Schoolyards' design and gender issues in Palestine

This research is about relationship between gender, students’ needs and the physical form of schoolyards. It is aimed at investigating whether and how the needs of both male and female students influence the physical form of schoolyards in Palestine. The aim is to develop a better theoretical understanding of the relationship between students’ needs in relation to gender, and the physical form of schoolyards. This will enhance the knowledge about how to design schoolyards that support students' needs, so that both male and female students can use these yards comfortably and conduct different types of activities without any restrictions. To achieve the purpose of this study, different types of governmental schools from different cities in the north, middle and south of Palestine were chosen for investigations. Direct observations, questionnaire and interviews were used as main methods for data collection. The results showed that gender influenced different components of schoolyards’ physical form which are interrelated with components of both curricular and non-curricular needs

Association between blood levels of lead, blood pressure and risk of diabetes and heart disease in workers

Background: Previous studies have supported the association between high levels of blood lead levels (BLL) and elevated blood pressure. In addition, significant correlations between BLL and a variety of risk factors for blood pressure and diabetes mellitus have been well-established. Objective: To examine the relationship between BLL, blood pressure and diabetes as well as other selected social and biochemical factors, among workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This comparative study included 110 industrial workers (exposed to lead in the workplace) and 110 non-industrial workers (not exposed), all were recruited in the city of Al-Ain, Abu-Dhabi Emirate, UAE and the groups were evenly matched for age, gender and nationality. Results: The industrial workers had a significantly higher mean of BLL (median 81 and geometric mean (GM) 62 mug/dl) than did non-industrial workers (median 11 and GM 13 mug/dl). In the present study, the lead-exposed group also had significantly higher blood lead levels, body-mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures., fasting blood glucose and plasma levels of total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase and uric acid than did the non-exposed group. Furthermore a significant correlation between BLL and systolic blood pressure was observed. Conclusion: The study supports the hypothesis of a positive association between lead exposure, high blood pressure and risk of diabetes and heart disease

Influence of peritoneal dialysis catheter type on complications and long-term outcomes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal type of peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC). We compared the outcomes of PDCs according to the number of cuffs, intercuff and intraperitoneal segment shape, and presence of a weighted tip. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases (end-of-search date: October 16th, 2019). We included studies comparing double-cuff vs. single-cuff, swan-neck vs. straight-neck, coiled-tip vs. straight-tip, and weighted vs. non-weighted PDCs for the outcomes of interest. We performed meta-analyses using the random-effects model. We assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale and the Cochrane Collaboration’s Tool. Results: In total, 38 studies were identified, of which 20 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 18 were observational studies. No statistically significant differences were detected between double-cuff vs. single-cuff, swan-neck vs. straight-neck, and coiled-tip vs. straight tip PDCs in any of the outcomes of interest. Weighted catheters were associated with significantly lower rates of tunnel infection (relative risk [RR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31–0.95, p = 0.03), migration (RR 0.07, 95% CI 0.03–0.16, p < 0.001), drainage failure (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39–0.96, p = 0.03), cuff extrusion (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21–0.74, p < 0.001), and complication-related removal (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.44–0.64, p < 0.001). Discussion: Among the different types of PDCs, weighted catheters result in lower complication rates and superior long-term outcomes compared to non-weighted catheters. Other aspects of the catheter design do not significantly affect PDC outcomes. Protocol registration: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020158177. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2021, Italian Society of Nephrology