The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION: The view that interacting with nature enhances mental wellbeing is commonplace, despite a dearth of evidence or even agreed definitions of 'nature'. The aim of this review was to systematically appraise the evidence for associations between greenspace and mental wellbeing, stratified by the different ways in which greenspace has been conceptualised in quantitative research. METHODS: We undertook a comprehensive database search and thorough screening of articles which included a measure of greenspace and validated mental wellbeing tool, to capture aspects of hedonic and/or eudaimonic wellbeing. Quality and risk of bias in research were assessed to create grades of evidence. We undertook detailed narrative synthesis of the 50 studies which met the review inclusion criteria, as methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. RESULTS: Results of a quality assessment and narrative synthesis suggest associations between different greenspace characteristics and mental wellbeing. We identified six ways in which greenspace was conceptualised and measured: (i) amount of local-area greenspace; (ii) greenspace type; (iii) visits to greenspace; (iv) views of greenspace; (v) greenspace accessibility; and (vi) self-reported connection to nature. There was adequate evidence for associations between the amount of local-area greenspace and life satisfaction (hedonic wellbeing), but not personal flourishing (eudaimonic wellbeing). Evidence for associations between mental wellbeing and visits to greenspace, accessibility, and types of greenspace was limited. There was inadequate evidence for associations with views of greenspace and connectedness to nature. Several studies reported variation in associations between greenspace and wellbeing by life course stage, gender, levels of physically activity or attitudes to nature. CONCLUSIONS: Greenspace has positive associations with mental wellbeing (particularly hedonic wellbeing), but the evidence is not currently sufficient or specific enough to guide planning decisions. Further studies are needed, based on dynamic measures of greenspace, reflecting access and uses of greenspace, and measures of both eudaimonic and hedonic mental wellbeing

Morphological and molecular characterization of distinct species of fungi with potential medicinal interest collected in Sicily

Medicinal mushrooms are very interesting for their pharmacological effects as well as for their nutritional value, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial activities. Antitumor activities of mushrooms have been extensively investigated due to recent chemotherapeutic application of some drugs derived from natural sources.The aim of this study was the morphological and molecular characterization of nine species of fungi with potential medicinal interest. In particular, we focused our attention on: Bjerkandera adusta (Willd) P. Karst., Ganoderma resinaceum Boud.,Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers., Pleurotus eryngii var elaeoselini Venturella, Zervakis and La Rocca, P. eryngii var. eryngii (DC.) Quél., P. eryng i var. ferulae (Lanzi) Sacc., P. nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quél., P. opuntiae (Durieu & Lév.) Sacc., P. ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. The basidiomata were collected in Sicily and subsequently were dried and they were stored in the Herbarium SAF of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (University of Palermo, Italy). The identification was performed by examining the whole basidiomata (cap, gills, stipe, etc.). The microscopic features were observed in water using a Leica microscope DMLB. Basidiospores measurements were based on 50 observations. Nomenclature is referred to Index Fungorum (http://www.indexfungorum.org/ Names/Names.asp). Subsequently to confirm the identification molecular analysis were carried out. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is the primary choice for molecular identification of fungi and the preferred DNA barcoding marker. Total DNA was extracted from dry tissue using the CTAB- based protocol [4]. PCR amplification was carried out with ITS1F/ ITS4 primer pairs targeting the ITS. PCR conditions, were performed as described by Oliveri et al. Obtained PCR products were sequenced in both directions using an ABI PRISM DNA 377 sequencer (Perkin-Elmer, Boston, MA, USA). Nucleotide sequences were compared with sequences of respective reference species retrieved from GenBank. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred by the Minimum Evolution method with 1,000 bootstrap replicates, using the algorithm Kimura-2-parameter. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all species examined clustered with reference species with an identity > 99%. A particular case is represented by some species of the genus Ganoderma.In fact, this genus includes many species that are diffic lt to characterize both macroscopically and microscopically, with classical examples being G. resinaceum and G. lucidum which may seem identical but which differ for a few imperceptible characters. Therefore, in order to have a clear characterization, it is useful to use molecular analysis and then of Bar-Coding technology, which can be a very useful tool for the characterization of new fungal species. For this purpose, it would be useful, especially for the characterization of fungal species of difficult morphological identification, to analyze, in addition to the ITS1 region, at least one other coding gene sequence, preferably located in genome portion away from the ITS 1. The molecular analysis technology, with particular reference to the conserved genome regions that can be used as a reference for Bar-Coding, is particularly useful, but not alone, in order to classify fungus with very similar morphological characteristics

Plasma sex hormone concentrations during the reproductive cycle in the male lizard, Podarcis s. sicula.

Progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and oestradiol concentrations in the plasma were measured by simultaneous radioimmunoassay in males of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. Hormonal determinations were performed at monthly intervals from January to December (except for August). Testosterone and androstenedione reached peak values of 174.8 ng/ml and 21.4 ng/ml in the mating season (spring) and then testosterone fell abruptly to 5.9 ng/ml in June remaining at this level during hibernation when dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) reached a maximal level of 28.5 +/- 9.3 ng/ml. Castration resulted in a marked decrease of testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone and DHA values, with DHA being significantly lowered only during the winter season. In castrated animals, however, testosterone and androstenedione persisted conspicuously in the plasma during the breeding period, suggesting that adrenal sex steroid output may change during the annual reproductive cycle. In intact animals, progesterone and oestradiol exhibited peak values during the refractory period after the mating season. We suggest a probable role of oestradiol in the induction of the refractory period in this lizard

A cross-talk between the androgen receptor and the epidermal growth factor re-ceptor leads to p38MAPK-dependent activation of mTOR and cyclinD1 expression in prostate and lung cancer cells.

In androgen sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells, the proliferation induced by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) involves a cross-talk between the EGF receptor (EGFR) and the androgen receptor (AR). In lung cancer the role of the EGF\u2013EGFR transduction pathway has been documented, whereas androgen activity has received less attention. Here we demonstrate that in LNCaP and A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), AR and EGFR are required for either 5\u3b1-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or EGF-stimulated cell growth. Only EGF activated ERK signaling and up-regulated early gene expression, while DHT triggered the expression of classical AR-responsive genes with the exception of the EGF-induced PSA transcript in A549 cells. DHT and EGF up-regulated cyclinD1 (CD1) at both mRNA and protein levels in A549 cells, while in LNCaP cells each mitogen increased only CD1 protein expression. In both cell contexts, CD1 up-regulation was prevented by selective inhibitors as well as by knock-down of either AR or EGFR and also inhibiting p38MAPK and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Interestingly, p38MAPK and mTOR repression prevented the activation of the mTOR target ribosomal p70S6 kinase induced by DHT and EGF, indicating that p38MAPK acts as an upstream mTOR regulator. In addition, the proliferative effects promoted by both DHT and EGF in LNCaP and A549 cancer cells were no longer observed blocking either p38MAPK or mTOR activity. Hence, our data suggest that p38MAPK-dependent activation of the mTOR/CD1 pathway may represent a mechanism through which AR and EGFR cross-talk contributes to prostate and lung cancer progression

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits growthand epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human thyroid carcinoma cell lines.

Well-differentiated papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma are the most frequent types of thyroid cancer and the prognosis is generally favorable however, a number of patients develops recurrences. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin in green tea, was shown to possess remarkable therapeutic potential against various types of human cancers, although data on thyroid cancer cells are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EGCG on the proliferation and motility of human thyroid papillary (FB-2) and follicular (WRO) carcinoma cell lines. Our results demonstrate that EGCG (10, 40, 60 μM) treatment inhibited the growth of FB-2 and WRO cells in a dose-dependent manner. These changes were associated with reduced cyclin D1, increased p21 and p53 expression. Furthermore, EGCG suppressed phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2. In addition EGCG treatment results in reduction of cell motility and migration. Changes in motility and migration in FB-2 were associated with modulation in the expression of several proteins involved in cell adhesion and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton. After 24 h EGCG caused an increase of the E-cadherin expression and a concomitant decrease of SNAIL, ZEB and the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor TWIST. Besides expression of Vimentin, N-cadherin and α5-integrin was down-regulated. These data well correlate with a reduction of MMP9 activity as evidenced by gelatin zymography. Our findings support the inhibitory role of EGCG on thyroid cancer cell proliferation and motility with concomitant loss of epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition markers

Ligand activated progesterone receptor B drives autophagy-senescence transition through a Beclin-1/Bcl-2 dependent mechanism in human breast cancer cells.

Loss of progesterone-receptors (PR) expression is associated with breast cancer progression. Herein we provide evidence that OHPg/PR-B through Beclin-1 evoke autophagy-senescence transition, in breast cancer cells. Specifically, OHPg increases Beclin-1 expression through a transcriptional mechanism due to the occupancy of Beclin-1 promoter by PR-B, together with the transcriptional coactivator SRC-2. This complex binds at a canonical half progesterone responsive element, which is fundamental for OHPg effects, as shown by site-directed mutagenesis. Beside, OHPg via non-genomic action rapidly activates JNK, which phosphorylates Bcl-2, producing the functional release from Beclin-1 interaction. This is not linked to an efficient autophagic flux, since p62 levels, marker of degradation via lysosomes, were not reduced after sustained OHPg stimulus. Instead, the cell cycle inhibitor p27 was induced, together with an irreversible G1 arrest, hallmark of cellular senescence. Specifically the increase of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity was blocked by Bcl-2 siRNA but also by Beclin-1 siRNA. Collectively these findings support the importance of PR-B expression in breast cancer cells, thus targeting PR-B may be a useful strategy to provide additional approaches to existing therapies for breast cancer patients