Semiconductor Heat Extraction Cooling (SHE-Cool)

Semiconductor Heat Extraction Cooling During and After Exercise in the Heat

Heat-related injuries and other physiological stresses continue to be a significant threat to the health and operational effectiveness of the US Armed Forces (Armed Forces Health Surveillance 2011). This is because military personnel are exposed to exertional and environmental heat-stress factors during both deployment and training at US installations in hot and humid climates. Cold water immersion (CWI) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of exertional heat stroke (EHS) and has been shown to increase survival rates to 100% with the implementation of CWI best practices. However, in a field setting other cooling strategies have been developed to aid in the prevention of EHS and other heat-related illnesses. One such proposed strategy is a portable hand cooling device that does not require the use of ice or water. Therefore, the primary purpose of this investigation is to validate hand and back cooling devices using physiological, cognitive, performance, and perceptual responses that occur during and following rest, exercise, and cooling in the heat.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hyperthermia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Hand Cooling at 12-15 degrees celsius; Other: Hand Cooling at 16-20 degrees celsius; Other: hand and back cooling at 12-15 or 16-20 degrees celsius; Other: Passive cooling

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • Storrs, Connecticut, United States, 06269
      • Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male or female between the ages of 18-45 years
• females only: taking monophasic birth control pill this is to maintain applicability to a large portion of the female population that take birth control and limit the influence of varying estrogen and progesterone levels throughout the menstrual cycle. during the informational session researchers will have this list of brands of monophasic birth control pill brands to determine if the participant is eligible Brevicon Modicon Wera Balziva Gildagia Philith Zenchent Estarylla Previfem Sprintec Ocella Yasmin Zarah Yaz Safyral Beyaz Cryselle Elinest Ogestrel Apri Desogen Juleber Reclipsen Solia Levora Altavera Daysee Lessina Lybrel Amethia Jolessa all trials will only be conducted during the days the participant is on the hormone pill (not on the days during which they are taking the placebo pill)
• been cleared by the medical monitor for this study
• VO2max > 45ml/kg/min (measure obtained only from the VO2max test performed on the treadmill on Visit 1)
• Aerobically active (at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 4-5 days per week)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have a current musculoskeletal injury that would limit their physical activity or preclude the participant from walking, jogging, running, sprinting, or cutting.
• Chronic health problems that affect your ability to thermoregulate (disorders affecting the liver, kidneys or the ability to sweat normally)
• Fever or current illness at the time of testing
• History of cardiovascular, metabolic, or respiratory disease
• A family member died for no apparent reason, had a heart attack, died from heart problems, or sudden death before the age of 50
• Currently taking a medication that is known to influence body temperature (amphetamines, antihypertensives, anticholinergics, acetaminophen, diuretics, NSAIDs, aspirin)
• Have a history of heat related illness
• Have any allergies or adverse reactions to the cold (e.g. Cold Uticaria, Raynauds -Phenomenon/Disease, or Cryoglobulinanemia)
• Have claustrophobia or feelings of discomfort towards sitting in a small, enclosed area
• Have allergies to medical and/or adhesive tape
• Have eating disorders
• History of COVID-19 unless cleared by a physician for exercise at the level exercise required to participate in this study. The physician must be made aware of what is required to participate in this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Active Cooling; Participants will be actively cooled during rest breaks	Other: Hand Cooling at 12-15 degrees celsius; hand cooling at 12-15 degrees celsius will be performed for active cooling by having participants place their hands on the cooling device set to this temperature; Other: Hand Cooling at 16-20 degrees celsius; hand cooling at 16-20 degrees celsius will be performed for active cooling by having participants place their hands on the cooling device set to this temperature; Other: hand and back cooling at 12-15 or 16-20 degrees celsius; hand and back cooling at 12-15 or 16-20 degrees celsius will be performed for active cooling by having participants place their hands on the cooling device set to this temperature while also wearing the back wrap cooling device set to this temperature
Placebo Comparator: No Intervention; Participants will participate in "passive cooling" where they sit in a chair during rest	Other: Passive cooling; participants will sit in a chair and "passively cool" (no active intervention)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in VO2max between Cycle ergometer and treadmill	Participants will be fitted with a Hans Rudolph mask attached to a breathing tube to measure the expired air delivered to the metabolic cart system during the exercise protocol. The metabolic cart will continuously measure oxygen consumption (VO2) to asess their VO2max value.	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Metabolic Heat Production	Participants will be tested for 3-5 minutes at different % of their VO2max. It will include 5 stages.	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Rectal Temperature	Rectal thermometer will be self-inserted by participant to assess core temperature	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Heart Rate	A heart rate monitor will be worn by participant throughout exercise/cooling protocol	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Mean Skin temperature	Prior to the start of exercise, participants will be instrumented with iButton skin temperature sensors on the chest, arm, thigh, calf, back of hand, and ankle	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Rating of Perceived Exertion	6-20 scale that indicates how hard the participant feels they are working. 6 represents rest and 20 represents maximal exertion. A high score indicates more perceived exertion.	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Performance Measures	Participants will perform a performance battery consisting of a wingate anaerobic power test, grip strength test, and broad jump test	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change Injury Risk Assessment Measures	Participants will perform a injury risk assessment battery consisting of a balance and squat form assessments	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Cognitive Measures	Participants will perform 2 cognitive tests (Go-Nogo and Stroop) on a laptop to measure reaction time and errors. Both tests should take 5 minutes	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Recovery	Participants will be provided a WHOOP strap and Polar heart rate strap at their first visit. They will be instructed on how to download the associated apps and how to charge and care for the devices. They will be provided instructions with how to take heart rate measures. The WHOOP and heart rate measures will provide data on sleep quality and quantity, strain, and recovery.	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Thermal Sensation	0-8 Scale (cold to hot) that indicated how cold or hot the participate feels. 0 = extremely cold, 8 = extremely hot	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Perception of Fatigue	0-10 (no fatigue to extreme fatigue) Scale that indicates how fatigued the participate feels. High score indicates more fatigue (negative outcome).	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks
Change in Perception of thirst	0-9 (no thirst to extreme thirst) Scale that indicates how thirsty the subject feels. A higher score is considered a negative outcome	through study completion, an average of 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Connecticut
• Collaborators: Kelvi - Hypothermia Devices, Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 4, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): June 7, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 31, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Body Temperature Changes; Heat Stress Disorders; Hyperthermia
• Other Study ID Numbers: H21-0031

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No