Associations of park features with park use and park-based physical activity in an urban environment in Asia: A cross-sectional study

Park use is associated with health, yet our understanding of park features related to their use is limited. Singapore's parks were audited for 30 micro-features, then geospatial analysis characterized micro-features scores for parks nearest to participants' homes. Adults (3,435) reported their park use and park-based physical activity. Using linear regression models, we found living near a park with higher micro-features scores was associated with more time in parks and park-based physical activity. Specific micro-features were associated with more park time (wildlife areas, water features, forested areas, unpaved trails (2–2.6 h/month, p < 0.05)) and with physical activity in parks (water features, forested areas, large playground, open green spaces (1.8–2.2 h/month, p < 0.05)). These findings could inform parks planning to support population-health.     

Effects of Daily Matcha and Caffeine Intake on Mild Acute Psychological Stress-Related Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Matcha, a type of green tea, has a higher amino acid content than other types of tea. We previously examined the ability of matcha to improve cognitive function in older adults and determined that continuous matcha intake improves attention and executive function. This study aimed to compare the effects of matcha and caffeine and clarify the differences between these effects. The study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000036578). The effect of single and continuous intake was compared, and the usefulness of continuous intake was evaluated under the stress condition. The Uchida–Kraepelin test (UKT) was used to induce mild acute stress, and the Cognitrax was used to evaluate cognitive function. A single dose of caffeine improved attentional function during or after stress loading. The reduced reaction time in the Cognitrax, observed following a single dose of matcha, was likely due to caffeine. The matcha group showed an increase in the amount of work after continuous intake, whereas the caffeine group only showed an increase in the amount of work for the UKT after a single dose. Ingesting matcha with caffeine improves both attention and work performance when suffering from psychological stress compared with caffeine alone.     

Matcha Green Tea Alleviates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Responses

Lately, matcha green tea has gained popularity as a beverage and food additive. It has proved to be effective in preventing obesity and related metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of its control effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are complicated and remain elusive. In the present study, we performed an in vivo experiment using male C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and simultaneously treated with matcha for six weeks. Serum biochemical parameters, histological changes, lipid accumulation, inflammatory cytokines, and relevant indicators were examined. Dietary supplementation of matcha effectively prevented excessive accumulation of visceral and hepatic lipid, elevated blood glucose, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, and steatosis hepatitis. RNA sequencing analyses of differentially expressed genes in liver samples indicated that matcha treatment decreased the activity of lipid droplet-associated proteins and increased the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, suggesting improved metabolic capacity and liver function. The current study provided evidence for new dietary strategies based on matcha supplementation to ameliorate lipotoxicity-induced obesity and NALFD.     

Contextual influences on chronic illness: A multi-level analysis in the twin cities of Ramallah and Al Bireh in the occupied Palestinian Territory

The features of the urban environment can support human health as well as harm it, but less is known about such influences in the context of middle eastern countries. The association between green space and the political classifications of the urban environment and the risk of chronic illness was investigated in a novel setting, the twin cities of Ramallah and Albireh in the occupied Palestinian territory. We used a generalised multi-level regression analysis to link the 2017 census data with Geographic Information System data. We modelled individuals at level one (n = 54693) and areas of residence at level two (n = 228), adjusting for individual demographic and socio-economic characteristics.The proportions of ‘mixed’ trees in residential areas had a significant inverse association with the risk of chronic illness. On the political dimension, only living in a refugee camp had a significant positive association with chronic illness; however, this was largely explained and rendered non-significant when green space variables were entered into the models. Our ability to differentiate between several types of green space was important, as findings demonstrated that not all types were associated with reduced risk of chronic illness. Our results from a middle eastern setting add to the largely Western existing evidence, that trees in urban settings are important and beneficial to human health. Researchers and policymakers should pay more attention to the health consequences of refugee camps but also the role of trees in benefiting individuals' health in such a disadvantaged context.     

Green mobility and obesity risk: A longitudinal analysis in California

Previous work reports an inverse association between neighborhood greenness and obesity. Limitations of this work, which relies largely on cross-sectional data, include that studies often lack control for unmeasured genetic and sociodemographic factors that may confound associations, and cannot disentangle temporal order between neighborhood greenness and obesity. We move beyond a cross-sectional approach and leverage a longitudinal sibling-linked dataset with health, residential, and demographic information on women with two births in California between 2007 and 2015 (N = 552,929). We used a sibling comparison design to control for unmeasured stable characteristics of women and tested whether a positive change in neighborhood greenness (i.e., “upward green mobility”) precedes a reduction in obesity risk. Models also adjusted for baseline obesity risk and time-varying individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors. As hypothesized, we find that upward green mobility varies inversely with the odds of obesity. Results indicate that small decreases in neighborhood greenness may also show protective associations with obesity risk. Our findings, if replicated, suggest that changing levels (particularly increases) of greenness in the residential environment may combat the rise of obesity.     

基于格林模式的健康教育对甲状腺癌手术患者心理状态、遵医行为的影响

目的 探讨基于格林模式的健康教育对甲状腺癌手术患者心理状态、遵医行为的影响。方法 选取2019年1月至2020年12月我院收治的90例甲状腺癌手术患者,按抽签法分为两组各45例。参照组进行常规护理,研究组在参照组基础上采用基于格林模式的健康教育。对比两组的心理状态(SAS、 SDS评分)、遵医行为(Frankl治疗依从性量表评分)及护理满意度。结果 干预后,两组的SAS、 SDS评分均下降,且研究组的SAS、 SDS评分低于参照组(P<0.05);两组的Frankl量表评分均上升,且研究组的Frankl量表评分高于参照组(P<0.05)。研究组的护理满意度高于参照组(P<0.05)。结论 基于格林模式的健康教育可有效改善甲状腺癌手术患者的心理状态,提高其遵医行为及护理满意度。     

Dark Tea: A popular beverage with possible medicinal application

Tea is a famous beverage that is produced from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Amongst the six major tea categories in China, dark tea is the only one that involves microbial fermentation in the manufacturing process, which contributes unique flavors and functions for the tea. In the recent decade, the reports about the biofunctions of dark teas have increased rapidly. Therefore it may be the proper time to consider dark tea as one potential homology of medicine and food. In this viewpoint, our current understanding of the chemical constituents, biological activities and possible health beneficial effects of dark teas were introduced. Some future directions and challenges to the development perspectives of dark teas were also discussed.     

茶皂素为乳化剂制备黄芩苷纳米乳及其促小鼠毛发生长的药效学研究

目的 以茶皂素为天然乳化剂制备黄芩苷纳米乳（baicalin nanoemulsion,Bai-NE）,并探究其对C57BL/6小鼠毛发生长的促进作用。方法 采用超声乳化法制备Bai-NE,利用单因素实验法对Bai-NE的处方和制备工艺进行优化,并对最优处方和工艺制备的Bai-NE进行理化性质和稳定性考察。以C57BL/6小鼠为研究对象,评价Bai-NE对毛发生长的促进作用。结果 Bai-NE的最佳处方为茶皂素用量为0.5%,油相用量为5%,最佳制备工艺为超声功率180W,超声时间10min,超声次数1次。制得的Bai-NE为O/W型乳液,外观均一,平均粒径为（225.1±0.6）nm,多分散指数（polydispersity index,PDI）为0.082±0.031,载药量为1.10mg/g,pH值为7.25±0.20。稳定性结果显示,Bai-NE具有良好的离心稳定性和储存稳定性。Bai-NE能显著促进C57BL/6小鼠的毛发生长。结论 茶皂素可作为一种潜在的天然乳化剂用于Bai-NE的制备,制备的Bai-NE对C57BL/6小鼠的毛发生长有促进作用。     

分散固相萃取-气相色谱串联质谱法测定菊花茶中的56种农药残留

目的 建立菊花茶中56种农药残留的分散固相萃取（QuEChERS） - 气相色谱串联三重四级杆质谱（GC - MS/MS）测定方法。方法 样品用乙腈提取,PSA+C18+GCB混合型分散固相萃取剂净化,DB - 5MS色谱柱分离,多反应监测模式（MRM）检测,外标法定量。结果 在0.005～500 mg/L范围内,56种农药的线性相关系数均≥0.995,方法定量限为0.002～0.057 mg/kg,平均回收率为60.0%～118.0%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为0.53%～20.09%。结论 该方法简单快速灵敏,可以实现菊花茶中农药残留的快速高通量检测。     

茶多酚与亚硒酸钠联合对EBV抗原表达的抑制作用

用间接免疫荧光法测定Ｒａｊｉ细胞和Ｂ９５－８细胞ＥＢ病毒抗原的表达。结果显示无细胞毒浓度的茶多酚与亚硒酸钠联合对Ｒａｊｉ细胞ＥＢＶ－ＥＡ表达有显著的抑制作用,优于单纯茶多酚或亚硒酸钠的抑制作用。两药显示相互协同增效的作用 。抑制率与药物浓度相关;单纯茶多酚对Ｂ９５－８细胞ＥＢＶ－ＶＣＡ表达无抵制作用,但茶多酚能增强亚硒酸钠对Ｂ９５－８细胞ＥＢＶ－ＶＣＡ表达的抵制作用,抑制率随药物浓度的升高而升高。