Preconditioning with Wound Fluid Enhances Immunosuppressive Properties of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells In Vitro.

Immunosuppression is one key feature of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that has high expectations for therapeutic use. The influence of pro-inflammatory stimuli can modify the characteristics of MSCs and enhance immunosuppressive properties. The local postoperative environment contains cytokines, MSCs, and immune cells in high quantities, and their mutual influence is still unclear.

Preoperative Quality of Life in Patients with Small Vestibular Schwannomas.

Background: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors arising from the eighth cranial nerve. They often cause no symptoms for a long period of time. Due to the improved availability and quality of magnetic resonance imaging diagnostics, even small tumors can be diagnosed at an early stage.

The Impact of NO on Epithelial Barrier Integrity of a Primary Cell-Based Air-Liquid Interface Model of the Nasal Respiratory Epithelium.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO) is a pervasive gaseous air pollutant with well-documented hazardous effects on health, necessitating precise toxicological characterization. While prior research has primarily focused on lower airway structures, the upper airways, serving as the first line of defense against airborne substances, remain understudied. This study aimed to investigate the functional effects of NO exposure alone or in combination with hypoxia as a secondary stimulus on nasal epithelium and elucidate its molecular mechanisms because hypoxia is considered a pathophysiological factor in the onset and persistence of chronic rhinosinusitis, a disease of the upper airways.

Improved radiological imaging of congenital aural atresia using flat-panel volume CT.

Background: Precise preoperative radiological evaluation of aural atresia is of utmost importance for surgical planning. Until now, multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has been used but it cannot adequately visualize small structures such as the stapes. Flat-panel volume CT (fpVCT) with its secondary reconstructions (fpVCT) offers a high-resolution visualization of the middle ear.

Inactivity of Stat3 in sensory and non-sensory cells of the mature cochlea.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) plays a role in various cellular processes such as differentiation, inflammation, cell survival and microtubule dynamics, depending on the cell type and the activated signaling pathway. Stat3 is highly expressed in the hair cells and supporting cells of the cochlea and is essential for the differentiation of mouse hair cells in the early embryonic stage. However, it is unclear how Stat3 contributes to the correct function of cells in the organ of Corti postnatally.