Impact of static magnetic fields on human myoblast cell cultures.

Treatment of skeletal muscle loss due to trauma or tumor ablation therapy still lacks a suitable clinical approach. Creation of functional muscle tissue in vitro using the differentiation potential of human satellite cells (myoblasts) is a promising new research field called tissue engineering. Strong differentiation stimuli, which can induce formation of myofibers after cell expansion, have to be identified and evaluated in order to create sufficient amounts of neo-tissue.

Evaluation of valid reference genes during stimulation with static magnetic fields in human myoblast cultures.

Investigation of gene expression using real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) requires normalization with genes that are continuously expressed (reference genes; RGs). For accurate measurements, it is exceedingly important that RG expression is invariant under the investigated experimental conditions. It has recently become evident that RG expression may vary considerably under different culture conditions, which results in inaccurate qRT-PCR measurements.

Proinflammatory and proadhesive activation of lymphocytes and macrophages in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Even though sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) is a quite frequent disease, the pathogenetic processes leading to it are widely unknown. There is increasing evidence that immunomodulatory cells, especially T lymphocytes, might be involved. Twelve patients with acute SHL and 12 healthy, age-matched individuals were included in this study.

Proinflammatory activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with vestibular neuritis.

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is characterized by acute vertigo with spontaneous nystagmus and is often accompanied by vegetative symptoms. While the pathogenetic process leading to this disease is widely unknown, increasing evidence exists that a proinflammatory environment is responsible for the induction and progression of VN. Twelve patients with acute VN and 12 healthy, age-matched individuals were included in this study.

Novel systemic markers for patients with Alzheimer disease? - a pilot study.

Almost 2% of the population of western industrialized countries are affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless the pathogenetic process leading to this neurodegenerative disease is widely unknown. Thus, we focus on novel pathophysiological aspects of AD.