Background: Nasal obstruction is an annoying condition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of hot spring bathing at 41 to 42°C using a rhinomanometer.
Methods: Ten healthy adult volunteers (10 men, mean age of 27.8±4.4 years) were asked to bathe in a hot spring for 10 minutes. Using a rhinomanometer (HI-801), nasal resistance was measured before and after bathing by active anterior rhinomanometry. Total nasal resistance was calculated using Ohm’s law formula with right and left nasal resistance values (1/T=1/R+1/L, T: bilateral resistance, R: right resistance, L: left resistance). Resistance at ΔP=100 Pa was used for evaluation.
Results: Right and left nasal resistance values were significantly decreased after bathing in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of greater than 0.75 Pa/cm³/s (inspiratory, P=0.0117; expiratory, P=0.0277; Wilcoxon t-test). No significant change was observed in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of below 0.75 Pa/cm³/s.Post-bathing total nasal resistance was significantly decreased in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of greater than 0.5 Pa/cm³/s (P=0.0115; Wilcoxon t-test).
Conclusion: This study showed that nasal obstruction can be improved by hot spring bathing, which may contribute to the reasons why cold symptoms are relieved by hot spring bathing.

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Objective: We have examined the efficacy of our long-term resistant training program on physical ability, masticatory performance, and nutrition status in the elderly. We further have investigated the effects of thumbtack needle treatment used together with the training on the comprehensive QOL.
Materials & Methods: Participants: Forty elderly participants aged 65 years or older who have been trained for more than three years at our fitness club (RTG). Sixteen elderly in RTG who were able to participate in a 3-year exercise evaluation have been examined the efficacy of our training program on physical ability.
 The training program was set up on basis of one term that the training carried out twice a week for 3 months. This program was totally carried out for three years. Evaluation of the training effect has been conducted every after the each term. The items of physical fitness tests were divided into ten items including the knee extension strength and one-leg standing time with eyes open. The average nutrient intake of energy was calculated by using a meal questionnaire for diet content of 3 days prepared to RTG. The masticatory performance was evaluated by using color-chewing gum.
 The thumbtack needle treatment was performed on two points of Zusanli (ST36 : Zusanli) and Sanyinjiao (SP6 : Sanyinjiao) for twenty-eight elderly in RTG during 2 weeks. The assessment of thumbtack needles treatment was performed by measurement of salivary cortisol and CgA, using SF-8^TM questionnaire before and after the thumbtack needles treatment.
Results & Discussion: The knee extension strength (kg) and one-leg standing time with eyes open (sec) were significantly increased. We recognized a significant positive correlation between the masticatory performance and knee extension strength, and between the masticatory performance and average nutrient intake of energy for 3days at the RTG. Furthermore, following the thumbtack needle treatment for two weeks, mean values of salivary cortisol after training was significantly decreased compared with those before training, but no significant change was recognized in mean values of salivary CgA. In the SF-8^th questionnaire after the thumbtack needle treatment was performed, the mean value of PCS (Physical Component Summary) score increased significantly, and mean values of MCS (Mental Component Summary) score tended to increase. Additionally, mean values of RP (Role Physical) and VT (Vitality), GH (General Health) subscale scores were significantly improved.
 The results of the present study demonstrate that our training program was effective for improving walking ability and balance ability as well as preventing the decline of the other exercise functions and maintaining the masticatory performance and good nutrient status in the elderly.
 Consequently, we concluded that our training program was a successful approach to prevent locomotive syndrome and the care for the elderly. In addition, improvement of the mental and physical QOL and subjective health index were brought about by using the thumbtack needles treatment on the resistant training.

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Objective: Histological and dynamic assessment to determine the effect of electroacupuncture on tendon repair in a rat model of Achilles tendon rupture.
Methods: Sixty 12-week old male Wistar rats were used to prepare an Achilles tendon rupture model. The rats were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (EA group) and a control group. The EA group rats were restrained, and under mild anesthesia two acupuncture needles were inserted with the tip of one touching the ruptured tendon on the outer side, and the tip of the other touching it on the inner side. Using the needle on the inner side as the cathode and the needle on the outer side as the anode, electroacupuncture with intermittent direct current was performed (pulse width: 5 ms, stimulation frequency: 50 Hz, stimulation strength: 20 μA, stimulation time: 20 min). Electroacupuncture was performed every day from the day after model preparation until the days of assessment. Rats in the control group were retrained and mildly anesthetized only. Samples from the region of interest were taken 7 and 10 days after model preparation to assess tendon repair. Tissue imaging was performed, using HE staining to measure total cell count and immunohistochemical staining to measure the number of cells positive for TGF-β1 and b-FGF. Tension tests were also performed 10 days after model preparation to measure the maximum failure load of repaired tendon.
Results: HE staining showed a significant difference between the assessment results on different days and between the two groups. A clear increase in the cell count was observed in the EA group (day 7: p<0.05, day 10: p<0.001). Immunostaining showed the strongest expression of both TGF-β1 and b-FGF in the EA group 7 days after model preparation, and other significant difference were observed (TGF-β1: day 7 EA group vs. day 10 EA group: p<0.001, vs. day 7 control group: p<0.0001, vs. day 10 control group: p<0.0001) (b-FGF: day 7 EA group vs. 10 EA group: p<0.001, vs. day 7 control group: p<0.0001, vs. 10 day control group: p<0.0001). Maximum failure load of repaired tendon 10 days after model preparation was significantly higher in the EA group (p<0.01).
Discussion: Examination in the early stages after Achilles tendon rupture showed an increased cell count and increased expression of growth factors in the EA group, as well as increased tendon strength. These results indicate the beneficial action direct current electroacupuncture has on cell growth and growth factor expression during tendon repair, and suggest it also increases the dynamic strength of repaired tendon. Direct current electroacupuncture is thought to be possibly useful method for promoting tendon repair.

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Objective: We examined the effects of low frequency electro-acupuncture therapy (EAT) in young women with‘Hie’symptoms, which were classified according to the presence of the vasomotor dysfunction as determined by the postural change test.
Subjects and Methods: Subjects were 43 women (mean age, 21.2 years) who exhibited‘Hie’symptoms. The postural change test was performed in five-minute-loads in a standing position after a rest period of 10 minutes in a spine position. The skin temperature in the lower limbs was measured before and after the test. A stainless steel acupuncture needle (length, 40 mm; diameter, 0.2 mm) was inserted approximately 15 mm in depth at SP6 (Sanyinjiao, Saninko). EAT using an active electrode (needle) at SP6 and a reference electrode (surface electrode) at the lateral-anterior aspect of the lower leg were carried out at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 minutes. The therapy was provided in a total of 5 sessions, with 1 session per week, and the postural change test was performed after 5 sessions. Thermal images from the medial aspect of the foot to the tibial aspect of the lower leg were captured using a thermography device, and mean skin temperature was calculated in selected regions of the toes and tibial aspect of the lower leg. Effects of the therapy were also evaluated using an original questionnaire (‘Hie’diary) concerning‘Hie’symptoms, which consists of six categorical scales of 14 symptoms including‘Hie’and severity of‘Hie’on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used. Moreover, changes in health-related quality of life by acupuncture were evaluated using the SF-8 Standard Edition.
Results: Subjects were classified according to the results of the postural change test: 23 people (no vasomotor dysfunction group; non-vd group) whose skin temperature in the toe decreased after the postural change and 20 people (vasomotor dysfunction group; vd group) whose skin temperature in the toe increased after the load or showed a different reaction between right and left. In the vd group, the total score of 14 symptoms in the‘Hie’diary was significantly higher, and subjective‘Hie’symptoms showed a more severe score than that in the non-vd group. The bodily pain score in the SF-8 in vd group was significantly lower than a national reference value. After an EAT session, the vd group’s skin temperature on the tibial aspect of the lower leg at 20 minutes after completion of the load was significantly higher than that before the load. Moreover, changes in the VAS score and SF-8 score showed no statistical significant in both groups, but the total score of 14 symptoms decreased significantly in the vd group.
Conclusions: We suggested that normalization in the blood vessel reaction in lower limbs by EAT at SP6 contributed to the improvement in the systemic condition that was determined by the postural test. The issue of further investigation is to elucidate the pathogenesis andor establishment of the treatment in the subjects with‘Hie’symptom whose vasomotor function was within normal limits.

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 In this paper, we present the results based on people’s experiences of sand sauna therapy at the Tavan Els Kidney Sanatorium in Mongolia. The sanatorium offers a type of balneotherapy through the application of thermally warmed sand and a combination of a healthy micro-bioclimate, a pure natural environment, and the preparation of fresh and healthy local foods. It’s function is to treat patients with chronic kidney glomerulonephrits through natural heated sand baths and other therapies. Sand sauna therapy involves an individual lying in a heated sand bath 8 to 20 minutes for adults and 7 to 15 minutes for child, and is performed twice a day (morning and afternoon) for 2 or 3 weeks once a year. The sand sauna treatment most likely affects the body by means of the sand’s high temperature and the presence of important biological and chemical elements. Our study was limited to the sand therapy and local conditions at Tavan Els kidney sanatorium. We recommend more collaborative scientific research on the effectiveness of balneotherapy for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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