Mobile health and wellness application framework.

OBJECTIVES: There is an increasing need for user-friendly and interoperable mobile applications in health and wellness domain. The objective of this work has been to provide support for rapid and cost-effective development of such applications. METHODS: We have introduced an application framework which provides a generic tool for mobile application designers. We have demonstrated the usage of the application framework by providing an example implementation and demonstrating its usage in a Tele-ECG use case. In order to support interoperability we propose a solution compatible with clinical document standards such as the HL7 CDA. RESULTS: A new mobile platform applicable for a wide range of telemedicine and wellness applications is introduced. The platform provides connectivity between healthcare professionals, patients and measurement devices. It is based on an open application framework that provides interfaces for measurement, user interface, database and network connectivity implementations. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile application development based on the application framework was demonstrated successfully. The developed UPHIAC platform adopts a new technical approach using a local database solution for caching of information at the mobile terminal. The platform applies a document-based approach providing a versatile and reliable way of sharing and collaboratively complementing of health information including standard information model documents (HL7/CDA), and integration with health information systems and personal storages. The implemented mobile tele-ECG case demonstrates the overall function of the platform. The platform can be used as a basis for developing new applications for specific purposes.

The dynamic link between the integrity of the immune system and zinc status.

The results of more than three decades of work indicate that zinc deficiency rapidly diminishes antibody- and cell-mediated responses in both humans and animals. The moderate deficiencies in zinc noted in sickle cell anemia, renal disease, chronic gastrointestinal disorders and acrodermatitis enteropathica; subjects with human immunodeficiency virus; children with diarrhea; and elderly persons can greatly alter host defense systems, leading to increases in opportunistic infections and mortality rates. Conversely, short periods of zinc supplementation substantially improve immune defense in individuals with these diseases. Mouse models demonstrate that 30 d of suboptimal intake of zinc can lead to 30-80% losses in defense capacity. Collectively, the data clearly demonstrate that immune integrity is tightly linked to zinc status. Lymphopenia and thymic atrophy, which were the early hallmarks of zinc deficiency, are now known to be due to high losses of precursor T and B cells in the bone marrow. This ultimately leads to lymphopenia or a failure to replenish the lymphocytic system. Glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis induced by zinc deficiency causes down-regulation of lymphopoiesis. Indeed, zinc itself can modulate death processes in precursor lymphocytes. Finally, there is substantial evidence that zinc supplementation may well reduce the impact of many of the aforementioned diseases by preventing the dismantling of the immune system. The latter represents an important area for research.