PEDIATRICS

 

 

Publication Record

 

Abdelnoor, A., G. Khaled , G. Matar, M. Nabulsi-Khalil, and F. Ramadan. 2000. Evaluation of a serological test using the 38 kda antigen. Eastern Journal of Medicine.

Abdelnoor, A., G. Khaled, F. Ramadan, G. Matar, and M. Naboulsi-Khalil.1999. Assessment of some serum humoral factors in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Journal of Immunology and Immunopharmacology.

Abu Jawdeh, L., R.Haidar, F. Bitar, S. Mroueh, N. Nuwayri-Salti, and G. S. Dbaibo. 2000. Aspergillous vertebral osteomyelitis in a child with a primary monocyte killing defect: Response to GM-CSF therapy. Journal of Infection.

Bazarbachi, A, R. Nasr, M. E. El-Sabban, A. Mahe, R. Mahieux, A. Gessain, N. Darwiche, G. Dbaibo, J. Kersual, Y. Zermati, L. Dianoux, M. K. Chelbi-Alix, H. de The, and O. Hermine. 2000. Evidence against a direct cytotoxic effect of alpha interferon and zidovudin HTLV-I associated adult T cell leukemia/ lymphoma. Leukemia 14(4):716–21.

 

Bitar, F. F. 2001. Disappearance of patent ductus arteriosus in a child receiving  chemotherapy: Role of non-steroidal anti-inflamamtory medication. Medical Pediatric Oncology.

Bitar, F. F., N. Baltaji, G. Dbaibo, M. Abed El-Jawad, K. Yunis, and M. Obeid. 1999. Congenital heart disease at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology.

Bitar, F. F., and G. S. Dbaibo. 2001. Apoptosis: Regulating death for a better life. Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology.

Bitar, F. F., P.Hayek, M. Obeid, W. Gharzeddine, M. Mikati, and G. S. Dbaibo. 2000. Rheumatic fever in children: A 15-year experience in a developing country. Pediatric Cardiology.

Bitar, F. F., R. A. Jawdi, G. S. Dbaibo, K. A. Yunis, W. Gharzeddine, and M. Obeid. 2000. Paediatric infective endocarditis: 19-year experience at a tertiary care hospital in a developing country. Acta Paediatrica.

 

Choeiri, R., M. Fayad, A. Farah, and M. A. Mikati. 1999. Classification of epilepsy syndromes and role of genetic factors. Pediatric Neurology.

Cilio, M. R., A. R. Bolanos, Z. Liu, and M. A. Mikati.1999. Anticonvulsant action and long-term effects of gabapentin in the immature brain. Neuropharmacology.

Darwish, H., and M. A. Miakti. 1999. Neonatal neurologic disorders. Textbook of Pediatrics.

Diab, K., M. Ariss-Timani, and F. F. Bitar. 2001. Treatment of rheumatic carditis with intravenous gammaglobulin: Is there a beneficial effect? Journal of Infection.

El-Hajj Fuleihan, G., M. Nabulsi, M. Choucair, M. Salamoun, C. H. Shahine, and A.  Kizirian. 2001. Hypovitaminosis D in healthy school children. Pediatrics.

El Hassan, N., K. Diab, K. Yunis, M. Obeid, G. Dbaibo, and F. F. Bitar. 2001. Pseudomonas pericarditis in an immunocompetent newborn: Rare presentation and review of the literature. Journal of Infection.

El-Khatib, M. I., K. A. Yunis, and N. El-Hassan. 2000. High frequency ventilation.  M.E.J. Anesth 15(5):529–47.

        

El-Sabban, M. E., R. Nasr, G. S. Dbaibo, O. Hermine, N. Abboushi, F. Quignon, J. C. Ameisen, F. Bex, H. de The, and A. Bazarbachi. 2000. Arsenic-interferon-alpha-triggered apoptosis in HTLV-I transformed cells is associated with tax down-regulation and reversal of NF-kappa B activation. Blood 96(8):2849–55.

 

Fayad, M., R. Choueri, and M. A. Mikati.1999. Fatality from hepatitis A in a child taking valproate. Journal of Child Neurology.

———. January 2000. Potential hepatotoxicity of lamotrigine. Pediatric Neurology 22 (1):49–52.

 

Gascon, G., and M. A. Mikati. 1999. Seizures and epilepsy. Textbook of Pediatrics.

Gascon, G, and M. A. Mikati, eds. 2000. Neurology section. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

Hamdan, A. L., S. Mroueh, and F. F. Bitar. 2000. Foreign body retrieval in children with respiratory symptoms and no history of aspiration. Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology.

Hamadeh, G. N., B. R. Saab, S. M. Adib, and S. M. Mroueh. 1999. Recommendations for the school health physical examination in lebanon. J Med Liban 47(6):333–8.

        

Hasbini, D. A., and M. A. Mikati.1999. Isolated adipic aciduria. Pediatric Neurology.

Karet, F. E., K. E. Finberg, A. Nayir, A. Bakkaloglu, S. Ozen, S. A. Hulton, S. A. Sanjad, E. A. Al-Sabban, J. F. Medina, and R. P. Lifton. 1999. Localization of a gene for autosomal recessive distal renal tubular acidosis with normal hearing (rdRTA2) to 7q33-34. Am J Hum Genet 65:1656–1665.

 

Kelly, T. E., S. Blanton, R. Saif, S. A. Sanjad, and N. A. Sakati. 2000. Confirmation of the assignment of the Sanjad-Sakati syndrome (OMIM 241410) locus to chromosome 1q42-43. J Med Genet 37(1):63–4.

 

Matar, G. M., M. Fayad, V. A. Khoudoud, and M. A. Miakti.1999. Herpes simplex encephalitis cases with variable or unusual clinical symptoms confirmed by PCR-amplification of the DNA polymerase gene. Eastern Journal of Medicne.

Miakti, M. A.1999. Alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Pediatric Neurology.

———.1999. Time sequence and types of memory deficits after experimental status epilepticus. Epilepsy Research.

Mikati, M. A., and U. Kramer.1999.Alternating hemiplegia of childhood: Clinical manifestations and long-term outcome. Pediatric Neurology.

Mikati, M. A., and R. Saab.1999. Successful use of intravenous immunoglobulin as initial monotherapy in Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. Epilepsia.

Mourani, C, S. A. Sanjad, and C. Akatcherian. 2000. Bartter's syndrome in a neonate: Early treatment with Indomethacin. Pediatric Nephrology 4(2):143–145.

        

Nabulsi, M., G. Araj, I. Nuwayhed, M. Ramadan, and M. Ariss. 2001. Prevalence of hepatitis B infection markers in Lebanese children: The need for an expanded programme on immunization. Epidemiology and Infection.

———. 2000. 213,the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary axis. Clinical Pediatrics.

 

———. 2001. Sex differentiation. Clinical Pediatrics.

Najjar, S. S., and A. M. Abobakr. 2001. Puberty and its disorders. Clinical Pediatrics.

———. 2001. The thyroid. Clinical Pediatrics.

 

Rishani, R., K. Diab, A. AL-Koutobi, M. Mikati, and F. F. Bitar. 2001. Mycotic aneurysm in a child with Down's syndrome: Unique association. Child Neurology.

Rishani, R, M. El-Khatib, and S. M. Mroueh. 1999. Eighteenth annual conference on sleep disorders in infancy and childhood annenberg center for health sciences rancho mirage, California, January 20-22, 2000. Pediatr Pulmonol. 28(6):458–64.

        

———. 1999. Treatment of severe status asthmaticus with nitric oxide. Pediatr Pulmonol. 28(6):451–3.

 

Sanjad, S. A. 2000. Disorders of divalent cation transport. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

———. 2000. Distal renal tubular acidosis. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

———. 2000. Interstitial nephritis and primary hyperoxaluria. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

———. 2000. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

———. 2000. Overview of renal function. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

———. 2000. Proximal renal tubular diseses. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

Sanjad, S. A., and J. Foreman. 2000. Disorders of distal tubular transport of sodium and potassium. In Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics, editors H. Nazer, H. Harfi, and A. El-Zouki. Williams and Willkins.

 

Smith, A. N., J. Skaug, K. A. Choate, A. Nayir, A. Bakkaloglu, S. Ozen, S. A. Hulton, S. A. Sanjad, E. A. Al-Sabban, R. P. Lifton, S. W. Scherer, and F. E. Karet. 2000. Mutations in ATP6N1B, encoding a new kidney vacuolar proton pump 116-kD subunit, cause recessive distal renal tubular acidosis with preserved hearing. Nat Genet 26(1):71–5.

        

Yunis, K. A., M. I. El-Khatib, and N. El-Hassan. 2000. II. High frequency ventilation in five different neonatal pathologies. M.E.J. Anesth 15(5):549–58. Sawaya, R. A., S. Najjar, G. V. Raymond, F. H. Mourad, and M. A. Mikati. 2000. Adrenoleukodystrophy associated with vitiligo and ulcerative colitis. European Neurology.

Seoud, M., M. Naboulsi, A. Khalil, P. Sarouphim, G. Azar, and R. Khalifeh. 1999. Landry Guillain-Barre Strohl syndrome in pregnancy: Use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin. Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

Shalak, L., H. Hussein, I. Kaddoura, R. Haidar, M. Obeid, and F. F. Bitar. 2001. Cleft sternum and congenital heart disease: Rare presentation and review of the literature. Pediatrics International.

Simaan, E. M., M. A. Miakti, E. H. Touma, and A. Rotig. 1999. Unusual presentation of Kearns-Sayre syndrome in early childhood. Pediatr Neurology.

Yunis, K. A., F. F. Bitar, P. Hayek, S. M. Mroueh, and M. Mikati. 1999. Transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the newborn following multiple doses of antenatal corticosteroids. American Journal of Perinatology.

Zahed, L., M. Nabulsi, M. Bou-Ghanem, and I. Usta. 1999. Acceptance of prenatal diagnosis for genetic disorders in Lebanon. Prenatal Diagnosis.

Zahed, L., M. Qatanani, M. Nabulsi, and A. Taher. 2000. B-Thalassemia mutations and haplotype analysis in Lebanon. Hemoglobin.

 

 

Abstracts, Conferences, and Proceedings

 

Mikati, M. September 1999. Advances in the therapy of epilepsy. Al-Ain University Grand Rounds, Al-Ain, UAE.

———. October 1999. Channelopathies: Implications on the pathophysiology, classification, and therapy of migraine and epilepsy. 75th Syrian Pediatric Society Annual Meeting, Damascus, Syria.

———. October 1999. Infantile spasms: Case presentation and discussion. 74. Saudi Epilepsy Chapter First Annual Meeting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

———. January 2000. The role of the newer anti-epileptic drugs in the treatment of epilepsy. Pediatric 2000 International Congress, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

———. March 2000. Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. First International Symposium in Pediatric Update, Beirut, Lebanon.

———. April 2000. Pathophysiology of epilepsy: Implications on therapy and management.  2nd Pan Arab Epilepsy Conference, Beirut, Lebanon.

 

———. April 2000. Gabapentin as add on therapy for epilepsy: Developmental and pathophysiologic consideration. 2nd Pan Arab Epilepsy Conference, Beirut, Lebanon.

 

———. September 2000. Abdominal epilepsy. The 12th Syrian Pediatric Association Society, Damascus, Syria.

———. October 2000. Brain tumors in children: Experiment of AUBMC. 26th Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Paediatric Societies, Portoroz, Slovenia.

———. October 2000. Neuroresuscitation: Present guidelines and comment on other possible measures. 26th Congress of the Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Paediatric Societies, Portoroz, Slovenia.

———. November 2000. Therapy of epilepsy: An update for the pediatrician. 8th International Congress of the Union of the Arab Pediatric Societies, Beirut, Lebanon.

———. January 2001. Inborn errors of metabolism. 2nd Annual Meeting of Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

———. January 2001. Medical treatment of epilepsy in children. 2nd Annual Meeting of Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

———. April 2001. Effects of status epilepticus on the developing brain. The Annual Conference of Pediatrics Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

———. April 2001. New anti-epileptics. The Annual Conference of Pediatrics Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

———. April 2001. Pathophysiology of Epilepsy. Annual Congress of the Jordanian Neurology Society, Amman, Jordan.

 

———. April 2001. Quality of life and epilepsy surgery. Annual Congress of the Jordanian Neurology Society, Amman, Jordan.

 

———. April 2001. Pharmacodynamics of Topiramate. Annual Congress of the Jordanian Neurology Society, Amman, Jordan.

———. May 2001. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiepileptic drugs in the neonatal period. 24th International Epilepsy Congress, Buenos Aries, Argentina.

———. June 2001. Cerebral palsy. XVII World Congress of Neurology, London, England.

Muwakitt, S., I. Nuwyhid, M. Ariss, and M. Mikati. March 2000. Iron deficiency anemia in children 1-3 years old presenting to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). First International Symposium in Pediatric Update, Beirut, Lebanon.

 

 

Research Projects

 

Patent dactus arteriosus in a child with leukemia: role of antiinflammatory mediactions

 

Med Pediatr Oncol 2001, accepted. Bitar, F. F.

 

 

Myocardial DNA and protein changes in a rat model mimicking cyanotic heart disease: Effect of chronic hypoxia on myocardial growth patterns

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of chronic hypoxia on myocardial growth patterns in an animal model of chronic hypoxia, mimicking cyanotic heart disease. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a normobaric hypoxic environment at birth, and oxygen levels were maintained at 10 in an air-tight Plexiglass chamber. Controls remained in room air. Animals were sacrificed, and the hearts were harvested at 1,4, and 8 weeks, respectively. RV and LV masses, hemotocrit, RV and LV protein, DNA and hydroxproline concentrations, and dry/wet weight were measured.


Cardiac mass increases in response to chronic hypoxia, more in the RV than LV. This increase in cardiac mass is secondary to myocardial proliferation in the first 4 weeks of life.   There is a shift from proliferation to hypertrophy after the 4th week of life, regardless of persistant hypoxia. There is no associated fibrosis or edema in the hypoxic myocardium. Bitar, F., N. Azar, M. El Sabban, M. Nasser, A. Tawil, and G. Dbaibo.
 
Supported by URB
Completed or in progress at AUB

 

Modulation of ceramide content with lack of apoptosis in the chronically-hypoxic rat heart

To assess the effect of chronic hypoxia on cardiac myocyte apoptosis, we utilized an animal model mimicking CHD. Rats were placed in a hypoxic environment at birth.  Animals were sacrificed, and the hearts were harvested at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. Significant polycythemia developed in the hypoxic rats at 1 and 4 weeks.  Right ventricular (RV) mass in the hypoxic rats was 192 %, and 278 % that of the controls, respectively. The increase in the cardiac mass was paralleled by significant increase in myocyte cell number.  There was no difference in the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes between the chronically hypoxic rats and controls, as assayed by TUNEL labeling and Hoechst staining. RV ceramide content was significantly decreased in the hypoxic rats to 730f control levels at the age of 4 weeks. We suggest that the decrease in the ceramide content in the hypoxic RV rat heart may be an adaptive response to chronic hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension. Bitar, F., H. Bitar, M. El Sabban, M. Nasser, K. Yunis, and G. Dbaibo.
 
Supported by URB
Completed or in progress at AUB

 

Acute respiratory distress associated with external gugular vein catheterization in the newborn

 

Pediatric Pulmonology 2001, accepted. Bitar, F. F., I. Dabbous, P. Hayek, S. Mroueh, S. Akel, and M. Obeid.

 

 

Modulation of the ceramide content and lack of the apoptotic response in the chronically hypoxic rat heart

 

Pediatric Research 2001, accepted. Bitar F. F., M. El Sabban, H. Bitar, M. Nasser, T. Ayman, M. Yunis, and G. Dbaibo.

 

 

Lack of apoptosis in the hypoxic brain of a rat model mimicking cyanotic heart disease

To assess the effect of chronic hypoxia on brain neuronal apoptosis, we utilized an animal model mimicking cyanotic heart disease. Rats were placed in a hypoxic environment at birth and oxygen levels were maintained at 10 in an air-tight Plexiglass chamber. Controls remained in room air. Animals were sacrificed, and the brains were harvested at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. Significant polycythemia developed in the hypoxic rats at 1 and 4 weeks. There was no difference in the number of apoptotic neurons between the chronically hypoxic rats and the controls, as assayed by TUNEL labeling and Hoechst staining. This lack of apoptosis led us to examine the role of the sphingolipid ceramide because of its reported role in the stress response, growth suppression, and apoptosis. We found that the brain ceramide accumulation was not significantly different in the hypoxic and control groups at 1 and 4 weeks. A protective adaptive response to chronic hypoxia in the neonatal brain may exist. Bitar, F., M. El Sabban, H. Bitar, M. Nasser, S. Mroueh, M. Mikati, and G. Dbaibo.

Supported by URB
Completed or in progress at AUB

 

Ceramide response in the chronically hypoxic rat model, mimicking cyanotic heart disease

This study is being conducted to examine the effects of chronic hypoxia on ceramide content in the neonatal rat heart, brain, lung, and kidneys. We utilized a model for chronic neonatal hypoxia mimicking some forms of cyanotic congenital heart disease.  Ceramide may play a role as a coordinator of the cellular responses to stress and act as a biostat of cell stress. Bitar, F. F., S. Mroueh, H. Bitar, M. El Sabban, M. Nasser, and G. Dbaibo.

Completed or in progress at AUB

 

Epidemiology of cardiac disease in children in Lebanon: The AUBMC experience

To study the epidemiology of cardiac disease in children and their outcome in Lebanon, we established a Children's Cardiac Registry Center (CCRC) at the American University of Beirut-Medical Center. The CCRC included, prospectively, all pediatric patients with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and/or Acquired Heart Disease (AHD) who were evaluated at our center between March 1, 1997 and July 31, 2000.  Of the 1000 patients with cardiac anomalies enrolled in the CCRC, 917 (91.7%) had CHD and the rest had AHD. Ventricular septal defect was the most common cardiac malformation with a relative frequency of 25.3%, followed by Pulmonary Stenosis (14.6 %), aortic anomalies (8%), ASD (8%) and Tetralogy of Fallot (7.8%). Complex cardiac lesions like HLHS, TGA and AVC had lower frequencies at 0.4%, 3.7 % and 3.5 %, respectively. There were 4.8% and 2.4 % mortality rates in the CHD and AHD groups, respectively, during the 40-month study period. Bitar, F. F., M. Sabbagh, and M. Obeid.

Supported by LNCSR
Completed or in progress at AUB

 

Old and new targets of antibacterial therapy

 

Lebanese Medical Journal 2000 (in press). Dbaibo, G.S.

           

 

Ceramide generation by two distinct pathways in tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced cell death

 

To appear in FEBS Lett in Aug 2001. Dbaibo, G. S., W. El-Assaad, A. Krikorian, B. Liu, K. Diab, N. Z. Idriss, M. El-Sabban, T. A. Driscoll, D. K. Perry, and Y. A. Hannun.

 

 

Hypovitaminosis D and its determinants in healthy adolescents

 

Pediatrics 2000 (in press). El-Hajj-Fuleihan, G., M. Nabulsi, M. Shoucair, M. Salamoun, and C. Hajj Shahine.

 

        

Doppler characterization of left ventricular diastolic function in B-Thalassemia major. Evidence for an early stage of impaired relaxation

 

European Journal of Echocardiography 2001, accepted. Gharzuddine, W., F. F. Bitar, H. Kazma, I. Nuwayhed, S. Koussa, and A. Taher.

 

 

IL-1 activates two phospholipid signaling pathways in intestinal epithelial cells

 

To appear in Inflamm Res in July 2001. Homaidan, F. R., Chakroun, G. S. Dbaibo, W. El-Assaad, M. E. El-Sabban.

 

 

Improved primary transplant success rates using a triple regimen of cyclosporine microemulsion, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone

 

To appear in Transplant Proc. in August 2001. Khauli, R. B., W. A. Medawar, A. A. Habbal, A. E. Birbari, M. M. Daouk, A. M. Abdelnoor, M. Uwaydah, A. Bizri, Rahman, S. A. Sanjad, P. J. Ayvazian, T. Lovewell, J. S. Stoff, P. Yang Fan, P. Bigwood, and R. Harland.

 

 

Mechanisms of programed cell death after status epilepticus

Ceramide has been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of cell response to stress and to drive the apoptotic response in many non-neuronal and some neuronal cell culture models. We have recently demonstrated that kainic acid-induced status epilepticus is associated with increases in levels of ceramide, as well as with apoptosis in adult and prepubescent rat brains, but not in immature rats. This suggested that there is activation of apoptotic pathways in KA-induced SE in mature animals. The goal of this study is to further investigate the mechanisms of post-SE cellular injury and the role of ceramide in those mechanisms. Mikati, M.

 

 

Potential role of ceramide in status epilepticus-related brain injury

We have demonstrated that Kainic Acid (KA)-induced Status Epilepticus (SE) is associated with increases in levels of the sphingolipid ceramide in adult and prepubescent rats. The goal of this study is to investigate whether the demonstrated increases in ceramide are related to SE-associated neuronal injury. We hope to accomplish this by measuring levels of ceramide, and by performing concomitant apoptosis stains in two different models of KA-induced SE that allow the tested animals to undergo SE, with or without subsequent cell death and apoptosis. Mikati, M.

 

The effects of chronic hypoxia on the developing brain

Although the effects of acute hypoxia on the developing brain have been shown to be age-dependent, the effects of chronic hypoxia are much less understood. Chronic hypoxia represents a common problem in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease, but it is not known yet what its consequences really are, and whether they are preventable. We, thus, plan to investigate the hypotheses that chronic hypoxia starting at birth (1) results in long-term impairment in memory and learning, (2) causes long-term behavioral abnormalities, (3) causes long-term epilepsy, increased seizure susceptibility and neuronal injury, and (4) worsens consequences of superimposed acute hypoxic episodes. The eventual goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms of brain damage that occur in cyanotic heart disease, and to subsequently investigate the mechanisms and means of prevention of those impairments, possibly by the long-term use of neuroprotective agents. Mikati, M.

 

The effect of experimental status epilepticus on ceramide levels in the developing brain

Kainic Acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE) has been shown to cause apoptosis in the adult rat brain. Immature rats younger than P30, however, are resistant to the effects of SE and do not manifest neural death like mature adult animals do. The mechanisms underlying those differences are not well-understood. The sphingolipid ceramide has been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of cell response to stress, and to drive the apoptotic response in many nonneuronal and some neuronal cell culture models. The goal is, thus, to investigate whether SE is followed by increases in ceramide levels and whether there are differences in ceramide levels after SE in different developmental stages. Mikati, M.

 

The effect of intractable epilepsy and of epileptical surgery on quality of life

The purpose of this study is to investigate if epilepsy surgery patients have improvement in their QOL within the year that follows their surgery compared to a control group of similar patients undergoing the presurgical evaluations (Long-Term Monitoring), but not the surgery, if the LTM in itself results in improvement in QOL in patients with intractable epilepsy, and what are the effects of intractable epilepsy, and of epilepsy surgery, on QOL in the Lebanese population. Twenty consecutive patients operated on at AUBMC were recruited in the study. Their QOL, one year after surgery (assessed using the standardized ESI-55 scale), was compared to twenty matching patients who underwent the same presurgical evaluation, but no epilepsy surgery. Within each group, QOL, during the year before the LTM and on follow-up, was also compared. Further follow-up of patients (two and three years after surgery or LTM) is currently taking place. These results will be compared to a group of healthy controls to evaluate the QOL of epilepsy patients with respect to the general population in Lebanon. Mikati, M.

 

 

Treatment-resistant infantile Evans Syndrome

 

Pediatrics International 43(5): 2000 (in press). Muwakkit, S., R. Rachid, A. Bazarbachi, T. Araysi, and G. S. Dbaibo.

 

 

Successful treatment of cerebral mycotic aneurysm in a child with down's syndrome

 

Journal of Child Neurology 2001, accepted. Richani, R., A. Koutoubi, M. A. Miakti, G. Dbaibo, and F. F. Bitar.

 

 

Renal tubular dysfunction following kidney transplantation: a prospective study in 31 children

 

To appear in Transplant Proc. in August 2001. Sanjad. S. A., A. Ibrahim, S. Al Shorafa, A. Al Abbad, R. B. Khauli, K. A. Shaibani, and E. Al Sabban.

 

 

Intensive care and immediate follow-up of children after renal transplantation

 

To appear in Transplant Proc. in August 2001. Seikaly, M. G., and S. A. Sanjad.