peds

A randomised controlled trial of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in children with acute rheumatic fever

F. Bitar, S. Mroueh, M. Obeid and M. Mikati (Supported by AUB Medical Practice Plan.)

A proposal to establish a children’s cardiac registry center at AUB Medical Center

The essential role of apoptosis in host defence against invading organisms, particularly viruses, is underscored by the plethora of viral proteins aimed at inhibiting apoptosis. One of the central regulators of the apoptotic response appears to be ceramide, a sphingolipid breakdown product. Various apoptotic signals result in the elevation of endogenous ceramide which subsequently drives the cell towards apoptosis. The pathway leading to ceramide accumulation may be targeted by viral protein in an effort to inhibit apoptosis. This hypothesis will be tested using several systems where the accumulation of ceramide has been shown to be an essential event in the apoptotic response. Candidate viral proteins which have been shown to have antiapoptotic activities will be studied. The effects of expression of these viral proteins on the ceramide pathway will be examined. G. Dbaibo and Y. Hannun. (Supported by AUB Medical Practice Plan; URB.)

Individualised developmental care in a level 3 nursery in a developing country

A study of the effects of developmental interventions on the development of neonates hospitalised in a neonatal intensive care unit. M. Fayad, R. Choueiri, K. Yunis, U. Yaktin, N. Mounla and M. Mikati. (Supported by AUB Medical Practice Plan.)

Determination of causative organisms of chronic otitis media in children using PCR

Investigation of the hypothesis that depletion of high energy phosphates and increased energy requirements contribute to the long term consequences of status epilepticus. M. Mikati. (Supported by URB.)

Investigation of the effects genetic and epidemiologic factors have on the types of epilepsy syndromes and their clinical manifestations in Lebanon. M. Mikati, R. Choueri and M. Fayad. (Supported by Sanofi Winthrop.)

An investigation of the efficacy, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drug lamotrigine in children and neonates with seizures that failed to respond to more traditional drugs. M. Mikati, M. Fayad and K. Yunis. (Supported by URB.)

Investigation of the efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drug gabapentin in adult patients with refractory epilepsy. M. Mikati, R. Khalifeh, S. Atweh, M. Fayad and B. Yamout. (Supported by Parke-Davis.)

Maternal milk is collected and analysed for the presence of organochlorine pesticides in the Agricultural Research Laboratory in Fanar. The level of organochlorine pesticides is correlated with the dietary habits of the mothers. S. Mroueh, C. Dagher, R. Talhouk and C. Hilan. (Supported by the AUB Medical Practice Plan.)

This goal of the study is to identify children with high blood lead levels, inquire about the potential sources of lead, and recommend appropriate medical management. S. Muwakkit, I. Nuwayhid, M. Mikati, G. Salem and S. Alami. (Supported by LNCSR; URB.)

Iron deficiency anemia in children presenting to the American University of Beirut

The goal of this project is to screen healthy infants to identify the prevalence of iron deficiency and to correlate it the dietary habits and nutritional status of children, then to recommend any necessary changes in the diet and feeding habits of infants, especially before the age of two years. S. Muwakkit, I. Nuwayhid, M. Mikati, G. Salem and S. Alami. (Supported by LNCSR; URB.)

Bitar, F.F., Fetal Echocardiology (letter). Lebanese Cardiology Society, 45, September 1995.

———, Highlights on the diagnosis and management of fetal cardiac diseases (letter). Lebanese Pediatric Society, 1, 4, 1997.

Carmant, L.*, Carrazana, E.*, Kramer, U.*, Helmers, S.L.*, Holmes, G.L.*, Black, P.M.* and Mikati, M.A., Pharyngeal dysesthesia as an aura in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia, 37 (9), 911-913, 1996.

Carmant, L.*, Kramer., U.*, Holmes, G.L.*, Mikati, M.A., Riviello, J.J.* and Helmers, S.L.*, Differential diagnosis of staring spells in children: A video-EEG study. Pediatric Neurology, 14 (3), 199-202, 1997.

Carmant, L.*, Liu, Z.*, Werner, S.J.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Effect of kainic acid-induced status epilepticus on inositol-triphosphate and seizure-induced brain damage in mature and immature animals. Developmental Brain Research, 89 (1), 67-72, 1995.

Dbaibo, G.S. and Hannun, Y.A.*, Ceramide: A stress response mediator involved in growth suppression. In Sphingolipid-Mediated Signal Transduction, Y. A. Hannun (ed.), 19-34. New York: Landes Bioscience, 1997.

Dbaibo, G.S., Obeid, L.M. and Hannun, Y.A.*, The role of ceramide in the cellular stress response. In Frontiers in Bioactive Lipids, J. Y. Vanderhoek (ed.), 183-192. New York: Plenum Press, 1996.

Dbaibo, G.S., Perry, D.K.*, Gamard, C.J.*, Platt, R.*, Poririer, G.G.*, Obeid, L.M. and Hannun, Y.H.*, Crm A inhibits ceramide formation in response to TNF a : CrmA and Bcl-2 target distinct components in the apoptotic pathway. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 185, 481-490, 1997.

Dbaibo, G. S., Wolff, R. A.*, Obeid, L. M.* and Hannun, Y. A.*, Activation of an Rb-dependent pathway by sphingosine. Biochemical Journal, 310, 453-459, 1995.

Fayad, M., Choueri, R. and Mikati, M.A., Landau-Kleffner syndrome: consistent response to repeated IV gamma globulin doses, a case report. Epilepsia, 38, 489-494, 1997.

Habbal, Z. and Muwakkit, S., Apparent positive inteference from an etopside metabolite, but not etoposide in measurement of urinary VMA. Clinical Chemistry, 43, 415-416, 1997.

Hannun, Y.A.*, Obeid, L.M., and Dbaibo, G. S., Ceramide: A novel second messenger and lipid mediator. In Handbook of Lipid Research, Vol. II: Messengers, R. M. Bell (ed.), Ch. 5. New York: Plenum Press, 1996.

Hassounah, L., Nabulsi-Khalil, M., Mroueh, S., Zaynoun, S. and Kibbi A.G., Multiple erythematous tender papules and nodules in an 11 month old boy. Archives of Dermatology, 132 (12), 1507-1508, 1996.

Khurana, D.S.*, Riviello, J.*, Helmers, S.*, Holmes, G.*, Anderson, J.* and Mikati, M.A., Efficacy of gabapentin therapy in children with refractory partial seizures. Journal of Pediatrics, 128 (6), 829-833, 1996.

Kramer, U.*, Carmant, L.*, Riviello, J.*, Stauffer, A.*, Helmers, S.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Psychogenic seizures, video telemetry observations in 27 patients. Pediatric Neurology, 12, 39-41, 1995.

Kramer, U.*, Sue, W.C.* and Mikati, M.A., Hypsarrhythmia, frequency of variant patterns and correlation with etiology and outcome. Neurology, 48, 197-203, 1997.

Lee, D.O.*, Steingard, R.J.*, Cesna, M.*, Helemers, S.L.*, Riviello, J.J.* and Mikati, M.A., Behavioral side effects of gabapentin in children. Epilepsia, 37 (1), 87-90, 1996.

Liu, Z.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Mesial temporal sclerosis: Pathogenesis and significance. Pediatric Neurology, 12, 5-20, 1995.

Lynch, B.J.*, O’Tuama, L.A.*, Treves, S.T.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Correlation of 99Tc-HMPAO SPECT with EEG monitoring: Prognostic value for outcome of epilepsy surgery in children. Brain Development, 17 (6), 409-417, 1995.

Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Temporal lobe epilepsy. In The Treatment of Epilepsy, E. Wyllie (ed.), 401-415, 2nd Edition. Williams and Wilkins, 1997.

Mikati, M.A. and Fischman A.*, PET scan findings in alternating hemiplegia of childhood. In Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, J. Aicardi and F. Andermann (eds.), 109-114. New York: Raven, 1995.

Mikati, M.A., O’Tuama, L.* and Dangond, F.*, Autosomal dominant alternating hemiplegia of childhood. In Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, J. Aicardi and F. Andermann (eds.), 125-134. New York: Raven, 1995.

Rifai, N.*, Sadamoto, M.*, Law, T.*, Platt, O.*, Mikati, M.A., Armsby, C.* and Brugnara. C.*, HPLC measurement, blood distribution and pharmacokinetics of oral clotrimazole, potentially useful antisickling agent. Clinical Chem, 41 (3), 387-391, 1995.

Riviello, J.*, Helmers, S.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Preoperative Evaluation of the child with epilepsy. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America, P. D. Adelson and P. M. Black (eds.), 6 (3), 431-442, 1995.

Samaha, A.N., Araj, G.F. and Mroueh, S.M., Post immunization hib antigen detection in the CSF of a patient with meningococcal meningitis. Lebanese Medical Journal, 45, 40-42, 1997.

Sotero, M.* and Mikati, M.A., Epilepsy in adolescents and adults. Current Therapy, 841-849, 1996.

Stafstrom, C.E.*, Tandon, P.*, Hori, A.*, Liu, Z.*, Mikati, M.A. and Holmes, G.L.*, Acute effects of MK801 on kainic acid induced seizures in neonatal rats. Epilepsy Research, 26, 335-344, 1997.

Tandon, P.*, Liu, Z.*, Stafstrom, C.E.*, Sarkisian, M.*, Werner, S.J.*, Mikati, M.A., Yang, Y.L.* and Holmes, G.L.*, Long-term effects of the excitatory amino acid antagonists NBQX and MK801 on the developing brain. Devopmental Brain Research, 95 (2), 256-2662, 1996.

Westwick, J.*, Bielwska, A.*, Dbaibo, G.S., Hannun, Y.A.* and Bernner, D.*, Activation of jun kinase by the sphingomyelin pathway. Jourrnal of Biological Chemistry, 270, 22689-22692, 1995.

Addison, B.*, Mikati, M.A., Holmes, G.L.*, Helmers, S.* and Riviello, J.*, Landau-Kleffner syndrome: clinical and EEG features. Neurology, 45 (Suppl 4), 180, 1995.

Angel, R.A.*, Dbaibo, G.S., Perry, S.W.*, Epstein, L.G.*, Dewhurst, S.*, Hannun, Y.A.* and Gelbard, H.A., Human astrocytes are resistant to apoptosis by HIV-1 induced neurotoxins. Society for Neuroscience, June 1996.

Bitar, F.F., Abou Jawdi, R., Nasrallah, A., Musallam, S., Obeid, M., Mikati, M. and Gharzeddine, W., Pediatric infective endocarditis. experience at a tertiary hospital, 1977 through 1995. Twenty-Third Congress ofthe Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Bitar, F.F., Baltaji, N., Ayoub, C., Rubeiz, G., Obeid, M. and Mroueh, S., Epidemiology of congenital heart disease in a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon. Thirty-First Middle Eastern Medical Assembly, Beirut, Lebanon, May 1996; Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Bitar, F.F., Hayek, P., Nasrallah, A., Obeid, M., Mikati, M. and Gharzeddine, W., Rheumatic fever in children in a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon. A Review From 1980-1995 (poster). Thirty-First Middle Eastern Medical Assembly, Beirut, Lebanon, May 1996; Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Bitar, F.F., Usta, I., Mroueh, S. and Karam, K., Resolution of hydrops fetalis secondary to supraventricular tachycardia following in-utero therapy. Jordanian International Society Meeting for Obstetericians, Amman, September 1996.

Choueiri, R., Fayad, M. and Mikati, M.A., Epidemiology of seizure disorders seen in a tertiary referral center in Lebanon. Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, Baltimore, USA, 1995.

———, Incidence of consanguinity and of family history in seizure disorders in Lebanon. Makassed General Hospital Medical Conference, October 1996.

———, Epidemiology of seizure disorders seen in Lebanon. Meeting of the Asian and Oceanian Child Neurology Societies, Istanbul, Turkey, October, 1996.

Dbaibo, G.S., Regulation of the stress response by ceramide. Joint Congress of the British Society for Immunology and the Biochemical Society, Harrogate, UK, December, 1996.

Dbaibo, G.S., Perry, D.K.*, Tewari, M.*, Dixit, V.M.*, Obeid,.L.M. and Hannun, Y.A.*, CrmA inhibits TNFa -induced apoptosis by a mechanism upstream and distinct from Bcl-2. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Meeting, New Orleans, USA, June 2-6, 1996.

Dbaibo, G.S., Tewari, M.*, Dixit, V.M.*, Obeid,.L.M. and Hannun, Y.A.*, A novel mechanism for inhibition of apoptosis. Child Health Research Centers Meeting, Traverse City, MI, USA, September 30-October 2, 1995.

———, CrmA inhibits TNFa -induced apoptosis by a mechanism upstream and distinct from Bcl-2 (poster). American Federation for Cancer Research Meeting on Cytokines and Cytokine Receptors, Bolton Landing, NY, USA, October 14-18, 1995.

Fayad, M., Choweiri, R. and Mikati, M.A., Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, Baltimore, USA, 1995.

Hatoum, C., Musallam, S., Fayad, M. and Mikati, M.A., Factors prognostic of neurologic sequelae in meningitis. Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, Baltimore, USA, 1995.

Al-Galadari, S.H.*, Dbaibo, G.S. and Hannun, Y.A.*, Role of the retinoblatoma protein in mediating the growth-suppressive effects of ceramide. Ninth International Conference on Second Messengers and Phosphoproteins, Nashville, USA, October 1995.

Malik, R.K.*, Dbaibo, G.S., Hannun, Y.A.* and Parsons, J.T., Integrin-mediated suppression of apoptosis correlates with suppression of ceramide generation. Signalling by Cell Adhesion Molecules’, Keystone, Colorado, March 1997.

Mikati, M.A., Choueri, R. and Fayad, M., Phase II study of lamotrigine in neonates, Epilepsia. Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, San Francisco, USA,1996.

Mikati, M.A., Khurana, D.*, Riviello. J.*, Holmes, G.L.*, Helmers, S.* and Anderson, J.*, Efficacy of Gabapentin in children with refractory partial seizures. Neurology, 45 (Suppl 4), A201-A202, 1995.

Mikati, M.A., Lteif, L., Abdel Jawad, M. and Farhat, F., Time course of memory impairment after experimental status epilepticus. Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Mikati, M.A., Rachid, R., Werner, S.*, Liu, Z.* and Holmes, G.L.*, The effect on NBQX on status epilepticus and its consequences in the developing brain. European Congress of Perinatology, Beirut, Lebanon, October 1996.

Mikati, M.A., Tarif, S., Lteif, L. and Abdel Jawad, M., Time sequence of memory impairment after experimental status epilepticus. Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, San Francisco, USA, 1996.

Mikati, M.A., Werner, S.*, Bernard, C.*, Simaan, E., Liu, Z. and Holmes, G.*, Susceptibility to and stages of status epilepticus in immature and prepubescent rats. Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, Baltimore, USA, 1995.

Mroueh, S, Update on bronchiolitis. Invited lecture, Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Nabulsi, M., Khalil, A., Farah, A., Lteif, L. and Araj, G., Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Lebanese pregnant women. Second Lebanese-European Perinatal Medicine Seminar, St. Georges Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon, October 1996; Second Annual Meeting of the Lebanese Epidemiological Association, Beirut, Lebanon, October 1996.

———, Prevalence of hepatitis B surface and hepatitis C virus antibodies in pregnant Lebanese women (poster). Thirty-Second Middle East Medical Assembly, Beirut, Lebanon, May 1997.

Simaan, E. and Mikati, M.A., Kearns-Sayer syndrome presenting with diabetes mellitus and glaucoma. Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

Stauffer, A.*, Mikati, M.A., Holmes, G.L.* and Holmes, C.*, Efficacy of tiagabine in older pediatric patients with refractory partial seizures. Neurology, 45(Suppl 4), 249, 1995.

Yunis, K.A., Principles and advances in the respiratory support of the critically ill neonate. Thirty-First Middle East Medical Assembly, Beirut, Lebanon, May 9-12, 1996.

Yunis, K.A., Hayek, P., Mroueh, S.M., Bitar, F. et al., Transient neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and antenatal administration of steroids. Society for Pediatric Research, Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., May 1997. Pediatric Research, 41, (1118) 189A, April 1997.

Yunis, K.A., Mroueh, S., Rashid, R., Bitar, F. et al., Early-C-reactive protein CRP as predictor of neonatal morbidity. Pediatric Research, 41 (1117), 189A, April 1997.

Yunis, K.A., Serhal, H., Mroueh, S. and Mikati, M., Successful inflation of a collapsed lung using short term high frequency ventilation (HFV). Twenty-Third Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies, Nicosia, Cyprus, November 1996.

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Last updated on November 17, 1999