RESUMO
Introduction: Chloride hot springs have been suggested to have a high thermal retention effect, with various beneficial effects on health. However, the efficacies of such hot springs for preventing arteriosclerosis and improving blood flow have not been scientifically verified. We investigated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as an index of early arteriosclerosis before and after hot spring bathing to study the effects of chloride hot spring baths on the blood vessels. Subjects and methods: The subjects were 17 healthy adult men and women with an average age of 63 years. The Qua I THERME natrium <sodium> chloride hot spring in Maebashi City, Gunma prefecture, Japan, was used. Measurements were conducted before and 1 h after bathing. Results and discussion: The mean FMD values in all subjects increased significantly 1 h after in comparison to the values before bathing. The FMD values increased in women, but not in men. Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25 or higher in five cases, among which one cases showed a decrease in FMD% after bathing. Hot spring therapy was shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels and expand the vascular smooth muscles temporarily. The results also indicated inhibition of platelet agglutination, smooth muscle propagation, leukocyte adhesion and active oxygen production accompanying bathing, which may lead to improvement of vascular endothelial function.
RESUMO
<B>Introduction:</B> Chloride hot springs have been suggested to have a high thermal retention effect, with various beneficial effects on health. However, the efficacies of such hot springs for preventing arteriosclerosis and improving blood flow have not been scientifically verified. We investigated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as an index of early arteriosclerosis before and after hot spring bathing to study the effects of chloride hot spring baths on the blood vessels.<BR><B>Subjects and methods:</B> The subjects were 17 healthy adult men and women with an average age of 63 years. The Qua I THERME natrium <sodium> chloride hot spring in Maebashi City, Gunma prefecture, Japan, was used. Measurements were conducted before and 1 h after bathing.<BR><B>Results and discussion:</B> The mean FMD values in all subjects increased significantly 1 h after in comparison to the values before bathing. The FMD values increased in women, but not in men. Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25 or higher in five cases, among which one cases showed a decrease in FMD% after bathing. Hot spring therapy was shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels and expand the vascular smooth muscles temporarily. The results also indicated inhibition of platelet agglutination, smooth muscle propagation, leukocyte adhesion and active oxygen production accompanying bathing, which may lead to improvement of vascular endothelial function.
RESUMO
Enterovesical fistula is a relatively uncommon complication of colorectal and pelvic malignancies, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, radiotherapy, and trauma in Asian countries. A case of vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula and a literature review of this disease in Japan are presented. A 70-yr-old male was referred with complaints of urinary pain and pneumaturia. On admission, urinary tract infection and pneumaturia were presented. A barium enema demonstrated multiple diverticulum in his sigmoid colon and the passage of contrast medium into the bladder and ileum. Under the diagnosis of vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula due to suspected diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon, sigmoidectomy and partial resection of the ileum with partial cystectomy were performed. The histopathology revealed diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon with diverticulitis and development of a vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula. No malignant findings were observed. Until the year 2000, a total of 173 cases of vesico-sigmoidal fistula caused by diverticulitis had been reported in Japan. Pneumaturia and fecaluria are the most common types, presenting symptoms in 63% of the cases. Computed tomography, with a sensitivity of 40% to 100%, is the most commonly used diagnostic study. For patients with vesico-sigmoidal fistula, resection of the diseased sigmoid colon and partial cystectomy with primary anastomosis are the safest and most acceptable procedures, leading to the best results.