Association between Radon Hot Spring Bathing and Health Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study in Misasa, Japan.

No epidemiological studies have examined the health effects of daily bathing in radon hot springs. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between radon hot spring bathing and health conditions. The target population was 5,250 adults ≥ 20 years old in the town of Misasa, Japan. We collected information about the participants' bathing habits and alleviation of a variety of disease symptoms, and their self-rated health (SRH). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In both the adjusted and unadjusted models of hypertension, significant associations between the > 1×/week hot spring bathing and the alleviation of hypertension symptoms were observed compared to the group whose hot spring bathing was <1×/week: adjusted model, OR 5.40 (95%CI: 1.98-14.74); unadjusted model, 3.67 (1.50-8.99) and for gastroenteritis: adjusted model, 9.18 (1.15-72.96); unadjusted model, 7.62 (1.59-36.49). Compared to the no-bathing group, higher SRH was significantly associated with both bathing < 1×/week: unadjusted model, 2.27 (1.53-3.37) and > 1×/week: adjusted model, 1.91 (1.15-3.19). These findings suggest that bathing in radon hot springs is associated with higher SRH and the alleviation of hypertension and gastroenteritis.

Effects of low-dose/high-dose-rate X-irradiation on oxidative stress in organs following forced swim test and its combined effects on alcohol-induced liver damage in mice.

The liver's susceptibility to oxidative stress after a combination of forced swim test (FST) and low-dose-rate γ-irradiation has been observed. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the effects of low-dose (0.1 and 0.5 Gy)/high-dose-rate (1.2 Gy/min) irradiation on combined oxidative stressors-liver damage associated with FST and alcohol administration. In addition, the effects of similar irradiation on FST-induced immobility, which induces psychomotor retardation, and antioxidative effects on the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys were investigated, and the results were compared with those of a similar previous study that utilized low-dose-rate irradiation. Low-dose/high-dose-rate (especially 0.5 Gy) irradiation temporarily worsened liver antioxidant function and hepatic function with FST- and alcohol administration-related oxidative damage; however, the damages improved soon after. In addition, the increase in total glutathione content in the liver contributed to the early improvement of hepatic functions. However, pre-irradiation did not suppress immobility during the FST. The results also suggested that the effects of low-dose/high-dose-rate irradiation on the antioxidant functions of each organ after the FST were different from those of low-dose/low-dose-rate irradiation. Overall, this study provides further insights into the effects of low-dose irradiation on exposure to a combination of different oxidative stressors. It will also contribute to the elucidation of dose rate effects on oxidative stress in the low-dose irradiation range.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Radon Inhalation on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Mice.

Typical indications for radon therapy include autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We had previously reported that radon inhalation inhibits Th17 immune responses in RA mice by activating Th1 and Th2 immune responses. However, there are no reports on how radon inhalation affects the activated Th1 and Th17 immune responses, and these findings may be useful for identifying new indications for radon therapy. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of radon inhalation on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response, focusing on the expression of related cytokines and antioxidant function. Male BALB/c mice were exposed to 2000 Bq/m3 radon for one day. Immediately after radon inhalation, LPS was administered intraperitoneally at 1.0 mg/kg body weight for 4 h. LPS administration increased the levels of Th1- and Th17-prone cytokines, such as interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, compared to no treatment control (sham). However, these effects were suppressed by radon inhalation. IL-10 levels were significantly increased by LPS administration, with or without radon inhalation, compared to sham. However, radon inhalation did not inhibit oxidative stress induced by LPS administration. These findings suggest that radon inhalation has immunomodulatory but not antioxidative functions in LPS-induced injury.

Potential inhibitory effects of low-dose thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid administration on alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice.

Although thoron inhalation exerts antioxidative effects in several organs, there are no reports on whether it inhibits oxidative stress-induced damage. In this study, we examined the combined effects of thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid (AA) administration on alcohol-induced liver damage. Mice were subjected to thoron inhalation at 500 or 2000 Bq/m3 and were administered 50% ethanol (alcohol) and 300 mg/kg AA. Results showed that although alcohol administration increased the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the serum, the combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration effectively inhibited alcohol-induced liver damage. The combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration increased catalase (CAT) activity. Alcohol administration significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver. The GSH content in the liver after 2000 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation was lower than that after 500 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation. These findings suggest that the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration has positive effects on the recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage. The results also suggested that thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 was more effective than that at 2000 Bq/m3, possibly because of the decrease in GSH content in the liver. In conclusion, the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration promoted an early recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage.

Mechanisms of action of radon therapy on cytokine levels in normal mice and rheumatoid arthritis mouse model.

The typical indication of radon therapy is rheumatoid arthritis. Although there are several reports that radon therapy has regulation effects on Th17 cells, there has been no study reporting that radon inhalation affects the immune balance among Th1, Th2, and Th17. The purpose of this study is to examine the cytokine changes after radon inhalation. BALB/c mice inhaled radon at 2,000 Bq/m3 for 2 or 4 weeks. SKG/Jcl mice inhaled radon at 2,000 Bq/m3 for 4 weeks after zymosan administration. The results showed that radon inhalation for 4 weeks activated the immune response of Th1, Th2, and Th17. Moreover, the balance among them was not lost by radon inhalation. Radon inhalation for 4 weeks decreased superoxide dismutase activity and increased catalase activity in spleen. These findings suggest that an imbalance of oxidative stress may contribute to activate the immune response. Although zymosan administration activated Th17 immune response and decreased Th1 and Th2 immune response in SKG/Jcl mice, most cytokines related to Th1, Th2, and Th17 approached the normal level by radon inhalation. These findings suggested that radon inhalation has a different action between SKG/Jcl mice and normal BABL/c mice. This may indicate that radon inhalation has an immunomodulation function.

Radon inhalation decreases DNA damage induced by oxidative stress in mouse organs via the activation of antioxidative functions.

Radon inhalation decreases the level of lipid peroxide (LPO); this is attributed to the activation of antioxidative functions. This activation contributes to the beneficial effects of radon therapy, but there are no studies on the risks of radon therapy, such as DNA damage. We evaluated the effect of radon inhalation on DNA damage caused by oxidative stress and explored the underlying mechanisms. Mice were exposed to radon inhalation at concentrations of 2 or 20 kBq/m3 (for one, three, or 10 days). The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels decreased in the brains of mice that inhaled 20 kBq/m3 radon for three days and in the kidneys of mice that inhaled 2 or 20 kBq/m3 radon for one, three or 10 days. The 8-OHdG levels in the small intestine decreased by approximately 20-40% (2 kBq/m3 for three days or 20 kBq/m3 for one, three or 10 days), but there were no significant differences in the 8-OHdG levels between mice that inhaled a sham treatment and those that inhaled radon. There was no significant change in the levels of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase, which plays an important role in DNA repair. However, the level of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased by 15-60% and 15-45% in the small intestine and kidney, respectively, following radon inhalation. These results suggest that Mn-SOD probably plays an important role in the inhibition of oxidative DNA damage.

The Effects of Low-Dose-Rate γ-irradiation on Forced Swim Test-Induced Immobility and Oxidative Stress in Mice.

The forced swim test (FST) induces immobility in mice. Low-dose (high-dose-rate) X-irradiation inhibits FSTinduced immobility in mice due to its antioxidative function. We evaluated the effects of low-dose γ-irradiation at a low-dose-rate on the FST-induced depletion of antioxidants in mouse organs. Mice received whole-body low-dose-rate (0.6 or 3.0 mGy/h) of low-dose γ-irradiation for 1 week, followed by daily FSTs (5 days). The immobility rate on day 2 compared to day 1 was significantly lower in the 3.0 mGy/h irradiated mice than in sham irradiated mice. The FST significantly decreased the catalase (CAT) activity and total glutathione (t-GSH) content in the brain and kidney, respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and t-GSH content in the liver of the 3.0 mGy/h irradiated mice were significantly lower than those of the non-FST-treated mice. The CAT activity in the lungs of mice exposed to 3.0 mGy/h γ-irradiation was higher than that of non-FST treated mice and mice treated with FST. However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of these antioxidant markers between the sham and irradiated groups except for the CAT activity in lungs. These findings suggest that the effects of low-dose-rate and low-dose γ-irradiation on FST are highly organ-dependent.

Evaluation of the redox state in mouse organs following radon inhalation.

Radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in mouse organs, thereby contributing to inhibition of oxidative stress-induced damage. However, the specific redox state of each organ after radon inhalation has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the redox state of various organs in mice following radon inhalation at concentrations of 2 or 20 kBq/m3 for 1, 3 or 10 days. Scatter plots were used to evaluate the relationship between antioxidative function and oxidative stress by principal component analysis (PCA) of data from control mice subjected to sham inhalation. The results of principal component (PC) 1 showed that the liver and kidney had high antioxidant capacity; the results of PC2 showed that the brain, pancreas and stomach had low antioxidant capacities and low lipid peroxide (LPO) content, whereas the lungs, heart, small intestine and large intestine had high LPO content but low antioxidant capacities. Furthermore, using the PCA of each obtained cluster, we observed altered correlation coefficients related to glutathione, hydrogen peroxide and LPO for all groups following radon inhalation. Correlation coefficients related to superoxide dismutase in organs with a low antioxidant capacity were also changed. These findings suggested that radon inhalation could alter the redox state in organs; however, its characteristics were dependent on the total antioxidant capacity of the organs as well as the radon concentration and inhalation time. The insights obtained from this study could be useful for developing therapeutic strategies targeting individual organs.

X-Irradiation at 0.5 Gy after the forced swim test reduces forced swimming-induced immobility in mice.

The forced swim test (FST) is a screening model for antidepressant activity; it causes immobility and induces oxidative stress. We previously reported that radon inhalation has antidepressant-like effects in mice potentially through the activation of antioxidative functions upon radon inhalation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prior and post low-dose X-irradiation (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Gy) on FST-induced immobility and oxidative stress in the mouse brain, and the differences, if any, between the two. Mice received X-irradiation before or after the FST repeatedly for 5 days. In the post-FST-irradiated group, an additional FST was conducted 4 h after the last irradiation. Consequently, animals receiving prior X-irradiation (0.1 Gy) had better mobility outcomes than sham-irradiated mice; however, their levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), an oxidative stress marker, remained unchanged. However, animals that received post-FST X-irradiation (0.5 Gy) had better mobility outcomes and their LPO levels were significantly lower than those of the sham-irradiated mice. The present results indicate that 0.5 Gy X-irradiation after FST inhibits FST-induced immobility and oxidative stress in mice.