title: Biological Effects of Cloth Containing Specific Ore Powder in Patients with Pollen Allergy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Suni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cosmic Garden Co. Ltd., 1-2-25 Ima, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-0975, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hatayama
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai-Takei
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshitome
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Coordinator, Specified Nonprofit Organization MEDICAL TECHNO OKAYAMA, 1st Floor General Education Research Building, Shikata Campus, 2-5-1 Shikata, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Okayama University Organization for Research Promotion and Collaboration, 3rd Floor, Basic Medicine Building, Shikata Campus, 2-5-1 Shikata, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirita
authors.affiliation: Cosmic Garden Co. Ltd., 1-2-25 Ima, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-0975, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Universidad De Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Co1. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Mastushima, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000276:immunology; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Cloth; Immunological effects; Indoor air; Pollen allergy; Specific Mineral