title: Biochemical comparison between radon effects and thermal effects on humans in radon hot spring therapy.
abstract: The radioactive and thermal effects of radon hot spring were biochemically compared under a sauna room or hot spring conditions with a similar chemical component, using the parameters that are closely involved in the clinic for radon therapy. The results showed that the radon and thermal therapy enhanced the antioxidation functions, such as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, which inhibit lipid peroxidation and total cholesterol produced in the body. Moreover the therapy enhanced concanavalin A (ConA)-induced mitogen response and increased the percentage of CD4 positive cells, which is the marker of helper T cells, and decreased the percentage of CD8 positive cells, which is the common marker of killer T cells and suppressor T cells, in the white blood cell differentiation antigen (CD8/CD4) assay. Furthermore, the therapy increased the levels of alpha atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha ANP), beta endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), and it decreased the vasopression level. The results were on the whole larger in the radon group than in the thermal group. The findings suggest that radon therapy contributes more to the prevention of life-style-related diseases related to peroxidation reactions and immune suppression than to thermal therapy. Moreover, these indicate what may be a part of the mechanism for the alleviation of hypertension, osteoarthritis (pain), and diabetes mellitus brought about more by radon therapy than by thermal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Medical Radioscience, Okayama University Medical School, Totori, Japan. yamaoka@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyonori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mitsunobu
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanamoto
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanizaki
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugita
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001452:Balneology / Q000379:methods; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D045482:Hot Springs; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011886:Radon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007328:Insulin; D014667:Vasopressins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D011886:Radon