RepoMed (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)
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TGF–β3 Loaded Electrospun Polycaprolacton Fibre Scaffolds for Rotator Cuff Tear Repair: An in Vivo Study in Rats
No full textBiological factors such as TGF–3 are possible supporters of the healing process in chronic rotator cuff tears. In the present study, electrospun chitosan coated polycaprolacton (CS–g–PCL) fibre scaffoldswere loadedwithTGF–3 andtheir effect ontendonhealingwas comparedbiomechanically and histologically to unloaded fibre scaffolds in a chronic tendon defect rat model. The biomechanical analysis revealed that tendon–bone constructs with unloaded scaffolds had significantly lower values for maximumforce compared to native tendons. Tendon-bone constructswith TGF–3-loaded fibre scaffolds showed only slightly lower values. In histological evaluation minor differences could be observed. Both groups showed advanced fibre scaffold degradation driven partly by foreign body giant cell accumulation and high cellular numbers in the reconstructed area. Normal levels of neutrophils indicate that present mast cells mediated rather phagocytosis than inflammation. Fibrosis as sign of foreign body encapsulation and scar formation was only minorly present. In conclusion, TGF–3-loading of electrospun PCL fibre scaffolds resulted inmore robust constructswithout causing significant advantages on a cellular level. A deeper investigation with special focus on macrophages and foreign body giant cells interactions is one of the major foci in further investigations
Flanker Task Performance in Isolated Dystonia (Blepharospasm): a Focus on Sequential Effects
No full textIsolated dystonia manifests with involuntary muscle hyperactivity, but the extent of cognitive impairment remains controversial. We examined the executive functions in blepharospasm while accounting for motor symptom-related distractions as a factor often limiting the interpretability of neuropsychological studies in dystonia. Our control group comprised of patients with hemifacial spasm, which is a condition producing similar motor symptoms without any central nervous system pathology. Nineteen patients with blepharospasm and 22 patients with hemifacial spasm completed a flanker task. Stimulus congruency on the current trial, on the preceding trial, and a response sequence served as independent variables. We analyzed the response time and accuracy. Gross overall group differences were not discernible. While congruency, congruency sequence, and response sequence exerted the expected effects, no group differences emerged with regard to these variables. A difference between patients with blepharospasm and those with hemifacial spasm consisted in longer reaction times when responses had to be repeated following stimulus incongruency on the preceding trial. We conclude that patients with blepharospasm seem to have difficulties in repeating their responses when incongruency on preceding trials interferes with habit formation or other forms of fast routes to action. Our specific finding may provide an opportunity to study altered basal ganglia plasticity in focal dystonia
Selbsteinschätzung der Wichtigkeit von Qualitätsprinzipen und Recherchehilfe zum Auffinden relevanter Information zu Gesundheits-Apps als Grundlage für eine fundierte Nutzungsentscheidung
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Gene therapy as a possible option to treat hereditary hearing loss
No full textThe process of hearing involves a series of events. The energy of sound is captured by the outer ear and further transferred through the external auditory canal to the middle ear. In the middle ear, sound waves are converted into movements of the tympanic membrane and the ossicles, thereby amplifying the pressure so that it is sufficient to cause movement of the cochlear fluid. The traveling wave within the cochlea leads to depolarization of the inner ear hair cells that, in turn, release the neurotransmitter glutamate. Thereby, the spiral ganglion neurons are activated to transfer the signals via the auditory pathway to the primary auditory cortex. This complex combination of mechanosensory and physiological mechanisms involves many distinct types of cells, the function of which are impacted by numerous proteins, including those involved in ion channel activity, signal transduction and transcription. In the last 30 years, pathogenic variants in over 150 genes were found to be linked to hearing loss. Hearing loss affects over 460 million people world-wide, and current treatment approaches, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, serve to improve hearing capacity but do not address the underlying genetic cause of hearing loss. Therefore, therapeutic strategies designed to correct the genetic defects causative for hearing loss offer the possibility to treat these patients. In this review, we will discuss genetic causes of hearing loss, novel gene therapeutic strategies to correct hearing loss due to gene defects and some of the preclinical studies in hearing loss animal models as well as the clinical translation of gene therapy approaches to treat hearing loss patients
Level of sex hormones and their association with acetylsalicylic acid intolerance and nasal polyposis.
Get PDFBackground Chronic rhinosinusitis may be associated with nasal polyposis. Recurrence of disease is often observed and may be due to an intolerance of acetylsalicylic acid. Sex hormones are known to modulate allergic reactions and inflammation. Whether they may be involved in the development and progression of nasal polyposis has not been investigated yet. Aim Examine the relationship between levels of sex hormones and nasal polyposis. Methods Hormonal levels (estradiol, testosterone and progesterone) in patients with nasal polyposis (n = 26) with or without acetylsalicylic acid-intolerance were determined and compared to hormonal levels in patients with septal deviation (n = 35). Cone-beam computed tomography scans were analysed by using scores as defined by Lund and Mackay and by Kennedy. Results Our results show a 5 times greater odds (p = 0.01) for developing nasal polyposis in the presence of lowered estradiol plasma levels than in the presence of normal / elevated levels. When analyzing females and males separately, a 6 times greater odds for females to develop nasal polyposis in the presence of lowered estradiol plasma levels was calculated (p = 0.02). Thus, females are more likely to develop nasal polyposis when they have lowered estradiol levels than males. In addition, female patients showed an increased risk for developing ASA intolerance (p = 0.01). Conclusion Variation of sex hormones may be involved in nasal polyposis. Further studies including more patients to validate the presented results are required. Significance Retrospective clinical investigation suggesting a correlation between varying sex hormones and nasal polyposis
