PMID: 

Materials (Basel). 2013 Jul 9 ;6(7):2701-2712. Epub 2013 Jul 9. PMID: 28811403

Abstract Title: 

Millimeter Wave Radiations Affect Membrane Hydration in Phosphatidylcholine Vesicles.

Abstract: 

A clear understanding of the response of biological systems to millimeter waves exposure is of increasing interest for the scientific community due to the recent convincing use of these radiations in the ultrafast wireless communications. Here we report a deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (²H-NMR) investigation on the effects of millimeter waves in the 53-78 GHz range on phosphocholine bio-mimetic membranes. Millimeter waves significantly affect the polar interface of the membrane causing a decrease of the heavy water quadrupole splitting. This effect is as important as inducing thetransition from the fluid to the gel phase when the membrane exposure occurs in the neighborhood of the transition point. On the molecular level, the above effect can be well explained by membrane dehydration induced by the radiation.

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PMID: 

Soft Matter. 2014 Aug 14 ;10(30):5559-67. PMID: 24959858

Abstract Title: 

Effect of millimetre waves on phosphatidylcholine membrane models: a non-thermal mechanism of interaction.

Abstract: 

The nonthermal biological effects of millimeter waves have been mainly attributed to the interaction with biological membranes. Several data on biomimetic membrane systems seem to support this conclusion. In this paper a mechanistic hypothesis is evaluated to explain such an interaction taking into account experimental NMR data on deuterium-labeled phospholipid vesicles. These data showed that millimeter waves induce a time and a hydration-dependent reduction of the water ordering around the phosphocholine headgroups. This effect is here interpreted as a change in membrane water partitioning, due to the coupling of the radiation with the fast rotational dynamics of bound water molecules, that results in a measurable relocation of water molecules from the inner to the outer binding regions of the membrane interface. When millimeter wave exposure is performed in the vicinity of the transition point, this effect can lead to an upward shift of the membrane phase transition temperature from the fluid to the gel phase. At a macroscopic level, this unique sensitivity may be explained by the universal dynamic behaviour of the membranes in the vicinity of the transition point, where a pretransitional increase of membrane area fluctuations, i.e., of the mean area per phospholipid headgroup, is observed. Exposure to millimeter waves increases the above fluctuations and enhances the second order character of the transition.

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PMID: 

PLoS One. 2014 ;9(10):e109435. Epub 2014 Oct 10. PMID: 25302706

Abstract Title: 

Transcriptome analysis reveals the contribution of thermal and the specific effects in cellular response to millimeter wave exposure.

Abstract: 

Radiofrequency radiations constitute a new form of environmental pollution. Among them, millimeter waves (MMW) will be widely used in the near future for high speed communication systems. This study aimed therefore to evaluate the biocompatibility of MMW at 60 GHz. For this purpose, we used a whole gene expression approach to assess the effect of acute 60 GHz exposure on primary cultures of human keratinocytes. Controls were performed to dissociate the electromagnetic from the thermal effect of MMW. Microarray data were validated by RT-PCR, in order to ensure the reproducibility of the results. MMW exposure at 20 mW/cm2, corresponding to the maximum incident power density authorized for public use (local exposure averaged over 1 cm2), led to an increase of temperature and to a strong modification of keratinocyte gene expression (665 genes differentially expressed). Nevertheless, when temperature is artificially maintained constant, no modification in gene expression was observed after MMW exposure. However, a heat shock control did not mimic exactly the MMW effect, suggesting a slight but specific electromagnetic effect under hyperthermia conditions (34 genes differentially expressed). By RT-PCR, we analyzed the time course of the transcriptomic response and 7 genes have been validated as differentially expressed: ADAMTS6, NOG, IL7R, FADD, JUNB, SNAI2 and HIST1H1A. Our data evidenced a specific electromagnetic effect of MMW, which is associated to the cellular response to hyperthermia. This study raises the question of co-exposures associating radiofrequencies and other environmental sources of cellular stress.

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PMID: 

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 27 ;9(1):9343. Epub 2019 Jun 27. PMID: 31249327

Abstract Title: 

Untargeted metabolomics unveil alterations of biomembranes permeability in human HaCaT keratinocytes upon 60 GHz millimeter-wave exposure.

Abstract: 

A joint metabolomic and lipidomic workflow is used to account for a potential effect of millimeter waves (MMW) around 60 GHz on biological tissues. For this purpose, HaCaT human keratinocytes were exposed at 60.4 GHz with an incident power density of 20 mW/cm², this value corresponding to the upper local exposure limit for general public in the context of a wide scale deployment of MMW technologies and devices. After a 24h-exposure, endo- and extracellular extracts were recovered to be submitted to an integrative UPLC-Q-Exactive metabolomic and lipidomic workflow. R-XCMS data processing and subsequent statistical treatment led to emphasize a limited number of altered features in lipidomic sequences and in intracellular metabolomic analyses, whatever the ionization mode (i.e 0 to 6 dysregulated features). Conversely, important dysregulations could be reported in extracellular metabolomic profiles with 111 and 99 frames being altered upon MMW exposure in positive and negative polarities, respectively. This unexpected extent of modifications can hardly stem from the mild changes that could be reported throughout transcriptomics studies, leading us to hypothesize that MMW might alter the permeability of cell membranes, as reported elsewhere.

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PMID: 

Int J Biometeorol. 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18. PMID: 31001682

Abstract Title: 

Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

Forest bathing is a traditional practice characterized by visiting a forest and breathing its air. This review aims to investigate the effects of forest bathing on levels of salivary or serum cortisol as a stress biomarker in order to understand whether forest bathing can reduce stress. Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for relevant articles. The quality of included trials was assessed following the criteria of the NIH dedicated tools. Afterwards, a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of retrieved evidence was performed. A total of 971 articles were screened; 22 of them were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta-analysis. In all but two included studies, cortisol levels were significantly lower after intervention in forest groups if compared with control/comparison groups, or a significant pre-post reduction of cortisol levels was reported in the forest groups. The main results of the meta-analysis showed that salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower in the forest groups compared with the urban groups both before (MD = - 0.08 μg/dl [95% CI - 0.11 to - 0.05 μg/dl]; p 

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PMID: 

Front Psychiatry. 2019 ;10:256. Epub 2019 Apr 24. PMID: 31105604

Abstract Title: 

Harnessing the Four Elements for Mental Health.

Abstract: 

Humans are intimately connected to nature, and our physical and mental health is influenced strongly by our environment. The"elements,"classically described in humoral theory as Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, all may impact our mental health. In a contemporary sense, these elements reflect a range of modifiable factors: UV light or heat therapy (Fire); sauna, hydrotherapy, and balneotherapy (Water); nature-based exposure therapy and horticulture (Earth); oxygen-rich/clean air exposure; and breathing techniques (Air). This theoretical scoping review paper details the emerging evidence for a range of these elements, covering epidemiological and interventional data, and provides information on how we can engage in"biophilic"activities to harness their potential benefits. Interventional examples with emerging evidentiary support include"forest-bathing,"heat therapy, sauna, light therapy,"greenspace"and"bluespace"exercise, horticulture, clay art therapy activities, and pranayamic yoga breathing exercises. Further robust research is however required to firmly validate many of these interventions, and to establish their therapeutic applications for the benefit of specific mental health disorders.

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PMID: 

Glob Adv Health Med. 2019 ;8:2164956119848654. Epub 2019 May 16. PMID: 31192052

Abstract Title: 

A Review of Field Experiments on the Effect of Forest Bathing on Anxiety and Heart Rate Variability.

Abstract: 

Many studies have explored the physiological and psychological benefits of the Japanese nature therapy practice of"shinrin-yoku,"known in the West as forest bathing. This review article has narrowed its focus to include the most recent literature about the beneficial effects of forest bathing on heart rate variability, expressed as an increase in InHF, indicating activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and also its effect on reducing anxiety.

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PMID: 

Sante Publique. 2019 05 13 ;S1(HS):135-143. PMID: 31210473

Abstract Title: 

[Effect of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on human health: A review of the literature].

Abstract: 

Humans have enjoyed forest environments for ages because of the quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, mild climate, pleasant aromas, and fresh, clean air. In Japan, since 2004, serial studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of forest environments on human health. We have established a new medical science called Forest Medicine. The Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, belonging to the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine and preventive medicine, which encompasses the effects of forest environments on human health. It has been reported that forest environments have the following beneficial effects on human health:1. Increase human natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers.2. Reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary cortisol.3. Increase the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduce the activity of sympathetic nerves.4. Increase the levels of serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.5. In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test, reduce the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increase the score for vigor, showing psychological effects as well.These findings suggest that forest environments may have preventive effects on lifestyle-related diseases.

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PMID: 

Environ Health Prev Med. 2019 Jun 22 ;24(1):46. Epub 2019 Jun 22. PMID: 31228960

Abstract Title: 

A comparative study of the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) on working age people with and without depressive tendencies.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: In recent years, many of Japanese workers have complained of fatigue and stress, considering them as risk factors for depression. Studies have found that"forest bathing"(Shinrin-yoku) has positive physiological effects, such as blood pressure reduction, improvement of autonomic and immune functions, as well as psychological effects of alleviating depression and improving mental health. In this study, we investigate the physiological and psychological effects of"forest bathing"on people of a working age with and without depressive tendencies.METHODS: We conducted physiological measurements and psychological surveys before and after forest bathing with subjects who participated in day-long sessions of forest bathing, at a forest therapy base located in Hiroshima Prefecture. After excluding severely depressed individuals, the participants were classified into two groups: those with depressive tendencies (5 ≤ K6 ≤ 12) and those without depressive tendencies (K6 

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PMID: 

Toxicol Ind Health. 2018 Oct 21:748233718798975. Epub 2018 Oct 21. PMID: 30345898

Abstract Title: 

The chronic effect of pulsed 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation on amino acid neurotransmitters in three different areas of juvenile and young adult rat brain.

Abstract: 

The extensive use of mobile phones worldwide has raised increasing concerns about the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the brain due to the proximity of the mobile phone to the head and the appearance of several adverse neurological effects after mobile phone use. It has been hypothesized that the EMR-induced neurological effects may be mediated by amino acid neurotransmitters. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of EMR (frequency 1800 MHz, specific absorption rate 0.843 W/kg, power density 0.02 mW/cm, modulated at 217 Hz) on the concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, gamma aminobutyric acid, glycine, taurine, and the amide glutamine) in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus of juvenile and young adult rats. The juvenile and young adult animals were each divided into two groups: control rats and rats exposed to EMR 1 h daily for 1, 2, and 4 months. A subgroup of rats were exposed daily to EMR for 4 months and then left without exposure for 1 month to study the recovery from EMR exposure. Amino acid neurotransmitters were measured in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus using high-performance liquid chromatography. Exposure to EMR induced significant changes in amino acid neurotransmitters in the studied brain areas of juvenile and young adult rats, being more prominent in juvenile animals. It could be concluded that the alterations in amino acid neurotransmitters induced by EMR exposure of juvenile and young adult rats may underlie many of the neurological effects reported after EMR exposure including cognitive and memory impairment and sleep disorders. Some of these effects may persist for some time after stopping exposure.

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