Beneficial Effects of a Topper with Fango Molecule Structure – Investigations with Organ-Specific Cells in Culture

Beneficial Effects of a Topper with Fango Molecule Structure – Investigations Organ-Specific Cells Culture. Background: The a of and its application is as fangotherapy. A topper with fango molecule structure of natural mineral in its textile fibers was tested in study with cultivated organ-specific cells for its beneficial health effects on the lines of fango. Materials and Methods: (cell line L-929) were used to examine cell regeneration by closing a cell-free space due to migration and proliferation in the presence of the topper material. Untreated cell cultures of both cell lines from the same basic cultures served as corresponding controls. Results: Exposure of HL-60 cells to the topper for six days during their differentiation process to functional neutrophils resulted in a marked and statistically significant reduction of endogenously generated superoxide anion radicals by the cells. Regeneration of connective tissue fibroblasts showed a significant stimulation of the colonization of the cell-free space due to the exposure to the topper when compared to the untreated control. Conclusion:


Introduction
Basically, mud therapy is a simple and effective treatment of several disorders of neurological, rheumatologically, cardiovascular, gynecological and inflammatory origin [1,2]. The term "fango," which originated in Italy, means a special kind of mud deposited from the thermal springs of sulfur bearing sulfuro or sulfated water [3] and its application is named as fangotherapy. In general, fango holds heat and is useful as a thermal application for chronic health conditions [4]. It also stimulates circulation and lymph flow, supports detoxification and helps the body to relax. Some types of fango have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties that make them useful for soft tissue injury [5]. The topper with fango molecule structure as tested in this study was primarily designed that the textile fibers of the topper correspond to the molecular structure of natural mineral mud and can, therefore, reflect infrared waves from the body. Thus, the topper might possess the beneficial health effects of fango. According to the manufacturer, many users report amazing improvements in vitality, health and well-being.In the present study, current cell biological test methods were used to investigate whether the topper might be able to inactivate an excess of endogenously generated radicals and thus prevent oxidative stress. Local oxidative stress in the tissue plays an important role in inflammatory reactions [6][7][8][9], in the course of wound healing [10,11] or after physical exercise or even overload [12][13][14].
Therefore, it was also examined whether the topper has a direct beneficial effect on the cell regeneration/wound healing process.

Topper with Fango Molecule Structure
The company Physio Night GmbH from D-85134 Stammham, Germany, states that the textile fibers of the PHYSIO NIGHT DELUXE topper with fango molecule structure correspond to the molecular structure of natural mineral mud and can therefore reflect infrared waves from the body. In addition, the topper is complemented all around with a mix of stone pine and new wool. According to the company, a renowned textile manufacturer from Italy has succeeded with the help of nanotechnology in integrating the molecular structure responsible for the beneficial effects of fango into the cotton textile of the topper.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect (Functional Neutrophils)
For the entire duration of the differentiation process, cells were grown in culture flasks, which were placed on pieces of the topper (about 5 × 5 cm in size) and were shielded in several layers of aluminum foil to avoid any unwanted interactions between the

Cell Regeneration/Wound Healing (Connective Tissue Fibroblasts)
Cells were seeded at a density of 100,000 cells/ml into the four

Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was done by using the non-parametric, twotailed Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Exposure of HL-60 cells to the topper for six days during the differentiation process resulted in a reduced generation of endogenous radicals after stimulation (Figure 1). The radical generation in the exposed cell cultures was reduced by 22.6 ± 12.2% (mean value ± standard deviation, n = 3). This reduction was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05).

Cell Regeneration/Wound Healing
The microscopic examination of the fixed and stained samples of cell regeneration showed at first sight a clear stimulation of the colonization of the cell-free space by exposure to the topper when compared to the untreated control (Fig. 2). The quantification documented a statistically significant improvement by the topper by 23.9 ± 8.8 % (mean value ± standard deviation; Fig. 1) in comparison to the untreated control (p ≤ 0.05).  % of all white blood cells in humans and are normally found in the bloodstream. They form an essential part of the innate immune system [20] and, therefore, play a key role in the front-line defense against invading microbial pathogens. However, neutrophils are also one of the first responders of inflammation and migrate from the blood into the inflamed tissue and generate highly reactive superoxide anion radicals in the course of an oxidative or respiratory burst [21]. The test results of this study indicate that the topper can have a direct effect on inflammatory processes in vivo.
The generation of unwanted reactive oxygen radicals is reduced, so that a local oxidative stress in the tissue is also reduced. This can have a positive effect on the healing process of the inflamed tissue after occurrence of local oxidative stress. Synergistically to the first finding is the beneficial effect of the topper on cell regeneration.
In this present test system, especially the granulation phase is simulated which is characterized by migration and proliferation of the cells in order to close the cell-free space (= wounded area) in vivo. However, a complicated wound healing process is also related to local oxidative stress [22][23][24] which is also reduced by the topper. Taken together, both effects can work synergistically and have a beneficial effect on inflammatory reactions or cell regenerative processes after excessive stress or physical burden or even overload. Thus, the PHYSIO NIGHT DELUXE topper might be able to maintain and improve individual health and well-being.