Effect of the Octylphthalide Bathing on Rheumatoid Arthritis / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

The effect of octylphthalide (OP) bathing was compared with placebo bathing on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).<br>A liquid containing octylphthalide was dissolved in water of 40°C at a concentration of 10ppm. A liquid which has quite similar appearance and perfume to the above was used as a placebo. Double blind controlled study tests were performed.<br>Twenty patients (10 for OP bathing and 10 for placebo bathing) were tested by single bathing, 33 other patients (16 patients for OP bathing and 17 for placebo bathing), by serial bathing for 30 days (once a day).<br>After a single bathing, while grip strengths, tender joints scores, and 20m walking time improved significantly in the OP bathing group, only tender joint scores and 20m walking time improved significantly in the placebo bathing group.<br>After serial bathing for 30 days, tender joint scores improved significantly in the OP bathing group, but no improvement was observed in the placebo bathing group. The above results suggest that OP bathing may be beneficial for RA patients, but further study may be needed.

The Effects of Artificial Alum Bathing and Sodium Bicarbonate Bathing on the Surface Tension of Skin and Sweat / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

The effects of artificial alum bathing and sodium bicarbonate bathing on the surface tension of skin and sweat were examined.<br>Before and after partial bathing in distilled water (control), alum solution, or sodium bicarbonate solution at 40°C for 10 minutes, the critical surface tension of skin was measured in a room in which the ambient temperature was maintained at 23°C and relative humidity at 50%. The mean value of critical surface tension decreased after the alum bathing at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1, 000ppm., but did not change after the control and sodium bicarbonate bathing.<br>Alum solution, sodium bicarbonate solution, or sodium hydroxide solution was added to the sweat collected from the arm skin surface. Its surface tension was then measured in the same room as mentioned above. The mean value of surface tension increased after the sodium bicarbonate preparation and the sodium hydroxide preparation accompanying the increase in the pH value, but did not change after the alum preparation. The surface tension of sweat at pH 7.0 was significantly higher in the sodium bicarbonate preparation than in the sodium hydroxide preparation (p<0.05).<br>These findings suggest that the alum bathing lowers the wettability of the skin surface and that the sodium bicarbonate bathing lowers the surface activity of sweat. It is suggested that both of these bathings change the skin surface condition and cutaneous function.

The Effect of Bathing with NY-008 on Skin Temperature / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

The effect of bathing with NY-008 (3-octylphthalide, a newly synthesized vasodilative compound) on skin temperature was examined. The subjects were 28 healthy male adults (22±4 years old). The group bathed for 10min in 40°C water containing 3ppm of NY-008. On alternate days, the group bathed similarly but without NY-008 (control bathing). Skin temperature (Ts), blood pressure, and heart rate (HR) were then measured in a room in which the ambient temperature was maintained at 24°C and relative humidity at 60%. To eliminate any effect of diurnal fluctuations in skin temperature, each subject bathed at the same hour each day. Measurements were performed in random order by the double-blind method. The mean values of Ts after bathing were slightly higher after NY-008 bathing than after control bathing, and a significant difference was noted 10min after bathing (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure between NY-008 bathing and control bathing. Diastolic blood pressure was slightly lower after NY-008 bathing. Mean blood pressure, measured 5 min after bathing, was significantly lower after NY-008 bathing than after control bathing (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in HR. These findings suggest that NY-008 bathing increases skin blood flow through vasodilation of skin vessels and lower peripheral resistance, and may have longer lasting warming effects than ordinary bathing.

Effect of Highly Concentrated Carbon Dioxide-Bathing on Circadian Blood Pressure Variations in Drug-refractory Hypertensive, Specially Non-dipper Patients / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Using a highly concentrated CO₂-bathing, authors studied an effect of the bathing (CO₂: 1, 000ppm, for 10min at 40°C) on circadian blood pressure in six cases of antihypertensive drug-refractory hypertension. The patients were females, ranging from 62 to 70 years old (mean age: 65.8±2.6). All of the patients were diagnosed as the III stage of essential hypertension (according to WHO criteria) and have been treated with captopril, nifedipine or α-methyl DOPA since three to ten years ago. Out of six cases five showed non-dipper pattern in circadian blood pressure. All bathings were done at 16:30 and comparative study of circadian blood pressure between plain water and CO₂-bathing was carried out.<br>The results obtained were as follows.<br>1) In five cases of non-dippers CO₂-bathing exerted the therapeutic effect upon the high blood pressure at night and resulted in the significant decrease in hyperbaric indici of systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure, comparing with plain water-bathing. However, no significant difference of heart rate was observed between plain water and CO₂-bathing.<br>2) In a case of good responder to antihypertensive drug, a relatively low blood pressure continued all day after CO₂-bathing.<br>From these results it is expected that a highly concentrated CO₂-bathing is useful as supportive therapy to essential hypertension, specially to non-dipper.

The effect with inhalation of radon water (Ikeda mineral spring) of a half life time on tissue perfusion / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

We previously found experimentally that the subcutaneous tissue perfusion rate was increased by about 16% upon inhalation of high concentration radon (13, 764-23, 743Bq/l).<br>To clarify the effect of a lower concentration of radon water by mass spectrometry, the subcutaneous tissue perfusion rate was determined experimentally in rabbits using fourth-day radon water of a 3, 519-6, 710Bq/l concentration taken from a mineral spring.<br>The subcutaneous tissue perfusion rate with inhalation of the radon water was 15.81±3.10ml/100g/min (mean±SD, n=10), which was similar to that with inhalation with physiological saline solution (15.96±3.09ml/1008/min, n=16). However, the subcutaneous tissue perfusion rate with inhalation of more highly concentrated, first-day, radon water (8, 641-17, 366Bq/l) was 20.76±3.58ml/100g/min (n=16), being significantly higher (p<0.01) than that with water at lower radon concentration.<br>Further studies are needed on the effect of radon water in relation to the hormesis with low dose of radiation.

Inefficacy of residual sodium succinate on tissue perfusion with an artificial CO2 bath / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Sodium succinate is remained behind following artificial CO₂ bathing, prepared with a 50g sodium hydrogencarbonate and succinic acid tablet producing fine bubbles in water.<br>2NaHCO₂+(CH₂)₂→(COOH)₂→(CH₂)₂(COONa)₂+H₂O+CO₂<br>Na₂CO₃+(CH₂)₂(COOH)₂→(CH₂)₂(COONa)₂+H₂O+CO₂<br>Balneotherapeutic effect of sodium succinate was evaluated experimentally using 10 rabbits by means of medical mass spectrometry.<br>Subcutaneous PO₂ and PCO₂ did not change during the bathing and tissue perfusion of 21.30±3.48ml/100g/min (mean±standard error), SD=4.94, p<0.05 was evaluated at 36-37°C, demonstrating no significant difference compared with that of 20.85±3.56ml/100g/min, SD=6.71, p<0.05 by plain water bathing.<br>These data showed clearly that the balneotherapeutic effects of an artificial CO₂ bathing prepared with a CO₂-tablet, “BUB”-KAO, was not from organic salt of sodium succinate but from CO₂.

Research for carbon dioxide bathing effect of the artificial CO2-bathing on the inflammation / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Anti-inflammation effect of artificial CO₂-bathing was confirmed on carrageenin induced edema experimentally using rats.<br>Artificial CO₂-bath was prepared with carbonated water by high pressure CO₂ bubbling and with a 50g tablet, made from sodium bicarbonate and succinic acid, putting simply in plain water.<br>Carrageenin induced edema was suppressed by plain water bathing, and was further enhanced at lower temperature.<br>It has been definitely shown that the edema is significantly suppressed with CO₂-bathing as compared to plain bathing due possibly to improved tissue perfusion.

Research for carbon dioxide bathing. V. Effect of the artificial CO2-bathing on blood lactic acid and myalgia / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Artificial CO₂-bath was prepared with a tablet (50g): made from sodium bicarbonate and succinic acid, putting simply in plain water bath tub of 100-200 litre at 40C.<br>The effect of artificial CO₂-bath was studied in relation to the change in blood lactic acid which is thought to be indicative of the physical fatigue.<br>It has been clearly demonstrated experimentally using rats that the blood lactic acid after exercise is significantly reduced as compared both to a plain and an artificial Na₂ SO₄-NaHCO₃ bathing.<br>A favorable effect of the artificial CO₂-bath was also confirmed clinically by a relief from the stiff pain following maximal abdominal muscle exercise.

Experimental study on the effects of serial artificial CO2 bathing / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Actual changes in tissue partial pressures of each gas and tissue perfusion with serial artificial CO₂ bathing were evaluated by means of medical mass spectrometry using 5 rabbits.<br>An artificial CO₂ bath was prepared by adding “BUB”-KAO, a 50g sodium hydrogencarbonate and succinic acid tablet producing fine CO₂ bubbles in water of constant temperature 20-litre tub at 36-37°C.<br>Regional tissue perfusion volume was determined on the basis of a clearance curve for Argon tissue partial pressure which was monitored by an on-line computer system with mass spectrometry.<br>Increase in subcutaneous tissue PCO₂ changed from 27% to 10%, and in PO₂ from 12% to 5% on average by serial bathing every day for 4 weeks, on the other hand tissue perfusion volume was increased in 3 out of 5 cases; from 20.85±3.56 (X±SE) m<i>l</i>/100g/min, SD=6.71, p<0.05 to 25.23±8.00 (X±SE) m<i>l</i>/100g/min, SD=6.96, p<0.05.<br>CO₂ has been shown to be locally absorbed through the skin resulting in the elevation of subcutaneous tissue CO₂ partial pessure which decreases depending on the tissue perfusion irrespective of metabolic processes. It is, therefore, assumed that the elimination of absorbed constituents by serial bathings is not caused by a decrease in the percutaneous absorption rate but an increase in washing out rate by the improved tissue perfusion.

Research for carbon dioxide bathing. III. Basic points for the artificial CO2-bathing and on the effect of CO2 concentration released in the air / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

It has been well recognized that no known method can produce as strong or as effective a bath as can be given with natural waters.<br>The method of bubbling gas through the bath water is thought to be almost entirely ineffective; the solubility of CO₂-gas in water at 40°C is about 10%, but is much further enhanced about 50% by bubbling through an airstone, making fine bubbles.<br>Tablet form of the CO₂-bath preparation, made from bicarbonate and succinic acid, produces fine CO₂ bubbles so that about 80% of water solubility at 40°C can be obtained.<br>A CO₂-bath preparation, 50g tablet, can produce 100ppm in maximum concentration in a bath of 150 liter at 40°C, maintaining the level of more than 60ppm for 2 hours.<br>In order for the safety to estimate the escaped CO₂, a large quantity of the CO₂-bath preparation, 20 and 50 tablets, was used in a relatively air tight room; CO₂ concentration reached the maximum level of 1.9 and 6.6% respectively with a tendency of rapid falling, so that the critical complications could rarely be happened.

Research for Carbon Dioxide Bathing / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

It was found that no effect of increase in dermal blood flow depended solely on HCO₃^- or CO₃^2-, but on CO₂ gas dissolved in water.<br>The artificial CO₂ bath was prepared with sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, mixing simply in plain water at 38-40°C.<br>Thermal efficacy was confirmed by a rise in temperature of oral, finger tip and forehead respectively, and by a high transepidermal water loss (TWL) in consequence of increase in dermal blood flow, compared to a plain bathing.<br>A remarkable effect in artificial CO₂ bathing of 400-800ppm has been well-known clinically, however, a substantial increase in dermal blood flow has observed with artificial CO₂-bathing of 59.8ppm or greater in this study, so that a CO₂-bathing using the preparation would be popularized.

Research for Carbon Dioxide Bathing / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Increase in dermal blood flow by the artificial CO₂-bathing was confirmed by means of a Thermocouple flow meter and by a Laser doppler velocimeter.<br>The artificial CO₂-bath was prepared with 50g tablet, made from sodium bicarbonate and succinic acid, putting simply in plain water at 38°C.<br>Dermal blood flow was increased nearly 5-fold by the simple bathing, and was further enhanced 1.3-fold by the artificial CO₂-bathing.<br>It has been definitely shown by the artificial CO₂-bathing that an increase in oral, finger tip, and forehead temperature and transepidermal water loss is significant compared to the plain bathing, so that the thermal effect equivalent to carbon-dioxated spring will be obtained.