Publications by authors named "Mohamed A Gharbi"

Introduction And Importance: Tuberculous osteoarthritis, a rare condition affecting the elbow in 1-5 % of cases, poses diagnostic challenges due to its subtle clinical presentation, often resulting in delayed diagnosis. Herein, we present a case of tuberculous osteoarthritis involving the elbow joint. Our aim is to underscore the complexities associated with diagnosing this condition and to emphasize the critical importance of early recognition and appropriate management strategies for optimal patient outcomes.

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  • * A case presented involved a 68-year-old man who underwent surgery to remove a large mass in his knee caused by SC, which was confirmed through histological examination.
  • * Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are crucial in managing SC to prevent complications, while vigilance is needed for potential malignant transformation in resistant cases.
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Introduction And Importance: Desmoid-type fibromatosis is an uncommon tumor characterized by its local invasiveness, with shoulder involvement being notably infrequent. The optimal treatment strategy for this tumor remains a topic of ongoing debate.

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old Tunisian woman with a history of hypothyroidism, presented with pain and swelling in her left shoulder for a year.

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Characterizing the anchoring properties of smectic liquid crystals (LCs) in contact with bacterial solutions is crucial for developing biosensing platforms. In this study, we investigate the anchoring properties of a smectic LC when exposed to and bacterial suspensions using interfaces with known anchoring properties. By monitoring the optical response of the smectic film, we successfully distinguish different types of bacteria, leveraging the distinct changes in the LC's response.

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Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare neoplasms, primarily found in long bones, typically affecting the epiphysis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius. However, their occurrence in the cervical spine is exceedingly rare. Here, we present a case report of a 21-year-old female patient who presented with progressive neck pain, radiating numbness, and right hemiparesis.

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  • - The text discusses the different conditions that can be mistaken for popliteal ganglion cysts.
  • - Possible alternatives include Baker's cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs behind the knee.
  • - Other potential diagnoses to consider are popliteal artery aneurysms, popliteal tendinitis, lymph node swelling, lipomas, and synovial sarcoma.
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Introduction: Osteochondromas, also known as osteocartilaginous exostosis, are among the most common benign cartilaginous bone tumors, primarily occurring as solitary lesions. While typically found in long bones, spinal involvement is rare, accounting for only a small percentage of benign lesions in this location. Solitary osteochondromas responsible for spinal cord compression are seldom.

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  • Patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) face an elevated risk of soft-tissue sarcomas, such as the rare epithelioid sarcoma (ES), making its clinical management important yet poorly understood.
  • A case study of a 37-year-old NF1 patient revealed a rare ES on his thigh, leading to a rapid decline in health after opting for a less aggressive treatment method, highlighting the severe prognosis often associated with this condition.
  • This case emphasizes the need for more research and a collaborative approach in treating sarcomas in NF1 patients to enhance understanding and improve care outcomes.
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  • Sciatica is typically linked to nerve issues but can also arise from rare causes like hydatid cysts, as shown in a case where a thigh cyst produced similar symptoms.
  • A 40-year-old patient with a history of tuberculosis experienced persistent pain that MRI revealed was caused by a hydatid cyst, leading to successful surgical removal.
  • Diagnosing such atypical causes requires careful imaging and serological tests, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to consider uncommon etiologies to improve treatment outcomes for patients with resistant sciatica.
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Inguinal swelling should raise suspicion for hip joint osteochondromatosis. Early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and prompt surgical intervention are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

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We investigate the plasmon coupling of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) dimers dispersed in a nematic liquid crystal matrix using the polarization z-scan technique. Our experimental setup includes the precise control of incident light polarization through polarization angles of 0°, 45°, and 90°. Two distinct cell orientations are examined: parallel and twisted nematic cells.

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Key Clinical Message: Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal management of nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine. However, associated to chemotherapy, aggressive surgery with en bloc wide resection seems to improve local control and survival.

Abstract: Primary Ewing's sarcoma (EWS) of non-sacral spine is extremely rare, especially in middle-age.

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Introduction And Importance: Surface osteosarcoma, a rare variant of osteosarcoma, poses unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This report discusses the application of 3D printing technology in the surgical management of a complex case involving a 27-year-old female patient with surface osteosarcoma in the proximal tibia.

Case Presentation: A 27-year-old female patient presented with a progressively growing mass on her right knee, initially misdiagnosed as a benign bone tumor.

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  • Foams are important two-phase systems present in various industries and everyday life, making it essential to study their properties for better products.
  • Researchers created 2D foams using smectic liquid crystals and analyzed how factors like temperature, airflow rate, and drainage affect the foam's structure and stability.
  • The study found that surface tension is the key factor influencing the properties of liquid crystal foams, highlighting potential applications in cosmetics, thermal insulation, oil recovery, and sensing technologies.
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  • The study investigates the structural and optical characteristics of 20 nm gold nanoparticles in two types of liquid crystals: one that is aligned (planar oriented) and one that is not (planar degenerate).
  • The aligned liquid crystal allows the gold nanoparticles to arrange themselves parallel to the liquid crystal’s axis, while in the unaligned liquid crystal, the nanoparticles are randomly dispersed.
  • Results indicate that the aligned nanoparticles exhibit greater linear and nonlinear optical absorption, which is linked to enhanced plasmon coupling, showcasing the potential for using liquid crystals to improve nanoparticle assembly for advanced optical technologies.
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  • The study highlights a rare case of a giant cell tumor of the tendon sheaths (GCTTC) in a 32-year-old woman, detailing its unusual presentation and the therapeutic approach utilized.
  • The patient initially presented with a painful 2 cm mass on her big toe, which prompted an MRI revealing tendon invasion and bone lysis; surgical intervention involved tumor excision and toe preservation due to non-invasion of the pedicle.
  • GCTTCs are generally benign but can exhibit local aggressiveness, necessitating comprehensive surgical removal and careful radiological and histological evaluations to prevent recurrence.
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  • Management of bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has evolved due to targeted therapies that enhance overall survival rates.
  • The controversy surrounding surgical decision-making for bone metastases persists despite advancements in treatment.
  • The case presented involves a patient with pelvic bone metastasis from RCC occurring two months after nephrectomy and surgery for a clavicular metastasis.
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  • The study explores how the properties of active fluids can be manipulated through flow and material characteristics, making them applicable in various fields.
  • A new method is introduced that utilizes submerged micropatterned structures to control flow, shape, and composition in active films, enhancing their rheological properties.
  • Simulations show that these micropatterns create virtual boundaries in the films, allowing for the engineering of active microfluidic systems without direct interference.
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  • The study explores how topological defects in liquid crystals can be manipulated at undulated surfaces, focusing on the organization of focal conic domains (FCDs) and disclinations.
  • Researchers demonstrate new methods for assembling these structures, revealing the impact of temperature changes on defect formation and stability.
  • The findings suggest pathways for controlling functional nanomaterials, which could enhance technology in areas like energy, optoelectronics, and photonics.
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  • Colloidal particles at fluid interfaces and films can form highly ordered structures due to interactions like capillarity and elasticity, especially in smectic-A films.
  • The study focuses on how microparticle interactions impact particle assembly in these films, leading to new 1D and 2D patterns influenced by initial wetting conditions.
  • The findings suggest potential applications for using liquid crystal interfaces to create materials that can spontaneously reconfigure and have optical properties.
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Controlling the molecular alignment of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) within nano- and microstructures is essential in manipulating the actuation behavior of nematic liquid crystal elastomers (NLCEs). Here, we study how to induce uniformly vertical alignment of nematic LCMs within a micropillar array to maximize the macroscopic shape change using surface chemistry. Landau-de Gennes numerical modeling suggests that it is difficult to perfectly align LCMs vertically in every pore within a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mold with porous channels during soft lithography.

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We prepare two-dimensional crystalline packings of colloidal particles on surfaces of the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) 5CB, and we investigate the diffusion and vibrational phonon modes of these particles using video microscopy. Short-time particle diffusion at the air-NLC interface is well described by a Stokes-Einstein model with viscosity similar to that of 5CB. Crystal phonon modes, measured by particle displacement covariance techniques, are demonstrated to depend on the elastic constants of 5CB through interparticle forces produced by LC defects that extend from the interface into the underlying bulk material.

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  • We investigate colloids in nematic liquid crystal within grooves that have parallel alignment.
  • We discover "eyelashes," which are chains of dipoles aligning with the local director field, leading to the creation of curvilinear colloidal wires.
  • By varying the groove's aspect ratio, we identify different stable configurations, demonstrating how topographical features and colloidal distortions can be used to design flexible structures in nematic materials.
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Blue phases (BPs), a distinct class of liquid crystals (LCs) with 3D periodic ordering of double twist cylinders involving orthogonal helical director twists, have been theoretically studied as potential templates for tunable colloidal crystals. Here, we report the spontaneous formation of thermally reversible, cubic crystal nanoparticle (NP) assemblies in BPs. Gold NPs, functionalized to be highly miscible in cyanobiphenyl-based LCs, were dispersed in BP mixtures and characterized by polarized optical microscopy and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).

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  • Dynamic control over gold nanorods in liquid crystals is achieved through microscale ring confinement, allowing for unprecedented manipulation at the nanoscale.
  • By adjusting elastic energy with temperature changes, this method can reversibly capture nanoscale particles, improving flexibility in material properties.
  • This technique results in significant shifts (over 100 nm) in the surface plasmon resonance peak, outperforming previous research on gold nanorod composites.
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