This study was performed to analyze 6 day-term variations in bacterial communities contaminating the floor of two dry saunas that were operated at 64degrees C (low temp) and 76degrees C (high temp). Bacteria were sampled daily from the saunas for 6 days from Monday to Saturday. Genomic DNA was isolated directly from bacteria-collected cotton swabs. The diversity of the bacterial communities collected from the saunas was analyzed using thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). The total numbers of DNA bands separated by TGGE for bacteria collected from the low temp and high temp sauna were 20 and 18, respectively, during the 6 days. Seven of 20 bacteria in the low temp sauna and eight of 18 bacteria in the high temp sauna were detected more than three times over the 6 experimental days. Twelve of the 26 bacterial genera contaminating the saunas were cross detected. Bacteria belonging to the genera Moraxella and Acinetobacter were selectively detected in the low temp sauna, whereas those belonging to Aquaspirillum, Chromobacterium, Aquabacterium, Gulbenkiania, Pelomonas, and Aquitalea were selectively detected in the high temp sauna. Three species of bacteria contaminating both the low and high temp saunas were thermophile or thermoduric. The results indicate that the sauna-contaminating bacteria may have been transferred from outside the saunas by user traffic but did not inhabit the saunas.
Acinetobacter ; Bacteria ; Chromobacterium ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Moraxella ; Steam Bath

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of Bath and Sauna on IOP, BP, PR, and BT. This study was performed in 120 eyes of 60 volunteers. The IOP, BP, PR, and BT were taken before and after Bath and Sauna. The results of this study are briefly summarized as follows; A. Changes and significance of IOP. 1. The mean of IOP was 13.43 +/- 2.4mmHg before Bath and 16.98 +/- 2.7mmHg just after Bath. This change was statistically significant(P<0.01). 2. The mean of IOP was 13.43 +/- 2.7mmHg before Wet Sauna and 14.12 +/- 3.6mmHg just after Wet Sauna. This change was not statistically significant(P>0.05). 3. The mean of IOP was 12.64 +/- 2.1mmHg before Dry Sauna and 15.45 +/- 2.8mmHg just after Dry Sauna. This change was statistically significant(P<0.01). B. Changes and significance of BP. 1. Changes of systolic pressure between Before and After Bath, Wet Sauna, and Dry Sauna were statistically significant(P<0.01). 2. Changes of diastolic pressure between Before and After Bath, Wet Sauna, and Dry Sauna were statistically significant(P<0.01). C. Changes and significance of PR and BT Changes of PR(0.01Bath, Wet Sa una, and Dry Sauna were statistically significant.
Baths* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature* ; Steam Bath* ; Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to examine profile of bacteria contaminated in a dry sauna. Bacteria sampled from the floor of the dry sauna (75~80degrees C) were separated and identified by using a thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) technique, and were cultivated using a defined medium at 50degrees C. Bacteria grown in the defined medium were identified based on 16S-rDNA sequence homology. The band number of DNA separated by TGGE was 15, indicating the species diversity of bacteria contaminating the dry sauna. Seven species of bacteria were successfully cultured on agar plate medium at 50degrees C, which represented a combination of thermophilic and thermoduric bacteria contaminating the dry sauna. The highest limit temperature for growth of the bacterial isolates was generally 50degrees C when cultivated in a defined medium, but was raised to 60degrees C when cultivated in a complex medium. Consequently, the bacteria grown at 50~60degrees C are thermoduric or thermophilic, but others may not be.
Agar ; Bacteria ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Sequence Homology ; Steam Bath

BACKGROUND: Dry sauna has been very popular as an alternative therapy for promoting health among people who want to improve their health condition without relying on pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dry sauna therapy improved quality of life and reduced pain in participants with low back pain.METHODS: Study participants comprised a total of 37 consecutive patients who were over 20 years of age with low back pain. Dry sauna therapy was performed twice per day for 5 consecutive days over the course of 1 week, thus comprising a total of 10 sessions each of 15 min of exposure to a 90℃ dry sauna.RESULTS: The verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were significantly reduced after dry sauna therapy (P < 0.001 for both). VNRS pain scores had a median (range) of 5 (2–8) before dry sauna therapy and 3 (0–8) after dry sauna therapy. ODI scores had a median (range) of 12 (2–24) before dry sauna therapy and 8 (1–17) after dry sauna therapy. The proportion of participants who reported successful treatment (excellent + good) was 70%. No adverse effects were observed related to dry sauna therapy.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that dry sauna therapy may be useful to improve quality of life and reduce pain in patients with low back pain. Therefore, pain physicians can recommend dry sauna therapy as an alternative and complimentary therapy for patients with low back pain.
Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Quality of Life ; Steam Bath

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been many attempts to find out the changes in the nasal mucociliary transport function under various conditions. In this study, we intended to determine if air in a sauna exerts any beneficial effect on the nasal mucociliary function using the saccharin method, which is regarded as the proper screening test for nasal mucociliary function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal healthy adults (16 men, 15 women) aged from 18 to 22 volunteered for this study. We measured each saccharin transit time (STT) twice, inside a room (25degreesC, 85%), a dry sauna (70degreesC, 85%), and a wet sauna (70degreesC, 100%), respectively. RESULTS: The average STT was 7.98+/-2.95 minutes at the room, 8.47+/-1.71 at the dry sauna, and 7.59+/-2.95 at the wet sauna. There was no meaningful relationships of STT among each condition (p=0.157). CONCLUSION: Air in a sauna has neither any beneficial effect on the nasal mucociliary function nor any harmful effect on it.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Saccharin ; Steam Bath*

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare disorder that is associated with hypertensive crises. In this article, we present a 59-year-old male patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) caused by an acute hypertensive crisis after entering a steam bath in alcohol intoxicated status. In our case, oxidative stress resulting from alcohol metabolism may have lead to blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, serving as an aggravating factor in PRES. Thus we must always consider the possibility of PRES when treating chronic alcoholic patients with abnormal neurologic symptoms.
Alcoholics* ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Oxidative Stress ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Steam Bath* ; Steam*

Fentanyl, a synthetic, highly selective opioid micro-receptor agonist, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The low molecular weight, high potency, great transdermal permeation rate and lipid solubility of fentanyl make it very suitable for transdermal administration. Durogesic is a novel matrix transdermal system providing continuous systemic delivery of fentanyl. In recently, there are many reports that misused or overused fentanyl transdermal patches result in severe intoxication of fentanyl. We present a case of fentanyl toxicity with misused durogesic transdermal patch and discuss the safe and appropriate application of the patches. In conclusion, fentanyl patches should be used in opioid tolerant patients and prescribed at the lowest possible dose and titrated upward as needed. All patients and their caregivers should be educated safe application of fentanyl patches and advised to avoid exposing the patches application site to direct external heat sources, such as heating pads, or electric blankets, heat lamps, sauna, hot tubs, and others. In addition, concomittant medications that affect fentanyl's metabolism should be avoided.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Caregivers ; Fentanyl ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Molecular Weight ; Morphine ; Solubility ; Steam Bath ; Transdermal Patch

BACKGROUND: Waon therapy has beneficial effects on chronic heart failure (CHF), peripheral arterial disease, and other various diseases. This was to assess the safety and effect of Waon therapy by echocardiography for the first time in Korea. METHODS: Ten patients with CHF were enrolled. The patients with a light gown were placed in a sitting-position in an evenly maintained 60degrees C dry sauna system for 15 minutes, and then after leaving the sauna, they underwent bed rest with a blanket to keep them warm for an additional 30 minutes. Waon therapy was performed once a day, 5 days a week. RESULTS: Four of the 5 patients who had been treated for more than 2 weeks as protocol noted improvement of heart failure (HF) symptoms and decrease in left ventricular (LV) volume. There were trends in improvement of LV ejection fraction and parameters of diastolic function after the therapy although statistical significance was lack. No one complained of worsening of HF symptoms. In each session, body weight (61.8+/-10.2 kg vs. 61.6+/-10.3 kg, p=0.008) and blood pressure (systolic, 119+/-28 vs. 111+/-27 mmHg, p=0.005; diastolic, 69+/-12 mmHg vs. 63+/-10 mmHg, p=0.005) were significantly decreased, oral temperature (35.9+/-0.4degrees C vs. 37.0+/-0.9degrees C, p=0.017) was increased by 1.0degrees C at the end of sauna bathing, but the heart rate (71+/-10/min vs. 72+/-8/min, p=0.8) was not changed. CONCLUSION: We have experienced Waon therapy which was safe and well tolerated and some beneficial effects for patients with CHF. Large scale randomized study is needed to apply Waon therapy as a promising therapy in Korean HF patients.
Baths ; Bed Rest ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Korea ; Light ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Steam Bath

A 21-year-young man had an episode of myalgia and chilling 3 days prior to hospital admission. He had consumed common doses of acetaminophen for one day, and was presented in the sauna room for an hour. On the next morning, he complained of dyspnea and was admitted. He presented in rhabdo-myolysis and acute renal failure with increased up-take in the proximal muscles by (99m)Tc-MPD bone scan. He was treated by hemodialysis and discharged on the twenty-eighth hospital day. Rhabdomyolysis has the variable causes. The causes of this case are two, the first cause is common doses of acetaminophen. But, there is no reports for rhabdomyolysis by common doses of acetaminophen only. However, we should consider that acetaminophen is a contributing factor in this case. The second cause is viral infection. Our patient had myalgia and chilling prior to hospital admission. Heat- stroke is well known cause of rhabdomyolysis. The mechnisms for rhabdomyolysis in this disease are hypovolemia, total body potassium deficit, and increased variable cytokines. Sauna, the last cause of our rhabdomyolysis case may have the same mechanisms with heatstroke. Our case had two causative factors, common doses of acetaminophen and sauna. These factors might be cooperated in our case of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.
Acetaminophen* ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Cytokines ; Dyspnea ; Heat Stroke ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Muscles ; Myalgia ; Potassium ; Renal Dialysis ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Steam Bath* ; Stroke

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The beneficial effects of systemic thermal therapy such as taking a hot tub or sauna have been described for patients with cardiovascular disease. Despite such positive effects, there is still concern over the safety of these procedures. Half-body immersion has recently been widely used as an alternative to achieve the same benefit, and it is better tolerated than conventional whole-body immersion (WBI). However, there has been no study that has clarified the cardiovascular effect of half-body immersion (HBI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We asked 13 healthy men (age : 20 to 27 years) to immerse themselves to the shoulder level on day 1) and to the umbilical level on Day 2 for 20 minutes in a hot tub, respectively (temperature : 39.0 to 41.0degrees C). Changes of skin (TSk) and esophageal temperature (TEo), hemodynamic and autonomic responses, and symptom scale were measured during the immersion. RESULTS: All the volunteers were compliant and there were no adverse events. During immersion, the TEo increased continuously with each methods, but 10 minutes after immersion the TEo for the WBI patients was higher (p=0.03). The heart rate (HR) increased and the diastolic blood pressure decreased for both conditions. In contrast to HBI, the ejection fraction (EF) (p=0.10), and cardiac output (CO)(p=0.005) increased continuously for WHI. Among the HRV parameters, the values for the low-to-high frequency ratio (p=0.03) increased significantly with WHI after 10 minutes. The symptom scale during (p=0.01) and immediate after immersion in the hot tub (p=0.005) was better for HBI. CONCLUSION: Core temperature, echocardiographic systolic parameters and sympathetic activity were increased more slowly for HBI compared to WBI. This suggests that HBI could be a safer alternative for systemic thermal therapy for the patients with cardiovascular disease.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Baths ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Echocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Immersion* ; Male ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Steam Bath ; Volunteers