Publications

The Chronic Care Center’s primary goal is not only to provide care for diabetic and thalassemic patients, ongoing scientific research occupies a major and important part of our activities. The center hosts several medical conferences a year. Furthermore, our staff members are active participants in local, regional as well as international scientific meetings. Their work is well recognized and published in peer-reviewed journals. Below is a list of some of their research papers and abstracts:

1- Taher A, Sheikh-Taha M. Hydroxyurea use in β-thalassemia intermedia lebanese patients. J. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 28(2):107, Feb 2006.

2- Ali Taher, Marwan Sheikh-Taha, Ala Sharara, Adlette Inati, Suzane Koussa, Gareth Ellis, Paul Dhillon, AV Hoffbrand. Safety and effectiveness of 100mg/kg/day deferiprone in patients with thalassemia major: a two-year study. Acta Haematol. 2005;114(3):146-9.

3- Inati A, Taher A, Ghorra S, Koussa S, Taha M, Aoun E, Sharara AI. Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alpha-2a with or without ribavirin in thalassaemia major patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Br J Haematol. 2005 Aug;130(4):644-6.

4- Taher A. Iron overload in thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Semin Hematol. 2005 Apr;42(2 Suppl 1):S5-9.

5- Makhoul NJ, Wells RS, Kaspar H, Shbaklo H, Taher A, Chakar N, Zalloua PA. Genetic heterogeneity of Beta thalassemia in Lebanon reflects historic and recent population migration. Ann Hum Genet. 2005 Jan;69(Pt 1):55-66.

6- Valent A, Guillaud-Bataille M, Farra C, Lozach F, Spengler B, Terrier-Lacombe M, Valteau-Couanet D, Danglot G, Lenoir, Brison O, Bénard J, Bernheim A. Alternative pathways of MYCN gene copy number in primary neuroblastoma tumors. Cancer Genet and Cytogenet.2004 Aug;153(1):10-5.

7- Farra C, Valent A, Lozach F, Bernheim A. Complex translocation (8;12;21):a new variant of t(8;21) in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Genet Cytogenet.2004 Dec;155(2):138-42.

8- Taher A, Aoun E, Sharara AI, Gharzuddine W, Koussa S, Inati A, Dhillon AP, Hoffbrand AV. Five year trial of deferiprone chelation therapy in thalassemia major patients. Acta Haematol. 2004;112(4):179-183.

9- A. Chehal, E. Aoun, S. Koussa, H. Skoury, S. Koussa, and A. Taher. Hypertransfusion: A Successful Modality Of Treatment In Thalassemia Intermedia Patients With Spinal Cord Compression Secondary To Extramedullary Hematopoiesis. Spine. 2003 Jul 1;28(13):E245-9.

10- Zalloua PA, Shbaklo H, Mourad Y, Koussa S, Taher A. Incidence of thromboembolic events in thalassemia intermedia patients. Thromb Haemost. 2003 Apr;89(4):767-8.

11- F.H. Mourad, A.V. Hoffbrand, M. Sheeikh Taha, S. Koussa, A.I. Khoriaty, A. Taher. Comparison between desferrioxamine and combined therapy with desfererioxamine and deferiprone in iron overloaded thalassemia patients. Br J Haematol. 2003 Apr;121(1):187-189.

12- Ramia S. Koussa S, Taher A, Haraki S, Klayme S, Sarkis D, Naman R. Hepatitis-C-virus genotypes and hepatitis-G-virus infection in Lebanese thalassaemics. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2002 Mar;96(2):197-202.

13- Taher A, Abou Mourad Y, Abchee A, Zalloua P, Shamseddine A. Pulmonary thromboembolism in ß- thalassemia Intermedia: are we aware of this complication. Hemoglobin. 2002May;26(2):107-12.

14- Zahed L, F Mourad, Alameddine R, Aoun S, Koussa A, Taher A. Effect of oral chelation therapy on the psychological status of thalassemic patients in Lebanon. Haematologia 2002; 31(4):33-9.

15- Gharzuddine W, Kazma H, Nuwayhid I, S. Koussa, Taher A. Doppler Diastolic Characteristics of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in b-Thalassemia Major. Evidence for Early Stage of Impaired Relaxation. Eur. J. of Echocardiography .2002 March;3(1):47-51.

16- Taher A, Skouri H, Jaber W, Kanj N: Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a patient with beta- thalassemia intermedia manifesting as symptomatic pleural effusion. Hemoglobin. 2001;25(4), 363- 368.

17- Azar ST, Zalloua PA, Medlej R, Halabi G. The DD genotype of the ACE gene polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in the type-1 diabetics. Endocr Res ;27(1-2):99-108. 2001.

18- Azar ST, Zantout MS. Diabetic ketoacidosis associated with orlistat treatment Diabetes Care 24 (3): 2001.

19- Kanj SS, Araj GF, Taher A and Reller LB: Campylobacter Fetus Pericarditis in A Patient with Beta-thalassemia. Case Report and Review of Literature. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Volume 7, Number 9, 2001.

20- Wells RS, Yuldasheva N, Ruzibakiev R, Underhill PA, Evseeva I, Blue-Smith J, Jin L, Su B, Pitchappan R, Shanmugalakshmi S, Balakrishnan K, Read M, Pearson NM, Zerjal T, Webster MT, Zholoshvili I, Jamarjashvili E, Gambarov S, Nikbin B, Dostiev A, Aknazarov O, Zalloua P, Tsoy I, Kitaev M, Mirrakhimov M, Chariev A, Bodmer WF. The Eurasian heartland: a continental perspective on Y-chromosome diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 98(18):10244-9. 2001.

21- Taher A, Sheikh-Taha M, Koussa S, Inati A, Neeman R, Mourad F. Comparison between Deferoxamine and Deferiprone (L1) in iron loaded thalassemia patients. Eur. J. of Haematology 2001: 63: 1-5.

22- Azar ST, Salti I, Zantout MS, Major S. Alterations in the plasma transforming growth factor-b in normoalbuminuric type-1 and type-2 diabetic patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85 (12), 2000.

23- Inati Khoriati A, Oujaymi M, Ziadeh F, Nabulsi M, Mazraani V. Risk Factors for Adverse Outcome in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in North Lebanon: Blood (supplement) Nov 2000.

24- Inati Khoriati A, Oujaymi M, Ziadeh F, Nabulsi M, Mazraani V. Clinical Features of Sickle Disease in North Lebanon. Blood (supplement) Nov 2000.

25- Kanj N, Shamseddine A, Gharzeddine W, M Kanj, Nasr TA, Koussa S, Jibrail J, Taher A. Relation of ferritin levels to pulmonary function tests in patients with thalassemia major and the acute effects of transfusion. Eur J of Haematology; 64: 1-5. 2000.

26- Zahed L, Qatanani M, Nabulsi M, Taher A. b-Thalassemia Mutations and haplotype analysis in Lebanon. Hemoglobin, 24 (4), 269-276 (2000).

27- Qatanani M, Taher A, Kousa S, Al-Dana R, Old J, and Zahed L. Beta thalassemia intermedia in Lebanon. Eur J of Haematology 2000 Apr; 64 (4) 237-44.

28- Almawi WY, Tamim H ,Azar ST :T helper type land 2 cytokines Mediate to onset and progression of type 1 (insulin-Dependent) diabetes .J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:1497-1502,1999.

29- Azar ST, Habbal Z, Beyhum HN, Almawi wy. Type 1 (insulin Dependent) diabetes is a Th 1 – and Th 2- mediated Autoimmune disease. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 6(3):306-310, 1999.

30- Azar ST, Kanaan N. Intensive Insulin therapy compared to Conventional insulin therapy does not reduce depressive Symptoms in parents of children with type 1 of diabetes. Diabetes care 22:1372-1374,1999.

31- Azar ST, Major s, Safieh – Garabedian B: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) And transforming growth factor-B2(TGF-B2) in the serum of patients With Insulin Dependent Diabetes (IDDM).Behavior, Brain and Autoimmunity 13:361-366,1999.

32- Baz p , Azar ST, Medlij R , Bejjani R Halabi G, Salti I . Role of Early fundoscopy for diagnosis of wolfram syndrome in type 1 Diabetic patients . Diabetes Care 22:1376-1378,1999.

33- Taher A, Chamoun FM, Koussa S, Abi Saad M, Khoriaty AI, Neeman R, Mourad FH. Efficacy and Side Effects of Deferiprone (L1) in Thalassemia Patients Not Compliant with Desferrioxamine. Acta Haematologica. 1999; 101(4): 173-177.

34- Azar ST , Birbari A Nocturnal blood pressure elevation in patients With type 1 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy compared to conventional insulin therapy . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:3190-3193. 1998.

35- Beyhum HN , Azar ST, Almawi WY : Association of altered T cell Immunity with insulin -dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). More than a cause and effect . Int J Diabetes 6 (1) : 1-17,1997.

Abstracts

1- Safety and effectiveness of high dose Deferiprone in patients with thalassemia major: a 2-year study. A. Taher, M. Sheik-Taha, A. Inati, S. Koussa, A.V. Hoffbrand. EHA 9th congress, Geneva, June 2004.

2- Preliminary report on the study on hepatitis C treatment using Ribavirin and pegylated Interferon in thalassemia patients (SCRIPT). A. Sharara, S. Ghorra, A. Inati, E. Aoun, M. Taha, S. Koussa, A. Taher. EHA 9th congress, Geneva, June 2004.

3- Serum, hepatic and cardiac characteristics of 12 thalassemia major patients five years after deferiprone chelation therapy. Aoun E, Hoffbrand A.V., Sharara A., Murad F., Gharzuddine W., Koussa S, Taher A. The 9th international conference on thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. Palermo, October 2003.

4- Ophtalmologic findings in Lebanese patients with thalassemia. Abdulnour RE, Bashur Z, Baz P, Aoun E, Koussa S, Noureddine B, Taher A. The 9th international conference on thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. Palermo, October 2003.

5- Taher A, F.H. Mourad, S. Koussa, A. Inati, A.V. Hoffbrand. Effect of Desferrioxamine, Deferiprone or a combination therapy in iron overloaded thalassemia patients: the Lebanese experience. 12th ICOC, Santorini, (Greece 2002).

6- Azar St, Zalloua PA, Zantout MS, Shahine CH and Salti I. Leptin levels in patients receiving intensive insulin therapy compared to that in patients receiving conventional insulin therapy. 83rd Annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, Denver, USA, 2001.

7- Taher A, F.H. Mourad, M. Sheikh-Taha, S. Koussa, A. Inati, Z. A. El-Khatib, R. Neeman, A.V. Hoffbrand. Comparison between desferrioxamine, deferiprone and a combination therapy in iron overloaded thalassemia patients. (Catania 2001).

8- Taher A, A. Shamseddine, F.H. Mourad, M. Sheikh- Taha, S. Koussa, A. Inati, Z.A. El Khatib, A.V. Hoffbrand. Comparison between Desferrioxamine, Deferiprone and combined therapy in Iron overloaded Thalassemia Patients. (Cairo 2001)

9- Taher A, Y. Abou Mourad, S. Koussa, A. Inati, P. Zalloua. Factor V Leiden among thalassemia intermedia patients in Lebanon: is it an underlying cause for thrombosis. (Cairo 2001).

10- Azar ST, Salti T, Zantout MS, Major S,. Alterations in the plasma transforming growth factor-b in normoalbuminuric type -1 and type-2 diabetic patients. II Pan Arab Congress of Diabetes and Endocrinology. Amman, Jordan, 2000.

11- Khallouf E, Zalloua P, Maalouf P, Saab C, Medlej R, Azar ST, Halabi G. An epidemiological review of 66 children followed at a pediatric diabetes center diagnosed before the age of 5 years. Hormone Reseach: Int J Exp Clin Endocrinol 53, suppl (2):176, 2000.

12- Zalloua P, Azar ST, Medlej R, Halaby G. Patients with strong family history and who are heterozygous or homozygous for the DQB1*0201 susceptibility alleles are more likely to develop type-1 diabetes before the age of five. II Pan Arab Congress of Diabetes and Endocrinology. Amman, Jordan, 2000.

13- Khallouf E, Sabban N, Maalouf P, Saab C, Medlej R, Azar S, Halaby G: A four years follow-up of 288 diabetic children in a specialized multidisciplinary center in Lebanon (The Chronic Care Center). Hormone Research 51(Suppl 2): 1-154, 1999.

14- Medlej R, Azar S, Salti S, Halaby G: Anterior pituitary dysfunction in patients with Wolfram syndrome. The Endocrine Society, San Diego, 1999.

15- Taher A, Chamoun F, Koussa S, Abi Saad M, Khoriaty A, Neeman R, Mourad FH. Efficacy and tolerance of the oral iron chelator deferiprone in thalassemia: the Lebanese experience. British Journal of Hematology, 1998; 102: (1): 55.

16- Mourad FH, Taher A, Koussa S, Neeman R, Shammaa M. Transfusion-related hepatitis B and C infection among thalassemic patients in Lebanon and the effect on SGOT, SGPT and serum ferritin levels. Digestion 1998.

17- Taher A, Mourad F, Koussa S, Neeman R, Khoriati A, Shamaa M. Effects of multiple transfusions on hepatitis B and C infection prevalence in thalassemic patients in Lebanon. British Journal of Hematology, 1998; 102: (1): 54.

18- Safieh-Garabedian B, Major S, Azar ST: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Transforming Growth Factor-b2 (TGF-b2) in the serum of patients with Insulin Dependent Diabetes (IDDM). J Neuroimmunomodulation 5:42, 1998.

19- Qatanani MT, Taher A, Koussa S, Dana R, Old J, Zahed L. The molecular basis of b-thalassemia intermedia in Lebanon. British Journal of Hematology, 1998; 102: (1): 48.

20- Mourad FH, Taher A, Koussa S, Neeman R, Shammaa M. Transfusion-related hepatitis B and C infection among thalassemic patients in Lebanon and the effect on SGOT, SGPT and serum ferritin levels. Digestion 1998.

21- Beyhum HN, Azar ST, Almawi WY: Alterations of cell activation and cytokine expression in IDDM. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 99, S399, 1997.

22- Gharzuddine W, Kanj N, Kazma H, Fathallah Z and Taher A. Relation of cardiac systolic and diastolic function in patients with Thalassemia major to pulmonary function abnormalities. Proceedings of 6th international Conference on Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. Malta, 1997.

23- Kanj N, Taher A, Shamseddine A, Abi Nasr T, Jibrail J. Relation of serum ferritin levels to pulmonary function in patients with Thalassemia major and the acute effects of transfusion. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. Malta, 1997.

24- Taher A, Mourad F, Koussa S, Neman R and Shamaa M. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among multiply transfused thalassemic patients in Lebanon. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. Malta, 1997.

25- Taher A, Mourad GH, Koussa S, Neman R, Shammaa M. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among multiply transfused thalassemic patients in Lebanon. Gastroenterology ; 112: A1393. 1997.

26- L Zahed, Al-Dana R, Koussa S and Taher A. The molecular basis of b-thalassemia intermedia in Lebanon. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies. Malta, 1997.

27- Almawi WY, Beyhum HN, Kaidbey H, Nuwayri-Salti N, Azar S: Dysregulation of cytokine expression in diabetes. FASEB Journal 10:1376 (2169), 1996.

28- Beyhum HN, Azar ST, Nuwayri-Salti N, Almawi WY: Association of altered T cell immunity with the onset and progression of type I diabetes. Annual Conference on Clinical Immunology, New Orleans, LA, 1996.