[Alcohol related problem in the workplace: trial of a screening and brief intervention program for risky drinking in the workplace, via the Internet].

This report describes the effect of a screening and brief intervention via the Internet (6-month Total health Management Program: TMP, a kind of life evolution program), for improvement of alcohol related problem in the workplace. At a certain company, 2,096 employees were screened.using AUDIT-C and CAGE via the Internet (electronic screening). From those screened, 17 risky drinkers were picked up. The classification of "risky drinker" was determined based on employees scoring over six points on AUDIT-C and over two points on_ AGE. These employees were then called to one-day practical seminar program (including the program of food education, music therapy, aro-atherapy, body conditioning etc.). After which, during 6 months, they were followed up via e-mail every month. After the 6-month follow up, their results of AUDIT-C were significantly decreased. Additionally, aside from the frequency of drinking at bedtime, maximum alcohol consumption per day was also significantly decreased. The Visual Analogue Scale for anxiety captured the initial screen and then again after follow-up was reduced significantly. Moreover, quality-of-life index for sleep and dinner were both significantly improved as well..These results suggest that the SBI (screening and brief intervention: TMP) is effective for reducing drinking behavior, can be used to effectively elevate quality of life.

PPAR-gamma, TNF-alpha messenger RNA levels and lipase activity in the pregnant and lactating rat.

Dramatic alternations in maternal metabolism occur during gestation and lactation, especially glucose and fat metabolism. For example, in rats, the amount of body fat mass increases during gestation, then decreases just prior to delivery, and remains low after parturition. To investigate the factors involved in such changes in maternal fat mass, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of adipocytokines, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), were examined in the intraabdominal adipose tissue of non-pregnant rats, pregnant rats and postpartum rats. We also examined the issue of whether apoptosis, which could be promoted by PPAR-gamma and TNF-alpha, is involved in any of the changes in maternal fat mass The activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) in adipose tissue was also measured. PPAR-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA levels remained constant during the gestational and postpartum periods. Apoptosis was not detected at any time as evidenced by DNA laddering and in situ staining. LPL activity was significantly increased at day 5 and remained elevated until day 14 of gestation. HSL activity was significantly increased at day 10 of gestation and then decreased after delivery, at day 10 of lactation. In conclusion, during the gestational and postpartum period of rats, changes in maternal fat mass did not directly correlate with the levels of expression of PPAR-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA. Apoptosis also does not appear to influence on fat mass change. The changes in LPL and HSL activities during gestation suggest that these enzymes might be regulators of maternal adipose tissue level.