissipation of heat through the skin occurs for the most part in the form of infrared radiation, infrared thermography is the method of choice to study the physiology of thermoregulation and the thermal dysfunction associated with pain. Assessing thermograms is a complex and subjective task that can be greatly facilitated by computerised techniques.     

Evaluation of mean skin temperature formulas by infrared thermography

 To study the reliabiliity of formulas for calculating mean skin temperature (T _sk), values were computed by 18 different techniques and were compared with the mean of 10,841 skin temperatures measured by infrared thermography. One hundred whole-body infrared thermograms were scanned in ten resting males while changing the air temperature from 40° C to 4° C. Local, regional average and mean skin temperatures were obtained using an image processing system. The agreement frequency, defined as the percentage of the calculated T _sk values which agreed with the corresponding infrared thermographic T _sk within ±0.2° C, ranged for with the various formulas from 7% to 80%. In many sites, the local skin temperature did not coincide with the regional average skin temperature. When the local skin temperatures which showed the highest percentage similarity to the regional average skin temperature within ±0.4° C were applied to the formula, the agreement frequency was markedly improved for all formulas. However, the agreement frequency was not affected by changing the weighting factors from specific constants to individually measured values of regional surface area. By applying the physiologically reliable accuracy range of ±0.2° C in the moderate and ±0.4° C in the cool condition, agreement frequencies of at least 95% were observed in formulas involving seven or more skin temperature measurement sites, including the hand and foot. We conclude that calculation of a reliable mean skin temperature must involve more than seven skin temperature measurement sites regardless of ambient temperature. Optimal sites for skin temperature measurement are proposed for various formulas. Received: 2 December 1996 / Accepted: 25 June 1997     

Evolution of Skin Temperature after the Application of Compressive Forces on Tendon,Muscle and Myofascial Trigger Point

Some assessment and diagnosis methods require palpation or the application of certain forces on the skin, which affects the structures beneath, we highlight the importance of defining possible influences on skin temperature as a result of this physical contact. Thus, the aim of the present study is to determine the ideal time for performing thermographic examination after palpation based on the assessment of skin temperature evolution. Randomized and crossover study carried out with 15 computer-user volunteers of both genders, between 18 and 45 years of age, who were submitted to compressive forces of 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg/cm² for 30 seconds with a washout period of 48 hours using a portable digital dynamometer. Compressive forces were applied on the following spots on the dominant upper limb: myofascial trigger point in the levator scapulae, biceps brachii muscle and palmaris longus tendon. Volunteers were examined by means of infrared thermography before and after the application of compressive forces (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes). In most comparisons made over time, a significant decrease was observed 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the application of compressive forces (p < 0.05) on the palmaris longus tendon and biceps brachii muscle. However, no difference was observed when comparing the different compressive forces (p > 0.05). In conclusion, infrared thermography can be used after assessment or diagnosis methods focused on the application of forces on tendons and muscles, provided the procedure is performed 15 minutes after contact with the skin. Regarding to the myofascial trigger point, the thermographic examination can be performed within 60 minutes after the contact with the skin.     

Thermal windows on the body surface of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) studied by infrared thermography

In this study, we examined infrared thermograms in the course of time of six African zoo elephants and observed two phenomena. First, we noticed independent thermal windows, highly vascularised skin areas, on the whole elephants’ body and second we observed distinct and sharply delimited hot sections on the elephants’ pinnae. The frequency of thermal windows increased with increasing ambient temperature and body weight. We assume that the restriction of an enhanced cutaneous blood flow to thermal windows might enable the animal to react more flexibly to its needs with regard to heat loss. With this understanding, the use of thermal windows in heat loss might be seen as a fine-tuning mechanism under thermoneutral conditions.     

Infrared spectroscopy studies of mixtures prepared with synthetic ceramides varying in head group architecture: Coexistence of liquid and crystalline phases

The barrier function of the skin is provided by the stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin. Ceramides (CERs), cholesterol (CHOL) and free fatty acids (FFAs) are present in SC and form highly ordered crystalline lipid lamellae. These lamellae are crucial for a proper skin barrier function. In the present study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the lipid organization of mixtures prepared from synthetic CERs with CHOL and FFAs. The conformational ordering and lateral packing of these mixtures showed great similarities to the lipid organization in SC and lipid mixtures prepared with native CERs. Therefore, mixtures with synthetic CERs serve as an excellent tool for studying the effect of molecular architecture of CER subclasses on the lipid phase behavior. In SC the number of OH-groups in the head groups of CER subclasses varies. Furthermore, acylCERs with a linoleic acid chemically bound to a long acyl chain are also identified. The present study revealed that CER head group architecture affects the lateral packing and conformational ordering of the CER:CHOL:FFA mixtures. Furthermore, while the majority of the lipids form a crystalline packing, the linoleate moiety of the acylCERs participates in a “pseudo fluid” phase.     

Skin Temperature Recording with Phosphors: Toxicity Studies on Animals

In a previous communication in this journal, a method was described for converting invisible thermal patterns of the human skin into a detailed visible picture. At that time, the question of possible toxicity of the thermographic phosphor was raised. Toxicity studies conducted on laboratory animals indicate that the probability of toxic side reactions resulting from the use of zinc-cadmium sulfide phosphor spray is very low.     

Evaluation of set-up errors in head and neck radiotherapy using electronic portal imaging

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) set-up errors and propose optimum margins for planning target volume (PTV) coverage in head and neck radiotherapy.MethodsThirty-five patients were included in the study. The total number of portal images studied was 632. Population systematic (Σ) and random (σ) errors for the patients with head and neck cancer were evaluated based on the portal images in the caudocranial longitudinal (CC) and left-right lateral (LR) direction measured in the anterior-posterior (AP) field, as well as from the images in the caudocranial longitudinal (CC) and dorsoventral lateral (DV) direction measured in the lateral (LAT) field. The values for the clinical-to-planning target volume (CTV-PTV) margins were calculated using ICRU Report 62 recommendations, along with Stroom's and van Herk's formulae.ResultsThe standard deviations of systematic set-up errors (Σ) ranged from 1.51 to 1.93 mm while the standard deviations of random set-up (σ) errors fell in between 1.77 and 1.86 mm. The mean 3D vector length of displacement was 2.66 mm. PTV margins calculated according to ICRU, Stroom's and van Herk's models were comprised between 1.95 and 6.16 mm in the three acquisition directions.Discussion and conclusionsBased on our results we can conclude that a 6-mm extension of CTV to PTV margin, as the lower limit, is enough to ensure that 90% of the patients treated for head and neck cancer will receive a minimum cumulative CTV dose greater than or equal to 95% of the prescribed dose.     

Suitability of frequency modulated thermal wave imaging for skin cancer detection—A theoretical prediction

A theoretical study on the quantification of surface thermal response of cancerous human skin using the frequency modulated thermal wave imaging (FMTWI) technique has been presented in this article. For the first time, the use of the FMTWI technique for the detection and the differentiation of skin cancer has been demonstrated in this article. A three dimensional multilayered skin has been considered with the counter-current blood vessels in individual skin layers along with different stages of cancerous lesions based on geometrical, thermal and physical parameters available in the literature. Transient surface thermal responses of melanoma during FMTWI of skin cancer have been obtained by integrating the heat transfer model for biological tissue along with the flow model for blood vessels. It has been observed from the numerical results that, flow of blood in the subsurface region leads to a substantial alteration on the surface thermal response of the human skin. The alteration due to blood flow further causes a reduction in the performance of the thermal imaging technique during the thermal evaluation of earliest melanoma stages (small volume) compared to relatively large volume. Based on theoretical study, it has been predicted that the method is suitable for detection and differentiation of melanoma with comparatively large volume than the earliest development stages (small volume). The study has also performed phase based image analysis of the raw thermograms to resolve the different stages of melanoma volume. The phase images have been found to be clearly individuate the different development stages of melanoma compared to raw thermograms.     

Is It Possible to Detect Activated Brown Adipose Tissue in Humans Using Single-Time-Point Infrared Thermography under Thermoneutral Conditions? Impact of BMI and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Thickness

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility to detect activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) using single-time-point infrared thermography of the supraclavicular skin region under thermoneutral conditions. To this end, infrared thermography was compared with 18-F-FDG PET, the current reference standard for the detection of activated BAT.

Methods

120 patients were enrolled in this study. After exclusion of 18 patients, 102 patients (44 female, 58 male, mean age 58±17 years) were included for final analysis. All patients underwent a clinically indicated 18F-FDG-PET/CT examination. Immediately prior to tracer injection skin temperatures of the supraclavicular, presternal and jugular regions were measured using spatially resolved infrared thermography at room temperature. The presence of activated BAT was determined in PET by typical FDG uptake within the supraclavicular adipose tissue compartments. Local thickness of supraclavicular subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) was measured on CT. Measured skin temperatures were statistically correlated with the presence of activated BAT and anthropometric data.

Results

Activated BAT was detected in 9 of 102 patients (8.8%). Local skin temperature of the supraclavicular region was significantly higher in individuals with active BAT compared to individuals without active BAT. However, after statistical correction for the influence of BMI, no predictive value of activated BAT on skin temperature of the supraclavicular region could be observed. Supraclavicular skin temperature was significantly negatively correlated with supraclavicular SCAT thickness.

Conclusion

We conclude that supraclavicular SCAT thickness influences supraclavicular skin temperature and thus makes a specific detection of activated BAT using single-time-point thermography difficult. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the possibility of BAT detection using alternative thermographic methods, e.g. dynamic thermography or MR-based thermometry taking into account BMI as a confounding factor.     

Analysis of the Setup Uncertainty and Margin of the Daily ExacTrac 6D Image Guide System for Patients with Brain Tumors

This study evaluated the setup uncertainties for brain sites when using BrainLAB’s ExacTrac X-ray 6D system for daily pretreatment to determine the optimal planning target volume (PTV) margin. Between August 2012 and April 2015, 28 patients with brain tumors were treated by daily image-guided radiotherapy using the BrainLAB ExacTrac 6D image guidance system of the Novalis-Tx linear accelerator. DUON^TM (Orfit Industries, Wijnegem, Belgium) masks were used to fix the head. The radiotherapy was fractionated into 27–33 treatments. In total, 844 image verifications were performed for 28 patients and used for the analysis. The setup corrections along with the systematic and random errors were analyzed for six degrees of freedom in the translational (lateral, longitudinal, and vertical) and rotational (pitch, roll, and yaw) dimensions. Optimal PTV margins were calculated based on van Herk et al.’s [margin recipe = 2.5∑ + 0.7σ - 3 mm] and Stroom et al.’s [margin recipe = 2∑ + 0.7σ] formulas. The systematic errors (∑) were 0.72, 1.57, and 0.97 mm in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical translational dimensions, respectively, and 0.72°, 0.87°, and 0.83° in the pitch, roll, and yaw rotational dimensions, respectively. The random errors (σ) were 0.31, 0.46, and 0.54 mm in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical rotational dimensions, respectively, and 0.28°, 0.24°, and 0.31° in the pitch, roll, and yaw rotational dimensions, respectively. According to van Herk et al.’s and Stroom et al.’s recipes, the recommended lateral PTV margins were 0.97 and 1.66 mm, respectively; the longitudinal margins were 1.26 and 3.47 mm, respectively; and the vertical margins were 0.21 and 2.31 mm, respectively. Therefore, daily setup verifications using the BrainLAB ExacTrac 6D image guide system are very useful for evaluating the setup uncertainties and determining the setup margin.     

The effect of ambient temperature on infrared thermographic images of joints in the distal forelimbs of healthy racehorses

The aim of the study was to describe the dependence on ambient temperature of distal joint temperature at the forelimbs of racehorses. The study also investigated the influence of differing ambient temperatures on the temperature difference between joints: this was measured ipsilaterally (i.e. between the carpal and fetlock joints along each forelimb) and contralaterally (i.e. between the same joints of the left and right forelimbs). Sixty-four healthy racehorses were monitored over 10 months. At each session, three thermographic images were taken of the dorsal, lateral and medial aspects of the distal forelimbs. Temperature measurements were made from regions of interest (ROIs) covering the carpal and fetlock joints. There was a strong correlation between ambient temperature and absolute joint temperature at all ROIs. The study also observed a moderate correlation between ambient temperature and the ipsilateral temperature differences between joints when measured from the medial and lateral aspects. No significant correlation was noted when measured dorsally. The mean contralateral temperature differences between joints were all close to 0 °C. The data support previous reports that the temperature distribution between the forelimbs of the healthy equine is generally symmetric, although some horses differ markedly from the average findings.     

Diversity of opsin immunoreactivities in the extraretinal tissues of four anuran amphibians

The pineal complex, deep brain, and skin have been known to function as extraretinal photoreceptors in non-mammalian vertebrates. To see the diversity of localization of extraretinal photoreceptors in lower vertebrates having different habitats, we analyzed the opsin-like immunoreactivities in anuran amphibians, Xenopus laevis, Rana catesbeiana, Rana nigromaculata, and Bufo japonicus. An antiserum (toad Rh-AS) was raised against rhodopsin purified from the retinas of Japanese toad, B. japonicus. In the retina of all the anurans examined, the outer segments of rods were immunopositive to toad Rh-AS. The outer segments of most pinealocytes were immunopositive in R. catesbeiana, R. nigromaculata, and B. japonicus. The outer segments of photoreceptor-like cells within the frontal organ of R. nigromaculata were immunostained. Interestingly, toad Rh-AS immunostained many secretory cells of mucous glands in the head skin of B. japonicus, implying the presence of a novel photoreceptive molecule. Within the hypothalamus, toad Rh-AS immunostained many cells in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus of R. catesbeiana and B. japonicus. Toad Rh-AS also labeled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting cells in the anterior preoptic nucleus of R. nigromaculata and those adjacent to the lateral ventricle within the septum of R. catesbeiana. Thus the distribution patterns of the rhodopsin-like immunoreactivities among the anurans were highly diverged, and there was no relationship between the distribution patterns and their habitats. J. Exp. Zool. 286:136-142, 2000.     

Evaluation of the parameters of total,nutritive, and shunt blood flows in the skin microvasculature using laser Doppler flowmetry

Examination of 28 healthy subjects and 66 patients was performed using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) of the skin of fingers in the red and infrared ranges and wavelet analysis of microvascular blood flow oscillations. Formulas were suggested for the total (TF), nutritive (NF), and shunt (SF) local blood flows. TF = MI × A_c × A_n /(P_m × ), where MI is the microcirculation index in perfusion units (PU), A_n and A_c are the averaged maximum amplitudes of the neurogenic and cardiac rhythms (in PU), P_m is the mean arterial pressure (in mm Hg), and is the mean square deviation of the amplitude of blood flow oscillations (in PU). NF = TF/SP, where SP is the shunting parameter. SP = A_n/A_m, where A_m is the averaged maximum amplitude of the myogenic rhythm (in PU). SF = TF - NF. Significant positive relationships between the skin oxygenation and NF (red), temperature and TF (red), and blood flow measured by hydrogen clearance and TF (infrared) were revealed by comparison of the LDF parameters with polarographic and thermographic data. The advantages of the LDF parameters compared with the MI were shown, especially in skin denervation syndromes. The TF decreased in the case of complete anatomic rupture of the median nerve and increased in reflex sympathetic dystrophy, with both cases being accompanied by a deficit of the NF (red).Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 114–119.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Krupatkin.     

In-shoe plantar tri-axial stress profiles during maximum-effort cutting maneuvers

Soft tissue injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture, ankle sprain and foot skin problems, frequently occur during cutting maneuvers. These injuries are often regarded as associated with abnormal joint torque and interfacial friction caused by excessive external and in-shoe shear forces. This study simultaneously investigated the dynamic in-shoe localized plantar pressure and shear stress during lateral shuffling and 45° sidestep cutting maneuvers. Tri-axial force transducers were affixed at the first and second metatarsal heads, lateral forefoot, and heel regions in the midsole of a basketball shoe. Seventeen basketball players executed both cutting maneuvers with maximum efforts. Lateral shuffling cutting had a larger mediolateral braking force than 45° sidestep cutting. This large braking force was concentrated at the first metatarsal head, as indicated by its maximum medial shear stress (312.2±157.0 kPa). During propulsion phase, peak shear stress occurred at the second metatarsal head (271.3±124.3 kPa). Compared with lateral shuffling cutting, 45° sidestep cutting produced larger peak propulsion shear stress (463.0±272.6 kPa) but smaller peak braking shear stress (184.8±181.7 kPa), of which both were found at the first metatarsal head. During both cutting maneuvers, maximum medial and posterior shear stress occurred at the first metatarsal head, whereas maximum pressure occurred at the second metatarsal head. The first and second metatarsal heads sustained relatively high pressure and shear stress and were expected to be susceptible to plantar tissue discomfort or injury. Due to different stress distribution, distinct pressure and shear cushioning mechanisms in basketball footwear might be considered over different foot regions.     

Digital infrared thermographic imaging for remote assessment of traumatic injury

The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) during simulated uncontrolled hemorrhage will reveal 1) respiratory rate and 2) changes of skin temperature that track reductions of stroke volume. In 45 healthy volunteers (25 men and 20 women), we recorded the ECG, finger photoplethysmographic arterial pressure, respiratory rate (pneumobelt and DITI of the nose), cardiac output (inert rebreathing), and skin temperature of the forehead during lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at three continuous decompression rates; slow (-3 mmHg/min), medium (-6 mmHg/min), and fast (-12 mmHg/min) to an ending pressure of -60 mmHg. Respiratory rates calculated from the pneumobelt (14.7 ± 0.9 breaths/min) and DITI (14.9 ± 1.2 breaths/min) were not different (P = 0.21). LBNP induced an average stroke volume reduction of 1.3 ml/mmHg regardless of decompression speed. Maximal reductions of stroke volume and forehead temperature were -100 ± 12 ml and -0.32 ± 0.12°C (slow), -86 ± 12 ml and -0.74 ± 0.27°C (medium), and -78 ± 5 ml and -0.17 ± 0.02°C (fast). Changes of forehead temperature as a function of changes of stroke volume were best described by a quadratic fit to the data (slow R(2) = 0.95; medium R(2) = 0.89; and fast R(2) = 0.99).Our results suggest that a thermographic camera may prove useful for the remote assessment of traumatically injured patients. Life sign detection may be determined by verifying respiratory rate. Determining the magnitude and rate of hemorrhage may also be possible based on future algorithms derived from associations between skin temperature and stroke volume.     

Monitoring of whole body cryotherapy effects by thermal imaging: preliminary report

In whole body cryotherapy the whole human body is exposed to low temperature below −100°C in a special room called cryogenic chamber for a very short period of time (2–3 minutes). The impact of cold can cause many different biochemical and physiological reactions of the organism.The skin temperature response due to whole body cryotherapy was studied by means of infrared measurements. The thermograms of chosen body parts of patients suffering from low back pain were performed before and after whole body cooling on the 1^st, 5^th and the last (10^th) day of medical treatment. Infrared imaging performed after cold impact owing to the enhancement of the skin temperature profile may reveal a slight decrease of the inflammatory states as a result of the 10 sessions of cryotherapy.     

Infrared thermography – a non-invasive tool to evaluate thermal status of neonatal pigs based on surface temperature

Hypothermia is a major cause of mortality in neonatal pigs. Infrared (IR) thermography is a promising non-invasive method to assess thermal status, but has not been evaluated for use on neonatal pigs from birth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of IR thermography as a non-invasive tool to estimate body temperature and assess the thermal status in newborn pigs by (1) estimating the relationship between surface temperature and rectal temperature (RT) in neonatal pigs; and (2) estimating the influence of air temperature (AT), birth weight and the time from birth on the relationship between surface temperature and RT. The method was evaluated on the basis of 1695 thermograms and 915 RTs on 91 neonatal pigs born in loose farrowing pens with floor heating at 34°C, and three different ATs (15°C, 20°C and 25°C). Full-body thermograms of the back and the side of the pigs and RT were acquired at 11 sampling times between birth and 48 h after birth. The maximum (IR_max), minimum, average of the full body and ear minimum IR surface temperatures were derived from the thermograms. IR_max had the highest correlation with RT (0.82) and was therefore used in the statistical analysis. The relation of RT by IR_max depended on time at: 0 h (slope: 0.20°C, P<0.001), 0.25 h (slope: 0.42°C, P<0.01), and 0.5 and 1 h after birth (slope: 0.68°C, P<0.001). After the 1st hour (1.5 to 48 h) the relation of RT by IR_max was no longer affected by time (slope: 0.63°C, P<0.001). The agreement between RT and IR_max was improved (P<0.001) after the 1st hour (RT−IR_max 0 to 1 h: 2.02 (1.44)°C; 1.5 to 48 h: 0.95 (0.85)°C). IR_max below 30°C was indicative of piglets having RT<32°C (91.3%). The location of IR_max was identified predominantly at the base of the ears (27/50), other sites in the region of the head (12/50) and the axilla area (8/50). There was a small but significant effect of the angle as IR_max_side–IR_max_back: mean 0.20°C (P<0.001). On the basis of the low difference between IR_max from back and side view thermograms, and the location of IR_max, the angle seems less important and thus the method has the potential to be used without the need for manual restraint of the pigs. On the basis of the results of this study, we propose that IR_max temperature from full-body thermograms has implication as a valid tool to assess the thermal status in neonatal piglets but not as an identical substitute for RT.     

Crystal structure determination of thymoquinone by high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction

The crystal structure of 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (thymoquinone) and its thermal behavior--as necessary physical and chemical properties--were determined in order to enhance the current understanding of thymoquinone chemical action by using high resolution x-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and 3 thermo-analytical techniques thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The findings obtained with high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction and molecular location methods based on a simulated annealing algorithm after Rietveld refinement showed that the triclinic unit cell was a = 6.73728(8) A, b = 6.91560(8) A, c = 10.4988(2) A, alpha = 88.864(2) degrees, beta = 82.449(1) degrees, gamma = 77.0299(9) degrees; cell volume = 472.52(1) A3, Z = 2, and space group P1. In addition, FTIR spectrum revealed absorption bands corresponding to the carbonyl and C-H stretching of aliphatic and vinylic groups characteristically observed in such p-benzoquinones. Also, a chemical decomposition process starting at 65 degrees C and ending at 213 degrees C was noted when TGA was used. DSC allowed for the determination of onset at 43.55 degrees C and a melting enthalpy value of DeltaH(m) = 110.6 J/g. The low value obtained for the fusion point displayed a van der Waals pattern for molecular binding, and the thermograms performed evidence that thymoquinone can only be found in crystalline triclinic form, as determined by DRX methods.     

Validation of ThermoHuman automatic thermographic software for assessing foot temperature before and after running

The aim of the study was to evaluate an automatic thermographic software package (ThermoHuman®) for assessing skin temperature on the soles of the feet before and after running and to compare it with two manual definitions of the regions of interest (ROIs). 120 thermal images of the soles of the feet of 30 participants, at two measurement points (before and after running 30 min) and on two measurement days were analyzed. Three different models of thermographic image analyses were used to obtain the mean temperature of 9 ROIs: A) ThermoHuman (automatic definition of ROIs using ThermoHuman® software), B) Manual (manual delimitation of ROIs by proportion criteria), and C) Manual-TH (manual delimitation of ROIs in an attempt to replicate the regions analyzed by ThermoHuman). ThermoHuman resulted in an 86% reduction in time involved compared to manual delimitation. Fourteen of the 120 images (12%) presented some error in one or more of the ROI delimitations. Although the three procedures presented significant differences between them (53% in the comparison between ThermoHuman and Manual, 47% between ThermoHuman and Manual-TH, and 28% between Manual and Manual-TH), all differences had a small effect size (ES 0.2–0.4) or lower (ES < 0.2). Bland-Altman plots showed similar 95% limits of agreement between the three procedures before and after running. Intraclass correlation coefficient analysis of the three procedures presented excellent reliability (ICC>0.8). In conclusion, ThermoHuman® software was observed to be time-saving for image analysis with excellent reliability. Although results suggest that ThermoHuman® and manual methods are both valid in themselves, combining them is not recommended due to the differences observed between them.     

限制性条件下药物对细菌抑制作用微量量热法研究

用微量量热计测定了福氏志贺氏菌(Shipella flexneri)中7株菌(6、2b、3b、sb、la、x、y)在合成药物抑制作用下生长的热谱图,按限制性条件下微生物生长的模型进行了数学处理,得出了比生长速率(μ),由此确定了各细菌比生长速率(μ)与药物浓度?之间的定量关系,求出了比生长速率(μ)为零时的用药浓度,并对该合成药对各细菌的抑菌效果进行了分析．