Clothing and Disease

Chapter 3 examines early modern English medical literature that discusses theories of contagion. Three fatal diseases—plague, smallpox, and typhus—and a host of minor ones were thought to be transmitted through dirty textiles and clothing. Only strict attention to clean clothing and domestic textiles could prevent their contagion. Another strand of medical theory involved the theory of insensible perspiration—a physiological function that was considered essential to good health. The best way to encourage this function was by wearing flannel underwear instead of linen. At one point, the implications of insensible perspiration led physicians to believe that changing a fever patient’s linen would be fatal. These theories came into conflict, for wool was thought to harbour contagions far more easily than linen fabrics, and doctors worried about the ‘putrid effluvia’ harbouring in a patient’s linens.

Development of tri-layer knitted fabrics for shuttle badminton players

Thermo-physiological comfort of the fabric is attained through the ability of managing heat and transmission of sensible and insensible perspiration. An investigation on influence of tri-layer knitted structure on thermal comfort characteristics of layered knitted fabrics was carried out. Three tri-layer knitted structures were developed in which inner layer was made up of micro-fibre polyester and outer layer was made up of modal yarn. The yarn used in the middle layer was changed to either micro-fibre polyester or polyester or acrylic yarn. The thermal comfort characteristics such as thermal conductivity, air permeability, water vapour permeability, wicking, moisture absorbency, drying rate and moisture management properties have been analysed. Wear trial was conducted for shuttle badminton players and they were ranked using thermal environment subjective judgement scale. Tri-layer knitted structure with micro-fibre polyester in the inner and middle layer and modal in the outer layer showed better thermal comfort characteristics both by objective evaluation and wear trial method compared to polyester or acrylic in the middle layer and is preferable for shuttle badminton sportswear.

Two dimensional temperature distribution model in human dermal region exposed at low ambient temperatures with air flow

This paper deals with thermo-regulation in human dermal part in a cold atmosphere with significant air flow. The mathematical model involving bio-heat equation has been solved using finite element method and Crank-Nicolson technique to numerically investigate two dimensional temperature distributions. The natural three layers of dermal part – epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue are considered for the study. The important parameters like blood mass flow rate, metabolic heat generation rate and thermal conductivity are taken distinct in each layer according to their distinct sub-regional activities. The human subject is assumed in static condition. The wind speed is considered in the range from the start of forced convection (? 0.2 m/s) and up to 5 m/s. The loss of heat from the skin surface to the environment is taken due to convection, radiation, and insensible perspiration. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 8, No. II, December, 2012, 11-24 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kuset.v8i2.7320

A Rational Approach to Perioperative Fluid Management

Replacement of assumed preoperative deficits, in addition to generous substitution of an unsubstantiated increased insensible perspiration and third space loss, plays an important role in current perioperative fluid regimens. The consequence is a positive fluid balance and weight gain of up to 10 kg, which may be related to severe complications. Because the intravascular blood volume remains unchanged and insensible perspiration is negligible, the fluid must accumulate inside the body. This concept brings into question common liberal infusion regimens. Blood volume after fasting is normal, and a fluid-consuming third space has never been reliably shown. Crystalloids physiologically load the interstitial space, whereas colloidal volume loading deteriorates a vital part of the vascular barrier. The endothelial glycocalyx plays a key role and is destroyed not only by ischemia and surgery, but also by acute hypervolemia. Therefore, undifferentiated fluid handling may increase the shift toward the interstitial space. Using the right kind of fluid in appropriate amounts at the right time might improve patient outcome.