Charmaine Childs - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Charmaine Childs

Clinical Science, 1989

1. Changes in body heat content in five normal adults, in 30 healthy children and in 24 children ... more 1. Changes in body heat content in five normal adults, in 30 healthy children and in 24 children who had suffered burn injury 1–5 h previously, have been studied in cool (20°C) and warm (30°C) environments. 2. On moving from a cool to a warm environment, the heat content rose in both normal adults and healthy children, but the increase was significantly larger in the children. 3. Much larger changes occurred in the burned children in whom the heat content rose to a new plateau within about 8 h of the accident. 4. The changes after burn injury were unrelated to the bandaging of the burn and were little affected by the environmental temperature.

Building and Environment, 2021

Older adults are more thermally vulnerable than the younger adults that comfort metrics tend to b... more Older adults are more thermally vulnerable than the younger adults that comfort metrics tend to be empirically drawn from. They are less able to discriminate between warmth and cold and those that experience motor or neurological impairments may be less able to perceive or communicate their thermal sensation and preference; placing the onus of thermal regulation on their carers. This situation is accentuated as societies age, so that there is a growing need for guidance for the thermal regulation of care homes; to establish whether existing metrics may be used with confidence or whether the evidence base needs to be extended to encompass data from older adults. To this end, this paper presents a study of three approaches to thermal comfort modelling for older age care home residents: (1) Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), (2) Adaptive Comfort, and (3) long wave infrared thermography (IRT). Based on measurements from a previous field survey, our results show that (1) PMV can, in principle, be applicable to older people, but procedures for estimating metabolic rates are outmoded and summertime conditions tend to be free-running; (2) Adaptive Comfort appears to be well suited and can also consider feedback from adaptive actions; (3) The difference in skin temperature obtained from infrared maps of the upper extremities (hands, wrist, forearm) has potential as an indicator of thermal comfort, if these measurements can be practically deployed. However, all three approaches are limited in their ability to account for the distribution of thermal sensations collected from subjects with dementia

Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 2020

International journal of clinical practice, 2015

We investigated new-onset constipation in patients with stroke compared with orthopaedic conditio... more We investigated new-onset constipation in patients with stroke compared with orthopaedic conditions and explored the predictors associated with constipation during acute hospitalisation. This was a prospective matched cohort study of 110 patients comparing stroke patients (n = 55) with orthopaedic patients (n = 55) admitted to a large tertiary acute hospital. Both cohorts were matched by age and sex. The incidence of new-onset constipation which occurred during a patient's acute hospitalisation was determined. Demographics, comorbidity, clinical factors, laboratory parameters and medications were evaluated as possible predictors of constipation. The incidence of new-onset constipation was high for both stroke (33%) and orthopaedic patients (27%; p = 0.66). Seven stroke patients (39%) and four orthopaedic patients (27%) developed their first onset of constipation on day 2 of admission. Mobility gains (RR 0.741, p < 0.001) and the use of prophylactic laxatives (RR 0.331, p <...

Anaesthesia, 2005

Theoretical models suggest that small differences only exist between brain and body temperature i... more Theoretical models suggest that small differences only exist between brain and body temperature in health. Once the brain is injured, brain temperature is generally regarded to rise above body temperature. However, since reports of the magnitude of the temperature gradient between brain and body vary, it is still not clear whether conventional body temperature monitoring accurately predicts brain temperature at all times. In this prospective, descriptive study, 20 adults with severe primary brain trauma were studied during their stay in the neurointensive care unit. Brain temperature ranged from 33.4 to 39.9°C. Comparisons between paired brain and rectal temperature measurements revealed no evidence of a systematic difference [mean difference)0.04°C (range)0.13 to 0.05°C, 95% CI), p = 0.39]. Contrary to popular belief, brain temperature did not exceed systemic temperature in this relatively homogeneous patient series. The mean values masked inconsistent and unpredictable individual brain-rectal temperature differences (range 1.8 to)2.9°C) and reversal of the brain-body temperature gradient occurred in some patients. Brain temperature could not be predicted from body temperature at all times.

Anaesthesia, 2004

Letters (two copies) must be typewritten on one side of the paper only and double spaced with wid... more Letters (two copies) must be typewritten on one side of the paper only and double spaced with wide margins. In addition, please include your letter as a Word for Windows or .rtf document on disk or alternatively submit as an e-mail attachment addressed to

Type 2 diabetes is associated with biochemical evidence of low-grade inflammation, and experiment... more Type 2 diabetes is associated with biochemical evidence of low-grade inflammation, and experimental studies have suggested that both insulin and glucose affect inflammatory responses. To determine the effect of in vivo changes in glucose availability and plasma insulin concentrations in humans, we administered 20 U/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline (control) to 14 subjects during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (n ϭ 6) or an infusion of sterile saline (n ϭ 8). Parallel in vitro studies on human whole blood were undertaken to determine whether there was a direct effect of glucose, insulin, and leptin on proinflammatory cytokine production. Infusion of glucose and insulin significantly amplified and/or prolonged the cardiovascular, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣), and counterregulatory hormone responses to LPS, whereas the effects on fever, plasma norepinephrine concentrations, and oxygen consumption were unaffected. In vitro studies showed no modulation of LPSstimulated IL-6 or TNF-␣ production by glucose, insulin, or leptin at physiologically relevant concentrations. Hyperinsulinemia indirectly enhances key components of the systemic inflammatory and stress responses in this human model of infection. diabetes; cytokines; lipopolysaccharide; inflammation; sepsis THE EFFECT OF INFLAMMATION and injury on insulin sensitivity has been recognized for many years. Inflammation associated with infection and connective tissue disease is accompanied by profound reductions in insulin sensitivity. The fact that corticosteroid treatment, a potent cause of insulin resistance in itself, may actually reduce insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (36) indicates that the negative influence of inflammation on insulin sensitivity exceeds even that of pharmacological doses of steroids.

Journal of Wound Care, 2020

Burns, 2018

Experiences of guilt, shame and blame in those affected by burns trauma: A qualitative systematic... more Experiences of guilt, shame and blame in those affected by burns trauma: A qualitative systematic review.

International Journal of Statistics in Medical Research, 2013

There is uncertainty about the reliability of using body temperature readings as a 'surrogate' me... more There is uncertainty about the reliability of using body temperature readings as a 'surrogate' measure of brain temperature. Aim: To determine the temporal interrelationship between body and brain temperature after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Setting and Patients: Large University teaching hospital in the North West of England. Patients admitted for emergency neurocritical care. All patients received dual-modality monitoring of brain tissue pressure and temperature via invasive intracerebral micro-sensors. Body temperature was measured using an indwelling thermistor inserted in to the rectum. Methods: Temperature was monitored continuously with values stored to a bedside data acquisition system at intervals of 10 minutes. Data were transferred to a spreadsheet at end of each individual's monitoring period for further analysis under Matlab routines. The method of functional principal components was used to determine the time-dynamics of brain and body temperature relationships. Results: In the period after severe TBI, median body and brain temperature for all readings and in all patients was 37.6 o C and 37.7 o C respectively; a statistical (p <0.001) but not clinically significant difference. A strong regression relationship between brain and body temperature was demonstrated (functional coefficient of determination, R 2 = 0.7623, p< 0.0020). Conclusions: Body temperature is a good early predictor of brain temperature but only during the first two days after severe TBI. The results will be of value for future predictive modeling of brain temperature changes, particularly where brain tissue monitoring is not clinically justified or available. In particular, results demonstrate the uncertainty in using body temperature as a surrogate for brain temperature beyond the first two days after severe traumatic brain injury.

Clinical Physics and Physiological Measurement, 1991

A low cost, 'open-circuit', flow-through system, using a closely fitted facemask ... more A low cost, 'open-circuit', flow-through system, using a closely fitted facemask has been developed for the determination of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in spontaneously breathing infants and children.

Burns, 2007

The aims of the study were to determine the sites in a pediatric burns unit that were contaminate... more The aims of the study were to determine the sites in a pediatric burns unit that were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. Samples from the environment in bedrooms and the common room were taken monthly for 6 months using blood agar for total counts and Baird-Parker agar for S. aureus. The air was sampled using an air-sampling device and settle plates. Hard and soft surfaces including bed, blanket, sofa, chair, taps, bathtub, soft toys, locker and cupboard in the same rooms were sampled using contact plates. Swabs were taken from staff monthly for 3 months. S. aureus isolates were tested for production of enterotoxins A-D and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 using a reverse passive latex agglutination test. The results showed that S. aureus was recovered more frequently using settle plates than using the air sampler. All surfaces sampled were contaminated with S. aureus and contamination was greatest in frequently occupied rooms. A variety of toxin producing isolates were found with enterotoxin C isolates, either alone or in combination with TSST-1 (toxic shock syndrome toxin-1) dominant. The staff were transiently colonised with S. aureus strains with a different toxin production pattern. The results show that airborne transmission may be a route for infection by S. aureus and is responsible for contaminating the environment.

Frontiers in Neurology, 2010

Childs et al. Consensus meeting on human brain temperature

Research paper presented at Futurescan 3: Intersecting Identities, Glasgow Sch... more Research paper presented at Futurescan 3: Intersecting Identities, Glasgow School of Art, 11th-12th November 2015. Futurescan 3: Intersecting Identities Edited by Helena Britt, Laura Morgan and Kerry WaltonNovember 2015 ISBN: 978 1 911217 08 4

The link between winter cold and illness is a major health concern because 'cold kills'. ... more The link between winter cold and illness is a major health concern because 'cold kills'. Worse still, old and frail older people can feel cold at any time of year. Solutions need to be found to increase thermal comfort. Whilst clothing manufacturers have produced garment solutions for people to enjoy outdoor activities in the cold, there is a gap in our understanding about how to protect frail/older people from becoming chilled and cold at home. To date no evidence exists on the benefit of innovative clothing interventions for keeping older adults warm (and healthy) in the home. Our aim therefore was to first understand the behaviours of older adults at risk of indoor cold, living in different domestic environments. Focus groups/semi-structured interviews were used to identify body regions where old/frail older people feel cold and to learn about their attitudes to traditional and modern fabrics and garments for keeping warm at home. Findings from a funded pilot study (RDSYH...

Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1998

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, 2020

Pre-Treatment 5 th Fraction 10 th Fraction 15 th Fraction Supplementary Figure E Temperature valu... more Pre-Treatment 5 th Fraction 10 th Fraction 15 th Fraction Supplementary Figure E Temperature value distribution for GTDM features of the ipsilateral (irradiated) breast. There was no statistically significant difference found between our patient groups for any of the GTDM textural features.