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Biomedical subjects

A Sciacca

Publications and source records attributed to A Sciacca.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Late potentials in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Twenty-five patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomiopathy were investigated in order to evaluate the role of late ventricular potentials as possible markers of ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death. Holter monitoring showed ventricular tachycardia in 9 patients (group A) all of whom had late ventricular potentials, (mean +/- SD length 37.22 +/- 15.83 ms and mean +/- SD voltage 5.62 +/- 2.78 microV). Mean +/- SD ejection fraction in this group was 20 +/- 9.39%. In 16 patients (group B), without ventricular tachycardia, means +/- SD ejection fraction 27.5 +/- 8.17%; late ventricular potentials were recorded in 2 patients. During the follow-up period (means +/- SD 11.53 +/- 7.19 months), 3 patients underwent heart transplantation, 2 patients underwent pace-maker implantation and 2 patients from the ventricular tachycardia group died one from sudden cardiac death and the other from progressive heart failure. No significant differences were found in the ejection fraction either between the ventricular tachycardia and the non-ventricular tachycardia group, or between the late ventricular potentials and the non-late ventricular potential groups. Negative data were also obtained when we tried to find a correlation between the ejection fraction and late ventricular potential length and/or voltage. Good results were observed with regard to sensitivity (100%), specificity (87%) and predictive accuracy (81%) but follow-up data did not specify a definite prognostic value for late ventricular potentials. The Authors conclude that late ventricular potentials are markers of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy who are prone to ventricular tachycardia. However, the role of late ventricular potentials in sudden cardiac death is still uncertain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Heart transplant rejection detected by signal averaged QRS analysis. Preliminary results.

Detailed QRS wave analysis from the limb leads of the surface high resolution electrocardiograms recorded in five cyclosporine-treated heart transplant recipients gave good correlation with the corresponding results of endomyocardial biopsy. That is when the result of the biopsies has identified the presence of rejection, a concomitant (p = 0.001) variation in some parameters of the QRS has been observed. The reproducibility of such parameters (established by means of the correlation coefficient r) gave r values ranging from 0.6 up to 0.93. The correlation regarded parameters analyzed both in time and frequency domain. Biopsy results were divided into two classes on the basis of the presence or absence of rejection. The most significant parameters obtained from high-frequency (25-300 Hz) ECGs within a few hours of each biopsy were: a) the total high-frequency voltage amplitude Vt of the QRS and the voltage amplitude of its initial Vi and middle thirds Vm; b) the peak voltage amplitude Vp of the QRS; c) the QRS duration L; d) the integrated voltage time product I of the QRS; e) three mean voltage amplitudes V5, V6, V7, of the power spectral density constructed on the basis of the 512-point fast Fourier transform applied on each recording. The above mentioned parameters appear to be useful in predicting the biopsy result in terms of the presence or absence of rejection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of high-resolution atrial activation: report on 403 cases.

The findings of a study carried out on a sample of 403 P waves, selected over the 50 to 300 Hz frequency range, by a portable microcomputer system capable of averaging 512 P waves, are reported. Detailed analysis of P waves was attempted in healthy subjects and in patients affected by pathologic processes where atrial involvement had been observed. An attempt was made to individualize P wave parameters which may be associated with these pathologic conditions. On each atrial signal a 512-point fast Fourier transform was used. The original sample was divided into 18 classes, and the mean values of some parameters of each class were computed. The results of fast Fourier transform computing and of the mean values of parameters for both patients and healthy subjects show two different behaviors with respect to the amplitude-frequency relationships and mean peak-to-peak amplitude, respectively. The present results indicate that this technique may be useful for further detailed analysis of P waves.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Therapeutic efficacy of ketanserin, a selective antagonist of the serotonin (5-HT2) receptors, in primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Fourteen ambulatory and hospitalized patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon have been examined before and after a thirty-one-day therapeutic trial. The treatment was conducted in two cycles. The first one lasted ten days, during which placebo was administered. The second cycle lasted three weeks, during which ketanserin, a selective antagonist of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT2) receptors, was administered. The therapeutic effect consisted of the complete healing of digital ulcers in 4 of 5 patients and a considerable decrease in the number, length, and severity of daily attacks. To evaluate the digital blood flow, each patient was submitted to a medical dynamic telethermographic test. This, after the cooling test, demonstrated an average decrease of twenty minutes in the time necessary to reestablish basal thermal conditions (T') at the end of an adequate period of therapy using optimal doses of the drug. The authors affirm that orally administered ketanserin has a beneficial effect and can be well tolerated in subjects with Raynaud's phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

High resolution atrial depolarization of MZ twins detected by surface signal averaging technique.

High resolution tracings of atrial depolarization can be obtained by surface signal averaging technique. A study was conducted on 4 male and 4 female healthy MZ twin pairs aged 10.4 +/- 1.3 yrs. Each subject underwent 3 or more recordings, at 10-days intervals. The essential reproducibility could be confirmed, with personal characteristics, as well as the reliability of the technique and the electrophysiological value of the spikes complex. In 3/8 pairs the cotwins showed a significant likeness of the atriogram, while in 5/8 pairs the tracings were not quite resembling between the twins and that is attributed to variations in the chronogenetic characteristics of MZ twins.

Atrial Function↗
PubMed1984

Situs viscerum specularis in monozygotic twins.

A case is reported of a 14-year old male MZ twin pair, with only one partner affected by situs viscerum inversus, whereby the condition is termed situs viscerum specularis. The high degree of mirror imaging is seen as an abnormal variation of the biological time of the cleavage giving rise to MZ twinning. Electrocardiographic findings are presented and the biological implications of the condition are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

High resolution recordings of atrial flutter.

We present high resolution tracings of atrial flutter which, to our knowledge, have not been previously described. Two patients have been studied; in both cases atrial activity was made by waves similar to each other, differing only in voltage. We discuss the nature of these waves, which are probably related to continuous atrial activity, with a segregation into small and large waveform activity. It is concluded that high resolution recordings may be valid support for the interpretation of atrial flutter activity.

Atrial Flutter↗