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Biomedical subjects

L Timmermans

Publications and source records attributed to L Timmermans.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The impact of mandibular advancement on articulation, resonance and voice characteristics in Flemish speaking adults: a pilot study.

Bilateral saggital split osteotomy (BSSO) of the mandible is a frequently performed mandibular orthognathic procedure, used to resolve mandibular disharmonies. Literature review showed contradictory findings regarding the effect of the orthognathic surgery on speech characteristics. The purpose of the present study was to determine a detailed analysis of the articulation, resonance and voice characteristics after BSSO with mandibular advancement for the treatment of Class II malocclusions using objective and subjective assessment techniques (perceptual evaluations, Dysphonia Severity Index, nasalance scores) in eight subjects. The findings of the present study indicate that before and after BSSO with mandibular advancement three types of articulation disorders may predominate in the Flemish language: the incorrect production of the trill sound /r/ and the /s/ sound and devoicing of the /z/. After orthognathic surgery most patients showed an identical articulation pattern (normal or disturbed pattern) as in the presurgical condition. In this study the BSSO with mandibular advancement had no significant impact on the nasality characteristics and the nasalance values probably due to the competent velopharyngeal valving in the presurgical condition. And, as expected the vocal quality revealed no significant difference. The maxillofacial surgeon and the speech language pathologist must be aware of the persistency of these preoperative articulation errors in the postsurgical condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Identification and isolation of the indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase gene from Azospirillum brasilense Sp7: sequencing and functional analysis of the gene locus.

The root-associated bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 produces the growth-stimulating phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (= IAA) via the indole-3-pyruvate pathway. The DNA region containing ipdC, the structural gene for indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, was identified in a cosmid gene library of strain Sp7 by hybridization and has been sequenced. Upstream of the gene, two other ORF homologous to gltX and cysS were sequenced that are transcribed in the opposite direction. A functional analysis of the cloned ipdC region has been performed. To test the expression of the gene, a lacZ-Km cartridge was introduced into the gene. By this construct, tryptophan-dependent stimulation of gene expression in A. brasilense Sp7 was observed. Evidences for the existence of another copy of the ipdC gene in the Azospirillum genome are also reported.

Azospirillum brasilense↗
PubMed1998

[Methodology of penile isotope imaging. Evaluation].

AIMS: Duplex ultrasonography and pulsed doppler analysis or dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography are used for functional evaluation of penile arterial or venous dynamics during a pharmacological erection. The accuracy of the echographic investigations is correlated to the investigator experience. Cavernosometry and cavernosography are more invasive technique than the radioisotope erection penogram, which is a reproductive and reliable test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigate 60 patients. Neurological, psychological and endocrinological etiology are excluded. The technique is described: thyroid is blocked by potassium perchlorate, bloodpool is labelled with Tc99m, a dynamic study is performed over 60 mn with intracavernous injection of PGE1 5g or Papaverine 30 mg at T10mn, ROIS are defined by computer processing, a phalogram curve is provided. RESULTS: This noninvasive test sorts out arteriogenic, venogenic and psychogenic impotence by a qualitative curve analysis. The quantitative parameters depending on numerous time consuming variables have proved to be of poor clinical use and non significant. We objectivate 20 psychogenic impotence, 27 arteriogenic impotence, 7 venous leakage and 6 mixed (arteriogenic and venogenic) impotence. Statistic evaluation of arteriogenic lesions comparative by doppler technique reveals a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 87%. The advantages of the test are; ambulatory, objective, noninvasive and reliable investigation. In the same time, "qualitative" data evaluates the response to a pharmacological induced erection. CONCLUSIONS: The radioisotope erection penogram is a noninvasive, reproductive and reliable screening test for vasculogenic impotence.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Actigraphic evaluation of handedness.

The utility of an objective evaluation of motor activity, actigraphy, was examined in the evaluation of handedness. Hand preference was assessed in a homogeneous group of 190 young volunteers using the Edinburgh Inventory (EI). The EI distribution obtained in the population studied was comparable with distributions cited in the literature. Simultaneous actigraphic recordings from both wrists were made in 58 of these subjects for 20 h, starting at 1000 h, using an epoch length of 4 s. Care was taken to include comparable numbers of right- and left-handers (based on EI score) in this subgroup. Two actigraphic parameters were defined. One of these, the Activity Index (AI[x]), is a measure of the difference in total motor activity between right and left wrist. The other, Movement Index (MIy[x]) is a measure of the difference in movement pattern. AI[x] showed a moderate but significant correlation with EI (r = 0.36, P < 0.005). The correlation between MIy[x] and EI was high (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001). Rebinning of the data into 60 s epochs decreased the degree of linear correlation between MIy[x] and EI. We conclude, in contrast to a previous study, that actigraphy can be used to discriminate between dominant and non-dominant hands; that the difference in movement pattern between right and left hand is larger than the difference in total motor activity; and that epoch lengths shorter than the conventional 60 s are more sensitive for this kind of discrimination.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord].

The liposarcoma is mainly located in the retroperitoneum and rarely involves the spermatic cord. Dissemination occurs more often via haematogenous way than by lymphatic way. The incidence of local recurrence is higher than distant metastases. The treatment of choice is the wide excision. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended in the well differentiated and myxoid type of tumors if the local control during excision is not complete or wide enough. Benefit of chemotherapy is still controversial and limited. Case report of a stage 1 liposarcoma of the spermatic cord, four years after excision of a large lipoma during a hernia repair. The treatment consisted in radical excision of this liposarcoma without any adjuvant therapy. Follow-up of 30 months without recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Technetium-99m HMPAO SPET in acute supratentorial ischaemic infarction, expressing deficits as millilitre of zero perfusion.

A comparative interim analysis was performed of clinical parameters, computed tomographic (CT) scan results and technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single-photon emission tomography (SPET) findings obtained within 12 h of acute supratentorial ischaemic infarction. First, the applicability for SPET semiquantification in this study of the "method of Mountz", simultaneously accounting for extent and degrees of hypoperfusion by expressing deficits as millilitre of zero perfusion, was considered. Next, the relative contributions of perfusion SPET and CT scan in the acute stage of ischaemic infarction were compared in 27 patients (mean age 68.8 years). Finally, the correlation of SPET lesions with clinical parameters at onset was evaluated. The method of Mountz represents a workable, accurate virtual parameter, with the assumption that the contralateral brain region remains uninvolved. Interobserver reproducibility in 12 SPET studies, with lesions varying between 6 and 369 cc, showed a correlation coefficient r of 0.99. In practice, because of inconstant distribution of activities in the brain, the method can only be applied slice by slice and not on the total global volume. While the mean delay since the onset of symptomatology was approximately 7 h for both SPET and CT scan, SPET showed lesions concordant with the clinical neurological findings in 100% and CT scan in only 48%. One could hypothesize that SPET examinations performed later would show larger functional defects, because of the development of additional functional changes secondary to biochemical alterations. However, in this regard no statistically significant differences were found between two subproups, taking the median of delay before SPET examination as cut-off.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Immediate allergy to latex in urological practice].

Five cases of acute allergic reaction to latex are reported. Four of those were diagnosed during surgery and presented anaphylactic shock. One was suspected before surgery by systematic screening and dramatic presentation was avoided. Increasing frequency of latex allergy is reported in the literature and is usually seen in patients with extensive neurosurgical or urological histories, or by peoples currently exposed to natural rubber products (medical staff). Systematic screening in history before surgery is important so that exposure to latex should be avoided in suspected cases.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1985

[Intrinsic autonomic innervation of the stomach during aging].

In the senescence the cholinergic network of the basal and interglandular lamina propria and of the muscularis mucosae and submucosa of the gastric wall undergoes small modifications, while the adrenergic innervation decreases severely in the muscularis mucosae and in the interglandular tissue. Having regard to this adrenergic failure we note histochemically a rupture of the cholinergic/adrenergic balance in favour of the cholinergic innervation. These modifications disturb the gastrointestinal motility but their influence on the secretory reflex has to be demonstrated.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1981

[First elements of comparison between blood-tissue barriers at cerebral, genital and urinary levels].

Fluorescence microscope observations of Trypan Blue distribution gives the demonstration of the blood-tissue barriers. It reveals the similitude between the barriers in choroid plexus, in testis, epididymis and bladder and the difference with the blood-brain barrier. Electron microscope investigations afford a statistical view of relations between structure and vascular permeability and stress the opposition reported above. Membrane specializations of each epithelium often bring forward those which are involved in the barrier. This function is principally assigned to thight junctions. The different morphological aspects encountered lead to the problem of dynamic variations in the configuration of the junctions.

Animals↗