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F Musumeci

Publications and source records attributed to F Musumeci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Role of water content in dielectric properties and delayed luminescence of bovine Achilles' tendon.

In order to investigate the role of water network in collagen structure, measurement of dielectric permittivity was performed on bovine Achilles' tendon as a function of water content. The data show a sudden decrease of the permittivity at each measured frequency value when the tendon humidity decreases. A similar behaviour is shown by the total number of photons emitted in delayed luminescence (DL) experiments. The comparison of the two results is in agreement with the hypothesis that DL is connected to the excitation and subsequent decay of collective electronic states, whose properties depend on the organized structure of the system.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2001

Delayed luminescence of biological systems arising from correlated many-soliton states.

The kinetics of the delayed luminescence arising from correlated coherent many-soliton states in low-dimensional macromolecular systems, is calculated and shown to be different from the one arising from independent soliton states. The correlation between coherent electron states is essential at relatively high levels of excitation in the presence of very long macromolecules in a system. These conditions can be fulfilled in such biological systems, like algae Acetabularia Acetabulum. The cytoskeleton of this unicellular alga contains macromolecular structures (actin filaments, microtubules, etc.) of the length of several hundreds angstroms and more, in which many-soliton coherent states can exist. Indeed, the correlated coherent model is shown to give better fit of the experimental data for this type of algae in a wide range of intensities of the stimulating light, as compared with the model of noncorrelated solitons. The nonlinearity of the dependence of delayed luminescence intensity on the level of excitation increases with the increase of correlation between solitons.

Acetabularia↗
PubMed2000

Analogous features of delayed luminescence from Acetabularia acetabulum and some solid state systems.

This paper compares some features of the delayed luminescence in the seconds range emitted from an unicellular alga Acetabularia acetabulum and from some solid state systems. Results lead us to think that such delayed luminescence is connected to the dimension of the ordered structures present in both biological and solid state systems. In particular, for the biological system examined, these structures are thought to be those which contribute to the dynamic formation of the cytoskeleton.

Acetabularia↗
PubMed1999

A new strategy of total arterial revascularization.

We report a new strategy of total arterial revascularization based on bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) and a radial artery (RA). The technique employs a graft extension of the proximal third of the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) with the RA, in combination with the T-graft technique, by which the lower two-thirds of the free RITA is anastomosed to the side of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA).

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1998

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome with interrupted aortic arch.

A surgically treated case of absent pulmonary valve syndrome associated with type B interrupted aortic arch is presented. The presence of a restrictive ductus arteriosus promoted the development of a collateral circulation between ascending and descending thoracic aorta, allowing the child to remain clinically stable after birth.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1998

Prospective randomized trial of single clamp technique versus intermittent ischaemic arrest: myocardial and neurological outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis that intermittent ischaemic arrest (IIA) provides better myocardial preservation but generates a larger number of cerebral microemboli (ME) and consequently a higher incidence of post-operative cerebral dysfunction compared with the single clamp technique (SCT). METHODS: Ninety-one patients with stable angina undergoing elective CABG with no clinical evidence of aortic or cerebro-vascular or neurological disease were prospectively randomized to: IIA (n = 43) or SCT with intermittent anterograde cold blood cardioplegia (n = 48). Myocardial preservation was assessed by measuring serum CK-MB, Troponin-T (TnT) and Troponin-I (TnI) and from pre- and post-operative ECGs and left ventricular (LV) function by echocardiography. Intra-operative cerebral ME were counted by transcranial Doppler of the right middle cerebral artery. All patients completed the Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) tests for motor, visual, reading, memory and intellectual processes the day before surgery and at 1 week and 6 months post-operatively. Serum levels of the neuro-specific protein S-100 were measured. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable for age, sex, extent of coronary disease, previous myocardial infarction, diabetes, hypertension and number of arterial and venous grafts. The median number of ME detected per patient was 34 (range 4-208) and was similar in both groups. Protein S-100 levels remained normal and similar in both groups at all times except in one patient with SCT who had an operative stroke. LNNB scores were similarly depressed at 1 week and recovered in all cases at 6 months. There was no correlation between the number of ME and LNNB scores. Median peak TnI levels were 0.64 microg/l with IIA vs. 0.87 microg/l with SCT (P = NS) and TnT 0.8 microg/l vs. 1.08 microg/l (P < 0.03). SCT was however associated with longer mean ischaemic (67.6 +/- 16.1 vs. 34.5 +/- 16.5 min, P < 0.001) and mean bypass time (88.5 +/- 18.2 vs. 74.6 +/- 26.3 min, P < 0.004) than IIA. Four patients with SCT and none with IIA had ECG changes suggestive of MI (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: During elective CABG in patients with no clinical evidence of aortic or cerebro-vascular disease the incidence of peri-operative ME and post-operative neuropsychological disturbances are comparable with both techniques of myocardial preservation. Biochemical analysis suggests that IIA provides more effective myocardial preservation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Aortotracheal fistula: demonstration by computerized tomography.

Aortotracheal fistula is a rare condition that is invariably fatal if not diagnosed and surgically treated. Patients usually present with small intermittent haemoptysis. In cases of aortotracheal fistula bronchoscopy may be both misleading and dangerous. The findings using computerized tomography (CT) are usually non-diagnostic. We present a case of aortotracheal fistula in which CT established the diagnosis by demonstrating the fistula as a continuous tract between the aorta and the trachea. CT should be considered in the initial investigation of patients suspected to have such a disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Delayed luminescence from simple biological systems.

Photoinduced ultraweak photon emission in the seconds time range from several living organisms is described. Some characteristics of this phenomenon and its dependence on some physical parameters are discussed. Some experimental evidence of the connection between this phenomenon and the functional state of the biological systems is reported.

Luminescent Measurements↗
PubMed1997

The spontaneous ultraweak luminescence of living systems.

The results of experimental research on ultraweak photon emission carried out at the Institute of Physics, Catania University, are presented here. A correlation has been demonstrated to exist between photon emission and growth activity in the germination of soya seeds and also during the exponential phase of the growth of yeast cell cultures. In addition an experiment on the self irradiation of yeast cells is reported that confirms the mitogenic effect hypothesized by Gurwitsch.

Luminescent Measurements↗
PubMed1996

Early repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect with gelatin-resorcin-formol biological glue.

BACKGROUND: Early surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect has improved early mortality rate. Mortality remains high in patients presenting within 1 week of infarction, or when rupture has occurred in the inferior part of the septum. METHODS: We describe a surgical technique for repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect that involves no infarctectomy: continuous suturing of a bovine pericardial patch to healthy myocardium around the infarcted area and use of gelatin-resorcin-formol biological glue as a sealant between the patch and the interventricular septum. RESULTS: We have used this technique successfully in 3 consecutive patients in whom repair was performed within 1 week of myocardial infarction. The rupture of the interventricular septum was located anteriorly in 2 patients and inferiorly in the other. They all made an uneventful recovery, and at follow-up there was no evidence of residual shunt. CONCLUSIONS: This technique can be a useful adjunct to the surgical management of this difficult group of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Case report: traumatic aortic rupture: demonstration by magnetic resonance imaging.

Traumatic rupture of the aorta is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rapid deceleration road traffic accidents, with an immediate mortality of 85%. Of the 15% that survive the initial injury, approximately 50% will die within 24 h if left untreated. Prompt diagnosis and early surgical treatment are necessary if such patients are to survive. Aortography is the standard investigation of choice and provides a rapid, sensitive test of aortic rupture. Other modalities, such as plain chest radiography, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound may also play a role in diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with its multi-planar imaging capability, is now widely used for imaging non-traumatic disorders of the aorta. However, its use in traumatic rupture has been limited by difficulties in monitoring and in access to the patient during the scan. We present a patient who survived the initial injury, when the diagnosis of aortic rupture was not suspected. and presented 3 weeks later with chest pain. An MRI scan was feasible as the patient was haemodynamically stable, and it provided an elegant non-invasive means of diagnosis, so that aortography was not necessary in this case. Although aortography is likely to remain the investigation of choice in the acute situation, MRI is a useful alternative in selected cases.

Accidents, Traffic↗