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Quan W, Yu S, Huang Q, Ying M. The effect of forest-based health and wellness on the stress-relieve of middle-aged people. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1366339. [PMID: 38774044 PMCID: PMC11107287 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1366339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to explore the impact of experience in forest-based health and wellness (FHW) on the stress of middle-aged people, 12 participants aged 35-39 were selected to conduct a 3-day/2-night study on FHW experience in Wencheng, Wenzhou. Huawei bracelets were used to monitor participants' movement, pulse and blood pressure and their mood state was measured before and after the health care experience using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale. After the FHW experience, the lowest value of bracelet stress appeared on the second day of the experience for men and women. The total mood disturbance (TMD) decreased by 38.8 points on average, which significantly improved the positive mood and relieved the stress. The decompression effect of the FHW experience showed some variability among individuals. Furthermore, there were gender differences in alleviation of fatigue and puzzlement, which was greater for females than males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Quan
- Zhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Natural Disaster Remote Sensing Monitoring and Early Warning, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shaona Yu
- Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Adding Carbon Sinks and Reducing Carbon Emissions of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Ecosystem, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Adding Carbon Sinks and Reducing Carbon Emissions of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Ecosystem, Wenzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Ying
- Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Adding Carbon Sinks and Reducing Carbon Emissions of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Ecosystem, Wenzhou, China
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Robinson JM, Breed AC, Camargo A, Redvers N, Breed MF. Biodiversity and human health: A scoping review and examples of underrepresented linkages. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118115. [PMID: 38199470 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports the connections between exposure to environmental typologies(such as green and blue spaces)and human health. However, the mechanistic links that connect biodiversity (the variety of life) and human health, and the extent of supporting evidence remain less clear. Here, we undertook a scoping review to map the links between biodiversity and human health and summarise the levels of associated evidence using an established weight of evidence framework. Distinct from other reviews, we provide additional context regarding the environment-microbiome-health axis, evaluate the environmental buffering pathway (e.g., biodiversity impacts on air pollution), and provide examples of three under- or minimally-represented linkages. The examples are (1) biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples' health, (2) biodiversity and urban social equity, and (3) biodiversity and COVID-19. We observed a moderate level of evidence to support the environmental microbiota-human health pathway and a moderate-high level of evidence to support broader nature pathways (e.g., greenspace) to various health outcomes, from stress reduction to enhanced wellbeing and improved social cohesion. However, studies of broader nature pathways did not typically include specific biodiversity metrics, indicating clear research gaps. Further research is required to understand the connections and causative pathways between biodiversity (e.g., using metrics such as taxonomy, diversity/richness, structure, and function) and health outcomes. There are well-established frameworks to assess the effects of broad classifications of nature on human health. These can assist future research in linking biodiversity metrics to human health outcomes. Our examples of underrepresented linkages highlight the roles of biodiversity and its loss on urban lived experiences, infectious diseases, and Indigenous Peoples' sovereignty and livelihoods. More research and awareness of these socioecological interconnections are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake M Robinson
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
| | - Andrew C Breed
- Epidemiology and One Health Section, Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, Canberra, ACT, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia
| | | | - Nicole Redvers
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Martin F Breed
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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Zhu J, Chen J, Wang K, Yan H, Liu Q, Lan Y, Ren L, Wu S. Exposure to ambient black carbon and particulate matter during pregnancy in associations with risk of pre-eclampsia: A meta-analysis based on population-based studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123230. [PMID: 38158011 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution control protocols and policies formulated for PM2.5 and PM10 (particulate matter [PM] with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 and 10 μm), however, such protocols and policies have not been available for black carbon (BC). A growing number of studies have evaluated the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with BC and PM and pre-eclampsia. We applied a meta-analysis to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) based on four exposure windows (first/second/third trimester and entire pregnancy). 24 studies meeting our selection criteria (8 for BC, 21 and 15 for PM2.5 and PM10) were finally included after screening studies published up to June 22, 2023. An increase of 1 μg/m3 BC during the second trimester and entire pregnancy were associated with a 16 % (OR: 1.16, 95 % CI: [1.02, 1.32]) and a 15 % (OR: 1.15, 95 % CI: [1.03, 1.29]) increased risk of pre-eclampsia, respectively. A 10 μg/m3 increase in second-trimester exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with a 1 % (OR: 1.01, 95 % CI: [1.00, 1.03]) and a 5 % (OR: 1.05, 95 % CI: [1.01, 1.10]) increased risk of pre-eclampsia. An 11 % (OR: 1.11, 95 % CI: [1.03, 1.21]) increased risk of pre-eclampsia was found to be associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 exposure during the entire pregnancy. The results support the potential effect of exposure to ambient particulate pollutants on risk of pre-eclampsia and emphasize the necessity of strategies and protocols for controlling BC. Greater efforts in controlling ambient particulate pollution and especially BC are needed in order to prevent pregnant women from developing pre-eclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Zhu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China
| | - Hairong Yan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China
| | - Qisijing Liu
- Research Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Lan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China
| | - Lihua Ren
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaowei Wu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases in Ministry of Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China.
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Gungormus DB, Fernández-Martín M, Ortigosa-Luque ME, Pérez-Mármol JM. Effects of Nature-Based Multisensory Stimulation on Pain Mechanisms in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Pain Manag Nurs 2024; 25:46-55. [PMID: 37495473 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The term "nature-based sensory stimuli" refers to the sensory information produced by biotic and abiotic agents from natural environments. The literature has reported the beneficial effects of these agents on various pain dimensions in non-clinical populations. AIMS To evaluate the potential analgesic effects of nature-based multisensory stimulation in women with fibromyalgia syndrome. METHODS A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio was conducted. Forty-two women with fibromyalgia syndrome interacted with either different plant species with flowers, stones, and soil organic matter or their synthetic imitations for 30 minutes. Outcome measurements were performed before and after the intervention, including clinical pain intensity using the Numeric Rating Scale, cold pain thresholds using the Cold Pressor Test, mechanical hyperalgesia and wind-up using a monofilament, and pressure pain thresholds using a pressure algometer. RESULTS Analyses revealed group × time interactions for clinical pain intensity (F = 7.915, p = .008), cold-water immersion time (F = 7.271, p = .010), mechanical hyperalgesia (F = 4.701, p = .036), and pressure pain threshold (p ≤ .017). Between-group differences were found in clinical pain intensity (p = .012), cold pain thresholds (p = .002), and pressure pain thresholds (p < .05). The experimental group exhibited reduced clinical pain intensity (p = .001) and increased pressure pain thresholds (p ≤ .034). CONCLUSIONS Women with fibromyalgia syndrome may benefit from multisensory stimulation using biotic and abiotic agents from natural environments for 30 minutes. Interacting with flowering plants and soil components appears to induce analgesic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogukan Baran Gungormus
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.
| | - Mónica Fernández-Martín
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | | | - José Manuel Pérez-Mármol
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.
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Cheng Y, Zhu J, Tang Q, Wang J, Feng J, Zhou Y, Li J, Pan F, Han X, Lu C, Wang X, Langston ME, Chung BI, Wu W, Xia Y. Exposure to particulate matter may affect semen quality via trace metals: Evidence from a retrospective cohort study on fertile males. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140582. [PMID: 38303402 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) exposure may be associated with male semen quality. Besides, PM exposure induces up and down levels of trace metals in tissues or organs. The levels of trace metals in semen are critical for adverse male semen quality. This study aims to evaluate the concentrations of seminal-level trace metals in fertile men and assess its associations with PM exposure and to explore the mediation role of trace metals in seminal plasma plays in the relationship between PM exposure and semen quality. Total 1225 fertile men who participated in a cohort study from 2014 to 2016 were finally recruited. Multivariate linear regression was applied to explore associations between each two of PM exposure, trace metals and semen parameters. 1-year PM2.5 and PM10 exposure levels were positively associated with arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) but negatively associated with vanadium (V), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) in semen. It was also found that most of the elements were associated with total sperm number, followed by sperm concentration. Redundancy analysis (RDA) also determined several strong positive correlations or negative correlations between 1-year PM exposure and trace metals. Mediation analysis found that trace metals had a potentially compensatory or synergetic indirect effect on the total effect of the association between 1-year PM exposure and semen quality. The retrospective cohort study provides long-term PM exposure that may cause abnormal semen quality by affecting seminal plasma element levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiuqin Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jialin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Feng Pan
- Department of Urology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiumei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Marvin E Langston
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin I Chung
- Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Doran-Sherlock R, Devitt S, Sood P. An integrative review of the evidence for Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) in the management of depression and its potential clinical application in evidence-based osteopathy. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2023; 35:244-255. [PMID: 37330777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in the idea of integrating Nature Therapies into the multidisciplinary management of complex conditions such as depression. Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing), a practice involving spending time in a forested environment while paying attention to multi-sensory stimuli has been proposed as one such modality. The objectives of this review were to critically analyse the current evidence base on the efficacy of Shinrin-Yoku for the treatment of depression, and to examine how the findings may reflect and/or inform osteopathic principles and clinical practice. An integrative review of the evidence for Shinrin-Yoku in the management of depression published between 2009 and 2019 was conducted resulting in n = 13 peer-reviewed studies meeting inclusion criteria. Two themes emerged from the literature, the positive effect of Shinrin-Yoku on self-reported mood scores, and physiological changes arising from forest exposure. However, the methodological quality of the evidence is poor and experiments may not be generalisable. Suggestions were made for improving the research base via mixed-method studies in a biopsychosocial framework, and aspects of the research which may be applicable to evidence-based osteopathy were noted.
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Masdor NA, Abu Bakar MF, Hod R, Mohammed Nawi A. Green space exposure and colorectal cancer: A systematic review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15572. [PMID: 37153430 PMCID: PMC10160744 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Green space has been linked to colorectal cancer, but the evidence is still limited and inconclusive. This review aimed to investigate the relationship between green space and CRC. The studies were searched using three primary journal databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The retrieved citations were screened, and data from articles about GS exposure and CRC were extracted. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for Cohort Studies was used to evaluate the studies' quality. Five of the 1792 articles identified were eligible for the final review, which included five cohort studies published between 2017 and 2022. Each one article from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Germany and All studies are of high quality. Four studies reported CRC incidence and one study reported CRC mortality from GS exposure. There was no significant association between GS attributes (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), surrounding greenness, surrounding green area, proximity to GS (agricultural lands, urban GSs, and forests), and count of recreational facilities and parks) with CRC. Only one study discovered that a healthier ecosystem was linked to a lower CRC risk. Although the evidence is still limited, the findings may indicate the presence of other factors in the relationship between GS and CRC. Future research should continue to focus on the variation of GS and the factors that influence it. Specific attention to the development of GS has the potential to produce benefits while mitigating cancer risk.
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COVID-19: Reducing the risk via diet and lifestyle. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 21:1-16. [PMID: 36333177 PMCID: PMC9550279 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This review shows that relatively simple changes to diet and lifestyle can significantly, and rapidly, reduce the risks associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in terms of infection risk, severity of disease, and even disease-related mortality. A wide range of interventions including regular exercise, adequate sleep, plant-based diets, maintenance of healthy weight, dietary supplementation, and time in nature have each been shown to have beneficial effects for supporting more positive health outcomes with COVID-19, in addition to promoting better overall health. This paper brings together literature from these areas and presents the argument that non-pharmaceutical approaches should not be overlooked in our response to COVID-19. It is noted that, in several cases, interventions discussed result in risk reductions equivalent to, or even greater than, those associated with currently available vaccines. Where the balance of evidence suggests benefits, and the risk is minimal to none, it is suggested that communicating the power of individual actions to the public becomes morally imperative. Further, many lives could be saved, and many harms from the vaccine mandates avoided, if we were willing to embrace this lifestyle-centred approach in our efforts to deal with COVID-19.
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Liu S, Li C, Chu M, Zhang W, Wang W, Wang Y, Guo X, Deng F. Associations of forest negative air ions exposure with cardiac autonomic nervous function and the related metabolic linkages: A repeated-measure panel study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:158019. [PMID: 35973547 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Forest environment has many health benefits, and negative air ions (NAI) is one of the major forest environmental factors. Many studies have explored the effect of forest environment on cardiac autonomic nervous function, while forest NAI in the among function and the underlying mechanism still remain unclear. To explore the associations and molecular linkages between short-term exposure to forest NAI and heart rate variability (HRV), a repeated-measure panel study was conducted among 31 healthy adults. Participants were randomly selected to stay in a forest park for 3 days and 2 nights. Individual exposures including NAI were monitored simultaneously and HRV indices were measured repeatedly at the follow-up period. Urine samples were collected for non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Mixed-effect models were adopted to evaluate associations among NAI, HRV indices and metabolites. The median of NAI concentration was 68.11 (138.20) cm-3 during the study period. Short-term exposure to forest NAI was associated with the ameliorative HRV indices, especially the excitatory parasympathetic nerve. For instance, per interquartile range increase of 5-min moving average of NAI was associated with 9.99 % (95%CI: 8.95 %, 11.03 %) increase of power in high frequency. Eight metabolites were associated with NAI exposure. The down-regulated tyrosine metabolism was firstly observed, followed by other amino acid metabolic alterations. The NAI-related metabolic changes reflect the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress. HRV indices were associated with 25 metabolites, mainly including arginine, proline and histidine metabolism. Short-term exposure to forest NAI is beneficial to HRV, especially to the parasympathetic nerve activity, by successively disturbing different metabolic pathways which mainly reflect the increased anti-inflammation and the reduced inflammation. The results will provide epidemiological evidences for developing forest therapy and improving cardiac autonomic nervous function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mengtian Chu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wenlou Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wanzhou Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yazheng Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinbiao Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Furong Deng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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Park S, Kim E, Kim G, Kim S, Choi Y, Paek D. What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:2692. [PMID: 35270397 PMCID: PMC8909949 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, clinical trials of forest-based interventions have increased, leading to their recognition as preventive medicine. However, little is known about the differences in health effects according to the activity characteristics of interventions. This study aimed to understand the types of activities and their associated health effects to identify differences in health effects between activities. PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched, and methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane ROB2. A total of 32 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the eligibility criteria. Health outcomes were collected from 6264 participants aged 6-98 years, and the sample size was 12-585. The Interventions were walking (n = 21), staying (n = 7), exercise (n = 4), indirect exposure (n = 4), and the activity time was between 10 and 240 min. Overall, walking showed consistent positive health effects, and there were differences in effects on anxiety and depression, cognitive function, stress hormone, and inflammation according to the activity. However, most of the included studies had a high risk of bias, and interventions were limited to specific activities, durations, and frequencies. Although a few limitations remain, the findings in this study are of great significance in providing the basis for the design of forest-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Park
- Forest Human Service Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (S.P.); (E.K.); (G.K.); (S.K.); (Y.C.)
| | - Eunsoo Kim
- Forest Human Service Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (S.P.); (E.K.); (G.K.); (S.K.); (Y.C.)
| | - Geonwoo Kim
- Forest Human Service Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (S.P.); (E.K.); (G.K.); (S.K.); (Y.C.)
| | - Soojin Kim
- Forest Human Service Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (S.P.); (E.K.); (G.K.); (S.K.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yeji Choi
- Forest Human Service Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (S.P.); (E.K.); (G.K.); (S.K.); (Y.C.)
| | - Domyung Paek
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Bikomeye JC, Beyer AM, Kwarteng JL, Beyer KMM. Greenspace, Inflammation, Cardiovascular Health, and Cancer: A Review and Conceptual Framework for Greenspace in Cardio-Oncology Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:2426. [PMID: 35206610 PMCID: PMC8872601 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Cancer survivors have significantly elevated risk of poor cardiovascular (CV) health outcomes due to close co-morbid linkages and shared risk factors between CVD and cancer, as well as adverse effects of cancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity. CVD and cancer-related outcomes are exacerbated by increased risk of inflammation. Results from different pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing inflammation and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) have been largely mixed to date. Greenspaces have been shown to reduce inflammation and have been associated with CV health benefits, including reduced CVD behavioral risk factors and overall improvement in CV outcomes. Greenspace may, thus, serve to alleviate the CVD burden among cancer survivors. To understand pathways through which greenspace can prevent or reduce adverse CV outcomes among cancer survivors, we review the state of knowledge on associations among inflammation, CVD, cancer, and existing pharmacological interventions. We then discuss greenspace benefits for CV health from ecological to multilevel studies and a few existing experimental studies. Furthermore, we review the relationship between greenspace and inflammation, and we highlight forest bathing in Asian-based studies while presenting existing research gaps in the US literature. Then, we use the socioecological model of health to present an expanded conceptual framework to help fill this US literature gap. Lastly, we present a way forward, including implications for translational science and a brief discussion on necessities for virtual nature and/or exposure to nature images due to the increasing human-nature disconnect; we also offer guidance for greenspace research in cardio-oncology to improve CV health outcomes among cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean C. Bikomeye
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (J.L.K.)
- PhD Program in Public and Community Health, Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Andreas M. Beyer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Jamila L. Kwarteng
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (J.L.K.)
- MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Kirsten M. M. Beyer
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (J.L.K.)
- PhD Program in Public and Community Health, Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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12
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Fu D, Serra NI, Mansion H, Mansion ET, Blain-Moraes S. Assessing the Effects of Nature on Physiological States Using Wearable Technologies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:1231. [PMID: 35162253 PMCID: PMC8835652 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nature therapy and forest bathing (FB) have been shown to have quantifiable positive effects on human health, but the physiological effects of a guided interactive nature activity remain unexplored. Autonomic nervous system responses to a guided nature walk (Nature Break) were assessed through the continuous measurement of the electrodermal activity (EDA), fingertip temperature, and heart rate (HR) of n = 48 participants, using a wearable sensor. Psychological distress was assessed before and after the activity using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) for n = 38 (24 females, 14 males, mean age = 43.55 ± 11.61 years) participants. The negative dimensions of POMS decreased and the positive (vigor) dimensions increased following a Nature Break. Significant differences were found across all of the physiological features, with some differences occurring between the morning and afternoon groups and between different days. The participants' mean HR decreased throughout the Nature Break. Our results suggest that interactive nature activities have positive psychological benefits and demonstrate the feasibility of using wearable sensors to monitor physiological responses in a naturalistic forest bathing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannie Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
| | - Natalia Incio Serra
- School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada;
| | - Hubert Mansion
- L’Université Dans la Nature, Montreal, QC H1V 1H6, Canada; (H.M.); (E.T.M.)
| | | | - Stefanie Blain-Moraes
- School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada;
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Yang L, Chan KL, Yuen JWM, Wong FKY, Han L, Ho HC, Chang KKP, Ho YS, Siu JYM, Tian L, Wong MS. Effects of Urban Green Space on Cardiovascular and Respiratory Biomarkers in Chinese Adults: Panel Study Using Digital Tracking Devices. JMIR Cardio 2021; 5:e31316. [PMID: 34967754 PMCID: PMC8759022 DOI: 10.2196/31316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The health benefits of urban green space have been widely reported in the literature; however, the biological mechanisms remain unexplored, and a causal relationship cannot be established between green space exposure and cardiorespiratory health. Objective Our aim was to conduct a panel study using personal tracking devices to continuously collect individual exposure data from healthy Chinese adults aged 50 to 64 years living in Hong Kong. Methods A panel of cardiorespiratory biomarkers was tested each week for a period of 5 consecutive weeks. Data on weekly exposure to green space, air pollution, and the physical activities of individual participants were collected by personal tracking devices. The effects of green space exposure measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at buffer zones of 100, 250, and 500 meters on a panel of cardiorespiratory biomarkers were estimated by a generalized linear mixed-effects model, with adjustment for confounding variables of sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to air pollutants and noise, exercise, and nutrient intake. Results A total of 39 participants (mean age 56.4 years, range 50-63 years) were recruited and followed up for 5 consecutive weeks. After adjustment for sex, income, occupation, physical activities, dietary intake, noise, and air pollution, significant negative associations with the NDVI for the 250-meter buffer zone were found in total cholesterol (–21.6% per IQR increase in NDVI, 95% CI –32.7% to –10.6%), low-density lipoprotein (–14.9%, 95% CI –23.4% to –6.4%), glucose (–11.2%, 95% CI –21.9% to –0.5%), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (–41.3%, 95% CI –81.7% to –0.9%). Similar effect estimates were found for the 100-meter and 250-meter buffer zones. After adjustment for multiple testing, the effect estimates of glucose and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were no longer significant. Conclusions The health benefits of green space can be found in some metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. Further studies are warranted to establish the causal relationship between green space and cardiorespiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ka Long Chan
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - John W M Yuen
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Frances K Y Wong
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lefei Han
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Katherine K P Chang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yuen Shan Ho
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Judy Yuen-Man Siu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Linwei Tian
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Man Sing Wong
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Sanya RE, Nalwoga A, Grencis RK, Elliott AM, Webb EL, Andia Biraro I. Profiles of inflammatory markers and their association with cardiometabolic parameters in rural and urban Uganda. Wellcome Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16651.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Inflammation may be one of the pathways explaining differences in cardiometabolic risk between urban and rural residents. We investigated associations of inflammatory markers with rural versus urban residence, and with selected cardiometabolic parameters previously observed to differ between rural and urban residents: homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI). Methods: From two community surveys conducted in Uganda, 313 healthy individuals aged ≥ 10 years were selected by age- and sex-stratified random sampling (rural Lake Victoria island communities, 212; urban Entebbe municipality, 101). Fluorescence intensities of plasma cytokines and chemokines were measured using a bead-based multiplex immunoassay. We used linear regression to examine associations between the analytes and rural-urban residence and principal component analysis (PCA) to further investigate patterns in the relationships. Correlations between analytes and metabolic parameters were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The urban setting had higher mean levels of IL-5 (3.27 vs 3.14, adjusted mean difference [95% confidence interval] 0.12[0.01,0.23] p=0.04), IFN-⍺ (26.80 vs 20.52, 6.30[2.18,10.41] p=0.003), EGF (5.67 vs 5.07, 0.60[0.32,0.98] p<0.00001), VEGF (3.68 vs 3.28, 0.40[0.25,0.56] p<0.00001), CD40 Ligand (4.82 vs 4.51, 0.31[0.12, 0.50] p=0.001) and Serpin-E1 (9.57 vs 9.46, 0.11[0.05,0.17] p<0.00001), but lower levels of GMCSF (2.94 vs 3.05, -0.10[-0.19,-0.02] p=0.02), CCL2 (2.82 vs 3.10, -0.45[-0.70,-0.21] p<0.00001) and CXCL10 (5.48 vs 5.96, -0.49[-0.71,-0.27] p<0.00001), compared to the rural setting. In PCA, the urban setting had lower representation of some classical inflammatory mediators but higher representation of various chemoattractants and vasoactive peptides. HOMA-IR, FBG, BP and BMI were positively correlated with several principal components characterised by pro-inflammatory analytes. Conclusions: In developing countries, immunological profiles differ between rural and urban environments. Differential expression of certain pro-inflammatory mediators may have important health consequences including contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk observed in the urban environment.
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Kim E, Park S, Kim S, Choi Y, Cho J, Cho SI, Chun HR, Kim G. Can Different Forest Structures Lead to Different Levels of Therapeutic Effects? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1427. [PMID: 34828474 PMCID: PMC8623963 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9111427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, forests have expanded from natural resources for conservation and production to health-promoting resources. With the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic effects of forests, the number of investigations on the relationship between forest characteristics and therapeutic effects have increased. However, quantitative synthesis of primary studies has rarely been conducted due to a limited number of health studies including forest description and high heterogeneity of forest variables. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the forest structure and the therapeutic effect. We systematically searched the studies examining the therapeutic effects of forests with different stand density and canopy density and synthesized the results. As a result of subgroup analysis, we found that stand density modifies the therapeutic effects. Emotional and cognitive restoration showed greatest improvement in low-density forests with a stand density of less than 500/ha and the therapeutic effects diminish as the stand density increases. The impact of canopy density was not found due to a lack of studies reporting canopy density. Although some limitations remain, the findings in this study have great significance in providing the basis for establishing management strategies of forests for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunsoo Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Sujin Park
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Soojin Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Yeji Choi
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Junghee Cho
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Sung-il Cho
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.-i.C.); (H.-r.C.)
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hae-ryoung Chun
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.-i.C.); (H.-r.C.)
| | - Geonwoo Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
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Fleckney P, Bentley R. The urban public realm and adolescent mental health and wellbeing: A systematic review. Soc Sci Med 2021; 284:114242. [PMID: 34333404 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent mental health is becoming a critical concern. Mental illness rates are rising and many psychological disorders first present symptoms during teenage years. Studies consistently show associations between the built environment and mental health, including internalising mental health disorders in adults, but the evidence for adolescents is less robust and few studies attempt to isolate causality. This review examines the relationship between the urban public realm and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Our search yielded 24 studies for inclusion. We undertook qualitative synthesis of 20 cross-sectional studies and conducted a separate quality analysis of four longitudinal studies. Greenspace and neighbourhood quality are associated with adolescent mental health and wellbeing although this may be due more to residual confounding, selection effects and same-source bias than evidence for a causal effect. Furthermore, the few longitudinal studies that seek to test causality remain prone to these biases. Overall, we find little evidence of an effect of the urban public realm on adolescent mental health and wellbeing, which, we argue, reflects the difficulty of researching complex pathways between environments and health and highlights a challenge to the field. To address this challenge, we propose a research agenda that prioritises more and better data drawn from diverse study designs, and more and better theories developed from diverse epistemologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Fleckney
- Melbourne School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Masson Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Bentley
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Mandala Coloring, Made in Nature, on Chronic Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain: Randomized Trial. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9060642. [PMID: 34071674 PMCID: PMC8226655 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9060642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based mandala coloring made within nature on individuals with chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP). Thirty-six participants were randomly allocated. In the experimental group, identical interventions and procedures were administered for each experiment. The control group members were untreated and remained in an urban environment. Overall, the experiment showed significant improvements in tender points (f = 8.791, p = 0.006), total stress level (f = 14.570, p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (f = 15.205, p = 0.001), anger symptoms (f = 7.263, p = 0.011) and salivary cortisol (f = 10.619, p = 0.003) in the experimental group. The results reflect that MBMC within nature is effective in reducing pain, psychological stress responses, and cortisol levels in individuals with CWP. The positive results could be a product of the experimental design rather than the treatment itself. A rigorous experimental design provides better understanding of MBMC within nature.
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Kim JG, Jeon J, Shin WS. The Influence of Forest Activities in a University Campus Forest on Student's Psychological Effects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2457. [PMID: 33801534 PMCID: PMC7967591 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of forest activities in a campus forest. A pre-test and post-test control group design was employed to evaluate the psychological effect of forest activities in a campus forest. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the forest activities group; 19 in the control group). The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire, the Concise Measure of Subjective Well-Being (COMOSWB), and the modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) were administered to each participant to assess psychological effects. This study revealed that participants in the forest activities intervention group had significantly positive increases in their mood, stress response, and subjective well-being, comparing with those of control group participants who did not partake in any forest activities. In conclusion, the implementation of forest activities in a campus forest is an efficient strategy to provide psychological well-being benefits to college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Gun Kim
- Graduated Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Jinyoung Jeon
- Graduated Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Won Sop Shin
- Department of Forest Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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Forest Bathing Always Makes Sense: Blood Pressure-Lowering and Immune System-Balancing Effects in Late Spring and Winter in Central Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18042067. [PMID: 33672536 PMCID: PMC7923773 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18042067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Various formats of forest bathing have been receiving increasing attention owing to their perspectives in health promotion and the treatment of chronic lifestyle diseases. The majority of field studies are still being conducted in the Far Eastern region, and they often make psychological assessments mainly in the green season. In our pretest–posttest field experiment, twelve healthy, working-age volunteers participated in a 2-h leisurely forest walking program, first in the green season (May) and then in the winter season (January), in the Mecsek Hills, next to Pécs, Hungary. Systolic blood pressure decreased after the trips both in late spring and in the winter. Based on changes in the expressions of CD69, an early activation marker, NKG2D, a major recognition receptor, perforin, granzyme B, and TIM-3, an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, on CD8+ cytotoxic T, NK, NKdim, NKbright, and NKT cells, we detected the stimulation of NKbright cells and activation of all examined immune cell subsets in the green season. In the winter, a slight activating and an interesting balancing effect regarding TIM-3 could be observed considering our finding that basal (pretest) TIM-3 expression by NK cells was significantly lower in the winter. Our work expands the knowledge on and potentials of forest medicine.
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Nature Exposure and Its Effects on Immune System Functioning: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041416. [PMID: 33546397 PMCID: PMC7913501 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Given the drastic changes in our lifestyles and ecosystems worldwide, the potential health effects of natural environments have grown into a highly pervasive topic. Recent scientific findings suggest beneficial effects from nature exposure on human immune responses. This review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of literature published on immunomodulatory effects of nature exposure by inhalation of natural substances. A systematic database search was performed in SCOPUS and PubMed. The quality and potential bias of included studies (n = 33) were assessed by applying the EPHPP (Effective Public Health Practice Project) tool for human studies and the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) and SYRCLE (Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) tools for animal studies. The synthesis of reviewed studies points to positive effects of nature exposure on immunological health parameters; such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic effects or increased NK (natural killer) cell activity. Decreased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, infiltration of leukocytes and release of cytotoxic mediators are outcomes that may serve as a baseline for further studies. However, partially weak study designs evoked uncertainties about outcome reproducibility and key questions remain open concerning effect sizes, duration of exposure and contributions of specific vegetation or ecosystem types.
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Suenaga H, Murakami K, Murata N, Nishikawa S, Tsutsumi M, Nogaki H. The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249465. [PMID: 33348755 PMCID: PMC7766260 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Spending time in nature might positively influence mental health by inducing a relaxed state. Recently, gardens have been created on hospital rooftops in Japan to help inpatients recover from various physical and mental aliments. However, there is little evidence regarding any positive physiological effects of artificial gardens designed for health. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and cardiovascular responses incited by artificial natural environments. Japanese university students (n = 38) participated in a one-group pretest post-test experiment conducted at the Yamaguchi Flower Expo in Japan in October 2018, designed to assess whether exposure to four environments (forest, flowers, ocean, and artificial garden for health) influenced heart rate variability measures. After pretesting to determine baseline measurements, participants completed a circuit through the four natural environments. Following circuit completion, post-testing determined that the low frequency/high frequency ratio was significantly lower in the overall sample and the four areas had similar influences on heart rate variability. Findings suggest that exposure to nature by walking through natural areas and in rooftop artificial gardens might enhance the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
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Liu X, Wang J, Zhou M, Dai Q, Wang Q, Li H, Qian X. Particulate matter exposure disturbs inflammatory cytokine homeostasis associated with changes in trace metal levels in mouse organs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 727:138377. [PMID: 32330707 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have focused on the impact of particulate matter (PM) exposure with respect to the relationship between PM-induced inflammation and the levels of trace metals in tissues and organs. In this study, C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to ambient air alongside control mice breathing air filtered through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. In both groups, mRNA levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured after 4, 8 and 12 weeks together with the trace metal contents of the lungs, heart, liver, hippocampus and blood. PM exposure resulted in a general upward trend in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung, heart, liver and hippocampus. By contrast, IL-10 mRNA expression varied depending on the organ, with a continuous upward trend in heart and liver and an up-regulation at 8 weeks followed by a down-regulation at 12 weeks in lung and hippocampus. The disturbed homeostasis of inflammatory cytokines was accompanied by changes in trace metal levels in the mice. These alterations may have constituted a compensatory effect conferring protection from inflammatory damage. However, prolonged PM exposure finally resulted in the deficiency of several essential trace metals in the lungs and hippocampus, which may have contributed to the observed histological changes typical of an inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Huaiyin Institute of Technology, School of the Chemical Engineering, Huaian, China
| | - Jinhua Wang
- School of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Key Laboratory of Anhui Province of Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Reuse, Anhui Jianzhu University, HeFei, China
| | - Mengfan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian'ying Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin'geng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiming Li
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xin Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China.
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Yamada A, Sato Y, Horike T, Miyanaga M, Wang DH. Effects of a Forest Walk on Urinary Dityrosine and Hexanoyl-Lysine in Young People: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4990. [PMID: 32664406 PMCID: PMC7400660 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17144990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A few studies indicate exposure to forests may alleviate oxidative stress in the body. However, more evidence is needed to support this potentiality. The purpose of the current study aimed at examining whether there is any difference in urinary levels of oxidatively modified proteins or lipids-dityrosine (DT) and hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), respectively, after a forest or urban walk. The study was performed on 29 university students who took part in forest walks (Shinjo Village) in Okayama Prefecture of Japan and on 42 university students who took part in urban walks in the downtown area of Okayama City. Urine samples before and after the walks were analyzed for DT and HEL excretion. Air phytoncides during the walks were also measured. We found a decreased tendency in urinary DT and HEL (p < 0.05) in most participants after the forest walks, but not after the urban walks. We further found the total levels of air phytoncides in the forest field were 1.50 times higher compared with those in the urban field. This study suggests the possibility that regular immersion in a forest environment might contribute toward weakening of the oxidative modifications of proteins or lipids in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Yamada
- Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Sato
- Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
- Wakayama Shin-ai Junior and Senior High School, Wakayama 640-8151, Japan
| | | | - Masamitsu Miyanaga
- Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
| | - Da-Hong Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
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Kim JG, Khil TG, Lim Y, Park K, Shin M, Shin WS. The Psychological Effects of a Campus Forest Therapy Program. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17103409. [PMID: 32422871 PMCID: PMC7277815 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of a campus forest therapy program. To evaluate these, pre-test and post-test control group design was employed. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the campus forest therapy program group, and 19 in control). The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire and Modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) were administered to each participant to assess psychological effects. The results of this study revealed that participants in the campus forest therapy program group had significantly positive increases in their mood and stress response compared with those of control group participants. In conclusion, the campus forest therapy program is an efficient strategy to provide psychological health benefits to university students and our study can inform decision-makers on the priority of the campus forest program in societal efforts to promote psychological well-being among university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Gun Kim
- Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (T.G.K.); (Y.L.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Tae Gyu Khil
- Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (T.G.K.); (Y.L.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Youngsuwn Lim
- Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (T.G.K.); (Y.L.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Kyungja Park
- Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (T.G.K.); (Y.L.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Minja Shin
- Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea; (J.G.K.); (T.G.K.); (Y.L.); (K.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Won Sop Shin
- Department of Forest Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-43-261-2536
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Shin M, Liu QF, Choi B, Shin C, Lee B, Yuan C, Song YJ, Yun HS, Lee IS, Koo BS, Cho KS. Neuroprotective Effects of Limonene (+) against Aβ42-Induced Neurotoxicity in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 43:409-417. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Quan Feng Liu
- Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University
| | | | - Changmin Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - Banseok Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - Chunyu Yuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - You Jin Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - Hye Sup Yun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - Im-Soon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University
| | - Byung-Soo Koo
- Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University
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How Should Forests Be Characterized in Regard to Human Health? Evidence from Existing Literature. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17031027. [PMID: 32041261 PMCID: PMC7038061 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17031027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The potential of forests as a source of health has been addressed by the scientific community and is now being considered in national forest strategies, management plans and policies. Studies identifying the mechanisms by which forest characteristics may induce these effects on human health are nevertheless scarce. This systematic review of literature on forests and human health with real-life human exposure was conducted to assess the extent to which forests have been studied and described in detail and the extent to which relationships between forest variables and health effects have been reported. The analysis underlines the lack of forest descriptions in 19.35% of the 62 studies selected for review as well as the high heterogeneity of forest variables’ description. Patterns among the articles could not be identified correlating the broader forest variable (forest type) and the most studied health variables identified (blood pressure, pulse rate or/and cortisol levels). These findings, together with previous ex situ researches, suggest the need to ameliorate and incorporate more accurate descriptions of forest variables within human health studies to provide data for forest management and the potential use of these habitats for preventive medicine and clinical practice guidelines.
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Peterfalvi A, Miko E, Nagy T, Reger B, Simon D, Miseta A, Czéh B, Szereday L. Much More Than a Pleasant Scent: A Review on Essential Oils Supporting the Immune System. Molecules 2019; 24:E4530. [PMID: 31835699 PMCID: PMC6943609 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The augmenting acceptance and application of herbal medicine in prevention and treatment of diseases also involve the use of plant essential oils (EOs) through different routes of administration (aromatherapy). Scientific data supporting the efficacy of certain herbal products are continuously growing; however, the cumulative evidence is not always sufficient. The anti-inflammatory properties of EOs have been investigated more extensively and also reviewed in different settings, but so far, our review is the first to summarize the immune-supporting properties of EOs. Our aim here is to synthesize the currently available data on the immune function enhancing effects of EOs. An online search was conducted in the PubMed database, which was terminated at the end of July 2019. Other articles were found in the reference lists of the preselected papers. Studies that applied whole EOs with known components, or single EO constituents under in vitro or in vivo laboratory conditions, or in human studies, and de facto measured parameters related to immune function as outcome measures were included. Two specific fields, EO dietary supplementation for livestock and fish, and forest bathing are also explored. Some EOs, particularly eucalyptus and ginger, seem to have immune function enhancing properties in multiple studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Peterfalvi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (T.N.); (B.R.); (A.M.); (B.C.)
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 20., 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Eva Miko
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (E.M.); (L.S.)
| | - Tamas Nagy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (T.N.); (B.R.); (A.M.); (B.C.)
| | - Barbara Reger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (T.N.); (B.R.); (A.M.); (B.C.)
| | - Diana Simon
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12., 7624 Pecs, Hungary;
| | - Attila Miseta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (T.N.); (B.R.); (A.M.); (B.C.)
| | - Boldizsár Czéh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (T.N.); (B.R.); (A.M.); (B.C.)
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 20., 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Szereday
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Szigeti ut 12., 7624 Pecs, Hungary; (E.M.); (L.S.)
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Meneguzzo F, Albanese L, Bartolini G, Zabini F. Temporal and Spatial Variability of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Forest Atmosphere. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16244915. [PMID: 31817339 PMCID: PMC6950249 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16244915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The healing effects of the forest are increasingly being valued for their contribution to human psychological and physiological health, motivating further advances aimed at improving knowledge of relevant forest resources. Biogenic volatile organic compounds, emitted by the plants and accumulating in the forest atmosphere, are essential contributors to the healing effects of the forest, and represent the focus of this study. Using a photoionization detector, we investigated the high frequency variability, in time and space, of the concentration of total volatile organic compounds on a hilly site as well as along forest paths and long hiking trails in the Italian northern Apennines. The scale of concentration variability was found to be comparable to absolute concentration levels within time scales of less than one hour and spatial scales of several hundred meters. During daylight hours, on clear and calm days, the concentration peaked from noon to early afternoon, followed by early morning, with the lowest levels in the late afternoon. These results were related to meteorological variables including the atmospheric vertical stability profile. Moreover, preliminary evidence pointed to higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds in forests dominated by conifer trees in comparison to pure beech forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Meneguzzo
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
- “Fiorenzo Gei” Scientific Committee, Italian Alpine Club, 2 Via del Mezzetta, I-50135 Firenze (FI), Italy
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (F.Z.); Tel.: +39-392-985-0002 (F.M.); +39-333-379-2947 (F.Z.)
| | - Lorenzo Albanese
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
| | - Giorgio Bartolini
- Laboratory of Monitoring and Environmental Modelling for the Sustainable Development (LaMMA Consortium), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Federica Zabini
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (F.Z.); Tel.: +39-392-985-0002 (F.M.); +39-333-379-2947 (F.Z.)
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29
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Wen Y, Yan Q, Pan Y, Gu X, Liu Y. Medical empirical research on forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): a systematic review. Environ Health Prev Med 2019; 24:70. [PMID: 31787069 PMCID: PMC6886167 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-019-0822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims This study focused on the newest evidence of the relationship between forest environmental exposure and human health and assessed the health efficacy of forest bathing on the human body as well as the methodological quality of a single study, aiming to provide scientific guidance for interdisciplinary integration of forestry and medicine. Method Through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, 210 papers from January 1, 2015, to April 1, 2019, were retrieved, and the final 28 papers meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Result The methodological quality of papers included in the study was assessed quantitatively with the Downs and Black checklist. The methodological quality of papers using randomized controlled trials is significantly higher than that of papers using non-randomized controlled trials (p < 0.05). Papers included in the study were analyzed qualitatively. The results demonstrated that forest bathing activities might have the following merits: remarkably improving cardiovascular function, hemodynamic indexes, neuroendocrine indexes, metabolic indexes, immunity and inflammatory indexes, antioxidant indexes, and electrophysiological indexes; significantly enhancing people’s emotional state, attitude, and feelings towards things, physical and psychological recovery, and adaptive behaviors; and obvious alleviation of anxiety and depression. Conclusion Forest bathing activities may significantly improve people’s physical and psychological health. In the future, medical empirical studies of forest bathing should reinforce basic studies and interdisciplinary exchange to enhance the methodological quality of papers while decreasing the risk of bias, thereby raising the grade of paper evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Wen
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1101 ZhiMin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China.,Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, 1629 FengLin Road, Nanchang, 330032, China
| | - Qi Yan
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1101 ZhiMin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Yangliu Pan
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1101 ZhiMin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Xinren Gu
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1101 ZhiMin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China.
| | - Yuanqiu Liu
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1101 ZhiMin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China.
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Kim H, Lee YW, Ju HJ, Jang BJ, Kim YI. An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sleep Quality in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16142449. [PMID: 31295818 PMCID: PMC6678486 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16142449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The improvement of sleep quality in patients with cancer has a positive therapeutic effect on them. However, there are no specific treatment guidelines for treating sleep disturbance in cancer patients. We investigated the effect of forest therapy on the quality of sleep in patients with cancer. This study was conducted on nine patients (one male, eight female; mean age, 53.6 ± 5.8 years) with gastrointestinal tract cancer. All patients participated in forest therapy for six days. They underwent polysomnography (PSG) and answered questionnaires on sleep apnea (STOP BANG), subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), sleepiness (Stanford and Epworth Sleepiness Scales), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) to evaluate the quality of sleep before and after forest therapy. Sleep efficiency from the PSG results was shown to have increased from 79.6 ± 6.8% before forest therapy to 88.8 ± 4.9% after forest therapy (p = 0.027) in those patients, and total sleep time was also increased, from 367.2 ± 33.4 min to 398 ± 33.8 min (p = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the STOP BANG score, PSQI scores, daytime sleepiness based on the results of the Stanford and Epworth Sleepiness Scales, and depression and anxiety scores. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that forest therapy may be helpful in improving sleep quality in patients with gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea
| | - Yong Won Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea
- College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea
| | - Hyo Jin Ju
- College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea.
| | - Bong Jin Jang
- Graduate School of Healthcare Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea
| | - Yeong In Kim
- Department of Neurology, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea.
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Wendelboe-Nelson C, Kelly S, Kennedy M, Cherrie JW. A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E2081. [PMID: 31212860 PMCID: PMC6616579 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing interest in research investigating the association between green space (GS) and mental health and wellbeing (HWB), in order to understand the underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, there is a need to map the literature and create an overview of the research. METHODS A scoping review approach was used to map literature on GS, including context and co-exposures (the GS exposome), and their associations with mental HWB. The review considers mental HWB definitions and measurements and how GS is characterized. Furthermore, the review aims to identify knowledge gaps and make recommendations for future research. RESULTS We identified a great diversity in study designs, definitions, outcome measures, consideration of the totality of the GS exposome, and reporting of results. Around 70% of the 263 reviewed studies reported a positive association between some aspect of GS and HWB. However, there is a limited amount of research using randomized controlled crossover trails (RCTs) and mixed methods and an abundance of qualitative subjective research. CONCLUSIONS The discords between study designs, definitions, and the reporting of results makes it difficult to aggregate the evidence and identify any potential causal mechanisms. We propose key points to consider when defining and quantifying GS and make recommendations for reporting on research investigating GS and mental HWB. This review highlights a need for large well-designed RCTs that reliably measure the GS exposome in relation to mental HWB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
| | - Sarah Kelly
- Information Services, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
| | - Marion Kennedy
- Information Services, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
| | - John W Cherrie
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK.
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Psycho-Physiological Stress Recovery in Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of the Past Eight Years of Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16101711. [PMID: 31100773 PMCID: PMC6572302 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: In modern, urban daily life, natural environments are increasingly recognized as an important resource for stress recovery and general well-being. Aim: the present review aims to provide an overview and synthesis of the past eight years’ research into the psycho-physiological effects of outdoor nature-based interventions, related to stress recovery. Method: a structured search was performed in seven databases, returning 5618 articles. Removal of duplicates and initial screening gave a total of 95 studies. After full text reading, 36 studies were included in the assessment. Results: most of the psychological outcomes were related to different emotional measures. The synthesis of the results points towards outdoor, nature-based exposure having a positive effect on different emotional parameters, related to stress relief. The studies into physiological measures showed more equivocal results. Conclusion: the research, conducted over the past eight years, into outdoor, nature-based exposure has now attained a sound evidence base for psychological and especially emotional effects, but the evidence base for physiological effects within this timeframe shows a great degree of heterogeneity. Limitations: interpretation of the results is limited by the review only covering the past eight years’ research on the subject.
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Hall C, Knuth M. An Update of the Literature Supporting the Well-Being Benefits of Plants: A Review of the Emotional and Mental Health Benefits of Plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.24266/0738-2898-37.1.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Consumers have historically shown an inclination to purchase plants that enhance their quality of life, meaning they will purchase items that positively influence their social, physical, psychological, cognitive, environmental, and spiritual well-being. Plants in native and improved landscapes (and interiorscapes) have been documented to influence each of six quality of life constructs. This paper summarizes publications regarding the emotional and mental health benefits associated with plants, addressing reduced anxiety and stress, attention deficit recovery, fractals and visual response, decreased depression, enhanced memory retention, greater happiness and life satisfaction, mitigation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), increased creativity, enhanced productivity and attention, reduced effects of dementia, and improved self-esteem. This research should be strategically incorporated into both industry-wide and firm-specific marketing messages that highlight the quality of life value proposition in order to maintain the industry's sense of value and relevance to consumers of the future.
Index words: benefits of plants, emotional health, mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melinda Knuth
- Professor and Graduate Student, respectively, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2133. Corresponding author: Charles Hall
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Changes in Urinary Hydrogen Peroxide and 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Levels after a Forest Walk: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15091871. [PMID: 30158499 PMCID: PMC6163805 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Some studies have shown that exposure to forests has positive effects on human health, although the mechanisms underlying the health benefits of a forest environment have not been elucidated yet. The current study was aimed at examining how the levels of urinary hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) change after a forest or urban walk in healthy subjects. Twenty-eight volunteers (19 men and 9 women) participated in the study. The forest walks were carried out in a forest in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and the urban walks (15 men and 7 women) were carried out in the downtown area of Okayama city, each for two hours. Spot urine samples were collected before the walk, the next day and one week after the forest or urban walk. Compared with pre-forest walk levels, urinary H₂O₂ (p < 0.1) and 8-OHdG (p < 0.1) concentrations significantly decreased in the participants the day after the forest walk; furthermore, urinary 8-OHdG remained at a low level even at one week after the forest walk (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the concentrations of these oxidative biomarkers after the urban walk. These findings suggest the possibility that exposure to forests may alleviate oxidative stress in the body.
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35
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Yu CP, Lin CM, Tsai MJ, Tsai YC, Chen CY. Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14080897. [PMID: 28792445 PMCID: PMC5579495 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14080897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated changes in autonomic nervous system activity and emotions after a short (2 h) forest bathing program in the Xitou Nature Education Area (XNEA), Taiwan. One hundred and twenty-eight (60.0 ± 7.44 years) middle-aged and elderly participants were recruited. Physiological responses, pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), and psychological indices were measured before and after the program. We observed that pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower after the program, which indicated physiological benefits from stress recovery. The Profile of Mood States negative mood subscale scores of "tension-anxiety", "anger-hostility", "fatigue-inertia", "depression-dejection", and "confusion-bewilderment" were significantly lower, whereas the positive mood subscale score of "vigor-activity" was higher. Furthermore, participants exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. However, changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity were nonsignificant. Our study determined that the short forest bathing program is a promising therapeutic method for enhancing heart rate and blood pressure functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Pin Yu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Min Lin
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Jer Tsai
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Chieh Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Chun-Yu Chen
- Department of Tourism and Leisure Management, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30015, Taiwan.
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Prescott SL, Logan AC. Transforming Life: A Broad View of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Concept from an Ecological Justice Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13111075. [PMID: 27827896 PMCID: PMC5129285 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The influential scientist Rene J. Dubos (1901–1982) conducted groundbreaking studies concerning early-life environmental exposures (e.g., diet, social interactions, commensal microbiota, housing conditions) and adult disease. However, Dubos looked beyond the scientific focus on disease, arguing that “mere survival is not enough”. He defined mental health as fulfilling human potential, and expressed concerns about urbanization occurring in tandem with disappearing access to natural environments (and elements found within them); thus modernity could interfere with health via “missing exposures”. With the advantage of emerging research involving green space, the microbiome, biodiversity and positive psychology, we discuss ecological justice in the dysbiosphere and the forces—financial inequity, voids in public policy, marketing and otherwise—that interfere with the fundamental rights of children to thrive in a healthy urban ecosystem and learn respect for the natural environment. We emphasize health within the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) rubric and suggest that greater focus on positive exposures might uncover mechanisms of resiliency that contribute to maximizing human potential. We will entrain our perspective to socioeconomic disadvantage in developed nations and what we have described as “grey space”; this is a mental as much as a physical environment, a space that serves to insidiously reinforce unhealthy behavior, compromise positive psychological outlook and, ultimately, trans-generational health. It is a dwelling place that cannot be fixed with encephalobiotics or the drug-class known as psychobiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Prescott
- International Inflammation (in-FLAME) Network, Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009, Australia.
- School of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box D184, Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth 6001, Australia.
| | - Alan C Logan
- International Inflammation (in-FLAME) Network, Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009, Australia.
- PathLight Synergy, 23679 Calabassas Road, Suite 542, Calabassas, CA 91302, USA.
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