Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine uptake and multiple sclerosis risk: A marginal structural modeling approach.

Background: There has been an ongoing debate regarding the association between uptake of recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. This case-control study tested the hypothesis whether recombinant HBV vaccination status is causally associated with MS risk using targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) technique.

Methods: Confirmed 110 MS cases and age (± 5 years), sex and nativity matched (1:1) 110 controls were enrolled.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a biomarker of nephropathy in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell nephropathy (SCN) develops via altered hemodynamics and acute kidney injury, but conventional screening tests remain normal until advanced stages. Early diagnostic biomarkers are needed so that preventive measures can be taken. This study evaluates the role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker of SCN in steady state and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).

Correction to: A matched case-control study of risk factors associated with multiple sclerosis in Kuwait.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

A matched case-control study of risk factors associated with multiple sclerosis in Kuwait.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors seem to have etiologic roles in multiple sclerosis (MS). Kuwait is regarded as medium to high risk country for MS. However, there is a paucity of published data on the risk factors for MS in Kuwait.

Transthoracic echocardiography and 6-minute walk test in Kuwaiti sickle cell disease patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cardiac abnormalities in Kuwaiti sickle cell disease (SCD) patients using markers such as tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRJV), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and the 6-minute walk (6MW) test and correlate these findings with clinical, hematological, and biochemical parameters.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three patients with SCD and 70 matched controls were studied. The cardiac status was investigated using transthoracic echocardiography in 57 patients; the 6MW test was carried out in patients and controls.

Determinants and associations of homocysteine and prothrombotic risk factors in Kuwaiti patients with cerebrovascular accident.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the determinants and associations of some prothrombotic risk factors in patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs).

Subjects And Methods: In this case-control study, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), lupus anticoagulant, protein C, protein S, activated protein C resistance (APC-R) and antithrombin were measured in 102 patients (60 males and 42 females) and 167 controls (87 males, 80 females). Serum vitamin B(12), folate, red cell folate, creatinine, lipid profile and glucose were also determined.