Title of Journal Article

Stress, Age, and Immune function: toward a lifespan approach

Title of Journal   EBSCO HOST Research Databases

Volume___4__(ISSN:0160-7715)______ Date 8/29/2006___ Page Number(s) _389-400_____________

·          What organization is responsible for publishing the journal you chose?

Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio,USA.

·          What is your overall evaluation of this article?

_____Poor     ______Fair     __x__Good      _____Very Good      ___Excellent

·          Why did you choose to review this particular article?  I decided to review this article because it pertained to Stress and Immune function in the human body, and because I am seeking to find out how stress effects the immune system.

·          How would you rate this article as a tool for teaching a student about cardiopulmonary physiology, radiography, or another allied health specialty? 

Students:               ____Poor       ____Fair       ____X_Good     _____Very Good      _____Excellent

Teachers:               ____Poor       ____Fair       ___X__Good     _____Very Good      _____Excellent

Patients:                ____Poor       ____Fair       ___X__Good     _____Very Good      _____Excellent

• Comment on the readability of this article.  The readability was good.  It explained quite well how stressors such as: taking exams, pain, caring for elderly adults etc. can effect our health. 

• Course Topics covered: Stress and Immune Function, Chronic Stress, and Effects of Early Life Experiences.

·          Brief Summary:  This article explains how the effects of stress react within the body.  It talks about the Physiological changes that can  occur throughout a persons lifespan.  It also talks about how there is a decline in the immune system, which cause elderly more susceptible to illness.

·          Identify and attempt to explain three (3) terms, procedures or concepts that were unfamiliar to you when reviewing this article.

1). Age related changes in the immune system causes older adults to become at a greater risk to infection, pneumonia and even influenza and sometimes death from it.

2). Chronic Inflammation could bring on a dangerous situation in imbalance of homeostasis and increase the risk for various diseases such as: atherosclerosis, heart disease, cancers, and osteoporosis.

3). Acute pain is a type of stress.  It can also lead into immune dysregulation.

·          Detail the strengths/weaknesses of this article.

 Weaknesses- Animal data support the propositions listed. Future research should be done on more of the underlying mechanisms and the effects rather than totally implying in this article that all of the material is accurate material. 

  Strengths- This article mentions that a better understanding of stressors early in life could effect the health outcomes in old age, which I think… is a good idea. 

   It also mentions another strong point, that being aware of the risk of stress during pregnancy. 

·          How might this article be useful to you in your further studies and career? I have learned some things on how stress can effect the immune system, and it will be a guide to help in attempting to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

·          Does the article include a list of references/citations that can be used to find more information on the topics they cover?  Oh yes, it sure does…it list many, many references for future studies.

YourName: __Cheryl Mull_______ Date:__7__/_12__/__07