Natural Therapeutic Factors Research Articles

Natural therapeutic factors of Nalchik resort in the correction of anxiety-depressive disorders in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Abstract. The aim of the research is to study the effectiveness of natural therapeutic factors of Nalchik resort (climate landscape therapy and nitrogen-thermal baths) in the correction of anxiety-depressive disorders with patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (CP) at the outpatient stage. Material and methods. A randomized controlled trial involved 119 patients with CP. By simple randomization, 3 groups were formed: in the control group (CG, n = 38), we carried out the treatment in accordance with Russian clinical recommendations (basic pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy exercises, small-group psychocorrection and dalargin phonophoresis); in the group of comparison (GC, n = 40), terrenkur was additionally prescribed in the natural park of Nalchik resort; in the main (MG, n = 41) — nitrogen-thermal baths were used in addition to the complex in the GC. Efficiency control was performed through the use of psychological testing using validated scales. Statistical analysis of the study materials was carried out using the standard STATISTICA 13.0. Results. Statistical analysis showed that the inclusion of climate landscape therapy and nitrogen-thermal baths contributed to a significant correction of anxiety-depressive disorders: the patients of the MG had a decrease in the level of hopelessness by 40.8 % (p < 0.01) compared to the baseline data, in the GC — by 33.3 % (p < 0.01), while in the observed of the CG — by 15.2 % (p < 0.05). A decrease in the severity of anxiety and depression according to HADS was noted with the same reliability: in the MG — by 51.5 % (p < 0.01), in the GC — by 36.9 % (p < 0.01) and in the CG — by 22.4 % (p < 0.05). The result was an improvement in the quality of life: in the MG on average — by 37.9 % (p < 0.01), in the GC — by 29.9 % (p < 0.01) and in the CG — by 21.0 % (p < 0.05) with between-group differences. The inclusion of climate landscape therapy and nitrogen-thermal baths in the standardized programme of rehabilitation treatment for CP at the outpatient stage provides a significant correction of anxiety and depressive disorders, leading to the restoration of physical and mental health of this category of patients.

Prospects for integrating the Far East recreational potential into the medical rehabilitation system

In this article, we generalize the results a research study into natural healing resources in the Far East. The regions of the Russian Far East possess a significant and unique natural potential for comprehensive medical rehabilitation. The main therapeutic resources of the area, including its climate, mineral waters, and therapeutic muds, are characterized. Issues associated with the task of integrated use of natural and physical resources in effective spa treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation are discussed. The major action mechanisms of natural therapeutic factors widely used in spa treatment are outlined, and the possibilities of their integration with the system of medical rehabilitation are substantiated.

Historical aspects of the formation and development of children's health resort medicine in the Samara region

Archive documents and sources in scientific electronic databases were analyzed in order to study the historical origins of the health resort business in terms of children's health resort medicine in the Samara government. It has been established that the period of origin and intensive development of balneology for children in the Samara region occurred at the beginning of the 20th century and the first children's sanatoriums began to function thanks to the initiative of the Society of Governmental Physicians for charitable funds of the Samara nobility and merchantry in territories with natural and climatic therapeutic factors, namely Sernovodsky resort, Barboshina glade and Postnikov ravine. A comparative analysis of the dynamics of morbidity structure of children admitted for sanatorium treatment, as well as general education institutions, from which information on the health of school pupils is received, has been conducted over a period of 120 years. Despite the change of years and generations, there is a general concept of sanatorium health improvement of school pupils as a future social and economic pillar of society, with the formation of a healthy generation for both the region and the country in general.

Drinking Mineral Water and Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Radiation Combinational Effect on Rat Testes in Metabolic Syndrome: а Randomized Controlled Study

INTRODUCTION. To correct disorders in the male reproductive system organs in the metabolic syndrome, it seems reasonable to use a combined effect of natural and artificial therapeutic physical factors – drinking mineral water and low-intensity electromagnetic interference of ultrahigh frequency – on an experimental model of this disease. These factors have antioxidant, cytoprotective and regenerative effects and can have a wide range of effects on various adaptation and protective regulatory mechanisms. AIM. To reveal the development of metabolic and structural adaptation-protective reactions in rat testes under the combined effect of drinking sulphate mineral water and low-intensity electromagnetic radiation microwave in experimental simulation of metabolic syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The experiments were performed on 26 nonlinear male rats weighing 180-200g. The metabolic syndrome model was reproduced for 60 days using a high-caloric diet. The rats were divided into 3 groups: 1st (experimental)-rats received drinking sulfate mineral water in combination with microwave electromagnetic radiation against the background of a high-calorie diet; 2nd (control) – rats received only a high-calorie diet; 3rd (intact) – rats without any influences. Research methods: biochemical, lightoptical, morphometric, electron microscopy. Significance of differences was assessed by Student's t-test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. It was found that the combinational effect of drinking sulfate mineral water and low-intensity electromagnetic radiation microwave contributed to the enhancement of a number of adaptive and protective reactions in the testes of rats against the background of a high-caloric diet. They were mainly manifested in the activation of antioxidant protection and protein synthesis, improvement of spermatogenic cells differentiation processes and increase in their number, enhancement of cellular and intracellular regeneration. CONCLUSION. The data obtained can be used in the development of new approaches to the methods of adaptation-protective and compensatory-restorative processes enhancement in the organs of the male reproductive system in metabolic syndrome.

Providing local self-government bodies with a special administrative regime of resorts

The article discusses the directions of activity of local government bodies in ensuring a special administrative regime for resorts. It has been established that the following are among the most significant features of a resort: the presence of territories with defined boundaries in accordance with established procedures; the presence of natural therapeutic resources within the specified territory; the presence of necessary infrastructure for resort services; official designation as a resort by a competent public authority; classification of the resort territory as a specially protected area; and the presence of a special administrative and legal regime aimed at ensuring the preservation of the resort’s ecosystem and infrastructure. It has been determined that the category of “resort settlement” is a quasi-legal category that has not been defined in current legislation, although it is often used in organizational and managerial documents. It has been established that the status of a “resort settlement” does not contain any restrictions or prohibitions, but rather indicates a certain distinctive feature of a village, town, or city that imposes special requirements on the activities of public authorities and economic entities operating within its territory. The following definition is proposed: a resort settlement is a special type of settlement that encompasses natural therapeutic resources, and whose boundaries and sanitary protection zones have been designated for their preservation. It has been established that the entire territory of a settlement does not necessarily equate to a resort, but the status of a resort settlement denotes the uniqueness of such a settlement or territorial community - the establishment of a special administrative, ecological, and economic regime within its territory. It should be noted that a resort can extend beyond the boundaries of settlements and may even be located within the territory of multiple territorial communities. It has been established that resorts have a specific administrative regime that is determined by the natural conditions, the availability of therapeutic factors on their territory, and the infrastructure. The administrative regime of resort areas primarily involves restrictions on their development. In particular, the construction of new industrial enterprises and other objects on resorts is prohibited, as well as the expansion of existing ones that are not related to satisfying the needs of vacationers and the local population. In addition, the construction of objects that may negatively affect natural therapeutic factors or are not related to resort and residential construction is not allowed. One of the important aspects of the administrative regime of resorts is their sanitary protection, which involves establishing strict sanitary restrictions. It has been established that Ukrainian resorts are classified from an administrative-management perspective according to the type of natural therapeutic resources into resorts of state and local significance. In particular, resorts of state significance are natural territories with particularly valuable and unique natural therapeutic resources that are used for treatment, medical rehabilitation, and disease prevention. Resorts of local significance are natural territories with commonly available natural therapeutic resources that are used for treatment, medical rehabilitation, and disease prevention. The following functions of local government bodies have been analyzed in the respective territories: organizing the activities of the local governance system in the field of ensuring the functioning of resorts; regulating the operation of economic entities within the resort territories within their competence; accounting for natural healing resources and land plots that ensure the functioning of resorts; planning, urban development, and infrastructure development within the competence of local government bodies; preservation, restoration, and improvement of natural healing resources; monitoring the state of natural healing resources; controlling violations of legislation regarding natural healing resources within their competence, and conducting expertise within their competence.

The Effectiveness of Sanatorium Rehabilitation of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease after Myocardial Revascularization Against the Background of Post-Corneal Syndrome

Background: According to the literature, the use of natural and preformed therapeutic physical factors with proven anti-inflammatory effect and improvement of endothelial function is promising as a personalized treatment and rehabilitation of patients with heart and cardiovascular system damage after COVID-19. Aims: of the study is to develop new rehabilitation programs for patients with coronary heart disease with mutual burden syndrome after suffering COVID-19, allowing to improve the quality and effectiveness of specialized medical care in a sanatorium. Materials and methods: In representative groups of patients with coronary heart disease who underwent myocardial revascularization on the background of postcovid syndrome, the features of the clinical-functional, metabolic and hemostatic state were studied. Results: Three new programs have been developed and scientifically substantiated for operated patients with coronary heart disease with mutual burden syndrome at the sanatorium-resort stage, complementing the standard treatment with the complex use of normobaric hypoxytherapy, hyperbaric oxygenation, halotherapy and ozone therapy. The effectiveness of the applied new medical rehabilitation programs has been evaluated, taking into account the severity of the mutual burden syndrome according to clinical, functional, laboratory and sociological indicators. Conclusions: The highest effectiveness of rehabilitation programs has been proven, including a combination of these therapeutic factors in patients with severe functional classes according to NYHA and the degree of severity of the mutual burden syndrome on the CIRS-G scale.

Natural therapeutic factors in medical rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID syndrome

To develop a new medical technology for the 3rd outpatient stage of medical rehabilitation of the patients with post-COVID syndrome using natural therapeutic factors of Nalchik resort. There has been carried out a controlled study in compliance with the principles of randomization to develop an outpatient medical rehabilitation program including 168 patients with post-COVID syndrome. All the patients were divided into four groups: the control group (n=40) was prescribed pharmacotherapy and physical therapy in the hall in accordance with federal clinical recommendations; comparison group 1 (n=43) had drinking mineral water in addition; comparison group 2 (n=43) received physical therapy on the route of Nalchik resort terrainkur in addition to the treatment in comparison group 1; the main group (n=42) included a group psychotherapy on the Terrainkur route in addition to the treatment in comparison group 2. The results of the comparative analysis showed the feasibility of the developed outpatient medical rehabilitation program for the patients suffering from post-COVID syndrome: the overall effectiveness of rehabilitation measures increased compared to other follow-up groups by 10-15% due to the improvement of external breathing function (p<0.05), cognitive status (p<0.01), increased exercise tolerance (p<0.01), physical recovery (p<0.01) and mental health (p<0.01). The summation and integration of sanogenetic effects of physical factors, psychocorrective techniques, and pharmacotherapy provide a significant improvement in the physical and mental status of the patients with post-COVID syndrome.

Лечение невротических, связанных со стрессом и соматоформных расстройств в условиях санатория

Study Objective: To assess the possibilities of sanatorium-and-spa treatment in patients with neurotic, stress-associated and somatoform disorders taking into account the modern idea of their pathogenesis. Main part. According to various sources, at least 30% of patients who come to outpatient clinics have neurotic and/or somatoform disorders. Given the complex pathogenesis of these conditions, the rate of exacerbations and relapses, such patients should undergo a long-term comprehensive therapy aimed at elimination of etiological and pathogenic factors, together with the development of adequate adaptive reactions, including psychogenic reactions, increased physical and mental performance, and healthy lifestyle habits. The potential to reach the goal increases considerably with the use of sanatorium-and-spa treatment, the main methods of which include climatotherapy, hydrobalneotherapy, reflexotherapy, physical factors, biofeedback techniques, mental therapy, and exercise therapy. Conclusion. The efficiency of the comprehensive treatment of neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders using natural and artificial therapeutic factors is 60%. The knowledge of non-drug treatments of such conditions is essential not only for medical staff in sanatoria and spas, but also for outpatient medical professionals, since they are the primary referring individuals. Keywords: neurotic disorders, sanatorium-and-spa treatment, balneotherapy, physical activity.

Principles of sanatorium-resort treatment of adult and pediatric patients who have undergone COVID-19

Spa treatment plays an important role in the recovery process of both adult and pediatric patients after a coronavirus infection. Currently, medical rehabilitation programs of this stage are being worked out and, as the accumulated data show, an integrated approach with the inclusion of various methods is more effective. Sanatorium-resort care for patients who have undergone COVID-19 is provided on a planned basis and is based on the principles of phasing, continuity and continuity between medical organizations. Treatment of patients with the consequences of a coronavirus infection in sanatorium conditions is carried out in the late recovery period at the III stage of rehabilitation care. The main advantage of spa treatment is the use of natural therapeutic factors: climate, landscape, balneo- and peloidotherapy. An important part of the comprehensive treatment program is the methods of physical rehabilitation, which should be selected individually, taking into account the functional reserves and patient tolerance. Also, the program of spa treatment includes diet therapy, according to indications, hardware physiotherapy, psychotherapy.

Results of the use of natural healing factors of Crimea in the treatment of patients with chronic generalized periodontitis with the background of gastroenterological pathology

Relevance. Currently, researchers pay close attention to the study of chronic diseases that have a direct or indirect impact on the state of the patient’s dental status. It is known that chronic inflammatory diseases of the oral organs are, often simultaneously, permanent foci of infection that affect the state of other systems and organs. The general list of such diseases includes: chronic gingivitis, chronic generalized periodontitis, glossitis, gingivostomatitis.Aim. The aim of the study was to study the effectiveness of complex conservative therapy, including natural therapeutic factors of Crimea, in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the oral organs, occurring against the background of somatic pathology.Materials and methods. The objects of the study were periodontal tissues in 70 people with chronic generalized periodontitis (CGP) and gingivostomatitis, occurring against the background of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.Results. The results obtained indicate that complex treatment with local application of hydrotherapy named “PhytoBiol” and thermal Saka mineral water (in a dilution of 1:4), combined with periodontal dressings according to the recipe proposed by us, cause persistent remission of these diseases, contribute to the improvement of periodontal tissues and oral mucosa. Thus, complex treatment of inflammatory diseases of periodontal tissues in patients in the main group (n = 35) led to long-term remission in 82.33% of cases, while in the control group the result was 69.5% (at p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions. The positive results, which were obtained, give grounds to recommend the proposed complex of treatment and prevention of exacerbations of this chronic disease for use in practical health care.

Non-medical technologies in medical rehabilitation of patients with chronic pancreatitis (literature review)

The authors conducted a literature review of foreign and domestic researches on medical rehabilitation of patients with chronic pancreatitis in stationary (stage 2) and sanatorium-and-spa (stages 2 and 3) conditions. There have been presented non-medical methods of rehabilitation using natural therapeutic factors, modern instrumental physiotherapy, and therapeutic physical education.

Medical rehabilitation of children with bronchial asthma

Medical rehabilitation of children suffering from bronchial asthma is based on the complex use of natural therapeutic factors, drug, non-drug therapy and other methods in order to achieve control over the disease and long-term remission. The use of non-drug technologies is necessary taking into account the pathogenesis of the bronchial asthma development and is aimed at relieving bronchospasm, reducing the activity of allergic inflammation in the bronchi, improving their drainage function, strengthening the respiratory muscles and increasing exercise tolerance. When carrying out rehabilitation measures it is important to observe the basic principles of medical rehabilitation. An individual medical rehabilitation program is drawn up taking into account the assessment of the child's clinical condition at each stage with the diagnosis of the initial rehabilitation status, the establishment of a rehabilitation diagnosis and an assessment of the rehabilitation potential. The article presents the data of the analysis of scientific publications and our own research allowing to draw up an algorithm for the formation of an individual program of medical rehabilitation for children with bronchial asthma.

Health resort treatment and medical rehabilitation for diseases of the musculoskeletal system at the Pyatigorsk resort (to the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Pyatigorsk research institute of balneology)

The 100th Anniversary of the Institute of Balneology in Pyatigorsk is an occasion for a retrospective assessment of the efficiency of therapeutic effect of natural mineral springs and unique peloid of Tambukan Lake, the first reference of which dates back to 1334. A scientifi cally based study of the mechanisms of action of natural factors in the pathology of musculoskeletal system that has been carried out since 1920 made it possible to substantiate their differentiated use and determine indications in systemic autoimmune and metabolic processes, degenerative-inflammatory diseases, recovery from injuries and surgical interventions. The prospects of further study of Pyatigorsk natural factors seem to be a response to the demand of the time — prevention, health resort treatment and medical rehabilitation with application of natural therapeutic factors in rheumatology, arthrology, and rejuvenology.

Diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 in the post-acute phase patients - possible links with physical and rehabilitation medicine and balneotherapy

Background. The outbreak of COVID-19 - COronaVIrus Disease 2019 - has become a significant threat to public health worldwide, with high contagious capacity and varied mortality in different countries. Diabetes mellitus (DM/ diabetes) is among the most frequently reported comorbidities in patients with COVID-19. In the field of physical and rehabilitation medicine and balneotherapy, specific rehabilitation procedures, natural therapeutic factors, and physical activity are known to be contributive to mitigating some of the DM clinical-patho-biological consequences. Objective. This systematic review aims to rigorously select related articles and identify within their content, the main possible interferences between DM and COVID-19’s pathological mechanisms, and to discuss the value of physical and rehabilitation medicine and balneotherapy in the post-acute COVID-19 recovery of the surviving patients. Methods. This systematic review, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searched for open-access articles published in English, between January and May 2020, from the following databases: Cochrane, Elsevier, PubMed and Web of Science. The contextually searched syntax used was ”DIABETES AND COVID-19”. The selected articles were analyzed in detail regarding both pathologies: COVID-19 and DM. The meta-analysis proceeded was designated to estimate the prevalence of DM among COVID-19 patients. Results. Our search has been conducted on five stages, described by a PRISMA adapted flow diagram. Within the first stage, using the syntax mentioned above resulted in 1,133 articles. After eliminating, in the second stage, all the inevitable redundancies remained 1,058 articles. In the third stage, we performed a PEDro qualitative analysis score weighted selection of all the papers and were kept 91 articles. In the fourth stage, were selected relevant issues for a meta-analysis regarding the prevalence of DM diabetes among COVID-19 cases, resulting 32 papers. The fifth stage of the PRISMA adapted flow diagram was dedicated to the analysis of the data regarding the use of natural therapeutic factors, physical exercises within the ensemble of case-specific indicated procedures used for DM, and COVID-19 patients in rehabilitation wards. For enhancing the bibliographical sources pool, we added from external, free found sources, another 15 articles. Discussion/ Limitation. COVID-19 is an acute illness condition and DM is a chronic one. Therefore, it is difficult for now, to have enough data enabling us to see all the repercussions of COVID-19 and to completely understand the significance of physical and rehabilitation medicine and balneotherapy, which applies in COVID-19 post-acute DM patients. Conclusions. This paper overviews the current state-of-the-art knowledge in the approach of DM /diabetes as COVID-19 comorbidity, with a focal point on the roles of natural therapeutic factors, physical exercises within the ensemble of case-specific indicated procedures used for DM and COVID-19 patients in rehabilitation wards, for possible actual and future connexions with the comprehensive management/ rehabilitation of such both chronic and post-acute survivors.

Possibilities of natural and preformed therapeutic factors of the altai region in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

A comprehensive examination and health improvement of 40 patients has been performed using therapeutic physical factors of the sanatorium «Belokurikha», JSC «Belokurikha Resort». High incidence of overweight, hereditary burden of cardiovascular diseases, hyperglycemia, low physical activity, dyslipidemia and atherogenic cholesterol fraction has been revealed. At the same time, 60 % of the examined patients had combination of 3–4 risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, most often obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia. It is established that appointment of pathogenetically based treatment complex, including physical therapy, manual massage, general mineral baths, peloidotherapy, Nordic walking, therapy with elastic pseudo-boiling layer has signifi cant anti-infl ammatory and hypolipidemic eff ects, helps to reduce the severity of endogenous intoxication, and to increase adaptive potential.

Mud therapy and rehabilitation - scientific relevance in the last six years (2015 – 2020) Systematic literature review and meta-analysis based on the PRISMA paradigm

Abstract Background. Balneotherapy is a stimulation - adaptation treatment method applied in the forms of bathing, drinking, and inhalation cures performed with natural therapeutic factors, a method which is acting in three main ways: thermally, mechanically, and chemically. Mud or peloids are natural therapeutic factors formed by natural processes under the influence of biological and geological phenomena, which in a finely dissolved state and mixed with water (mud) are used in medical practice in the form of baths or local procedures. Objective. This systematic review aims to rigorously select related articles and identify within their content, the main possible uses of therapeutic mud and physiological mechanisms, to see the main region of scientific interest for pelotherapy, and to discuss the value of mud therapy in rehabilitation medicine. Methods. The working method is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched for open-access articles published in English, between January 2015 and December 2020, from the following databases: Cochrane, Elsevier, NCBI/PubMed, NCBI/PMC, PEDro, and ISI Web of Knowledge/Science (the latter was also used to identify ISI indexed articles). The contextually searched syntax used was ”Pelotherapy/Peloidotherapy/Mud-therapy/ /Fango-therapy AND Rehabilitation”. The selected articles were analyzed in detail regarding pathologies addressed by mud therapy and country scientific relevance for this therapeutic method. The meta-analysis proceeded was designated to estimate the prevalence of various pathologies in the use of mud therapy. Results. Our search identified, first, 394 articles. Based on the successive filtering stages and, respectively, on the classification criteria of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), we finally identified/retained and analyzed 68 articles. Although, in principle, a rigorous method – and we have followed the PRISMA type paradigm – there still might be some missing works of our related article selection. On the other hand, to augment/ consolidate our documentation base, we have used also 40 papers freely found in the literature, and even – aiming, too, at an as exhaustive knowledge underpinning as possible – derogatively, we have also considered some articles which, probably being very new, couldn't yet have reached the PEDro threshold score we have settled. Conclusions. This paper overviews the current state-of-the-art knowledge in the approach of peloidotherapy in rehabilitation, with a focal point on the therapeutic properties of peloids. Keywords: mud-therapy, pelotherapy, peloidotherapy, fango therapy, rehabilitation, balneotherapy, natural therapeutic factors,

Current Perspectives on Delivery Systems Using Extracellular Vesicles in Neurological Disease.

Extracellular vesicles have an excellent ability to transfer their contents to cells. Extracellular vesicles can also be engineered to deliver therapeutic molecules to target cells. Although a number of studies have exploited synthesized nanoparticles in the treatment of neurological disease in the past few years, extracellular vesicles have been investigated and shown tremendous promise for clinical applications because they are safe and have strong targeting specificity. Different types of extracellular vesicles have been studied and modified for delivering therapeutic factors in neurological disease, including extracellular vesicles loaded with natural therapeutic factors and therapeutic molecules. In this review, we discuss delivery systems using extracellular vesicles containing molecules of interest and then focus on main strategies used for EV loading and surface modification. Discussing these important issues will support and facilitate the design and development of promising techniques and products for neurological therapy.

Legal support for the use of natural therapeutic resources in sanatorium and resort treatment of the population

The aim. To conduct a comprehensive study of the legal regulation peculiarities of natural therapeutic resources and factors of sanatorium and resort treatment for the population, to identify problems of legal regulation of these relations and to outline the ways to resolve them. Materials and methods. The research material is a modern regulatory framework. The methods of information retrieval, analysis, systematization and generalization were carried out. Results. It has been established that natural therapeutic resources include mineral and thermal water, medical mud and ozokerite, sea and lake brine, sea water, natural objects and complexes with favorable climatic conditions. It has been substantiated that sanatorium and spa treatment is an important part that provides continuity and complexity of medical rehabilitation measures. The main resorts, located on theterritory ofUkraine, have been described. It has been determined that regulation of social relations in the sphere of organization and development of resorts and sanatorium-resort treatment, detection and accounting of natural medical resources, ensuring their rational extraction, use and protection in order to create favorable conditions for treatment, medical rehabilitation, prevention of diseases and vacation for people is provided by environmental, land, health care and resort legislation. Conclusions. Legal regulation of the natural therapeutic resources usage is ensured by environmental, land, health care and resort legislation. The purpose of this legislation is to regulate social relations in the sphere of organization and development of resorts and sanatorium and spa treatment, to detect and account natural medical resources, to ensure their rational extraction, use and protection in order to create favorable conditions for treatment, medical rehabilitation, prevention of diseases and population health improvement. Efficient exploitation of natural therapeutic resources in resort treatment is currently affected by a number of economic, political, environmental problems, which have to be solved by organizational and legal means of the state impact on such legal relations.

Balneotherapy – medical, scientific, educational and economic relevance reflected by more than 250 articles published in Balneo Research Journal

Introduction. Balneology has a long European and Asian tradition and Romania can be the cornerstone of international bridges in this area due to its geographical position, legendary tradition and extraordinary natural resources of all kind. The use of thermal and mineral springs on the territory of the country for health and treatment purposes is a tradition with a history of more than two thousand years. Unique spa resources, such as thermal and mineral springs, mud, mofettes, saline microclimate and bioclimate (sedative or relaxing, exciting of marine seaside or plains, stimulant or tonic), are used successfully in the sphere of health care services, preventive medical actions, rehabilitation and wellness. Legend of Hercule bathing in Cerna's waters is a proof of the use of thermal waters long before the Roman conquest. This tradition exists in almost all civilizations. Today it maintains its usefulness and is spread across all continents, mainly in the Middle East and South and East Europe, Asia (Middle East, Japan, China, Turkey), South America (Argentina, Mexico, Colombia) and North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia) (244-249). Material and method. This article is a sistematic and summarizing review of all published articles by Balneo Research Journal in its ten years of existence, from november 2010 until September 2019. All the ten volumes and more than 250 articles were analized in order to understand the main thematic of the articles, the more usefull scientific concepts, the realistic benefits of the published articles for the development of Balneology. Results and discussions. Analizing an article database of about 250 publised articles in Balneo Research Journal can be of real impact on the development of the field of Balneology but also can drive the future of the jurnal to better understand its implications in the scientific arena. Conclusions. Main scientific concepts with which Balneology is operating, interdisciplinary connections and interests were focused on ideas to have in mind by the authors and readers of this article. Key words: Balneology, Balneotherapy, Balneo Research Journal, Natural therapeutic factors, Balneary Resort,

The Effect of Carbonated Natural Mineral Water on Oxidative Stress in Experimental Myocardial Ischemia

Natural therapeutic factors are widely used as an important adjuvant therapy in various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the role of balneal therapy on oxidative stress parameters in experimental myocardial ischemia induced in rats. 5 groups of 8 rats were used as follow: group 1- control group; group 2 - group swimming in distilled water (DW); group 3- group with myocardial ischemia (MI); group 4 - group with MI swimming in DW; group 5 - group with MI and swimming in carbonated mineral water (CMW). Myocardial ischemia was induced with Isoproterenol. The following oxidative stress/antioxidant blood parameters were assessed for each animal: nitric oxide (NOx), malondialdechyde (MDA), total oxidative stress (TOS), catalase (CAT) and total ant oxidative capacity of plasma (TAC). In group 5 all parameters assessed were significantly improved compared with group 3 and 4. Carbonated mineral water can be used as an adjuvant therapy for improving oxidative stress/antioxidant status in patients with cardiac ischemia, in order to reduce the amplitude of ischemic lesions and to contribute as a prophylactic therapy to a better quality of life for these patients. Continuing this research in humans through clinical studies would be warranted.