Reliability and Validity of Patient-Reported, Rater-Based, and Hybrid Physical Activity Assessments in COPD: A Systematic Review.

Selecting valid and reliable PA assessments in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is crucial to ensure that the information obtained is accurate, valuable, and meaningful. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the validity and reliability among PA assessments in COPD. An electronic database search of PubMed and CINAHL was completed in December 2019 using MeSH terms on physical activity, COPD, validation, and questionnaires.

The ability of different areas of the skin to absorb heat from a locally applied heat source: the impact of diabetes.

Background: When heat is applied to the skin, heat is conducted away because of the latent heat transfer properties of the skin and an increase in skin circulation, but little attention has been paid to the heat transfer properties of skin in different areas of the body and in people with diabetes. research design: Thirty subjects in the age range of 20-75 years had a thermode (44°C) applied to the skin of their arm, leg, foot, and back for 6 min to assess the heat transfer characteristics of skin in these four areas of the body. Skin blood flow and skin temperature were monitored over the 6-min period.

The ability of the skin to absorb heat; the effect of repeated exposure and age.

Background: When heat is applied to the skin, it is dissipated due to conductive heat flow in the tissue and the blood. While heat flow has been studied after applying a single heat exposure, the physiology of repeated exposures to local heat has not been well investigated.

Material/methods: Twenty male and female subjects in the age range of 20-65 years old participated in a series of experiments during which a thermode was placed on their leg above the quadriceps muscle for 20 minutes, and on 3 sequential days, to see the effect of repeated local heat on skin blood flow, skin temperature, and on caloric transfer from a thermode used to raise skin temperature.

The influence of aging and diabetes on heat transfer characteristics of the skin to a rapidly applied heat source.

Background: Numerous studies have examined the blood flow of the skin at rest and in response to sustained heat and shown that, in older people and people with diabetes, the skin blood flow response to heat is diminished compared to younger people. It is not sustained heat, however, that usually causes burns; it is a more rapid application of heat.

Subjects And Methods: Ten younger subjects, 10 older subjects, and 10 subjects with diabetes were examined before and after applying a water-filled thermode to the skin above the quadriceps muscle to observe the changes in skin temperature and skin blood flow and the ability of the skin to absorb heat after a 2-min heat exposure with water at 44°C.

The contribution of skin blood flow in warming the skin after the application of local heat; the duality of the Pennes heat equation.

As predicted by the Pennes equation, skin blood flow is a major contributor to the removal of heat from an external heat source. This protects the skin from erythema and burns. But, for a person in a thermally neutral room, the skin is normally much cooler than arterial blood.