IPTG-induced high protein expression for whole-cell biosynthesis of L-phosphinothricin.

Background: Biocatalytic production of L-phosphinothricin (L-PPT) is currently the most promising method. In this work, we use an Escherichia coli strain coexpressing of D-amino acid oxidase and catalase (E. coli DAAO-CAT) to oxidation biocatalytic D-PPT to PPO, then use the second E.

Protective effect of ligustrazine on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of rats induced by prolonged upright posture.

Most chronic low back pain is the result of degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral disc. Ligustrazine, an alkaloid from Chuanxiong, reportedly is able to relieve pain, suppress inflammation, and treat osteoarthritis and it has the protective effect on cartilage and chondrocytes. Therefore, we asked whether ligustrazine could reduce intervertebral disc degeneration.

The expression of osteoprotegerin is required for maintaining the intervertebral disc endplate of aged mice.

Objective: Human chondrocytes and annulus fibrosus cells of intervertebral disc (IVD) express osteoprotegerin (OPG), but the effect of OPG on the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration remains unknown. Here we assessed the phenotype change of IVD in OPG(-/-) mice.

Methods: The IVDs from 12-, 20-, and 28-week-old OPG(-/-) mice and WT controls were subjected to histologic analyses including TRAP staining for osteoclasts, immunostaining for OPG and type I collagen protein expression, and TUNEL staining for apoptosis.

Prolonged upright posture induces degenerative changes in intervertebral discs of rat cervical spine.

Study Design: An in vivo study of the cervical intervertebral discs (IVDs) response to upright posture was performed using an amputated bipedal rat model.

Objective: To investigate the effects of upright posture on IVDs of rat cervical spine.

Summary Of Background Data: The distinct arrangement of human neck muscle from that of cat and rhesus indicated that in the evolution process, upright posture might have affected cervical spine of human ancestors.

Herb formula "Fufangqishe-Pill" prevents upright posture-induced intervertebral disc degeneration at the lumbar in rats.

Degeneration of the lumbar spine plays an important role in most chronic low back pain. Prevention of lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is therefore a high research priority. Both our previous multicenter clinical trials and pharmacological research showed that Fufangqishe-Pill (FFQSP), a newly patented traditional Chinese medicine, could effectively relieve the symptoms of neck pain and prevent cervical degeneration.