Saif Osama Azzam

Dr. Saif Osama Azzam

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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3 January 2024 in Clinics and Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAsma'a Al-Mnayyis
Asma'a Al-Mnayyis
SOShrouq Obeidat
Shrouq Obeidat
ABAmmar Badr
Ammar Badr
BJBasil Maher Jouryyeh
Basil Maher Jouryyeh
SASaif Osama Azzam
Saif Osama Azzam
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Sacroiliitis is the inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, the largest axial joint in the human body, contributing to 25% of lower back pain cases. It can be detected using various imaging techniques like radiography, MRI, and CT scans. Treatments range from conservative methods to invasive procedures. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence offer precise detection of this condition through imaging. Treatment options range from physical therapy and medications to invasive methods like joint injections and surgery. Future management looks promising with advanced imaging, regenerative medicine, and biologic therapies, especially for conditions like ankylosing spondylitis. We conducted a review on sacroiliitis using imaging data from sources like PubMed and Scopus. Only English studies focusing on sacroiliitis’s radiological aspects were included. The findings were organized and presented narratively.

17 December 2024 in Cureus
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SASaif Osama Azzam
Saif Osama Azzam
RARahma Almari
Rahma Almari
KKKarees Khattab
Karees Khattab
ABAmmar Badr
Ammar Badr
ABArwa R Balawi
Arwa R Balawi
GVGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric condition characterized by pervasive patterns of instability in emotions, interpersonal relationships, and self-image. This comprehensive review explores the current diagnostic practices, treatment modalities, and ongoing controversies surrounding BPD. We discuss established and proposed diagnostic criteria, highlight the limitations of current assessment tools, and examine the epidemiology of the disorder, including its prevalence and comorbidities. The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy, mentalization-based treatment, transference-focused psychotherapy, and schema-focused psychotherapy is evaluated alongside the role of pharmacological interventions. Furthermore, we address critical controversies, including misdiagnosis, the impact of trauma, stigma, and the ongoing debate regarding the treatability and recovery potential for individuals with BPD. By synthesizing these facets, we aim to provide a nuanced understanding of BPD and inform future research and clinical practice.

13 January 2025 in Clinics and Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LALOU'I AL-HUSINAT
LOU'I AL-HUSINAT
SOShrouq Obeidat
Shrouq Obeidat
SASaif Osama Azzam
Saif Osama Azzam
YAYara Al-Gwairy
Yara Al-Gwairy
FOFatima Obeidat
Fatima Obeidat
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Chronic non-cancer pain, defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as lasting beyond three months, significantly affects individuals’ quality of life and is often linked to various medical conditions or injuries. Its management is complex. Cannabis, containing the key compounds Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), has garnered interest for its potential in pain management, though it remains controversial due to its psychoactive effects and illegal status in many countries. THC provides pain relief by blocking nociceptive stimuli but has psychoactive effects and may potentially induce dependency. CBD has calming and antipsychotic properties. The inhalation of cannabis offers quick relief but poses respiratory risks, while its oral administrations are safer but act more slowly. Short-term cannabis use can impair cognition and motor skills, while long-term use may lead to dependency and cognitive decline, especially if used from an early age. Adverse effects vary by gender and prior use, with addiction mainly linked to THC and influenced by genetics. Despite these risks, patients often report more benefits, such as improved quality of life and reduced opioid use, although the evidence remains inconclusive. The legal landscape for medical cannabis varies globally, with some positive public health outcomes like reduced opioid-related issues in areas where it is legalized. Cannabis shows promise in managing chronic pain, but its psychoactive effects and dependency risks necessitate cautious use. Future research should prioritize long-term clinical trials to establish optimal dosing, efficacy, and safety, aiding in the development of informed guidelines for safe cannabis use in chronic pain management. This review examines the use of cannabis in managing chronic non-cancer pain, focusing on its benefits, drawbacks, mechanisms, delivery methods, and impact on quality of life.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SASaif Osama Azzam
Saif Osama Azzam
KKKaris Khattab
Karis Khattab
SSSarah Al Sharie
Sarah Al Sharie
LALOU'I AL-HUSINAT
LOU'I AL-HUSINAT
PSPedro Silva
Pedro Silva
PRPatricia Rocco
Patricia Rocco
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has traditionally been managed with population-based, protocolized mechanical ventilation strategies designed to limit ventilator-induced lung injury. While these approaches have improved outcomes, they fail to account for the pronounced biological, mechanical, radiological, and temporal heterogeneity that characterizes ARDS. Accumulating evidence shows that patients differ markedly in functional lung size, recruitability, chest wall mechanics, inflammatory burden, and tolerance to ventilatory stress, making uniform ventilatory targets physiologically imprecise and, at times, harmful. This narrative review examines the evolution from conventional lung-protective ventilation toward a precision-based paradigm that aligns ventilatory support with individual patient physiology. We conceptualize ARDS not as a static syndrome but as a dynamic spectrum, viewing the injured lung as a heterogeneous mechanical system susceptible to regionally amplified stress and strain. Within this framework, we discuss key principles underlying precision ventilation, including functional lung size (the “baby lung”), driving pressure, mechanical power, patient–ventilator interaction, spontaneous breathing-associated injury, and the time-dependent evolution of lung mechanics. We synthesize current evidence supporting mechanical, biological, and radiological subphenotyping as complementary strategies to individualize ventilatory management, while critically appraising their current limitations. This review also evaluates bedside tools that may operationalize precision ventilation in clinical practice, including esophageal pressure monitoring, lung ultrasound, and electrical impedance tomography, and examines the role of artificial intelligence as a clinician-directed decision-support aid rather than a prescriptive substitute for physiological reasoning. Implications for clinical trial design, ethical considerations, and future directions toward predictive and adaptive ventilation strategies are also addressed. Precision mechanical ventilation represents a shift from rigid thresholds toward proportional, physiology-guided intervention across the disease trajectory. By integrating evolving lung mechanics, ventilatory load, and patient effort over time, this approach provides a coherent framework for safer and more effective mechanical ventilation in ARDS while preserving the core principles of lung protection.