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Biomedical subjects

J Michiels

Publications and source records attributed to J Michiels.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The kinetic occipital region in human visual cortex.

In the present study we showed that the kinetic occipital (KO) region, located laterally in occipital cortex approximately 20 mm behind human MT/V5, can be strongly and bilaterally activated under passive viewing conditions. We used continuous, randomly changing visual stimulation to compare kinetic gratings to uniform motion and kinetic gratings to luminance defined gratings. The KO activations under these passive conditions are stronger than those observed when the two types of gratings are compared under active conditions, i.e. while subjects perform a task (counting gratings of a given orientation). Region KO was shown to process both shape and motion information, the conjunction of which is typically present in kinetic contours. Area MT/V5 also processes these two aspects of visual stimulation but favors motion signals. Clear segregation of shape and motion processing was observed only in occipitotemporal and parietal regions respectively. Although neurons with properties similar to those derived from the conditions activating the KO region have been documented in the macaque monkey, their location seems inappropriate for them to correspond to the KO activation observed in humans.

Adult↗

Identification and characterization of a Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli gene that is important for nodulation competitiveness and shows structural homology to a Rhizobium fredii host-inducible gene.

DNA sequence analysis of a 1.4-kb SalI-HindIII segment located approximately 2 kb upstream of the Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli syrM gene revealed the presence of an open reading frame (ORF3) encoding a putative 295-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 33,401 Da. ORF3 is homologous to a R. fredii host-inducible gene. The proteins encoded by R. l. bv. phaseoli ORF3 and by the R. fredii host-inducible gene share 37% sequence identity. In contrast to the R. fredii host-inducible gene, expression of ORF3 is not induced in the presence of Phaseolus vulgaris root exudates or by specific flavonoids, able to induce nodulation genes in R. l. bv. phaseoli. A R. l. bv. phaseoli ORF3 mutant was constructed by site-directed deletion/replacement mutagenesis. This mutant strain is not affected in symbiotic nitrogen fixation but exhibits a delay in nodulation on Phaseolus vulgaris. Moreover, this mutant was shown to be defective in competition for nodulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Contrast-enhanced MRA of the brain.

Most sequences for MR angiography (MRA) used today exploit the macroscopic motion of the blood to differentiate vessels from the stationary tissues. An alternative approach to inflow based MRA is contrast enhanced MRA, in which relaxation agents are used to selectively shorten the T1 of the blood below the T1 value of the stationary tissues. We have evaluated cerebral Gd enhanced MRA, comparing it with conventional angiography and noncontrast inflow based MRA. Contrast/enhanced MRAs were obtained at 1.0 T with a 3D FISP sequence with TR/TE/alpha: 35-40 ms, 7-11 ms/TE/25 degrees. Contrast enhancement was obtained by a biphasic injection of a double dose of Gd-DOTA (0.2 mmol/kg) during image acquisition. With the described technique the conspicuity of both cerebral arteries and veins is improved compared to nonenhanced inflow MRA.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

Role of contrast agent perfusion and of diffusion in the NMR signal enhancement of liver lesions.

Both perfusion and diffusion contribute to NMR signal enhancement after intravenous injection of a nonspecific contrast agent. In the present study the roles of perfusion and diffusion in the contrast enhancement of induced liver lesions in the rat and the rabbit were evaluated. This was done by comparing Gd-DOTA absolute enhancement signal-to-noise versus time plots of various lesions with the findings from microangiography and histology. Four types of enhancement could be recognized. Diffusion was the major factor in the delayed enhancement seen in lesions that had large extravascular diffusion space.

Animals↗

["Implicit time". Practical and theoretical aspects].

52 normal subjects were studied as control for our "Ganzfeld" method of E.R.G. Separately 132 patients with different retinopathies; inflammatory and degenerative (or dystrophic) were studied and results compared and discussed. It seems that the amplitude is involved - diminished - in some retinopathies, but implicit time only when widespead alteration of neuro-epithelim accured.

Adolescent↗