A 59-year-old woman with a history of pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis was admitted to our hospital because of acute femoral artery occlusive diseases. Preoperative echocardiography showed diffuse hypokinesis and biventricular tumors. Transesophageal echocardiography revaealed mobile biventricular tumors. The tumors which consisted of organized thrombi were successfully excised. She was discharged 23 days after surgery. This suggested that hypokinesis accompanying cardiac sarcoidosis caused the biventricular thrombi.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of thallium-201-chloride (Tl-201) scintigraphy for the examination of patients with tumors of the head and neck, and to estimate the correlation of the expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase with Tl-201 scintigraphy. Tl-201 scintigraphy was performed in 61 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 10 patients with benign tumors of the salivary gland. The tumor retention index was obtained from the early and delayed dynamic Tl-201 scintigraphies. The expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase on the cell membrane was evaluated immunohistochemically. Evaluation of correlations between the histopathological tissue differentiation of tumors, the tumor retention index of Tl-201 scintigraphy and the expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase was performed. The tumor retention index of Tl-201 scintigraphy correlated well with the histopathological tissue differentiation of tumors and also showed a good correlation with the expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. In addition, the expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase demonstrated a close correlation with the histopathological tissue differentiation of malignant tumors. The tumor retention index could be used for the differentiation of malignant tumors from benign tumors and the expression of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase was estimated as one of the most important factors for Tl-201 accumulation in malignant tumors.

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

Introduction: Some students take showers instead of baths for economic reasons or because they dislike cleaning the bathtub. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bathing routines on students’ working efficiency. Subjects: Seventeen (six male and 11 female) healthy young students (19.6 ± 0.7 years old, mean ± SD) who habitually took showers instead of baths participated in this study. Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kumamoto Health Science University. Method: Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. The subjects in the first group (bathtub bathing [BB]) were immersed to the supraclavicular level in their home bathtub and instructed to rest for 10 minutes with the temperature regulated at 41°C. The subjects of the second group (whole-body warming after BB [BBW]) followed the same bathing protocol and then rested in a sleeping bag and sheet for 30 minutes to keep their bodies warm. Each period was carried out over 2 weeks in a cross-over design. Washout periods were 2 weeks long. The evaluation items of this study included the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) sleep inventory MA version (OSA-MA), a questionnaire containing a visual analog scale (VAS) to judge the subjective bathing effect, profile of mood states, salivary stress marker (α-amylase), and the Purdue Pegboard test. These tests were evaluated before and after the BB sessions, BBW sessions, and washout interval for a total of four times in a 6-week period. Result: Participants tended to report a better sleep feeling on the OSA-MA after the BB or BBW sessions than after showering. There were significantly better changes in both the BB and BBW in the VAS for bathing effect in terms of “Sense of deep sleep,” “Body fatigue,” “Light feeling of the body” than after a shower. The mean α-amylase value in the saliva of the BBW group participants was significantly lower than that after showering. The mean Purdue Pegboard test scores of both the BB and BBW sessions were significantly higher than that after the shower. Discussion: Sleep quality seemed to be more improved after BB or BBW than after showering, perhaps due to reduced stress. Work efficiency also increased in the BB and BBW groups.

Objective: Sauna bathing is a popular recreational activity and has long since been used to relieve stiff necks and low back pain. Recently, low-temperature sauna has been used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic pain. During 1960-1970, thermal stimulation was applied to the patients with renal failure. We could not find the subsequent reports, and the long-term effects are unclear. The purpose of this experiment was to verify the safety of systemic low-temperature sauna treatment (ST) for the 5/6 remnant kidney mouse and to examine the effect of ST on urinary protein excretion. Materials and Methods: The C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following 4 groups; group 1: sham-operated and non-sauna treatment mice (sham+non-ST group: n = 5), group 2: sham-operated and ST mice (sham+ST group: n = 5), group 3: Nx and non-ST mice (Nx+non-ST group: n = 5), and group 4: Nx and ST mice (Nx+ST group: n = 5). Mice received ST at 41°Cfor 15 min and at 32°Cfor 20 min for 12 weeks using a natural convection dry sauna system. Results: After 12 weeks of ST, no differences were observed in creatinine clearance, body weight, fluid intake, urine volume, serum sodium and potassium levels between ST and non-ST groups. Our results showed a significant increase in eNOS mRNA expression in the Nx+ST group compared to that in the Nx+non-ST group. These results suggest the possibility that mild sauna treatment induces thermal vasodilation effects on glomerulus. Systolic blood pressure and urine protein levels in the Nx groups did not change throughout the intervention. Conclusion: There are no clear adverse events associated with low-temperature sauna. Therefore, this study setting is safe in the CKD model mouse. Renal eNOS mRNA expression was increased by the low-temperature sauna. The present results suggest the possibility that ST might provide a renal protective effect by suppressing glomerular hypertension via stimulation of renal NO production in the CKD model mouse.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bathtub bathing （BB） on sleep and working efficiency of healthy young adult students. Furthermore, the effects of BB and prolonged increased body temperature from the use of insulating sheets and sleeping bags after BB （warming after BB: BBW） on sleep and working efficiency were investigated. Subjects: Eighteen （six males, 12 females） healthy young students （19.6±0.7 years old, mean±SD） who habitually took showers instead of baths participated in this study. Informed consent was obtained from all of the subjects, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kumamoto Health Science University. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups （n＝9 in each group）. The subjects in the BB group were immersed in their home bathtub to the supraclavicular level and instructed to rest for 10 min with the temperature regulated at 41°C. The subjects in the BBW group followed the same bathing protocol, and they then rested in a sleeping bag and sheet for 30 min in order to keep their bodies warm. The length of each study period was 2 weeks in a crossover design. After the 2-week-long washout periods, the subject groups were switched. The subjects were evaluated with the Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory, MA version （OSA-MA）, which utilizes a visual analog scale （VAS） with which subjects rate their sleep when they wake up, and Purdue Pegboard Assembly test. These tests were employed before and after the BB and BBW sessions, resulting in four testing periods in the 6-week period. Results: Sleep rating on the OSA-MA was no significant difference in both the BB and BBW groups compared to ratings recorded after showering. The subjects in the BB and BBW groups had significantly increased VAS ratings for “Feeling of sound sleep,” “Refreshing,” and “Lightness of the body” compared to the ratings after showering. The mean Purdue Pegboard test scores of the subjects in both the BB and BBW groups were significantly higher than those recorded after showering. Discussion: Changing bathing style from shower to BB or BBW improved the working efficiency of students on the Purdue pegboard test. BB and BBW resulted in soothing effects owing to improvements in the subjects’ quality of sleep.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the chronic effects of bathtub bathing (BB), whole body warming after bathtub bathing (BBW), and bathtub bathing with herbal extracts (BBH) on the mental condition of healthy young persons. Subjects and Methods: Experiment 1: Eighteen (6 male and 12 female; age: 19.6±0.7 years, mean ± SD) healthy young persons who were taking a shower habitually but not bathtub bathing participated in this study.   From November 2012 to December 2012, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups (each 3 male, 6 female): those who had BB or 30-min BBW 14 times for 14 consecutive nights during a 2-week period. After a 2-week washout period, subjects were asked to switch their bathing conditions (a cross-over design). Experiment 2: Twenty (8 male and 12 female; age: 21.3±1.6 years, mean ± SD) healthy young persons who were taking a shower habitually but not bathtub bathing participated in this study.   From October 2013 to November 2013, subejects (4male and 6 female) were randomly assigned to undergo BB or BBH.   The herbal extract contained Dong dang gui (Japanese Angelica Root), Chimpi (Citrus Unshiu peel), Chamomilla recutita, and ginger extracts.   After a 2-week washout period, subjects were asked switch to the other bathing condition (a cross-over design).   All participants provided informed consent for participation in these studies, and these studies were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Kumamoto Health Science University.   The subjects immersed their bodies up to the supraclavian for 10 min, in tap water adjusted to a temperature of 41 °C in their bathtub at home. The subjects’ mental conditions were assessed using Profile of Mood States short version questionnaire.   The differences in the effect of BB and BBW, as well as those of BB and BBH on the subjects’ mental conditions and their mental conditions pre-BB and post-BB, pre-BBW and post-BBW, pre-BBH and post-BBH were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank sum test. Results: The points for depression-dejection, fatigue, and confusion in those who had BBH significantly converged to the median average (50 points) compared to the points in those who had BB.   The points for anger-hostility before BBW and BBH significantly converged to the median average (50 points) after BBW and BBH, and there were no significant differences in points before and after BB. Conclusions: The subjects’ anger-hostility was influenced by body warming in BBW and the vasodilatory components of the herbal extracts.   The subjects’ depression-dejection and fatigue was influenced by the fragrance and color of herbal extracts.