Effects of cigarette smoking on hematological parameters and von willebrand factor functional activity levels in asymptomatic male and female Arab smokers

This study aimed at determining the effects of cigarette smoking based on gender, on several hematological parameters and von Willebrand factor protein in the asymptomatic Arab population of Kuwait. Ninety-two subjects participated in this study: 55 males [31 smokers and 24 nonsmokers] and 37 females [18 smokers and 19 nonsmokers]. Complete blood count results were obtained using Beckman Coulter Hematology Analyzer. Von Willebrand factor functional activity was determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay-based test in which anti-von Willebrand factor IgG monoclonal antibody was used that recognizes a functional epitope of the protein. The coagulation profile was obtained using ACL[R] 9000 coagulation analyzer. Male smokers had significantly higher levels of white blood cell count [p = 0.03] and von Willebrand factor protein levels [p = 0.029], and a significantly shorter thrombin time [p = 0.019] than nonsmokers. Smoking did not appear to affect any of the parameters analyzed in females as no significant difference was found between smokers and nonsmokers [p > 0.05]. Our results showed that smoking affected white blood cell count and von Willebrand factor levels in males and not in females, and as such could be potential markers for smoking-induced endothelial damage in asymptomatic Arab male smokers

Germline mutation in the von hippel-Lindau gene in Kuwait

We aimed to investigate germline mutation in another extended von Hippel-Lindau [VHL] family in Kuwait with Arabian and Persian genetic admixture. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism [SSCP] and direct sequencing of the PCR amplicons, that showed clear band shift, were used to screen the VHL gene in the index patient, 20 members of her family and 55 healthy controls of matching ethnicity. The clinical history of all patients revealed multiple hemangioblastomas in various organs without pheochromocytomas. SSCP showed a clear band shift in 2 PCR amplicons, which were then sequenced. One was in the promoter region revealing a polymorphic site [A-123G] found as heterozygous in 40% of the healthy control subjects of the same ethnicity. The second band shift was in exon 2 seen in all clinically diagnosed VHL cases but not in the healthy members of the family or the screened healthy population. Direct sequencing revealed it was a heterozygous missense mutation G564T [Trp117Cys]. Tracking the mutation in the family pedigree showed its origin from the Persian side. This is a second missense G564T mutation in another VHL patient from Kuwait that will help expand our knowledge of the VHL gene mutation spectrum in this region of the world

Comparison of erythrocyte sedimentation rate measurement by the automated SEDIsystem[TM] and conventional westergren method using the Bl and and Altman statistical method

To compare the performance of SEDIsystem[TM], a fully automated analyzer for the measurement of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], with the manual Westergren method. Materials and Both methods were applied to 150 randomly selected subjects. The linear regression and Bl and and Altman data analysis methods were used to measure the agreement between the automated and manual methods. The regression analysis showed a good correlation between the two methods [r = 0.91]. The Bl and and Altman data analysis showed no systematic bias [95% confidence interval for mean difference]; however, limits of agreement were between 11.52 and -37.88. This indicates that ESR values measured by the SEDIsystem may be 11.52 mm/h above or 37.88 mm/h below the reference method. A greater scatter of data was also observed with abnormally high [>25mm/h] ESR results [mean of difference = -21.4 and limits of agreement = -45.2 and 2.26] compared with normal [<25 mm/h] readings [mean of difference =-3.9 and limits of agreement =-13.5 and 5.7]. The Bl and and Altman statistical analysis showed a wide degree of scatter between results obtained by the two ESR techniques that was not clearly demonstrated using the linear regression analysis. The automated system was found to underestimate ESR with the Bl and and Altman statistical analysis, and therefore a correction factor is recommended