Amal Youssef

Dr. Amal Youssef

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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24 September 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FJFares Jamal
Fares Jamal
AEAmani Elshaer
Amani Elshaer
MAMayar H. Alatout
Mayar H. Alatout
NONour B. Odeh
Nour B. Odeh
AYAmal Youssef
Amal Youssef
BLBlanca Lizaola-Mayo
Blanca Lizaola-Mayo
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease marked by cholestasis and progressive fibrosis. While ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) remains the first-line therapy, approximately 30–40% of patients have an inadequate biochemical response, increasing the risk of disease progression. Obeticholic acid (OCA), a potent farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, was the first second-line agent approved by the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has demonstrated moderate biochemical efficacy but limited tolerability due to dose-dependent pruritus and safety concerns in cirrhosis. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) agonist, showed substantial alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reductions when added to UDCA, although its long-term benefit remains unconfirmed in large-scale trials and its use remains off-label in the United States, unlike FDA-approved agents. Seladelpar, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPAR-δ) agonist, and elafibranor, a dual PPAR-α/δ agonist, have both recently received FDA accelerated approval after demonstrating significant improvements in ALP, biochemical response rates, and pruritus relief in phase 3 trials. This review summarizes these second-line therapies’ mechanisms, efficacy, safety, and limitations emphasizing the need for individualized treatment decisions and ongoing research into long-term clinical outcomes.

1 April 2022 in Plant Science Today
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAsma Saeed
Asma Saeed
MBMuhammad Zeeshan Bhatti
Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti
SASheikh Zain Ul Abidin
Sheikh Zain Ul Abidin
RKRaees Khan
Raees Khan
RSrida fatima saeed
rida fatima saeed
GBGaber El-Saber Batiha
Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Plants have been used since ancient times as an important source of biologically active substances. Specific activities of these plant extracts are generally linked to the presence of secondary metabolites together with their phenolic contents. Present study aimed at investigating the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity of selected plants from five different families. The total phenolic content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu assay and total flavonoid content by aluminum chloride colorimetric method. The antioxidant capacity was estimated by phosphomolybdinium assay. Our findings indicates that total phenolic content for methanolic extracts ranged from 27.07 to 59.11 mg GAE/g DW, and total flavonoid content ranged from 38.37 to 124.23 mg QE/g DW, with an antioxidant activity ranging from 55.82 to 129.06 mg AAE/g DE. Following trend was shown in the assessment of total phenolic and flavonoid contents: Rhazya stricta>Cicer arietinum>Solanum melongena>Solanum surattense>Solanum nigrum>Withania sominifera>Sisymbrium irio>Withania coagulans>Raphanus sativus>Fagonia indica>Brassica napus. While the antioxidant capacity followed the trend: Cicer arietinum>Solanum nigrum>Withania coagulans>Rhazya stricta>Raphanus sativus>Solanum melongena>Withania sominifera>Solanum surratense>Fagonia indica>Brassica napus>Sisymbrium irio. It is also seen that both wild and cultivated plants have higher medicinal value, which can be linked to the phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant potential. Findings of the study revealed that wild plants possess higher phenolic content compared to cultivated plants, whereas cultivated plants had higher antioxidant activity.

11 February 2026 in Medical Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AYAmal Youssef
Amal Youssef
HBHend Bcharah
Hend Bcharah
HNHussein Abdul Nabi
Hussein Abdul Nabi
GBGeorge Bcharah
George Bcharah
LDLuke Dreher
Luke Dreher
FSFadi Shamoun
Fadi Shamoun
Background: Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant aortopathy characterized by aggressive aneurysm formation and arterial dissections. Pregnancy-related outcomes and timing of LDS diagnosis remain poorly characterized. Methods: Demographics, genetic, obstetric, and vascular data was collected from genetically or clinically confirmed individuals with LDS seen at the three Mayo Clinic sites from 2018 to 2025. Aneurysm progression, new aneurysm formation, and arterial dissections were recorded across all vascular beds. Vascular events were assessed during pregnancy, within 12 months postpartum, and during breastfeeding. Comparative analyses were performed between women with and without a history of pregnancy, and a single-arm descriptive analysis was conducted among patients who experienced vascular complications during the peripartum period. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test, while categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher exact tests. Results: Of 47 women with LDS, 24 had a history of pregnancy, accounting for 54 pregnancies. In the comparative analysis, age at LDS diagnosis differed significantly between women with and without a prior pregnancy: women without prior pregnancy were diagnosed at a younger age (median 23.5 years [IQR 10.8–41.0], n = 23) than those who had been pregnant (median 53.5 years [IQR 43.0–59.3], n = 24). Among pregnant women, the median age at first pregnancy was 28 years (IQR 23–34); only 4 (16.7%) knew their diagnosis before pregnancy. Of 54 pregnancies, 40 (74.1%) resulted in live birth, with 23 (57.5%) vaginal and 17 (42.5%) cesarean deliveries; preterm delivery occurred in 1 (2.5%) pregnancy, and postpartum hemorrhage in 2 (5.0%). No maternal deaths, aortic dissections, or uterine ruptures occurred during gestation or the first postpartum year. In addition, 14 women (58.3%) developed aneurysms, 6 (25.0%) experienced at least one arterial dissection, and 7 (29.2%) required surgical repair, predominantly involving the ascending and abdominal aorta. The prevalence of vascular complications did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: In this LDS cohort, pregnancy and the early postpartum period were not accompanied by acute aortic catastrophes, despite frequent diagnostic delay. Although women without prior pregnancy were diagnosed at a younger age, the overall burden of vascular and morphologic complications did not differ significantly by pregnancy history. These findings highlight the importance of long-term cardiovascular follow-up in women with LDS.

5 October 2026 in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
EHEiad Habib
Eiad Habib
AMArshad Mohammed
Arshad Mohammed
MGMichael Gotway
Michael Gotway
AWAlyssa Wallace
Alyssa Wallace
HNHussein Abdul Nabi
Hussein Abdul Nabi
KSKomandoor Srivathsan
Komandoor Srivathsan

14 November 2025 in International Journal of Surgical Pathology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AYAmal Youssef
Amal Youssef
DSDavid J. Supeck
David J. Supeck
RSRichard E. Sharpe
Richard E. Sharpe
EDErinn Downs
Erinn Downs
IOIdris T. Ocal
Idris T. Ocal
LMLida Mina
Lida Mina
Pleomorphic adenoma of the breast is a rare tumor, with fewer than 100 patients described in the English literature, mainly as case reports and small case series. Histologically, breast pleomorphic adenoma resembles its more common salivary gland counterpart; however, it can present diagnostic challenges, particularly on core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration. The differential diagnosis includes benign and malignant tumors, which carry major treatment implications, from the extent of surgical intervention to the potential use of chemotherapy. Herein we describe a tumor that was initially diagnosed as a triple-negative matrix-producing metaplastic carcinoma, but a secondary review led to the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the breast. Prior to the secondary review, the patient underwent an excisional biopsy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and one round of chemotherapy. This report adds to the limited literature surrounding this entity and discusses the differential diagnosis along with histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings that aid in the diagnosis and reviews the radiologic findings observed throughout the patient's clinical course. This patient underscores the difficulty of diagnosis and highlights the need for multidisciplinary consideration and communication to avoid overtreatment.