Spinal Cord Injury and Heat Acclimation

描述(由申请人提供)：脊髓损伤患者的体温调节受损会导致运动过程中心血管和热应变增加，这可能会阻碍这些人参加常规的体育活动，特别是在温暖的环境中进行的活动。缺乏运动会增加患几种疾病的风险，包括冠心病、II型糖尿病和肥胖症。热习服可以提高脊髓损伤(SCI)患者的耐热性，从而在运动和日常热应激(如夏季户外暴露)时获得更大的舒适性。拟议项目的主要目标是检验这样一种假设，即脊髓损伤患者的热损伤程度将与损伤的程度有关，并且脊髓损伤患者可以通过适应炎热的环境来抵消受损的体温调节。具体目标1：检验脊髓损伤患者的血管运动和运动功能损害的严重程度与损伤程度有关的假设。具体目标2：验证这样的假设，即脊髓损伤患者可以通过适应炎热环境来抵消受损的体温调节，这将1)改善出汗和皮肤血液流动，2)在给定的热挑战中导致核心体温降低，3)在运动中导致较低的心血管压力(较低的心率和较高的搏出量)。具体目标1将通过对高脊髓损伤患者和低脊髓损伤患者以及健康人之间的体温和心血管反应的差异进行横断面研究来实现。将使用新技术来评估预期差异和相关机制。具体目标2将通过对患有脊髓损伤的个体进行热习服的影响和机制的纵向研究来实现。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Impaired thermoregulation in individuals with a spinal cord lesion can result in elevated cardiovascular and thermal strain during exercise, which may discourage these individuals from participating in regular physical activity, especially that occurring in a warm environment. Physical inactivity increases the risk of developing several morbidities, including coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, and obesity. Heat acclimation may improve thermal tolerance of spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals, thereby enabling greater comfort during exercise and day-to-day heat stresses, such as outdoor exposures during summer months. The main objective of the proposed project is to test the hypothesis that the degree of thermal impairment in individuals with SCI will be related to the level of the injury and that individuals with SCI can counteract impaired thermoregulation by acclimating to a hot environment. Specific aim 1: Test the hypothesis that in individuals with a spinal cord lesion, the severity of vasomotor and sudomotor function impairments is related to lesion level. Specific aim 2: Test the hypothesis that individuals with SCI can counteract impaired thermoregulation by acclimating to a hot environment, which will 1) improve sweating and skin blood flow, 2) result in lower core body temperature during a given thermal challenge, 3) and result in lower cardiovascular strain (lower heart rate and higher stroke volume) during exercise. Specific aim 1 will be accomplished by conducting a cross-sectional study of differences in thermal and cardiovascular responses between individuals with high and individuals with low spinal cord lesions, as well as able-bodied individuals. Novel techniques will be used to assess expected differences and associated mechanisms. Specific aim 2 will be accomplished by conducting a longitudinal study of the effects and mechanisms of heat acclimation in individuals with SCI.