EFFECT OF LOCAL COOLING IN HOT CLIMATIC ZONE

Geda S.M, Torshin V.I. Severin A.E. Mensur H.

Department of Normal Physiology, PFUR. Moscow, 117198, M-Maklaya st. 8, Medical faculty.

Abstract

The present work focuses on the impact of local cooling on the skin and core temperature of the body. 32 subjects, from Gondar (Ethiopia), participated. The wrist and axillary temperature was measured before, during and after immersion of fingers in ice water. This study revealed that, the presence of gender and individual variations of thermoregulations.

Keywords: core temperature, skin temperature, local cooling,

It is known that due to local cooling, the temperature of the skin decreases, for preservation of the core temperature of the body at constant level. However, it is not clear, how this reaction is expressed in inhabitants of a hot climatic zone.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reaction of an organism of inhabitants of a hot climatic zone (Ethiopia) to the action of local cooling.

This study was conducted among students and young teachers of Gondar University from August 28 to September 14, 2012 (one of the coldest periods of the year) in Gondar. Gondar is located on the North Western part of Ethiopia, at 12°36′N 37°28′E in the globe. It has an altitude of around 2,133m above sea level and average temperature ranging from 12 to 29^oC.

The experiments were performed in physiology laboratory room of Medical College of Gondar University, where the room average atmospheric pressure, moisture and temperature during the experimental session was maintained at 596mmHg, 60.1% and 20.6^oC ± 1.5^oC., respectively.

Thirty two volunteers, 25 males and 7 females, students and young teachers with the age of 23.4 ±3 years were included in this study.

Materials: Laboratory Thermometer and Pen Digital Thermometer, Kidney dish (water bath).

Local cooling, realized by immersing, four fingers of the right hand in ice water. The water temperature that kept in the kidney dish (water bath) was maintained at 0 to +4⁰C.

Temperature measurements took place before, during cooling and at intervals of time (1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 10^th and 15^th minutes) after ceasing of local cooling.

Ahead of initiation of the hand cooling test, thermometers were attached to the right hand and inserted to the left armpit.

Recording was initiated during the pre-immersion period. Each subject then immersed four fingers of the right hand in the water for 1 min. and recording continued during the immersion and post-immersion period.

We measured the temperature of the skin from the wrist of the right hand and the core temperature from axillary of the left hand.

Core temperature was measured using a pen digital thermometer and the skin temperature of the Wright hand was measured using laboratory thermometer.

The cross-section gradient of temperature at rest and cooling, (the difference between axillary and wrist temperature), shows that the presence of gender and individual variations of thermoregulations (Pic.1, Pic.2 and Pic.3).

It is revealed that in women the cross section gradient of temperature at rest and cooling is increased; but in men (age ≥ 25 years) decreased. Also a mild increasing observed in young men (age ≤ 24 years).

The analysis indicates, under identical local action of cold stress, in women observed more drop of the temperature of the skin in comparison with men of both groups.

Pic.1. Cross-section gradient of temperature at rest and cooling

Surveyed ( males ≤ 24 )

Pic.2. Cross-section gradient of temperature in 1

Surveyed (males ≥ 25 )

Pic.3. Cross-section gradient of temperature at rest and cooling

Surveyed (females)