A High Body Mass Index and the Vacuum Phenomenon Upregulate Pain-Related Molecules in Human Degenerated Intervertebral Discs

Animal studies suggest that pain-related-molecule upregulation in degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) potentially leads to low back pain (LBP). We hypothesized that IVD mechanical stress and axial loading contribute to discogenic LBP’s pathomechanism. This study aimed to elucidate the relationships among the clinical findings, radiographical findings, and pain-related-molecule expression in human degenerated IVDs. We harvested degenerated-IVD samples from 35 patients during spinal interbody fusion surgery. Pain-related molecules including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES1), and nerve growth factor (NGF) were determined. We also recorded preoperative clinical findings including body mass index (BMI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and radiographical findings including the vacuum phenomenon (VP) and spinal instability. Furthermore, we compared pain-related-molecule expression between the VP (−) and (+) groups. BMI was significantly correlated with the ODI, CGRP, and mPGES-1 levels. In the VP (+) group, mPGES-1 levels were significantly higher than in the VP (−) group. Additionally, CGRP and mPGES-1 were significantly correlated. Axial loading and mechanical stress correlated with CGRP and mPGES-1 expression and not with inflammatory cytokine or NGF expression. Therefore, axial loading and mechanical stress upregulate CGRP and mPGES-1 in human degenerated IVDs, potentially leading to chronic discogenic LBP.     

Hydrogen production by fermentation using acetic acid and lactic acid

Microbial hydrogen production from sho-chu post-distillation slurry solution (slurry solution) containing large amounts of organic acids was investigated. The highest hydrogen producer, Clostridium diolis JPCC H-3, was isolated from natural environment and produced hydrogen at 6.03+/-0.15 ml from 5 ml slurry solution in 30 h. Interestingly, the concentration of acetic acid and lactic acid in the slurry solution decreased during hydrogen production. The substrates for hydrogen production by C. diolis JPCC H-3, in particular organic acids, were investigated in an artificial medium. No hydrogen was produced from acetic acid, propionic acid, succinic acid, or citric acid on their own. Hydrogen and butyric acid were produced from a mixture of acetic acid and lactic acid, showing that C. diolis. JPCC H-3 could produce hydrogen from acetic acid and lactic acid. Furthermore, calculation of the Gibbs free energy strongly suggests that this reaction would proceed. In this paper, we describe for the first time microbial hydrogen production from acetic acid and lactic acid by fermentation.