Spinal Cord Injury and Heat Acclimation

描述（由申请人提供）：脊髓病变患者的体温调节功能受损可导致运动时心血管和热应变升高，这可能使这些患者不愿参加常规体育活动，特别是在温暖环境中进行的体育活动。缺乏身体活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。热适应可以提高脊髓损伤（SCI）个体的热耐受性，从而在运动和日常热应激（如夏季户外暴露）时获得更大的舒适度。该项目的主要目的是验证以下假设：脊髓损伤个体的热损伤程度与损伤程度有关，脊髓损伤个体可以通过适应高温环境来抵消热调节受损。具体目的1：验证脊髓病变个体的血管舒缩和压迫运动功能损伤的严重程度与病变程度相关的假设。具体目标2：验证脊髓损伤患者可以通过适应炎热环境来抵消体温调节受损的假设，这将1)改善出汗和皮肤血流量，2)在给定的热挑战中降低核心体温，3)在运动过程中降低心血管负荷（降低心率和增加中风量）。具体目标1将通过对脊髓损伤程度高的个体和脊髓损伤程度低的个体以及健全个体之间的热反应和心血管反应差异进行横断面研究来实现。新技术将用于评估预期差异和相关机制。具体目标2将通过对脊髓损伤患者热适应的影响和机制进行纵向研究来完成。

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.