Publications by authors named "Azzam C"

We characterized circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) in obese and lean humans, identifying transcriptional cargo differentially expressed in obesity. Since circulating EVs may have broad origin, we compared this obesity EV transcriptome to expression from human visceral adipose tissue derived EVs from freshly collected and cultured biopsies from the same obese individuals. Using a comprehensive set of adipose-specific epigenomic and chromatin conformation assays, we found that the differentially expressed transcripts from the EVs were those regulated in adipose by BMI-associated SNPs from a large-scale GWAS.

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The ability to track disease without tissue biopsy in patients is a major goal in biology and medicine. Here, we identify and characterize cardiomyocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in circulation (EVs; "cardiovesicles") through comprehensive studies of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, genetic mouse models, and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and low-input transcriptomics. These studies identified two markers (, ) enriched on cardiovesicles for biotinylated antibody-based immunocapture.

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Fifteen alfalfa populations were tested for resistance to the seedling damping-off disease sourced by , , and . In a laboratory experiment, saponin treatment significantly diminished the mycelial growth of the causal fungi of alfalfa damping-off disease. Roots of the fifteen alfalfa populations varied in saponin and lignin content.

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There is an urgent need for innovative strategies to raise the performance of environmentally stressed plants. The seeds of single-cross yellow (L.) hybrid Giza-168 were soaked in -(--Ck) or -zeatin-type cytokinin (--Ck) solutions at a concentration of 50 or 40 µM, respectively.

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A biostimulant is any microorganism or substance used to enhance the efficiency of nutrition, tolerance to abiotic stress and/or quality traits of crops, depending on its contents from nutrients. Plant biostimulants like honey bee (HB) and silymarin (Sm) are a strategic trend for managing stressed crops by promoting nutritional and hormonal balance, regulating osmotic protectors, antioxidants, and genetic potential, reflecting plant growth and productivity. We applied diluted honey bee (HB) and silymarin-enriched honey bee (HB- Sm) as foliar nourishment to investigate their improving influences on growth, yield, nutritional and hormonal balance, various osmoprotectant levels, different components of antioxidant system, and genetic potential of chili pepper plants grown under NaCl-salinity stress (10 dS m).

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Bertoni is a little bush, which is cultivated on a large scale in many countries for medicinal purposes and used as a natural sweetener in food products. The present work aims to conduct a protocol for stevia propagation in vitro to produce and introduce plants as a new sweetener crop to Egyptian agriculture. To efficiently maximize its propagation, it is important to study the influence of stress factors on the growth and development of grown in vitro.

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Since 1996, the original technique of superior pedicle vertical scar mammaplasty described by Lejour has been modified by decreasing skin and glandular undermining, limiting liposuction, avoiding tight glandular stitches, and adding a small horizontal scar for very large breasts. Between 1996 and 2002, 115 consecutive patients underwent a bilateral reduction mammaplasty of more than 500 g per breast using the modified Lejour technique. The early, late, and delayed complications were studied according to four parameters: glandular resection, age, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI).

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Between January 1996 and December 2002, 189 women underwent bilateral superior-pedicle breast reduction according to the Lejour technique, at Brugmann University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium). We conducted a retrospective study on the 18 women who gave birth since the operation. Our aim was to find out how many of them breastfed, the reasons for not breastfeeding from those who did not, and to look for parameters that might have interfered with breastfeeding success.

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Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most common malignant neoplasms in humans. Clinical misdiagnoses are not uncommon. These cancers are classified according to their histological and clinical characteristics which exhibit distinct malignant behaviours.

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Objective: We evaluated prognostic factors in 34 patients discharged from hospital after surgical resection for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Material And Methods: There were 22 males and 12 females; mean age was 59.3 years (range 42-77 years).

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Objective: Functional evaluation of digestive transplants after oesophagectomy for cancer.

Material And Methods: We evaluated alimentary comfort and quality of life and performed a videofluoroscopy (radiocinema) in 34 patients who were alive and disease-free one year or more after oesophagectomy for malignancy. There were 22 males and 12 females; mean age was 64 years.

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Objective: To determine prognosis factors influencing long-term survival after surgical resection for oesophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Material And Methods: Patients operated for oesophageal cancer between 1989 and 1995 were included in this study, excluding perioperative deaths. Were studied as potential prognosis factors: age, sex, operative intent, transfusion, digestive transplant, Barrett metaplasia, stage, tumoral extension (T), nodal involvement (N), distant metastases (M), tumoral differentiation, pre- or post-operative neoadjuvant treatment.

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Background: To assess surgical outcome after oesophagectomy, we reviewed operative techniques and postoperative course among 90 patients who underwent oesophageal resection for malignancies from January 1989 to December 1995.

Methods: There were 73 males and 17 females; mean age was 64.2 years.

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Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a common thyroid malignancy that generally has a good prognosis. However, this type of cancer may give rise to distant metastasis and may behave more aggressively in older patients. Here we report clinical, radiological, and pathological findings of a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma who had a solitary cerebellar metastasis.

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The opening of the skull of a living human being dates back to early civilization. The procedure may have been performed as early as the Neolithic period. Surgeons have continued to search for a better, easier, quicker, and safer method to open the skull.

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A case of a midline lumbar extradural ganglion/synovial cyst causing lumbar canal stenosis and mimicking an epidural tumor is presented. The lesion was demonstrated by a magnetic resonance imaging study, and relief of symptoms was achieved with decompressive laminectomy and total removal of the mass. The pathogenesis of lumbar ganglion/synovial cyst is reviewed.

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A case of three high flow peripheral aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) associated with a left cerebellar arteriovenous malformation is presented. This rare association is of further interest because the patient had been diagnosed as harboring an arteriovenous malformation 3 years before her most recent subarachnoid hemorrhage. Repeat angiography revealed enlargement of the malformation with new growth of three peripheral PICA aneurysms at the telovelotonsillar segment.

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The authors present two cases of dural arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) that developed at the site of previous suboccipital craniectomies. No other cases of delayed postoperative dural AVM's have been reported. Congenital and acquired dural AVM's are discussed, with reference to the similarity between postoperative dural AVM's and traumatic dural AVM's.

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A case is presented in which a patient sustained a closed head injury with subsequent acute subdural hematoma and delayed posterior dislocation of the atlas without fracture of the odontoid process and with an intact C-1 arch. The subdural hematoma was treated operatively. The atlas dislocation was managed with closed reduction without manipulation and subsequent posterior fusion of C-1, C-2, and C-3.

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