ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The custom-homebuilding company, Cosmic Garden Co. Ltd., located in Okayama City, Japan was established in 1997 and uses specific natural ore powder (SNOP) in wall materials and surveys customers in order to improve allergic symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To investigate the biological effects of SNOP, patients with a pollen allergy were recruited to stay in a room surrounded by cloth containing SNOP (CCSNOP), and their symptoms and various biological parameters were compared with those of individuals staying in a room surrounded by control non-woven cloth (NWC). Each stay lasted 60 min. Before and immediately after the stay, a questionnaire regarding allergic symptoms, as well as POMS (Profile of Mood Status) and blood sampling, was performed. Post-stay minus pre-stay values were calculated and compared between CCSNOP and NWC groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results indicated that some symptoms, such as nasal obstruction and lacrimation, improved, and POMS evaluation showed that patients were calmer following a stay in CCSNOP. Relative eosinophils, non-specific Ig E, epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α increased following a stay in CCSNOP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This ore powder improved allergic symptoms, and long-term monitoring involving 1 to 2 months may be necessary to fully explore the biological and physical effects of SNOP on allergic patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Chemokine CCL2 , Allergy and Immunology , Clothing , Geologic Sediments , Chemistry , Immunoglobulin E , Allergy and Immunology , Japan , Pollen , Allergy and Immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal , Allergy and Immunology , Therapeutics , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
A double-blind controlled test was performed to determine the analgesic effect of semiconductor laser irradiation (30mW, Ga-Al-As semiconductor laser) on various types of low back pain.<br>In the laser irradiated group, the improvement rate (including extremely effective and effective cases) of spontaneous pain was 61%, tenderness 61.8%, and locomotion pain 64% with an overall improvement rate of 73.5%. Significant differences from the control group were thus found in all types of pain (P<0.01).<br>No significant difference was found in the Lasegue sign and Deep Tendon Reflex (DTR) between the laser irradiated group and the control group and no organic change was found in the laser irradiated tissues.<br>Also, no significant difference was found between the laser irradiated group and control group blood test items with no side effect or degenerative changes. This confirmed that the laser irradiation was harmless to human tissues. The effectiveness and safety of the semiconductor low energy laser have been established. The authors therefore believe that the laser irradiation will be quite useful in treating low back pain in the future.