INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR THERMAL RESEARCH MARCIAL CAMPOS: THE 2014 WINNER IS... THE CURATIVE WATER FROM LEVICO AND VETRIOLO

INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR THERMAL RESEARCH MARCIAL CAMPOS: THE 2014 WINNER IS... THE CURATIVE WATER FROM LEVICO AND VETRIOLO

On Friday 13th June at Cuntis Thermal Baths (Spain) the prize giving ceremony for the International Award for Thermal Research Marcial Campos 2014 was held, organized by SITH, OMTH, ISMH. The event took place in the presence of OMTh-President Mr. Ennio Gori and of SITH-President, Mr. Andrés Campos Calvo–Sotelo.

This important reward is assigned every two years to the thermal scientific research proving to be the most brilliant in the thermal sector, being the result of an extremely interesting research for the future of the thermal sector. And this year the award was assigned to “Levico and Vetriolo Thermal Baths”.

The award is named after Marcial Campos, the past President of OMTh (1977-1992), who performed an extensive research work to promote and diffuse worldwide the virtues linked to the use of thermal water.

The prize-giving ceremony was hosted at Cuntis Thermal Baths. No wonder, since this assignment was established by Cuntis Thermal Baths aiming to encourage the thermal research work, to promote its diffusion and to increase a rigorous scientific research in the thermal sector.

As everyone knows, our country is very rich in a huge variety of medical springs. Lots of thermal establishments have performed research on the use and the healing effect of their own thermal water but this year Levico and Vetriolo Thermal Baths have distinguished themselves with a study performed by Dr. Antonella Fioravanti with a team of qualified physicians.

The prizewinners 2014 were: Dr. Antonella Fioravanti Antonella, Dr. Nicola Antonio Pascarelli, Dr. Antonello Lamboglia, Dr. Patrizia Manica (Health Care Manager at Levico and Vetriolo Thermal Baths) and Dr. Giulia Collodel with the study “Vetriolo’s (Trentino) thermal water inhibits the negative effect of interleukin-1β on nitric oxide production and apoptosis in human osteoarthritic chondrocyte”.

This study was performed by highly skilled professionals and involved Levico Thermal Baths and the division of Rheumatology and Molecular Medicine of The University of Siena. In the study a complex analysis of the thermal water from Vetriolo spring is carried out, thus proving on scientific basis its essential role in increasing the resistance of chondrocytes (basic cartilage cells) to damaging substances causing osteoarthritis.

The jury, made up of OMTh-, SITH- and ISMH-representatives awarded this study and confirmed the healing effects of Levico e Vetriolo thermal water.

It is an important assignment and a great satisfaction for all physicians involved ih the study, for all people choosing thermal therapies every year and for all the people living in Levico Terme.