We tested the efficacy of the Healthy Workplace programme for metabolic syndrome. A total of 226 workers with metabolic syndrome from 12 companies enrolled in the study and completed baseline and 6-month follow-up. The Healthy Workplace programme consisted of a 4-week structured education module, telephone counselling, mobile phone messages (SMS) and email messages in the ensuing 6 months. The main outcome measures of the pre-post study were waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure (BP) and glucose levels. At follow-up, waist circumference and diastolic BP were significantly reduced compared to baseline. Triglyceride and fasting glucose levels improved significantly 6 months after the study. At 6-month follow-up, manifest risk factors for metabolic syndrome had disappeared in 9% of the participants. The integrated Healthy Workplace programme encouraged workers to improve self-care behaviours.

To observe the production of IgA in Balb/c mice with neodiplostomiasis, 20 mice were infected with each 200 metacercariae of Neodiplostomum seoulenis. Sera and the duodenums were obtained 3, 7, 14, 28 days post-infection (PI) from five mice each group. Neodiplostomum specific IgA in serum by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay increased from 7 days PI and persisted till 28 days PI. Immunohistochemistry for IgA was done with sections of the duodenum. The IgA-positive reaction was generally seen in the lamina propria and submucosa. Some of epithelial cells were positive at 7 and 14 days PI. The present finding showed that Neodiplostomun specific IgA antibody increased in serum and that there was local reaction of IgA in the mucosa and submucosa of the duodenum but not directly related with worm expulsion.

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