Core temperature reflects the temperature of the internal organs. Proper temperature measurement is essential to diagnose and treat temperature impairment in patients. However, an accurate approach has yet to be established. Depending on the method used, the obtained values may vary and differ from the actual core temperature. There is an ongoing debate regarding the most appropriate anatomical site for core temperature measurement. Although the measurement of body core temperature through a pulmonary artery catheter is commonly cited as the gold standard, the esophageal temperature measurement appears to be a reasonable and functional alternative in the clinical setting. This article provides an integrative review of invasive and noninvasive body temperature measurements and their relations to core temperature.

Background: The interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter −174G/C polymorphism (rs1800795) is associated with enhanced systemic inflammatory response to injury. However, data on the effect of this polymorphism on inflammatory markers in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) are inconsistent. The aim of our study was to investigate whether −174G/C IL-6 polymorphism affects plasma IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in patients undergoing CABG. Methods: A total of 179 consecutive white patients (77% men, aged 65 ± 8.6 standard deviation [SD] y) scheduled for elective isolated CABG were studied. Pre- and postoperative CRP and IL-6 levels were analysed in relation to the 174G/C IL-6 polymorphism determined by using TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping technique. Results: The genotype distribution was as follows: GG –46 (26%), GC –93 (52%) and CC –40 (22%). The C allele carriers had higher baseline CRP (4.1 ± 0.35 versus 2.4 ± 0.59 mg/L, P = 0.02) and IL-6 levels (3.0 ± 0.17 versus 2.2 ± 0.3 pg/mL, P = 0.02) than GG patients. Five to seven days after CABG, CRP levels rose by 54% ( P = 0.03), and IL-6 levels tended to be higher ( P = 0.07) in −174C allele carriers than the non-carriers. There were no associations between −174G/C IL-6 polymorphism and any demographic-, clinical- or procedure-related variables as well as major adverse cardiovascular events. Multivariate regression analysis, including sex, age, body mass index, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, hypertension diabetes, identified CG + CC genotype as the only independent predictor of preoperative CRP and IL-6 levels. Conclusions: The presence of the −174C allele determines to some extent higher plasma CRP and IL-6 concentrations pre- and postoperatively in CABG patients.

Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. A prognostic value of ADMA following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of CABG on ADMA and oxidative stress and determine their associations with postoperative complications. In 158 consecutive patients (35 women, 123 men, aged 65.2 ± standard deviation 8.2 years) undergoing isolated, elective CABG procedure, we measured plasma ADMA and 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-iso-PGF_2α) preoperatively and twice postoperatively: 18–36 h and 5–7 days after surgery. The primary end points were postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI) and in-hospital cardiovascular death. ADMA increased from 0.56 ± 0.06 μmol/l at baseline by 68% to 0.94 ± 0.11 μmol/l at 18–36 h after CABG, and then decreased by 20% to 0.75 ± 0.12 μmol/l on 5–7 days postoperatively (P = 0.0001 for all comparisons). A similar pattern of changes was observed for 8-iso-PGF_2α. Thirteen (8.2%) patients developed PMI, and 6 patients (3.8%) died during the early postoperative period because of extensive PMI. PMI and early perioperative mortality were positively associated with ADMA and 8-iso-PGF_2α. A marked increase of ADMA and oxidative stress is observed within the first days following CABG, and is associated with unfavourable early post-CABG outcomes, including PMI and in-hospital cardiovascular death.