Natividad Martínez

Validation of a physiological model for controlling a thermal head simulator

The head plays an important role in human thermoregulation. Helmets typically provide additional thermal insulation that impairs heat dissipation, reducing comfort and user acceptance [1]. Thermal head manikins allow analysis of the local heat transfer properties of headgear, but they usually do not provide information about human thermal response. Physiological models allow simulation of local physiological reactions and the thermal effect at the skin surface. However, they cannot account for complex heat and mass exchange processes at the skin surface when protective equipment is worn. We aim at controlling a thermal head manikin with a physiological model to develop a novel advanced method for headgear evaluation. This work presents the validation of the aforementioned physiological model by Fiala [2,4] (FPC model version 5.3, Ergonsim, Germany) for prediction of global and local temperatures at the head-site, specially needed for the coupling with body part manikins, and is going to be used as a reference for validation of the coupled thermal head simulator.

A methodology of selecting a suitable garment for sports use

Purpose – Choosing the adequate garment for sports practice in adverse weather conditions, either cold or hot, is an aspect of great influence on activity performance. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia has developed a methodology which allows assessing the fit of the garment to the real situation of use by evaluating its influence in the thermoregulatory response of the human body.Design/methodology/approach – Under controlled environmental conditions and at fixed activity levels, two shirts are tested in the laboratory. Eight subjects performed a test which consisted of six phases of different activity level in two conditions (25°C/50 percent RH and 10°C/60 percent RH). Throughout the test, physiological parameters of the thermal response as well as work load indicators are registered. Skin temperature at three different locations (chest, arm, and thigh), microclimate variables in some areas of subject‐garment interface (in armpit and upper back) and h...

Impact of treatment in long-term survival patients with follicular lymphoma: A Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group registry

Background Follicular lymphoma is the second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States and Europe. However, most of the prospective randomized studies have very little follow-up compared to the long natural history of the disease. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the long-term survival of our series of patients with follicular lymphoma. Patients and methods A total of 1074 patients with newly diagnosed FL were enrolled. Patients diagnosed were prospectively enrolled from 1980 to 2013. Results Median follow-up was 54.9 months and median overall survival is over 20 years in our series. We analyzed the patients who are still alive beyond 10 years from diagnosis in order to fully assess the prognostic factors that condition this group. Out of 166 patients who are still alive after more than 10 years of follow-up, 118 of them (73%) are free of evident clinical disease. Variables significantly associated with survival at 10 years were stage < II (p <0.03), age < 60 years (p <0.0001), low FLIPI (p <0.002), normal β2 microglobulin (p <0.005), no B symptoms upon diagnosis (p <0.02), Performance Status 0–1 (p <0.03) and treatment with anthracyclines and rituximab (p <0.001), or rituximab (p <0.0001). Conclusions A longer follow-up and a large series demonstrated a substantial population of patients with follicular lymphoma free of disease for more than 10 years.

Prognostic value of event‐free survival at 12 and 24 months and long‐term mortality for non‐Hodgkin follicular lymphoma patients: A study report from the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group

Relatively few studies have analyzed the mortality of follicular lymphoma (FL) patients in comparison with a sex‐ and age‐matched general population. This study analyzed the overall survival (OS) of patients with FL and compared their survival with the expected survival of a general population.

A Study of the Influence of the Environmental Condition and the Garment in Skin Temperature in Sport Activity (P119)

Choosing the adequate garment for sport practice in adverse weather condition, either cold or hot, is an aspect of great influence on activity performance. This paper presents the results of a study carried out in 2005 by the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV) together with the Physical and Sports Performance Research Unit at the University of Valencia (UIRFIDE). The final goal of the project was generating the knowledge to provide enough information to select the most adequate garment for the sport practice in each situation. This study was aimed at comparing the thermal response of the body during a non-uniform activity test performed on a tread-mill under different conditions (provided by clothing and environmental conditions). In this sense, two commercial shirts made of the same textile (100% polyester) but with different thickness (different thermal properties: Rct and Ret) were tested by a sample of 8 trained-participants under controlled environmental conditions (25°C/50%RH, 10°C/60%RH) in laboratory. Throughout the activity test, physiological parameters of the thermal response such as skin temperature (at three locations: chest, arm and thigh) and microclimate variables in user-garment interface (armpit and upper-back) as well as individual work load indicators (heart rate) were registered. Simultaneously, the user perception was also collected at different times of the test. The results allowed measuring a significant influence (p < 0.05) of the environmental condition independently of the garment and the activity level on the average skin temperature. The influence of the shirt was only described as significant (p < 0.05) at low- middle intensity of the activity for each environmental condition. These results provide the possibility for sport equipment manufactures of giving recommendations for users which let them choosing the most suitable garment according to the environmental conditions and activity level in order to improve the performance and comfort providing the body with the adequate thermal conditions.