Nutritional Modulation of Immune Function: Analysis of Evidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Relevance

It is well-established that the nutritional deficiency or inadequacy can impair immune functions. Growing evidence suggests that for certain nutrients increased intake above currently recommended levels may help optimize immune functions including improving defense function and thus resistance to infection, while maintaining tolerance. This review will examine the data representing the research on prominent intervention agents n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), micronutrients (zinc, vitamins D and E), and functional foods including probiotics and tea components for their immunological effects, working mechanisms, and clinical relevance. Many of these nutritive and non-nutritive food components are related in their functions to maintain or improve immune function including inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, promotion of anti-inflammatory functions, modulation of cell-mediated immunity, alteration of antigen-presenting cell functions, and communication between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Both animal and human studies present promising findings suggesting a clinical benefit of vitamin D, n-3 PUFA, and green tea catechin EGCG in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, and vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, and probiotics in reduction of infection. However, many studies report divergent and discrepant results/conclusions due to various factors. Chief among them, and thus call for attention, includes more standardized trial designs, better characterized populations, greater consideration for the intervention doses used, and more meaningful outcome measurements chosen

field study of airline travellers in Malaysia

This study examines the relationship between airline travellers' casual attribution, pre-recovery emotions, and negative behavioural intentions after a service failure and proposes a model for analysing direct effects of airline travellers' casual attribution of stability (failure frequency) and controllability (the extent to which the airline can control the failure) on negative behavioural intentions as well as its indirect effects through pre-recovery emotions. Data were gathered through a survey of airline travellers who experienced a failure in the past six months. The results indicate that both dimensions of casual attribution influenced pre-recovery emotions and negative behavioural intentions, and that pre-recovery emotions were significantly related to negative behavioural intentions. In addition, the results verify the mediating effect of pre-recovery emotions on the relationship between casual attribution and behavioural intentions. These results have important managerial implications

"ASSESSMENT OF LYMPHOCYTE SUBGROUPS IN CHRONIC BRUCELLOSIS BEFORE AND AFTER IMMUNOTHERAPY"

Brucellosis is an infectious disease and it seems that it affects human immune system and can cause acute, subacute and chronic clinical features. Forty patients suffering from chronic brucellosis were studied for CD3+, CD4+,CD8+, CD19+, cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio by flow cytometry before and after treatment with antibiotics and immunopotentiators. The results were compared with 15 healthy controls. The patients were divided into three groups: 1) antibiotic, 2) levomisol + antibiotic, and 3)treated with cimetidine + antibiotic. The results showed a significant decrease of B cells (CD19+), CD4+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in comparison with normal subjects before treatment. In the first group, significant decrease of CD4 T cells and CD4/CD8 ratio inversion were seen after immunotherapy. The 3rd group showed the best correction of phenotype quantity. In other words, significant increase of CD4+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, CD4+/CD8+ratio and decrease of CD8+ T cells were seen with cimetidine immunotherapy

Determinants of RFID Adoption in Malaysia’s Healthcare Industry: Occupational Level as a Moderator

With today’s highly competitive market in the healthcare industry, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that can be applied by hospitals to improve operational efficiency and to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that may effect RFID adoption in Malaysia’s healthcare industry. In addition, the moderating role of occupational level was tested. Data was collected from 223 managers as well as healthcare and supporting staffs. This data was analyzed using the partial least squares technique. The results show that perceived ease of use and usefulness, government policy, top management support, and security and privacy concerns have an effect on the intent to adopt RFID in hospitals. There is a wide gap between managers and healthcare staff in terms of the factors that influence RFID adoption. The results of this study will help decision makers as well as managers in the healthcare industry to better understand the determinants of RFID adoption. Additionally, it will assist in the process of RFID adoption, and therefore, spread the usage of RFID technology in more hospitals

The effects of plate dimensions on residual stresses in welded thin steel plates

Residual stress distributions have been measured on thin 4 mm thick plates made from a ferritic steel designated grade DH 36 using the neutron diffraction technique. The welded specimens include two large 1 m 1 m butt welded plates, onto one fillet welded stiffeners were also added, and a smaller 0.5 m 0.5 m fillet welded stiffened plates. The large butt and fillet welded stiffened plate has also been cut to smaller dimensions and the strain relaxation due to cutting quantified by strain gauges. The residual stress distributions have been re measured after specimen cutting and the relaxation quantities compared to the strain gauge values. The influence of specimen size is also examined by comparing measurements at the base of the fillet welds in the large and smaller plates. The results are interpreted to identify plate size effects on the residual stress levels of the weld