The loss of local HGF, an endogenous gastrotrophic factor, leads to mucosal injuries in the stomach of mice.

The stomach is constantly exposed to mechanical and chemical stresses. Under persistent damages, epithelial cell proliferation is required to maintain mucosal integrity. Nevertheless, which ligand system(s) is physiologically involved in gastric defense remains unclear.

The effect of laser irradiation for nucleus pulposus: an experimental study.

Background: The radicular pain caused by disc herniation can be explained by two mechanisms: the compression of the nerve root by the herniated disc or the irritation of the nerve root due to chemical factors. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) was introduced for the treatment of lumbar disc hernias in the 1980s. Decompression of the nerve root is assumed to be an effective therapeutic mechanism for PLDD.

Controlled secretion of beta-endorphin from human embryonic kidney cells carrying a Tet-on-beta-endorphin fusion gene.

To create a cell line with controlled and specific secretion of beta-endorphin, a new fusion gene was constructed by joining human beta-endorphin coding sequence to part of NL1 gene. HEK293 cells carrying Tet-on system transfected with this fusion gene secreted beta-endorphin in a dose-dependent manner upon doxycycline administration. These findings suggest that this system can direct the controlled secretion of any peptide hormones such as beta-endorphin.