The impact of an employee wellness programme in clothing/textile manufacturing companies: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of health risk behaviours is growing amongst South African employees. Health risk behaviours have been identified as a major contributor to reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) and the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Worksite wellness programmes promise to promote behaviour changes amongst employees and to improve their HRQoL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of an employee wellness programme on HRQoL, health behaviour change, body mass index (BMI) and absenteeism amongst clothing and textile manufacturing employees. METHODS: The study used a randomised control trial design. The sample consisted of 80 subjects from three clothing manufacturing companies in Cape Town, South Africa. The experimental group was subjected to a wellness programme based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as well as weekly supervised exercise classes over six weeks. The control group received a once-off health promotion talk and various educational pamphlets, with no further intervention. Measurements were recorded at baseline and at six weeks post-intervention. Outcome measures included the EQ-5D, Stanford Exercise Behaviours Scale, body mass index and absenteeism.Data was analysed with the Statistica-8 software program. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the differences in the medians between the two groups and to determine the level of significance. The Sign test was used to determine the within group changes. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the difference between the two groups. RESULTS: At six weeks post intervention the experimental group (39 subjects) demonstrated improvement in almost every parameter. In contrast, apart from an overall decrease in time off work and a reduction in BMI for all study participants, there was no significant change noted in the behaviour of the control group (41 subjects). Seventy percent of the experimental group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention, indicating improved perceived HRQoL. In comparison, only 58% of the control group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention. There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline or at six weeks post intervention. CONCLUSION: An employee wellness programme based on the principles of CBT combined with weekly aerobic exercise class was beneficial in improving the perceived HRQoL and changing health-related behaviours of clothing manufacturing employees. However, it cannot be concluded that the EWP was more effective than the once off health promotion talk as no significant changes were noted between the two groups at 6-weeks post intervention.This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (trial registration number NCT01625039)

Oxidative damage to RBC membranes and pentose phosphate shunt activity in hemodialysis patients after suspension of erythropoietin treatment

During follow-up of anemic hemodialysis patients (HDP) treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo), it was noticed that in five HDP, some time after suspension of rHuEpo, hemoglobin (Hb) levels remained at acceptable levels. A metabolic block of the pentose phosphate shunt (PPS) has been described in HDP, which leads to increased oxidative damage of red blood cell (RBC) membranes and increased susceptibility to hemolysis. The increased production of short-chain fatty aldehydes, including malonyldialdehyde (MDA), is an appropriate index of oxidative damage. This study aimed to verify whether the maintenance of acceptable levels of Hb was related to a change in RBC membrane oxidative damage and pentose phosphate shunt activity. In the five HDP in question who required rHuEpo (150 U/kg/week) for severe anemia (Hb = 7.48 +/- 0.95 g/dl), after a stable level of Hb > 10 g/dl was reached for at least 1 month, rHuEpo treatment was stopped. Hb levels remained adequate (Hb = 10.68 +/- 0.77 g/dl) after 14.6 +/- 7.64 months. The oxidative damage was evaluated by measuring RBC MDA (microgram/ml packed RBC) basal levels, and PPS activity by measuring MDA levels after incubation with ascorbate and cyanide (delta % RBC MDA production). Ten anemic HDP not treated with rHuEpo were used as controls (Hb = 8.12 +/- 1.32 g/dl). It was found that the maintenance of adequate levels of serum Hb after suspension of rHuEpo therapy is related to a decrease in RBC membrane oxidative damage (RBC MDA HDP = 2.40 +/- 0.41 vs. RBC MDA controls = 18.23 +/- 6.56; P < 0.005) in consequence of the normalization of pentose phosphate shunt activit

Thermal and mechanical behaviour of oxygen carrier materials for chemical looping combustion in a packed bed reactor

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a promising carbon capture technology where cyclic reduction and oxidation of a metallic oxide, which acts as a solid oxygen carrier, takes place. With this system, direct contact between air and fuel can be avoided, and so, a concentrated CO2 stream is generated after condensation of the water in the exit gas stream. An interesting reactor system for CLC is a packed bed reactor as it can have a higher efficiency compared to a fluidized bed concept, but it requires other types of oxygen carrier particles. The particles must be larger to avoid a large pressure drop in the reactor and they must be mechanically strong to withstand the severe reactor conditions. Therefore, oxygen carriers in the shape of granules and based on the mineral ilmenite were subjected to thermal cycling and creep tests. The mechanical strength of the granules before and after testing was investigated by crush tests. In addition, the microstructure of these oxygen particles was studied to understand the relationship between the physical properties and the mechanical performance. It was found that the granules are a promising shape for a packed bed reactor as no severe degradation in strength was noticed upon thermal cycling and creep testing. Especially, the addition of Mn2O3 to the ilmenite, which leads to the formation of an iron-manganese oxide, seems to results in stronger granules than the other ilmenite-based granules