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Study Design.Porcine intervertebral discs (IVDs) were excised and then drilled to simulate degeneration before being electrically stimulated for 21 days while undergoing mechanical loading. The discs were then analyzed for gene expression and morphology to assess regeneration. Objective.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of IVD treatment as an early intervention method in halting the progression of degenerative disc disease using an ex-vivo porcine model. Summary of Background Data.Treatments for degenerative disc disease are limited in their efficacy and tend to treat the symptoms of the disease rather than repairing the degenerated disc itself. There is a dire need for an early intervention treatment that not only halts the progression of the disease but contributes to reviving the degenerated disc. Methods.Lumbar IVDs were extracted from a mature pig within 1 hour of death and were drilled with a 1.5 mm bit to simulate degenerative disc disease. Four IVDs at a time were then cultured in a dynamic bioreactor system under mechanical loading for 21 days, two with and two without the electrical stimulation treatment. The IVDs were assessed using histological analysis, magnetic resonance imaging, and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to quantify the effectiveness of the treatment on the degenerated discs. Results.IVDs with electrical stimulation treatment exhibited extensive annular regeneration and prevented herniation of the nucleus pulposus (NP). In contrast, the untreated group of IVDs were unable to maintain tissue integrity and exhibited NP herniation through multiple layers of the annulus fibrosus. Gene expression showed an increase of extracellular matrix markers and antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), while decreasing in pro-inflammatory markers and pain markers in electrically stimulated IVDs when compared to the untreated group. Conclusion.The direct electrical stimulation application in NP of damaged IVDs can be a viable option to regenerate damaged NP and annulus fibrosus tissues.
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Phenylpropanoid-enriched broccoli seedling extract can reduce inflammatory markers and pain behavior
Abstract BackgroundPain is a worldwide problem requiring an effective, affordable, non-addictive therapy. Using the edible plant broccoli, a growth protocol was developed to induce a concentrated combinatorial of potential anti-inflammatories in seedlings. MethodsA growth method was utilized to produce a phenylpropanoid-rich broccoli sprout extract, referred to as Original Extract (OE). OE was concentrated and then resuspended for study of the effects on inflammation events. A rabbit disc model of inflammation and degeneration, and, a mouse model of pain behavior were used for in vivo and in vitro tests. To address aspects of mammalian metabolic processing, the OE was treated with the S9 liver microsome fraction derived from mouse, for use in a mouse in vivo study. Analytical chemistry was performed to identify major chemical species. Continuous variables were analyzed with a number of methods including ANOVA, and two-tailedttests, as appropriate. ResultsIn a rabbit spine (disc) injury model, inflammatory markers were reduced, and levels of regenerative markers were increased as a result of OE treatment, both in vivo and in vitro. In a mouse pain behavioral model, after treatment with S9 liver microsome fraction, the resultant extract significantly reduced early and late pain behavior in response to a pain stimulus. The OE itself reduced pain behavior in the mouse pain model, but did not achieve the level of significance observed for S9-treated extract. Analytical chemistry undertaken on the extract constituents revealed identities of the chemical species in OE, and how S9 liver microsome fraction treatment altered species identities and proportions. ConclusionsIn vitro and in vivo results indicate that the OE, and S9-treated OE broccoli extracts are worthwhile materials to develop a non-opiate inflammation and pain-reducing treatment.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2201647
- PAR ID:
- 10480773
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Science + Business Media
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Translational Medicine
- Volume:
- 21
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1479-5876
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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